Page 65 of Toxic Temptation
“Will you shut up?” Pavel hisses. “I wasn’t looking at her ass.”
“Someone was,” Osip says, nodding toward Eric Lawrence, Osip’s assistant, who is openly gawking at Vesper with his head tilted and his lips curved in appreciation. He practically has cartoon hearts in his eyes.
Angry heat surges through me, thorny and possessive. “Get your boy under control, Osip.”
But before Osip can say anything, Vesper starts walking toward us, and Lawrence’s gaze follows the sway of her hips with obvious interest.
“Lawrence!” My voice cuts through every conversation in the vicinity. “Get over here. Now.”
Despite being Osip’s employee, Lawrence hurries over like a puppy who thinks he’s about to get a treat.
“Morning, boss,” he says with that clueless grin.
“Pack your things. You’re fired.”
His face goes pale and slack. “What? You’re joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“But… but why?” His eyes dart frantically between me and Osip.
“Because I don’t employ men who disrespect what’s mine.”
Understanding dawns on his face as he glances toward Vesper. “I didn’t… I was just… I wasn’t looking at her like that!”
“Yes, you were.”
“Sir, please, I didn’t mean?—”
“Mean to what?”
Lawrence’s Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. He turns to Osip in desperation. “Mr. Pikalov, please?—”
“You should’ve been more subtle,” Osip says with a shrug. “Rule number one: never check out the boss’s woman.”
When Lawrence realizes no help is coming from that direction, he turns back to me. “I swear I’ll never look at her again.”
“You’re right. You won’t.” I point to the exit. “Now, get your shit and go.”
He stumbles away without another word, smart enough to keep his eyes rooted on the floor.
The moment he’s gone, I’m faced with Osip and Pavel’s matching grins.
“What?” I snarl.
“Someone’s possessive,” Osip observes, poking me in the ribs. “It’s cute seeing you jealous. So cute I’ll even forgive you for firing my assistant.”
I bat his hand away. “I’m playing a part. Lawrence will tell everyone why he got canned. Adds authenticity.”
“Right,” Pavel says, not buying it for a second. “That was all for show. Mhmm. Sure.”
“Of course it was.”
“Even if I believed that,” Pavel continues, “which, for the record, I don’t—it’ll take more than firing one guy to convince Ihor and Yana you’re serious about her.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not done yet.”
I leave them and cross back to Vesper, who’s deep in conversation with Matvey Gregovich, the oldest serving member of the board.
