Chapter 8 An Unsettling Curiosity
An Unsettling Curiosity
Anika
To both her disappointment and predetermined expectations, Mikko was not the one who stepped out of the glaringly white BMW the next day. Instead, a man with blond hair and a navy button down greeted her.
In the softening dusk light, his blue eyes were striking, maybe even disarming to some, but Anika kept her guard up. While this wasn’t how her original plan had been, she could make due.
What’s the saying? When life gives you lemons…
Brushing her hair over her shoulder, Anika extended a hand, introductions already rolling off her tongue. “Anika, and you must be…”
“Levi,” he said as his warm hand slid over hers, a loose shake completing the social dance.
“Ahh, and here I thought Mr. Romanov himself would come to greet me for one of his properties”—a lie—“but I assume that’s because he’s a busy man.”
“Indeed he is, but I can assure you, you’re in good hands with me.”
His lowered tone made her think he was referring to something else too, but she ignored it, pasting a pretty smile on her face. “I have no doubt.”
“Well, let’s take a closer look, and see if this place is the right fit for you,” he said while they walked. “You said you started a leather goods business?”
Another deception, but what fun was life without a little spice.
“Yes, I started off in my home studio, making small wallets, book marks, and purses. Now it’s grown into something I need a few more people for and a place to store goods. My house is a mess because of it.”
Nodding, he took it all in, ever the keen listener. “Good to know, if anything, this warehouse might even be one you can grow into as you expand your items.”
“That’s the plan.” Among other things…
“Right this way, Ms. Anika.” Levi gestured ahead of him politely like a pseudo-gentleman.
Anika stepped forward, her sensible heels clicking against the filth surrounding them.
“I’ve noticed this property has been on the market for a couple weeks now,” Anika began as she waited for Levi to unlock the entrance door. “Is something terribly wrong with it?”
Looking up, she traced over the historic brick with perceptive eyes, noting some spalling and cracking marring the bricks.
But more than that, she saw Levi’s attention turn to her.
Her neck was elongated as she peered up, hair effortlessly tossed over her shoulder, and in a moment when he thought she wasn’t looking, he drank her in.
Typical.
Is it bad I’m wishing for Mikko right now instead of this prick?
Too late to abandon her task now.
Quickly, turning back, she caught Levi still staring at her, his grin slimy. “Nothing is wrong with it per say, it just needs some TLC.”
“I feel like that’s a line you’re obligated to tell me,” she teased.
He chuckled and motioned for her to step into the warehouse. A tingling sensation skittered up her spine, and she couldn’t tell if it was from turning her back to a stranger or something else. There was no time to dissect it since Levi was already closing in on her heels and blabbing in her ear.
“I’m on your side here,” he said, “at the end of the day, our clients’ satisfaction means the most to us.” Another regurgitated line if she’d ever heard one. “I think it’s important to look past the superficial and see what the space could be.”
“I’m trying…” she started, feigning ignorance. “It’s a bit difficult though.”
Water pooled on the cracked concrete slab throughout the open space, the roof compromised in many areas.
Large wooden beams held up the overhead structure, the craftsmanship evident despite the wear on the material.
The large industrial windows let in diffused light, their hazy quality due to the grime coating the panes.
Oil stains marred the hard floor as well, the previous owner uncaring for the mess left behind along with rusted equipment.
“We can always produce renderings of the space if necessary,” Levi answered, his eyes following hers across the squalid space. “Many of our clients have found those helpful when it comes to properties in this condition.”
“I’m assuming those are an added cost?”
Levi smiled as if that would make her forget about the dollar signs he wanted her to spend. “We can have it budgeted into our service agreement.”
Internally, she sighed. Externally, “I’ll have to think about it. I feel I can get a pretty good idea what the space can be like already.”
She stepped away, trying to put some distance between them while pretending to inspect one of the closest columns, but he was as persistent as her shadow.
“Of course,” he said, “I can give you my business card in case you change your mind.”
“Perfect, thank you.”
