Chapter 18 It’s Not A Crush
It’s Not A Crush
Cristiano
“While I know you hate being in the office, did you think I wouldn’t notice your absence?” Cristiano teased.
Mikko leveled him with a look that would’ve sent most running, but Cristiano wasn’t most people. Emerald eyes flicked from Cristiano’s face to his hair. “And you thought I wouldn’t notice that color?”
Cristiano’s hand rubbed across his short hair. “That color is green, and don’t try to change the subject on me—”
“Neon green,” Mikko countered over Cristiano. Now, it was time for him to glare at Mikko. “You look radioactive.”
“Okay, fine, it’s neon green, but not much would cover the blue, so…” A shrug was all he could give Mikko as he ignored the latter half of his friend’s comment. “Your turn.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If you think you can lie to me of all people, try again.”
“Fine,” Mikko carded his hands through his hair four times which Cristiano knew to be one of his tells, “I may be a little more absent because I’m trying to get to the bottom of whoever targeted Ivan, and in turn, targeted us.”
Nodding, Cristiano waited for him to reveal more, even if it was like pulling fuckin’ teeth. Mikko continued, “If you’re looking for more of an update, that’s all I have unfortunately.”
“While I believe you on that topic, that doesn’t mean you get off easy on this.” Before Mikko could protest, Cristiano pulled out a plastic bag containing a note and what appeared to be remnants of a chewed piece of gum. He tried not to look at it for too long, the sight grossing him out.
“Where’d you find that?” Mikko’s tone was sharp.
“Laying in an unlocked drawer in your desk.” The plastic crinkled as Cristiano shook the bag. “Gonna tell me what it’s all about? Especially the ominous note?”
Mikko’s jaw clenched and unclenched. Another tell. If Mikko had it his way, nothing of importance would be revealed, but Cristiano could be annoyingly persuasive.
“Ominous is a bit bold—”
Cristiano cleared his throat and smoothed the plastic out over the note inside. “‘I’ve waited a long time to devour you,’” he quoted. “Sounds pretty ominous to me. Or kinky…”
Another sigh from his friend-turned-boss. There was no escaping Cristiano’s interrogation methods.
“If you must know, I found it stuck to my motorcycle the night after we interrogated Ivan.”
“If this has to do with Ivan, I think I should know. But also ew. Is that what the gum is doing in here?” Cristiano side eyed it before he flicked his gaze back to his friend, a light bulb going off in his head. “So that wasn’t a fucking ticket you liar.”
“Yes, it was used to adhere the note.” Ew again. “But it’s also partially responsible for my absence.” Mikko’s fingertips pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m trying to find out if it’s a threat or something left in jest.”
“Tell me you’ve at least figured that out.
” The tilt of Cristiano’s green head had Mikko’s mouth pinching into a line.
“Did you send the gum out to get tested at one of our labs? We have so many connections and people who owe us, you’d be dumb not to.
” Cristiano paused, something like regret lining his voice as he added on, “And please, for the love of God, tell me you didn’t chew—”
A sharp slap of papers on Mikko’s desk halted the rest of Cristiano’s words. “Yes, I had Dr. ?ofia run tests on it, which is why there’s only a small portion of the sample left.”
Cristiano looked at the papers currently under Mikko’s protective palm. It was a thick manila folder. “And?”
“And nothing.”
“One of our men has died suspiciously, Mikko, you don’t think sharing any info you have is important?”
Mikko huffed. “I don’t want you getting involved.”
“I work for you, I have to get involved. It’s actually part of my job description.”
“And you will, once I get the details sorted. Just keep pushing on the leads you’re chasing down with Devon.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” The sarcasm was hard to miss in Cristiano’s tone. “I’m not sharing my leads unless you share yours, so…care to divulge what you know?”
“Not really.”
“I see why women avoid you—you’re a ball of tense energy. It’s a turn-off.”
“Some people like tense,” Mikko replied.
“Yeah, massage therapists. You keep them in business.”
“Who said it was massage therapists?” He shook his head. “But tense and hard are two very different things.”
“Stop,” Cristiano held up a hand before walking closer to Mikko’s desk, dropping the bag near the manila folder, “I don’t need to think about what I think you’re referring to.”
