Page 25 of Axel

“Then help yourself and pick up my dry cleaning.”

“Uh! That’s harassment!” She huffs, “You’re no different than the landlord. Fetching your tiny little suits is not in my job description.”

Tiny? Hardly. I’m six-four and swelling larger around Ruby, loving how much I can test her, loving how much power I have over her now.

“That’s cute.” I wink. “Lecturing me on the law when you’re the paralegal who engaged in the unauthorized practice of the law with my client. Let’s tell that to the judge, too. Now…” I reach into my jacket and toss the claim ticket on her desk. “Fetch my suits. I have court first thing in the morning.”

Fuck me, it’s hot how Ruby grinds her teeth. “Mr. Cummings, why don’t you?—”

My smirk slides into a smile, craving our hating game and her next insult, but…

The elevatordinglifts my glare from Ruby to the brass doors sliding open.

Across my office, with its gleaming wooden floors, large arched windows, and stately antique desks I collectstands…

… my goddaughter?

Alena Allen steps out of the elevator, her big brown eyes frantically searching the room until they find mine, andsomething’s wrong.

I’ve known Alena for too long, from when she was a toddler to a young woman now.Very much a woman, I made sure of it.

“Michael…” Alena marches my way, using my pseudonym. The one that hides my American name—Axel. It’s one of my many lies, hiding the name I was born with—Aleksi Kholodov. “We need to talk, please.”

“Ahem.” I clear the sudden strangle over my throat. Turning to Ruby, I fight like hell to hide this from her. From everyone. “Ms. Jones, clear my afternoon.”

“But,” Ruby debates, “Helen’s getting lunch. She knows your schedule, not me.”

I grab a pen from Ruby’s desk, quickly scrawling the password to my schedule kept on Helen’s computer while the dangerously familiar aroma of Alena’s perfume nears. It’s powdery and innocent.

Just as she was … before me.

“Do it,” I order Ruby. “Ms. Allen is family, and I need to meet with her.” My pulse triples. “Please.”

Ruby arches a brow at my pleasantry. At my plea. This time, it’s real.

Politely, I hold my office door open for Alena. She brushes past me, fully trusting, and it’s instinct—I barely touch Alena’s back, always protecting her, before I glance over my shoulder and catch the look in Ruby’s eyes.

They’re searching.

They’re suspicious.

They’re …oh, fuck …jealous?

CHAPTER SIX

AXEL

Relief and dreadbarrel through me.

I’m relieved I found Ruby’s bugging device and turned it off. She won’t be able to hear my conversation with Alena.

I was about to make Ruby beg, on her knees, for way more than her job, but then we were interrupted … and now I dread this.

Not that I don’t love Alena. I do. But it’s a complicated love, only Alena and I understand.

Once I close my office door, she falls into my arms, crying. “I have to tell him. Please, I love Loch so much and I can’t lie to him. I can’t celebrate our engagement tonight and feel like such a liar.”

“You’re not lying.” I hold her. “You’re protecting him. The truth will only hurt him. It’ll hurt everyone.”

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