He swiftly procured a crisp white piece of cardstock, letting his fingers brush over hers as he handed it off. She bit back a retort, wishing to verbally lash out at him for his stupidity. Instead, she played the game.
Levi Lantsov.
His face was emblazoned across half of the card. Anika stifled her laughter at the sheer audacity of the photo, but that wasn’t what she was looking for. There, displayed beneath his name, was an address. She noted it was different from the Romanov’s Headquarters downtown.
“Did your office move locations?” she asked innocently.
“Oh, no, that’s my personal address.”
“On a business card?”
He winked. “Yep, you never know when connections are going to be made or when clients might need to stop by.”
Oh, gods the way she wished she could punt this slimy man across the warehouse. “Of course…makes perfect sense.” Lying became easy when she was around people like Levi.
“Do you have a card?” he asked.
“Yeah, hang on,” she rifled through her purse while he watched her, his eyes leaving a burning trail across her exposed skin. Or a rash more like. “Here you go.”
She handed it to him, the cream paper and dark text much classier than his, but she kept her opinions to herself.
His eyes narrowed at her title. “A financial data analyst, huh? So the leather goods really is just a hobby?”
“You could say that.”
Levi pocketed her card before placing a hand between her shoulder blades and leading her out. “I do love a business savvy woman.”
She fought to shake him off.
This shit better be worth it…
* * *
Mikko
Fuck.
He was in so much trouble.
Despite telling himself he wasn’t ready to face Anika, he’d still found his way to the property.
So much for not doing anything stupid.
Mikko had ridden his motorcycle to work that morning, and so he’d donned his gear once more and headed out.
Since the exhaust was loud and conspicuous, he’d been forced to cut the engine and coast up the side alley leading to the warehouse.
His tires crunched over the small pieces of gravel littering the road, but that was the only sound he made.
He tucked himself away into a space diagonally opposite of the property before locking the handlebars of his bike and walking the rest of the short distance.
He crept closer, his identity hidden beneath his helmet while he focused on keeping his breathing calm and his mind semi-clear.
All things he was discovering to be nearly impossible when Anika was involved.
Slinking between the historic brick walls, he honed in on the side entrance of the warehouse Anika had requested to view.
The neighboring facilities looked similar and were also vacant.
Soon, this area would be revitalized, sporting shops and cafés and living spaces for those eager for a taste of what it was like in the industrial part of the city.
Until then, the area was quiet as if holding its breath. The ghosts of its past were silent for now.
Rounding a corner, he heard Levi’s muffled talking. Striding closer, he remained concealed, but popped his visor up to let in a breeze along with a clearer version of Levi’s voice.
“—just needs some TLC,” Levi stated. His charm was turned on, forever embodying a salesperson. Mikko also assumed talking to a beautiful woman inflated his ego farther, his chest puffed out to impress.
“I feel like that’s a line you’re obligated to tell me.” Her voice was as he remembered it, enticing and dangerous. Although now, it seemed as though she’d lightened it, her own business facade slipping into place.
Pressed against the brick of a nearby building, he listened as they walked closer toward the entrance. Caution flared in his gut.
Levi chuckled at her words, and Mikko gritted his teeth. “I’m on your side here. At the end of the day, our clients’ satisfaction means the most to us.” The way he said it made Mikko’s gloved fists tighten. He could only imagine the way Levi’s eyes roved over Anika.
Yet here he was, hiding out like a scared child, forced to listen to Levi—a shameless flirt—while he talked with Anika. Maybe Mikko should’ve known this was the direction his employee would’ve taken things, but he’d been too preoccupied with avoiding her altogether.
The creak of metal hinges snapped him back to the present, his hairline prickling with sweat.
After a few moments filled with his deep breaths, he finally peeked around the corner.
With them now inside, he knew he wouldn’t be spotted.
There, parked in the drive was Levi’s shiny BMW and behind it was what he assumed was Anika’s car.
Her black sedan, a Kia K5, glinted in the evening sun.
Mikko added her car make, model, the color black, and her tags to his ever-growing mental list.