Mikko chuckled softly. His faint smile erased some of the tension resting on his friend’s countenance.
At the end of the day, Cristiano knew he taunted Mikko until the point of annoyance, but he did it as a distraction.
Whatever he had to do to see his friend smile, he’d do it.
It was the least they could do for themselves—two men who’d been forced to grow up too fast.
There’d been many times Cristiano had stayed on the phone with Mikko years ago when Alek would come home drunk and searching for a reason to explode.
The sounds of screaming and a crackling fire still haunted him—
“Seriously, though, you know where to find me if you need help sorting out information.” The offer conveyed more than both men were willing to say, but they understood it all the same.
“Even if I didn’t, your hair would point me in the right direction.”
“Hey, you’re just mad you can’t pull this off.” Cristiano gestured from his face to his outfit. He was dressed more casually today, business attire something he tended to stay away from; unless it was a soft sweater and comfortable slacks with his favorite Italian loafers.
Now neutral colors adorned his body—an oversized sweater providing warmth on an October day along with baggy cargo pants. A single gold chain dangled from around his neck and clean sneakers brought his outfit together.
“Maybe so,” was all Mikko said, his crisp suit a stark comparison to Cristiano’s attire.
Cristiano made to leave, knowing Mikko wouldn’t give him much more unless it was absolutely necessary, but he paused. “Actually, I have one more question.”
Mikko shuffled some papers around on his desk, pointedly avoiding looking at the plastic bag. “Of course you do. Will you go away if I answer?”
“Maybe,” Cristiano smirked. Mikko motioned for him to go on. “The handwriting on the note, it looks feminine.”
“And?”
“Are you sure you don’t have a secret admirer?”
Mikko’s swallow was audible. “I don’t think that’s what this is.”
“I don’t know, man, you’re a pretty big name now.”
That made something glimmer in Mikko’s eyes, and Cristiano couldn’t place it, but it made him want to press a little harder. So he did. “Do you have a crush? Someone you’re sneaking out to meet, Mikko? I won’t tell if you—”
“No.”
“Are you sure?” he stepped closer. “You can tell me. Hell, I might be able to even give you some pretty good advice.”
“I don’t need your advice.”
“Oh, so you do have a secret little lover—”
“No,” Mikko cut in. “I don’t need your advice because there is no admirer, crush, whatever you want to label it as!”
Cris smiled. Mikko was lying his ass off right now.
Usually work never got him this fired up which meant it wasn’t work related at all.
The only other time he’d seen him like this was with Samantha and Ellie; two of his serious relationships that had gone wrong years ago.
“I don’t know, you’re getting pretty flustered about this.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Mikko. Who is she? ”
“Cristiano.”
Oh, fuck, he thought, I know that tone. While he could push his friend more than most, he still had a limit.
“There isn’t anyone, and even if there was, I wouldn’t be coming to you for dating advice.”
Mikko’s stern look made Cristiano hesitate, but his brain was unable to stop the words falling from his mouth. “I think the reviews I’ve gotten from some past lovers might change your mind, besides who said anything about dating? I was going to—”
“Cristiano.”
“Yes?”
“Get out.”
The way Mikko was sitting there, his discomfort palpable, had a grin threatening to stretch across his face.
Stifling it, he nodded and slowly backed out of Mikko’s office with his hands up in mock surrender.
Someone had gotten under his friend’s skin, and Cristiano wasn’t sure if he was excited or terrified.
Maybe both.
“My offer still stands,” Cristiano tacked on as he slipped through the door. The only response he got was Mikko flipping him off. As he closed the door, a chuckle burst free from his lips, and he didn’t stop laughing until he got all the way back downstairs to his Mercedes parked along the curb.
* * *
LATER THAT EVENING, Cristiano was debating between going out with a few acquaintances or staying in.
My couch does look awfully comfy…
Unlike Mikko, who was a natural born recluse—a surprising fact to many since he was the CEO of Romanov Real Estate—Cristiano tried to fill his time with noise. Being alone wasn’t an issue, it was the thoughts plaguing him that were. He’d learned that the hard way growing up.
