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They watched the billionaire’s lips curve, a sight so rare for the aloof Russian that everyone was struck dumb seeing it. “No, you’re not disturbing me.”
Everyone’s jaws dropped. This was even more of a bigger miracle than they thought! Not only had the billionaire, who was a notorious workaholic, answered a call during a meeting, but it was a personal one – what seemed like abooty calleven – at that!
Sergei waved his executives and those of the other company away, gesturing to the door so that they would know he was giving them a break. “This is the first time you’ve called me of your own accord,pchelka. To what do I owe the honor of this pleasure?” As he spoke, he watched in puzzlement as everyone practically ran out of the conference room and started laughing and cheering outside, with one of the executives even falling to his knees, shouting hallelujah.
The noise seemed to have reached Fredericka as well as she asked, “Are you in a party?”
“No. I’m still at the office, but the people around me appear inordinately happy.”
“Must be because you’re the nicest boss ever,” Fredericka couldn’t help quipping.
“I am nice.”
“I was being sarcastic.”
He ignored that, saying, “What did you want to talk about?”
Silence.
“Shall I take a guess? You missed me perhaps?”
“Uhh, no.”
Liar,he thought. The way her voice had suddenly quivered was answer enough, and he chuckled, saying, “It’s alright,pchelka, I missed you, too.”
“That’s not it, I told you,” she insisted, and this time she did sound serious enough to make him frown.
“What is it then?”
“Mr. Fawkes sent for me earlier,” Fredericka shared uneasily. “He asked me questions about you.”
Sergei stiffened. “And?”
Fredericka started to babble. “In not so many words, he made it clear that if I’m not going to be your future wife, and when I obviously told him I’m not—-”
The billionaire’s lips tightened.
“He gave me this disapproving look and told me I shouldn’t let youbesmirch– that’s the exact word Mr. Fawkes used, Sergei.Besmirch.” Her voice started to rise. “He thinks spending time with you will have my professional reputation besmirched as well as the law firm’s, and don’t you think that’s such a stupid thing? Does he really think it’s impossible for a man and a woman to be just friends?”
Yes,Sergei thought. It was impossible, but he wouldn’t let her know that since the illusion of friendship between them was what allowed him to keep her close.
“That’s the problem with this place, it’s still stuck in the Middle Ages, and I’m beginning to wonder why I’m even working here—-”
“Fredericka.” She fell silent at his quiet intrusion, and it finally dawned on her that she had gone off the rails in the past few minutes. “What exactly is the problem?”
“He thinks I’m your mistress, and he doesn’t want mistresses working for him.”
Ah. Sergei said calmly, “I will fix this.”
“No, no. You don’t have to do anything.”
“Your problems are due to my presence in your life,pchelka. Of course I must do something—-”
“I’m already sorting it out on my own,” she cut him off in a rush. “I told him I’m dating Julian Alexeyev—-”
The billionaire’s jaw clenched. “Is that so?”
“Anything to get him off my back,” Fredericka sighed.
