"They're the only ones who have access. Security would have buzzed me if it was someone else. That's my warning they are in the elevator." He hooks my bra back together.
"You're pretty good at that," I tease.
A smug expression fills his face. "I have more skills than that, my kotik."
I bet you do.
"I should probably get off you if your brothers are here."
He squeezes my ass cheek and slides his hand out.
I rise and kneel next to the tile samples.
"What are you doing?"
I wince. "Looking busy, since I've never met your brothers and work for them."
He chuckles. "Fair enough." He rises and goes to the elevator.
A deep voice, similar to Dmitri's, says, "That motherfucker—"
"Watch your mouth. There's a lady present," Dmitri scolds.
"Oh. Sorry. Who..."
I hold up a piece of tile to the light, trying not to be an eavesdropper.
"Anna, this is my brother, Maksim," Dmitri says. "This is Anna, our new designer."
"I can see that," he says, and I cringe inside.
This looks so bad. He's already upset I'm not Russian. Now I've taken over Dmitri's house with my work stuff.
It is what it is. At least there was notice so I'm not buck naked, straddling Dmitri right now.
I wish.
I put down the tile, smile, and spin, then hold out my hand. "It's nice to meet you."
He shakes it, his icy blue eyes drill into mine, and politely replies, "You as well. It looks like you got what you needed from the showrooms today?"
"Yes."
"Great." He turns to Dmitri. "Have the materials been ordered?"
"Not yet. We just got back. Anna needs time to put it all together."
An uncomfortable silence ensues. Neither Maksim nor Dmitri break their icy glare at the other.
"I'll have something together soon. I promise."
Dmitri breaks first, glancing at me. "There's no rush."
"If we don't order materials in the next forty-eight hours, we will lose big money every day," Maksim states in a deadpan voice.
"It's not Anna's fault Lada screwed us. She needs time to do her job," Dmitri insists.
"I'll have plans together to meet your deadline," I promise, not wanting to let anyone down or for them to lose money. But it's a huge project.