So now, as an adult, he liked to use what little free time he had for himself.
And that meant mingling with whoever was available.
No one would understand him like Mikko, that was a once in a lifetime friendship, but on nights like these, that didn’t matter.
Cristiano needed a distraction. Both from Ivan’s case and whatever Mikko wasn’t telling him.
He knew he’d come around eventually, but it still stung to be kept in the dark.
Cris told himself it was a by-product of Mikko being Alek’s son.
His fingertip brushed across the clothing in his closet as his mind weighed his options for each outfit idea—
Ring!
“Speaking of distractions,” he muttered as he turned back to his bed, phone screen alight with Mikko’s photo and number.
“Finally cave and decide to ask me for relationship advice?” Cristiano said, unable to help himself.
“Sometimes I could slap you.” Mikko’s voice was humorous, but there was an underlying shortness; something was wrong.
“Hey, sometimes violence isn’t the answer. Remember how you gave me this job because you liked me and wanted me close and needed an extrovert to help you through all your clumsy interactions—”
“Cristiano.” It was the third time in one day he’d been scolded by Mikko. He was toeing a dangerous line.
“Sorry, boss.” He wasn’t, but he was more concerned with Mikko’s unusual tone than joking anymore. “What’d ya call me for?”
“How long have you known that Levi has been texting one of our clients?”
“Umm, I didn’t know. Why? Is there a problem?” It wasn’t unheard of for realtors and other employees at Romanov to text clients.
“It hasn’t been work related.”
Oh. “Well, that’s not unusual for him. I find him to be quite…what’s the word…uncouth.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this before I let him attend a showing with a woman?”
A woman, huh? “I feel like there’s no right answer here, boss. I know just as much as you do, probably less honestly. I didn’t even know he’d been messaging someone.” A thought clicked into his head. “Speaking of which, how do you know he’s been talking to a client?”
Mikko huffed. “That’s not important.”
“Oh, but I think it is,” Cristiano’s neck was prickling. He knew his friend. “It’s the same woman who left the note on your motorcycle, isn’t it?”
“No, that’s not—”
“Don’t be coy with me, half the city owes you favors, and the other half you could buy,” Cristiano countered, knowing he was onto something. “And that thick ass manila folder on your desk had to contain something. What were the lab results?”
“While that may be true, I wouldn’t—”
“Oh, you so would,” Cristiano practically shouted, his intuition screaming at him. “I knew you had a crush. So, tell me, who is she? Levi is a twat, and you can probably impress her way more than that dud of an agent could.”
“She’s not a crush, she’s a client,” Mikko corrected.
“Perhaps, but if you’re two consenting adults…”
“Stop, it’s not going to happen. Besides, the company is consuming most of my time, especially now that Ivan is dead.”
“If you say so, boss. I won’t stop you, but when you’re ready to admit your feelings, I’ll be here.” Cristiano grinned. “I won’t even tell you ‘I told you so.’”
Mikko’s voice sounded farther away, like he’d stepped away to get something. “How generous of you.”
“Hey, my generosity is what gets me ahead in life. It’s what brought me to you after all.” It was meant to be a playful jab, but the way the words fell from his mouth felt more like an admission.
Shaking his head, Cristiano continued, “Regardless, if you change your mind, or want me to put itching powder in Levi’s underwear, I’ll do it. Just say the word.”
“I don’t want to even know how you thought of that, or why, but thank you…I think.”
Cristiano turned back to his closet. “Anytime.”
“I’m going to go for a ride to clear my head”—the telltale sound of his voice echoing in a parking garage confirmed his location—“but until I can completely clear her, Anika is dangerous and all of us should stay away from her.”
“Anika, huh?” Cristiano caught Mikko’s slip up. “So she has a name now?” It was a shame no one but his clothes could see his eyebrows wiggle.
“Forget about it,” Mikko’s motorcycle’s exhaust rumbled to life in the background, “just steer clear.”
“Of course, boss, wouldn’t want her meeting me before you now, would we? Might ruin your chances with her.”
He yearned to annoy Mikko farther, but the line went dead. “And people say I’m the dramatic one.”