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I responded with a tight-lipped look, determined not to say anything that could incriminate me.
“Is it because he’shuge?”
“Alyx!”My phone rang at the same time, and the three of us started, looking at each other guiltily even knowing Sergei Grachyov wasn’t around to hear us talking about his package.
My phone continued to ring, but before I could cancel the call, Alyx completely took me by surprise as she reached for my phone and pressed the answer button.
“Alyx,” I hissed, but it was too late.
The call had connected, and Alyx only flashed me a sly grin, mouthing,Loudspeaker please.
No way,I mouthed back furiously. My gaze flew back to the phone, and with the time counter still running, I knew Sergei still hadn’t dropped the call. I reluctantly reached for my iPhone, mumbling, “Hello?”
“I’m sorry,pchelka.I would have been there if it were possible.”
“I understand,” I said very, very brightly. I had my pride, too, and I didn’t want him to realize how much his absence hurt.
“We had an emergency at the company, and with Papa still in Moscow, I was the only one who could take care of it.”
“I really understand.” I knew he wasn’t the type to lie about things like this, but even so.
“S dnem rozhdeniya.” The billionaire’s voice was soft but thickly accented, tender and fierce.
Damn him.The sound of his voice, combined with the birthday greeting, made my knees go weak under the table, and I hated it.
I hated this.
I hated him.
“I miss you,pchelka.”
No, you don’t,I thought. If he had, then he should have been here with me.
“I’ll be there tomorrow—-”
“Please don’t bother,” I heard myself say in a sweet voice.
“Fredericka—-”
“I think it’s good we spend a bit more time apart anyway.” In front of me, Alyx and Anneke gawked openly at my words.
“Is that so?” The Russian billionaire’s voice had become stiff.
I forced a laugh, asking, “You do know the paparazzi has taken to calling meAttorney Moneypenny,right?”
My “nickname” was due to the fact that my platonic-on-the-surface relationship with the Russian billionaire reminded people of James Bond’s friendship with M’s secretary, and as one tabloid had spun it, ‘I was the only woman to make the billionaire smile, the only woman Sergei Grachyov trusts because he knew my career meant more to me than being his girlfriend.’
They were right in a way, but they had also missed the pertinent fact that the Russian billionaire was exactly like me. As tonight had proved, work also meant more to him than our friendship did.
“I am aware of it.” The Russian billionaire seemed to be picking his words with care. “Does it displease you?”
“It does, actually. No single guy’s tried to approach me ever since people think I’myourMiss Moneypenny.”
Anneke’s jaw dropped at my words while Alyx simply looked at me like I had lost my mind.
“I see.” Sergei’s tone had never been colder than it was at that moment, but I told myself I was fine with it. “Prosti.I failed to realize how undesirable my presence in your life has become.”
The stiff formality in his words made me flinch, and I wanted to childishly snarl at him that 24-year-old guys like him shouldn’t speak English like he had a master’s degree in literature. I was the lawyer here, the professional, while he was the billionaire playboy who also happened to besix years younger.It wasn’t right that he was making me feel like I was the one acting immature.