Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Riley
I should've taken the hint and left with the coffee.
But those thoughts locked me in place like chains around my ankles.
Nobody could resist Veronica's curves and that voice dripping with sex. Matvey wouldn't be any different.
Finally, after what felt like a century, the door opened.
Veronica came out clinging to Matvey's arm. They looked like a magazine cover—fashion week perfect. Something crushed my chest. I could barely breathe.
"You're Matvey's assistant?" Her eyes swept over me, pride mixed with contempt. "What's your name?"
"Riley."
"Riley..." She rolled my name around her mouth like she was tasting something bitter. "Let me give you some advice. Keep your mind on your work."
"Don't get any ideas."
Those fox-sharp eyes slid toward Matvey, and she pressed her chest against his arm. He didn't even flinch. Just let her hang on him like it was nothing.
"I..." The words caught in my throat.
Whatever this thing was between me and Matvey—it was ridiculous, wasn't it? He never said he loved me. If he told me right now that I'd imagined it all, I'd have no choice but to accept it.
His eyes finally found me, and what I saw there felt like being flayed alive. All that heat, that tenderness I'd seen before—gone. Nothing left but ash-cold indifference.
"Go do your job." His voice was flat. Then he turned to Veronica, tone softening. "Let's go."
I watched them step into the elevator and disappear.
All afternoon, my phone stayed silent. No emails. No texts. No Matvey.
Over the next few days, he barely showed up at the office. I saw him twice—quick glimpses, that's it. Didn't even get a chance to ask him what the hell was going on. Not that it mattered. His ex-wife came back, and suddenly I didn't exist. Even my work assignments came from her now, through email.
"Reconcile the supplier accounts from the last three quarters."
"Cross-check the European division reports and translate them into Russian for marketing."
"Create detailed lists for every event I'm attending—wardrobe, itinerary, guest list."
I was starting to think she'd dumped every possible task on my desk.
I missed Kate. Compared to this, her assignments had been a cakewalk. Now I was pushing twelve-hour days.
That's when a celebrity news alert popped up on my screen.
"Bykov Group CEO Makes Red Carpet Appearance with Ex-Wife—Reconciliation Rumors Swirl"
In the photo, Matvey wore a black suit. Veronica clung to his arm, face tilted up, smiling at him. They stood on some charity gala red carpet, lights blazing down on them. They looked perfect together. I stared at that photo until my vision blurred.
Matvey and Veronica were really getting back together. And if the rumors were true... Veronica was pregnant with his child?
Look at that, Riley. That's reality.
They walked red carpets in designer clothes, sipping champagne and laughing. Meanwhile, I dragged myself into the office before dawn, drowning in busywork. By the time I stumbled out of that building each night, my legs felt like lead.
Tonight was no different. When I got back to my shitty little apartment, all the neighbors' lights were already off. All I wanted was to collapse into bed. But the second I stepped inside and heard that dripping sound, I knew. Shit. The goddamn place was leaking again.
When I'd rented it, the landlord had warned me. "I can give you a discount if you can live with the occasional leak."
Sure, I could live with it. Just didn't expect it to be tonight.
I kicked off my shoes and ran to the bathroom. The floor was already flooded—if I'd come home any later, I'd have needed a life raft. And naturally, the rusted valve wouldn't budge.
"Oh... this is fucking great." I pressed my hand over the leak, but water kept spurting through my fingers.
I grabbed a rag and jammed it against the pipe, then reached for the toolbox in the corner.
Problem was, if I held the rag in place, I couldn't reach the toolbox.
But if I let go, the water pressure would blast the rag clear across the room.
Dammit! Just a few more inches! Why the hell couldn't I be taller?
I gritted my teeth and let go. The force of the water and the slick floor sent me straight on my ass. My clothes were instantly soaked, hair plastered to my face.
"Shit." I cursed and dragged the toolbox toward me.
That photo flashed through my mind again. Matvey's world was full of luxury I'd never touch. Everyone looked up to him. My world was busted pipes and flooded bathrooms. It was never just a transaction between us. It was two different worlds.
After what felt like forever, I finally got the crack wrapped in waterproof tape and forced the rusted valve shut.
The water stopped. I let out a breath.
