AllFreeNovel
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I’ve had my moments of doubt, too, not that I’d ever admit to them. It’s been a hell of a long road to get here. Sleepless nights. Endless days.
It’ll be worth it in the end.
He punches me in the shoulder playfully. “I should have known, though. You’ve got the Midas touch.”
Except when it comes to family…The unwelcome thought takes me off guard. I almost never go there. Luckily, my phone starts ringing.
“Isay?”
“It’s done.”
That’s all I need. Hanging up, I use the intercom button to summon Emma into my office. Kirill’s expression is a carefully curated mask. But I’ve known him too long to be fooled by the indifference he’s trying to pull off.
“You called me, Mr. Oryolov?”
“Come in, Ms. Carson.”
She click-clacks towards my desk in her standard black peek-a-boo heels. The woman is in desperate need of a wardrobe overhaul. There are a few boutiques I could call to—
No. Not my fucking problem.
“I wanted to let you know that, as of right now, your debts are paid.”
There’s pin-drop silence. Emma’s gaze flickers to Kirill for a moment and then back to me. She rolls her bottom lip, which is coated in a natural nude gloss today.
“I’m not sure I understand, sir.”
Kirill adjusts his position just enough to be able to see Emma properly. It’s the first time today that I’ve been glad she’s wearing a conservative flared skirt instead of the hip-hugging pencil style she usually opts for.
“You are debt-free,” I repeat.
She opens her mouth. Then closes it. Another lip roll. Another short glance towards Kirill. “Is this… a joke?”
My hackles rise instantly. “Do I strike you as the joking type, Ms. Carson?”
She shifts from her right leg to her left. “Um…”
My teeth grind together impatiently. “Why don’t you make a call to your bank? That may help you process this. I’m not in the mood to repeat myself a third time.”
She twists around, hesitates, glances at me, and then heads for the door. For once, Kirill’s eyes aren’t fixed on her as she walks away. They’re fixed on me.
Which is only marginally better, really.
“What?” I snap.
He shrugs. “Just in awe of your genius. A contracted sexual partner. I never would have gone there, not in a million years.”
“That’s why I’m the brains of this operation.”
He smirks. “I’m the—”
BANG. Emma doesn’t even seem to hear the sound of the door slamming into the wall as she flies back into the office, her face a mask of shock and disbelief.
“Oh my God,” she gasps. “You weren’t kidding.”
Then she does the very last thing I expected. Shethanksme, with actual fucking tears in her eyes.
“Rus—I mean, Mr. Oryolov, I-I can’t thank you enough. You havenoidea how much this means to me. I just… I can’t believe it…”
