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She shrugged. “His orders.”
We stopped by a brown door, and I thought it was the perfect time to voice the question silently gnawing at my brain. “The boss… He is nice to you, because?”
She put a hand on my shoulder and her gaze was warm. Motherly.
“I've served him for years now. He is cold, yes. Heartless, yes. Cruel, ruthless, vicious… many things, you name it. But he's never hit me or pointed a gun at my head. That says a lot.”
I blinked. I wanted to reply. But I swallowed my opinion.
I scanned the door. “Is this his study?”
“Study?” She didn't hide her amusement. “It's his bedroom, dear. He returned a while ago. Knock and he’ll let you in.”
Bedroom?
Before I got another word out, Sarah turned around and walked away, leaving me hanging onto a slim thread of hope for mydearlife.
****
She said it: “Knock and he'll let you in.”
What she didn't say was, “prepare.” Prepare to feel weak in the knees and have your breath snatched out of your lungs at the sight of him.
“Yeah, come in.” He grumbled.
When I opened the door and went in quietly, all the lights were on, and I saw him clearly.
I closed the door behind me and his eyes blazed, no doubt not pleased about my presence. The room had another unexpected twist. It was neat, organized, and not at all like the cave of darkness and destruction I'd imagined.
It smelled like cigars, pinewood, andhim.
He was sitting on a gray sofa in the corner of the room, his tie lying limp in his hand, a few buttons on his shirt undone and his legs stretched out lazily on the floor. Plus, his hair looked like a bird’s nest, with his fingers combing through repeatedly.
His eyes roamed my body; from the sleek bun on my head, down my naked arms, and my breasts, and journeyed all the way to my bare thighs and smooth legs. His gaze darkened and my skin singed in all the places his eyes touched.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Ouch! His tone was brittle. Harsh.
“I—”
“He's going to answer for this.”
I knew who he spoke of. The lad, Arseni. Despite myself, I quickly jumped in to protect him.
“I insisted and he threatened me with a dagger.” I picked at my fingers and lowered my eyes. “Sarah brought me here.”
With a grunt, he kicked his shoes off. “You still haven't answered me. Why are you here?”
I gulped.
I knew the reason I wanted to see Alexei. There had been no word about a negotiation with my father. Not even a phone call to talk with me. But...
I looked around again.
Here I was, in the bedroom of the man who burned down my father’s house and kidnapped me. This was his safe space, his privacy. It felt conflicting and yet so intimate, at the same time.
I wanted to take some time to hang around. Even if that sounded like a crazy death wish.