Honestly, sometimes I wanted to disappear. Go somewhere nobody knew me. But my sister needed me. Needed those medical facilities.
Nothing was over yet.
I changed out of my soaked clothes and mopped up the water. By the time I fell into bed, the sky outside was already turning gray.
In a few hours, I'd have to drag myself back to the office with dark circles under my eyes. But what choice did I have? I needed this job. And I couldn't break that deal.
For the first time, my heartbeat felt like work.
I dragged my exhausted body into Matvey's office the next morning, only to find Veronica sitting in his chair.
"You're finally here! I was starting to think you'd be late."
She flashed a brilliant smile that made every hair on my neck stand up.
"Do you need something?" I slid into my seat without a word.
Today, Veronica wore a wine-red dress, auburn hair loosely pinned back with a few strands falling against her neck. Stunning. If I'd seen her on TV, I would've admired her beauty.
"I just think you're interesting." She stood and walked over to my desk, her slender fingers landing on my files. "You're a bit tougher than I expected."
I looked up and met those seductive fox eyes.
"You haven't quit yet—guess all this work must be easy for you."
Easy? Maybe she should try it herself.
"You know what?" She didn't wait for an answer, voice lazy. "When Matvey and I got married, you were probably still in school."
"So? Why are you telling me this?"
Marking territory? But I was just his bed partner at best. And after Veronica showed up, he couldn't even be bothered to look at me.
"I know about your deal with Matvey." Her tone was gentler than I expected. "You probably think you're special to him. That you've got a shot."
I did think that. But now, like Matvey said, I knew my place. He didn't give a damn about me—proved by how easily he'd told Veronica about our arrangement.
"He's a charming man, isn't he? Especially when he's cold and hard with everyone else, but shows you just a hint of warmth—you'd fall for it completely."
I felt exposed. Naked.
"You know him well?" The question escaped before I could stop it.
"We've known each other for over a decade." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling. "He never falls for women. Except me. We had a... misunderstanding, so we were apart for a while."
Every word tore through my insides.
"But he never got over me. And I couldn't forget him. So I came back. We're getting remarried soon."
My ears stopped working. Veronica's voice grew distant. If Matvey couldn't let her go, why the hell had he been so good to a hookup? Good enough to make me think he actually cared.
"Riley, you're a smart girl." She looked at me with pity. "You understand that Matvey was just amusing himself with you, right?"
Of course I understood. She and Matvey were in love. I was just in the way. They had love. Maybe even a baby. All I had with him was a transaction.
Acid burned through my nose, spreading through my whole body. I bit my lip to keep from crying.
"Are you done?" I forced the words out. "I need to work."
"Your main task today is coming with me to pick out a gown for the gala."
I froze. What the hell was she playing at? Shouldn't someone like her have designers creating custom pieces? Why would she need to try anything on?
"But... I've got a mountain of work to finish." I gestured at the piles on my desk. "You assigned all this. It's due tomorrow morning—"
"If you say no, don't bother coming in tomorrow. Bykov Group doesn't need employees who don't follow orders." Her voice was light. "And your sister's hospital bills? I suppose those can stop too."
Using my sister against me. That was low.
"That's between me and Matvey." Anger pounded through me. I shot to my feet. "The deal's already in effect! You can't just cancel it!"
"Riley, are you still dreaming?" She touched my forehead like I'd said the funniest thing in the world. "I just said you were smart. But you actually believed that bullshit deal?"
"Don't be stupid. That so-called transaction was just Matvey's whim. He can take it back whenever he wants, and you can't do a damn thing about it."
I wanted to argue back, but my throat locked up.
Face it, Riley. She was right. My fate, my second chance—just Matvey's charity. From the moment he bought me, he held all the cards.
"But... I'm his assistant. If you want me to go with you, he'd have to agree." I wiped my blurring eyes, making one last stand.
I still had so much work to do. No time for her little rich-girl games. And I had a feeling she was up to something. Only an idiot would believe she just wanted company while dress shopping.
Veronica's reaction wasn't what I expected. If anything, she looked like she'd been waiting for me to say exactly that.
"You're right." She pulled out her phone and dialed. "Maybe he'll refuse me. Who knows?"
But she was smiling when she said it. My heart dropped straight into my stomach.