Page 64 of Toxic Temptation
“Right.” She swallows hard. “Okay. But what will my key card say? ‘Girlfriend extraordinaire?’”
“‘Trollop.’”
She shakes her head and punches me in the shoulder, but she’s fighting a smile. “It’s a miracle I agreed to this.”
Out of nowhere, something possessive and primal takes over. I’m moving before I can think, grabbing her hip and hauling her against me in the elevator, my hand dangerously close to territory I have no business exploring. “It’s a miracle I let you think you had a choice.”
Her smile falters and uncertainty clouds her eyes. “This is all part of the act, right?” Her voice is barely a whisper. “The way you flirt with me? The way you touch me?”
The doors seal. The elevator is empty. No one to perform for. No reason to have my hands on her except that I want them there.
“We have to make it believable,” I recite, because it’s easier than the truth.
She looks down, and when she meets my eyes again, her smile is forced. “Of course.” She presses her palm against my chest and pushes gently away. “But there’s no one here to convince.”
My hands itch to pull her back, but I let her go. Something has shifted between us, and I’m not sure if it’s the building, the situation, or me that’s spooked her.
Whatever the cause, I need to get my shit together. Because right now, I’m fighting to hide the physical evidence of exactly how much I want her, and that’s not a conversation I’m ready to have.
The elevator opens to reveal the executive floor—black marble shot through with white veins, textured felt walls, and enough open space to make visitors feel insignificant. Only three offices up here: mine, Pavel’s, and Osip’s.
Ihor used to have the fourth, but that’s empty now. Some bridges you burn completely.
“Mr. Krayev!” My assistants, Henry and Maggie, spring to attention at their desks.
Osip and Pavel emerge from Pavel’s office, both grinning like foxes in the henhouse. Pavel’s is genuine. Osip looks like he’s about to burst with whatever smart-ass comment he’s holding back.
A handful of senior staff linger nearby—board members who just finished their morning reports. The timing isn’t coincidental. Pavel’s text confirmed they’d still be here when we arrived. The more eyes on this next display, the better.
“Kovan!” one of them calls out, straightening his Burberry suit. “You missed the board meeting. That’s not like you.”
“I was busy.” I wrap my arm around Vesper’s waist to drive home the point. “Gentlemen, I’d like you all to meet Dr. Vesper Fairfax. My girlfriend.”
A murmur ripples through the group. Vesper presses closer to my side like she wants to disappear into my shadow.
“Girlfriend?” One of the board members perks up, giving Vesper a look that makes my jaw clench. “How wonderful that you’ve found someone.”
“Actually, we’ve been together for a while now,” I say, knowing this information will be all over the building by nightfall. “I thought it was time she saw where I work.”
I introduce her to the half-dozen board members, all of whom are blandly polite and deferential, mostly because they know I’d fucking gut them myself if they step a toe out of line.
More people approach, wanting introductions. While Vesper chats with the only two female board members, I step aside to watch her work. She’s nervous—there’s a sheen of sweat on her forehead—but she’s handling herself.
“She seems tense,” Osip observes, sliding up beside me.
“Very tense,” Pavel agrees.
“Then maybe you two should help put her at ease instead of standing here making observations,” I suggest.
“That woman doesn’t strike me as the ‘go with the flow’ type,” Osip says.
“Maybe not,” Pavel agrees, “but there’s something about her?—”
“If you’re about to comment on her body, I’ll knock your teeth out.”
Pavel’s eyes narrow. “My teeth are perfect as is, thank you very much. And keep your voice down. What I was going to say is that she has presence.”
“Nice ass, too,” Osip adds unhelpfully.
