Page 98 of Bratva's Intern

I chewed it anyway.

Because deep down, I didn’t hate him at all. Pissed at him, yes, but at least he’d sent me lunch, which meant he cared.

“You know this means he’s aware you hired me as your chauffeur, right?”

My eyes went wide. Oh shit. “Will he be mad?”

Nik grinned and winked. “Even if he is, I’m sure you know how to work that out of his system.”

“Hmm, I heard you working out in my roommate’s system last night. Could you two be any louder?”

Nik laughed. “My apologies. Next time, we’ll consider that you’re within hearing distance.”

“Thank you very much.” I shook my head, wanting to ask him how he was coping with Jess sleeping with both him and his roommate, but I kept my mouth shut. I had enough on my plate dealing with a man who obviously had no confidence in me.

Would serve him right if I chucked his food into the bin and had ice cream for lunch.

But something told me that wouldn’t stop him from getting what he wanted later anyway. So I grudgingly picked up my fork and dug into the salmon, the taste of citrus and dill filling my mouth.

I shut down my computer and gave the spotless surface of my desk one last once-over. Everything was in order. When Maxim walked into the office tomorrow, he shouldn’t find a hair out of place.

I frowned, glancing at my watch. Maxim still hadn’t responded to my messages from earlier. Should I be worried? Surely, if he’d changed his mind about us, he’d at least text me to return his house key.

You’re overthinking things.

Bag slung over my shoulder, I pushed under my chair, then headed for the elevator.

Of course the universe had jokes.

When the doors opened, Bradley had one hand on the “Open Door” button and scrolled through his phone with the other.

He looked up and smiled. “Hey, heading out?”

“Yep.” I stepped in beside him and kept a polite distance. I hated that after he’d done so much for me, I was giving him the cold shoulder, but he hadn’t seemed to get my clearly worded memo that I wasn’t into sharing. Ergo, I had no romantic or sexual interest to share a bed with him and his husband.

I punched the button for the lobby.

“Going home?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Want a ride? I don’t mind.”

“Oh, thanks, but I already have a ride arranged.”

He quirked his brow. “No worries. Well, how about grabbing a drink tonight? Just a quick one. Funny how Maxim had me spend the last couple of days in a different office, but I wrapped up the work there quickly. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages, and this will give us a chance to catch up.”

So that explains why I haven’t seen him around the office.

My stomach gave a nervous flip. “I can’t tonight. I have, um, other plans.”

“Come on,” he said as the elevator slid to a stop and the doors opened. “One drink won’t kill you.”

We stepped out into the marble-tiled lobby, and I was already trying to come up with a way to escape without sounding suspicious. I’d said no. Nicely. But he kept trying.

Salvation arrived in the form of Nik, waiting by the car out front. When he saw me, he straightened. “Wren, you ready?”

Bradley slowed beside me, eyes narrowing. “Wait. That’s your ride?”