Chapter 16
Cara
“If you’re going to shadow me, you’ll have to move faster than that.”
“Yes, Ms. Reynolds,” Gabe replies from ten feet behind me.
I power walk down the sidewalk, carrying a takeout bag from Kyoto Express in one hand and a sealed envelope with signed documents in the other. Today has been insanely busy, and I can’t have a slow bodyguard messing up my pace.
I should’ve brought Dmitri lunch twenty minutes ago, but someone had to investigate a suspicious person in the area before we could get out of the car. A familiar face. Possibly one of my father’s men.
Still, I can’t have any slowdowns when I’m trying to impress Dmitri.
He may already treat me as more than just an assistant, but if I suck at my job, that’ll cost me points in the game I’m playing with him.
Gabe overtakes me and holds the door to the building open, towering over me with his broad, muscular frame. He definitely looks like he’s bodyguard material.
“Thanks,” I say, willing myself to be kind despite my frustration.
And I’m frustrated about a lot lately.
Not only is my father still breathing down my neck, possibly sending his men to watch me, but I’ve also had a little…pent-up energy. Maybe a lot. All this silent sexual tension between Dmitri and me is messing with my head.
And reminding me of how long it’s been since I’ve let a guy into my bed.
That didn’t bother me for a while because I was so focused on school, internships, and trying to keep my father happy. But the moment that Dmitri entered my life with his good looks and dangerous charm, along with his constant, too-close proximity, it started becoming a problem.
Once I step into the elevator with Gabe, I push my hair back behind my shoulders, giving myself some breathing room as my skin heats up. I haven’t seen Dmitri even once today because we’ve both been so busy.
Admittedly, my heartbeat quickens every time I think about seeing him. He certainly keeps me on my toes.
“He can get quite hangry, so you might want to stay outside his office,” I warn Gabe once the elevator doors slide open.
“I’ll be on standby in case you have more errands to run, Ms. Reynolds,” Gabe replies as he comes to a stop next to Karly’s desk. “Ms. West.”
“I told you it’s Karly,” she says with a warm smile as she turns in her swivel chair toward him, smoothing down her maxi dress over her thighs.
“Karly,” Gabe repeats as the side of his mouth lifts a little. “I hope you’re having a good day.”
“It’s already starting to get a little better,” Karly replies as she gazes up at him. She might as well have hearts in her eyes.
A smile stretches across my face, but my mind quickly focuses back on Dmitri. Hopefully, he’s in a decent mood today despite my delays.
I open the double doors and step inside.
“There you are,” Dmitri says, something sharp and eager in his tone.
I walk up to his desk and set the takeout bag and the envelope down in front of him. “I’m sorry about being late for lunch. Gabe was concerned about a possible security threat, and that slowed me down.”
Dmitri watches me as I pull a few to-go boxes out of the paper bag. “What was the security threat?”
“It was just some random guy that Gabe thought was watching me,” I say with an unbothered shrug. I motion to the clasp envelope. “Jacobson signed the paperwork, so we’re good to go there. He should be getting in touch soon for a meeting with you.”
Dmitri’s eyes narrow a degree. “A guy was watching you?”
I pause and look up at him, not expecting him to latch on to that part out of all that I said. “It’s not a big deal. I think he was just…admiring me.”
Dmitri hums under his breath as he leans back in his chair, his hand briefly rubbing his jaw. “I guess I can’t blame him. Not when you’re wearing a skirt like that.”
Heat spreads across my cheeks as I glance down at the black pencil skirt that I have on. It’s a tad short, and it hugs my curves perfectly.
“I apologize if you don’t think it’s appropriate, sir,” I reply as I fidget with the ends of it, making a sorry attempt to pull the fabric farther down my thighs.
“I can barely think with you standing there like that,” Dmitri replies as he stares at my exposed legs the skirt doesn’t cover.
My eyes widen. He’s never spoken to me like this before.
“I can go home and change,” I offer. He’ll never ask me to do that, though. He’s entranced, and I can’t help but enjoy it.
Dmitri shakes his head. “Don’t change,” he says, voice low. “Not a thing, milaya.”
My heart pounds hard and fast as I stare at him, unsure of what to do or say. I thought I would have to push him some more to reach this point, but it looks like he got there himself. Something snapped in him.
“Yes, sir,” I say as I join my hands behind me, not obstructing the view of my outfit.
Dmitri stares like he’s drinking in the sight of me. No man has ever looked at me this way before. I enjoy his attention way too much.
Nervousness flutters low in my stomach as I stand there on display. He’s been driving me crazy lately, always so dark and brooding in his perfectly tailored suits or with his sleeves rolled up to reveal forearm porn.
I can’t afford distractions.
“Are you hungry?” I manage to say.
“Always,” Dmitri replies, his eyes not leaving mine.
Something tells me that he isn’t talking about food. Regardless, I grab his food containers and chopsticks, then lean across his desk to place them in front of him.
