Page 28 of Axel

And I still have no idea why Katya really left me.

I just came home one day to a note on my bed. She said I was a cruel man with a cold heart, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She even made fun of my socks, how I always wear them, and how she never saw my feet. She wrote that she was going home to Moscow, the last place I’d ever go to find her.

And honestly?

I didn’t want her back. I wasn’t brokenhearted; I was betrayed. I was so fucking good to her. I spoiled her. I was a devoted husband, but once Katya left, I decided to be the exact man she said I was.

Cruel and cold-hearted.

“I’m sorry.” I cup my hand over Alena’s. “If I’ve been an asshole, it’s not because of you. You know I’m happy for you.”

“I just want you to be happy, too,” she sighs. “It’s hard getting married, but seeing you and my dad so lonely. No wonder you’re miserable, best friends together.”

“But Alena, we won’t be best friends if Nash finds out. It’sthe same for Loch. He’ll be angry with you. It’s like you said, it was your decision and your body. I was honored you shared it with me, and you owe no man an explanation about it, so please.” I squeeze her hand. “Keep our secret. Don’t ever tell anyone.”

Her face falls, not sadly, but convinced. “Okay, I won’t tell?—”

“Mr. Cummings,” Ruby’s voice calls outside my door, “yourcaviaris getting cold.”

My caviar is served on a bed of crushed ice, we all know it, and she makes Alena giggle. “She’s funny.”

“She’s a pain in my ass but the smartest woman I know.” I wink. “No offense.”

Alena grins, arching a brow.

“Don’t,” I tell her. “Don’t focus on me. Go have your engagement party and be happy.” I kiss her hair.

“Promise you’re not mad about not coming?”

“I’m fine,” I answer honestly.

Because I have far more to worry about.

I have a sexy wildfire of an employee spying on me, hating me. A woman who’ll be my queen one day, but for now … I need her to leave.

Tonight is our private, sacred ritual, and yes, it’s quite taboo, too, so I need to clear my office for the next queen’s initiation.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RUBY

My emotions have whiplash.

I woke up feeling vulnerable after my botched night at the club. So, I forced myself to find my confidence again. Escaping Axel on our morning chase was the boost I needed.

Then I felt accomplished, meeting with Luca and trying to figure out how to get the intel Nick and Zar need on that rental.

But Axel rained on my proud parade, giving Samuel my case. It made me so mad, I listened to his calls while I finished those reports. I’m dying to help with this, and I confronted Axel about it.

Did I use my tits, too? Hey, if men are dumb enough to fall for them, I’ll serve up the girls any day.

But I didn’t expect the icy heat in Axel’s eyes staring at my cleavage, the throbbing thrill I felt when he finally flirted with me. It was intoxicating … andIwas seduced right back.

The name I wasn’t supposed to know just slipped out.

I was in full-blown hide-my-panic mode when Axel stormed out of his office, also mad about my advice to Ms.Alonso. So, I confessed to that while low-key freaking out inside, wondering if he found my bug, too.

But a sweet angel saved me. Alena Allen just interrupted my sure destruction.

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