Page 23 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“Right this way, Ms. Anika.” Levi gestured ahead of him politely like a pseudo-gentleman.

Anika stepped forward, her sensible heelsclickingagainst 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’reobligatedto 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.”