Chapter Seven
Mila
“Fuck, Mila!”
I grip onto the desk harder, my body violently jerking forward with the force of his thrusts. But he doesn’t relent, ramming into me again. And again. Until nothing but the sound of his fucking me from behind fills the office.
I grind my teeth hard, trying to be quiet despite the overwhelming pleasure coursing through me. It’s enough that anyone could walk in on us at any moment, the least I can do is not attract passersby.
But it’s hard. Oh, it’s so hard…
He feels so, so good.
I arch my back, dropping my forehead to the desk, as I try to catch up with the overwhelming sensations coursing through me.
Then, like it’s not enough that I’m barely holding myself up, he reaches around my hip and slides his hand between my folds, the pad of his finger stroking my clit in time with his deep, rhythmic thrusts.
“Oh, God,” I whisper. “Holy fuck! Yes…yes, Daddy!”
And suddenly, my body gives way, falling forward against the table. I slam my left palm over my mouth as a powerful scream tears through me. I’m coming so hard my body is shaking with the force of it.
Andrei growls, spanking my ass again so hard that I flinch and clench around him. He hisses, tugging my hair with a forceful pull as he comes hard and hot inside of me.
As if on cue, Andrei’s phone starts to ring. I laugh softly, breathless, my forehead still resting against the desk. He groans under his breath and reaches for the phone like it personally offended him.
“This had better be important,” he mutters, already answering as he steals one last, deep kiss from me—possessive, unhurried, like he’s reminding both of us who I belong to before turning his attention elsewhere.
I smile to myself and slip away while he’s distracted, padding into the adjoining bathroom on shaky legs.
The mirror tells on me immediately.
My cheeks are flushed, my hair messy. And I have that soft, dazed look I still haven’t learned how to hide. I rinse my hands, smooth myself out as best I can, and let out a quiet breath, grounding myself.
God. My life feels unreal lately.
The past few days have felt like a dream. We have fallen into a routine where I spend most nights in his house. And on those nights, after driving me to the brink with his hands and mouth and cock, he holds me and I fall asleep in his arms.
My cheeks heat up at the thought. I giggle, giving in to the bubbly feeling in my chest.
Lunch breaks are the best. Andrei summons me into his office and sometimes we eat. But sometimes we don’t. Like today…
He takes care of me so well and it’s getting hard to stop myself from calling him Daddy outside of private moments.
I’ve slipped once—caught myself just in time. My heart nearly stopped. Andrei had only smiled wickedly, later telling me I did well.
I feel like some staff members know that there’s something between Andrei and, especially Howard.
These days, he seems even more prickly than his usual self, constantly watching me like he’s waiting for me to mess up.
No one’s said anything outright, though.
If anything, the rest of the office seems…
lighter. Andrei’s been in a better mood so everyone’s happy.
Well, everyone except Howard.
I once mentioned to Andrei that I was scared of getting discovered and he reassured me that there’s no rule against us dating. Not that it would matter. He makes the rules.
I dry my hands, my thoughts drifting to my papaw.
He noticed the changes in me. Of course he did.
When I went home for clean clothes after my first night with Andrei, he’d looked at me for a long moment before smiling knowingly and saying that the only thing capable of keeping me away like this was a man. Then he told me he wanted to meet him.
Just like that. No interrogation or judgment.
Papaw has never tried to cage me. He’s never treated me like glass. He’s always been practical yet loving. He said he’s happy for me. That I look like I’ve fallen in love. The word still makes my chest tighten.
The problem isn’t my papaw.
It’s asking Andrei.
I haven’t yet. I’ve circled it for days, my nerves tangling tighter each time. We haven’t labeled anything so asking him to dinner with my grandfather seems…daunting.
But Papaw is getting impatient.
I take a breath and step back into the office just as Andrei ends his call. He looks every bit of the imposing CEO that he is—not a hint of the man who gave me a shattering orgasm minutes ago.
I, on the other hand, feel like I’m unable to erase the evidence of what he does to me. I feel like someone would take a look at me right now and be able to tell I just slept with the boss.
Andrei looks up the moment he sees me, his eyes searching my face. “You’re quiet,” he says, pulling me into his space, one hand settling possessively on my lower back. “What’s wrong, solnishka?”
I clear my throat nervously, my heart skipping unsteady. “I…um.” I swallow, then force myself to meet his eyes. “My grandfather wants to meet you.”
His brows lift slightly, but he doesn’t pull away. “He’s noticed I’ve been spending a lot of nights away,” I continue softly. “He asked if you’d have dinner with us. Tonight.”
The pause feels endless.
Then his expression shifts, something warm and serious settling into his features.
“I would be honored,” he says simply.
Relief crashes through me so hard my knees almost buckle. I smile, and unable to stop myself, I stand on my tiptoe and paste a quick kiss on his lips. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’ll have to do better than that, solnishka,” he murmurs against my lips, already stepping back. “Later, though. I have a meeting.”
I nod, blushing furiously when he winks and spanks my ass on his way out.
Gosh, my heart.
***
By evening, I’ve paced a groove into the entryway rug.