Dmitri tilts his head a little. “You’ll stay here for the rest of the day. Where I can keep an eye on you.”
“Worried about me?” I ask as I straighten back up, lunch becoming the last thing on my mind. He’s eating me up with his eyes, and I’m not going to stop him.
I encourage it. For the plan and, admittedly, for myself.
I’m only human, and he’s attractive. But that’s all there is between us.
“Worried? Yes, always,” Dmitri replies, not touching his food just yet. “But mostly I just want you where I can see you, no one else.”
A smile teases my lips. “Then, I’ll happily stay here and work.”
A satisfied expression settles on his face before he opens the box with his seaweed salad inside. He starts eating, and the silence, free from his flirting and teasing, allows me to actually take a deep breath and gather myself.
Before I sit down to eat, I move my food to the side of the desk and pull out the documents in the envelope so that he can review them when he’s done.
I’m completely in my zone, enjoying my sushi until I hear the sound of a phone camera snapping a picture.
My eyes dart up to see Dmitri’s phone in his hand. Did he just take a photo of me?
“What are you doing?” I ask him as I swallow my food and stand up from my chair, my eyes narrowing at him.
Dmitri takes another photo with a smirk on his face. “Just taking a few pictures of you.”
I blink at him. “Why?”
Dmitri lowers his phone. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
Our eyes meet once more in the heavy silence as tension charges the air. “For my viewing pleasure later.”
His large office somehow feels so incredibly small after he gives me his explanation.
My cheeks heat up as I process his words. Just the thought of him looking at my pictures with his hand in the front of his pants and his head tilted back in bliss makes me weak in the knees. I’m forced to sink down into my seat.
I need to pull myself together. I need to keep up the game.
If I play my cards right, I’ll be tempting enough for him to abandon his soon-to-be marriage and crazy bride. I’ve already worn him down to this point.
“Take another one,” I tell him as I cross my legs and fix my hair. “I wasn’t ready for those. My mouth was still full.”
Dmitri’s blue eyes visibly darken as he watches me pose for him. Just for him. He raises his phone and waits for me to lift my eyes before snapping another picture.
“That’s my favorite,” he says as he checks out the photo, his other hand dropping to rest on his thigh.
I stare at the top of the desk, wishing that I could see through it. Is he turned on right now? Is he hard?
My stomach flips at the thought, and it doesn’t help that he starts slowly rubbing his thigh.
“You’re definitely the most attractive assistant that I’ve ever had,” Dmitri says as he shuts off his phone and places it on the desk.
So, he remembers that’s our initial relationship. Boss and employee. That doesn’t seem to be stopping him from flirting with me, though.
Maybe Annika annoyed him today, and he’s just being spiteful. If he wants to really piss her off, flirting with me and having pictures of me on his phone are solid ways to do that. She seems like the type to go snooping through his devices.
“I’m flattered,” I say, being coy. Teasing him, while also being honest.
I don’t think I’m anything special. I’ve never had a problem getting a date, but no guy has ever been so obsessed with me. Or failed to quickly move on to their next conquest.
I wasn’t even sure if I could entice a man like Dmitri at the beginning, but it seems like I don’t have to work as hard anymore to tempt him.
“I’m sure you hear it all the time. How beautiful you are,” Dmitri replies casually, like it’s a fact.
“Not that often,” I assure him.
“You’re humble. That’s admirable,” Dmitri says. “But you don’t have to be demure around me. You should own all that raw power you wield with your beauty and brains.”
“Noted,” I say with a light nod.
He’s right. I want him unraveling. I want to have all the power over him.
Even if a small part of me wants to surrender to him.
All I know is that I want to keep this game going between us.
Dmitri turns his attention back to his lunch and starts eating in silence.
Does he think that he’s going too far? Is he regretting his words? Or is he thinking of how to further things?
Whatever he decides, I need to be ready. If he pulls away, I have to coax him back. If he gets closer, I’ll have to figure out a way to seal the deal and make him turn his back on Annika and her father.
Once we finish lunch, Dmitri and I work in his office. His eyes stray to me and linger every once in a while, but he doesn’t say anything else flirty to me. He’s retreating.
I need him to know that I don’t mind at all. For the plan’s sake.
And my own.
If I’m honest with myself, if it comes down to crossing that line with him, I’m not entirely certain I would refuse. He’s dangerously hot, and it could be the final step needed to end the engagement.
Before I know it, five o’clock arrives. I sit there for a few extra minutes, waiting to see if Dmitri will make a move or invite me out somewhere.
“Go on home, Cara,” Dmitri says after checking his watch. His eyes go right back to his laptop screen, though, as he focuses back on whatever he’s working on.
I blink in surprise. Dammit, I’m already losing him.
“Goodnight, Dmitri,” I reply as I stand from the desk.
That catches his attention, making him pause his work as his name leaves my lips.
With a knowing smile, I turn and walk out of his office.
Tomorrow, I’ll push him over the edge.