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“Is that so? Because I’m not a child, either—which means I can count. And for someone who’s supposed to be taking these supplements three times a day, there are way more pills in your bottles than there should be.”
I try my best not to wince, but I fail miserably. “How come I have to have breakfast and you can get away with a cup of coffee?”
“Because I’m not pregnant.” He smirks at my irritated groan. “Now, listen: you’re going to have security when you’re out of the penthouse. I’ve put Jasper and Bronn on you.”
I pick unhappily at the slices of mango arrayed on the plate in front of me. “Don’t you think it’s going to raise suspicion if I show up after a week of absence with bodyguards tailing me?”
“They’ll be discreet. And as for your job description, it’s… changed slightly.”
I flick my gaze up at him, immediately wary. “What does that mean?”
“It means congratulations, you’ve been promoted. You are now head of my Personal Management team.”
I gawk at him. “What? That’s not a thing.”
“It is now.”
“It’s a made-up title.”
“Yes. But no one in their right mind will refute it. That’s one of the benefits of having your name on the skyscraper.”
My scowl isn’t going anywhere, though. “What is the purpose of being the head of your personal minion whatchamacallit?”
“Personal Management team,” he corrects. “The purpose is to justify your increased salary. It’ll also serve as an explanation later down the line if people find out you’re living with Bee and myself.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re actually finding ways to legitimize this weird-ass and extremely temporary arrangement?” I bound off the high chair. “That’s crazy. And even if you do, let’s face it: no one’s gonna think it’s normal that your personal assistant is now living with you and your soon-to-be wife. Title change or not, that’s insane.”
“This promotion makes you Bee’s P.A., as well as mine. You’ll handle all our personal affairs—galas, charity events, joint business investments, all of it. And given that you’ll be working with us so closely, it would make sense that this is a live-in position.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“It’s the simplest way to explain our cohabitation.” He throws back the last of his coffee like it’s a shot of tequila. “Now, let’s go. I have things to do at the office.” He grabs his leather satchel and strides for the door, making it very clear that he does not intend to wait for me.
Fuming, I jump out of my Birkenstocks, wriggle into the black Jimmy Choos, and run behind him.
“This is a bad plan!” I cry out as I jog into the elevator just in time to avoid getting nipped in the butt by the closing doors. “No one in their right mind will buy it.”
Dmitri turns those dangerous silver eyes on me. “I don’t give a fuck who buys what. That’s the explanation they’re getting. They can take it or leave it.” He purses his lips and rises up tall, as if that settles things. God, I hate how certain he is that he’s right all the time. “Now, before I forget, I got you something.” He proceeds to pull out a long blade that glimmers as it moves under the amber elevator lights. “Here you go.”
He extends it towards me but I just stare at the way it gleams on his open palm. “That’s a knife,” I say stupidly.
“You’re as observant as ever, Ms. Turner.”
I grimace and back away from it. That edge looks sharp. “You’re handing me a knife?”
“For protection. Your guards will always have an eye on you, but it never hurts to be prepared. We don’t want a repetition of what happened at the clinic.”
I gulp and find myself reaching reluctantly for the hilt. It’s black leather, with inscriptions carved into the material. As daggers go, it’s quite pretty. “Thanks, I guess. Am I supposed to know how to use it?”
“Two rules,” he explains. His eyes soften and his mouth relaxes just a little. “If someone bad comes for you, aim the pointy end at them.”
“And the second rule?” I sass back.
“Don’t stab yourself.” As we reach the ground floor and he steps through the opening doors, I swear I hear him add under his breath, “And for the love of God, don’t stab me, either.”
15
WREN