My grandfather’s house is massive, but tonight it feels too small for the weight sitting in my chest. I keep smoothing my dress, checking the time, walking to the door and back again like that might somehow steady my nerves.
The two men I love are about to meet. That thought alone makes my stomach twist.
“Mila, darling,” Papaw says gently behind me.
I spin around. He’s already dressed for dinner, immaculate as always, silver hair neatly combed, eyes sharp but gleaming with familiar fondness. He takes one look at my face and pulls me into his arms.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” he murmurs. “Relax. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
I laugh weakly into his chest. “Please do.”
The doorbell rings and my heart jumps straight into my throat. I take a deep breath and head for the door, barely holding myself back from sprinting toward it.
I open the door, and Andrei is there…dark coat, broad shoulders, calm confidence wrapped around him like armor. The sight of him steadies me instantly.
“Hi,” I breathe.
He smiles softly and leans in, kissing me slowly…unhurriedly. I sigh defeatedly, instantly melting into his arms. After he pulls back, he turns toward my grandfather and offers his hand.
“Good evening.”
My grandfather takes it. And everything changes.
I feel it before I understand it…the way Andrei’s smile thins just a fraction, the way my grandfather’s grip tightens, his eyes sharpening with something old and calculating.
“Mr. Popov,” my grandfather says calmly.
There’d been no introductions but he recognized him immediately.
My stomach drops.
I look between them, pulse roaring in my ears. “Wait…how do you two—?”
My grandfather releases Andrei’s hand and waves dismissively. “Later. Let’s eat first.”
I shake my head slightly in confusion but I know better than to ask questions now.
Dinner is uncomfortable even though Papaw tries to keep things light.
He asks Andrei about work, about Los Angeles, about shipping routes and logistics in a way that feels far too pointed to be casual.
Andrei answers politely, calmly, never once losing his composure.
But his eyes flick to me more than once…
like he’s checking on me. The room feels heavy with the weight of unspoken words.
By the time dessert is served, I can’t take it anymore.
“How do you know each other?” I demand, setting my fork down. “Enough of this.”
The room goes quiet. Papaw sighs and leans back in his chair. “You know I am a vor,” he says calmly.
I nod. I’ve always known. Even as a child, I understood enough to fear the nights he didn’t come home on time. The injuries he brushed off. The meetings he never explained.
“I didn’t lead a syndicate,” he continues, “but I’ve always been…involved.” My chest tightens as old memories resurface.
“Not long ago,” he goes on, eyes never leaving Andrei, “I presided over a skhodka. One where Boris Popov was sentenced to death. Andrei’s father.”
My breath leaves me in a rush.
I turn to Andrei, my head spinning with questions that don’t just make sense.
“So tell me, Andrei,” Papaw says coldly. “Is pursuing my granddaughter your way of settling old scores?”
The words slice clean through me but Andrei doesn’t flinch.
“No,” he says evenly. “I didn’t know you had a granddaughter. And I didn’t connect the dots when I met Mila. You don’t share a surname.”
I open my mouth, but he continues before I can speak.
“I was the one who provided the evidence against my father,” Andrei says quietly. “And I helped the Balshovs dismantle what was left of his empire.”
My grandfather studies him for a long time. Then a smile breaks on his face.
“You have the temperament of a vor,” he says approvingly. “Cool. Calculated. Dangerous when necessary.”
That’s it. I can’t listen to any of this anymore.
I push back from the table so hard my chair scrapes loudly against the floor. “I’ve heard enough.”
They both turn toward me, but I’m already moving, fury and hurt burning through my veins. I didn’t fall in love with a man…I fell in love with a lie.
I storm down the hall, barely making it past the first doorway before Andrei’s hand closes around my arm, turning me to face him.
“Mila.”
“Don’t,” I snap, yanking my arm back. “Just don’t.”
His face is tight…not angry, not defensive. Controlled. Intent.
“Everything between us was real,” he says firmly. “Everything I told you was the truth. Yes, my father was a pakhan. But I am not him. I never wanted to be.”
“You let me believe he was just a businessman,” I shoot back, tears burning my eyes. “That your sister was all the family you had left.”
“Which is true. After my father died, my mother fled to Russia. My sister is all I have left. But that past doesn’t define me,” he says. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want it touching you.”
“It already has,” I whisper.
He exhales slowly, visibly restraining himself. “I didn’t lie to manipulate you. I didn’t want to drag you into something I’ve spent my entire life trying to escape.”
I shake my head. “I need time. I need space.”
The words hurt to say but I mean them.
“Please,” I add quietly. “Go.”
He studies my face for a long moment. Then he nods but steps closer anyway. His hands frame my face, his forehead resting briefly against mine before he kisses me. Deep. Possessive. The kind of kiss that promises this isn’t over.
“I’ll give you tonight,” he murmurs against my lips. “One night.” Then he pulls back, his eyes dark and unyielding. “But tomorrow,” he continues softly, “I’m coming for you. Because you’re mine, and I don’t let go of what belongs to me.”
Then he steps out, the door closing firmly behind him.
Suddenly, my world feels like it’s cracked straight down the middle.