Page 50 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

Does your boss know?:Anika

Levi:No, he’s too busy to care about what I’m doing

Anika felt her brow arch in interest; duly noted.

And if we have dinner and I hate you, you’ll delete my number?:Anika

Levi:Whatever you want

Dangerous words to say to a stranger:Anika

Levi:You’re hardly a stranger

Levi:So, is that a yes?

Persuasive little twat. She’d admit that Levi was attractive, someone most women would fawn over, but she found him to be slimy. Besides, her life wasn’t meant for finding love. It was forged for revenge.

Which had an idea popping into her head.

She was certain Mikko had her in his crosshairs, their interaction outside her gym all she needed to know. While it’d been unexpected, she knew it was only a matter of time before he let his compulsive tendencies win. From her own personal research and experience, Anika knew he tried to remain unfeeling and unreadable in the face of others, but there were telltale signs of his facade cracking.

She’d heard rumors and murmurs of his men spreading their dissent. Comments of him “being too young” or “too emotional for the ruthless family business” or “he’s nothing at all like his father.” The last one had piqued her interest a couple weeks ago. How could Alek’s spawnnotbe like him?

It was an impossible feat, one Anika wanted to discover for herself.

Levi:Man, you’re playing hard to get with me right now, aren’t you?

His persistence reminded her of her own. Maybe fate had a reason for allowing her to meet Levi. Another sip of her coffee had the feelingsin her chest settling as another layer of her mind unraveled itself.

I’ll only agree if you take me to my favorite restaurant:Anika

Levi:Done

* * *

A FAINT KNOCK sounded on the frame of her office door. Expecting a fellow coworker heading out for the day, she glanced up—

What the fuck.

There, standing with his hands behind his back, was Levi. His icy gaze tracked her movements, something coy laying in wait there. Anger pooled in her gut; she’d never given him her work address.

“Didn’t expect you to be tucked all the way back here in your own office,” he began, voice easygoing like she’d invited him here.

Keeping her fury in check, she cocked her head. “Not sure what you mean by that”—she glanced at her watch—“and you’re early.”

“Nervous habit.”Doubtful.“You’ve got a nice view though,” he continued, stepping into her space. She noted the exquisite detailing of his suit, the price of it more than her mortgage payment if she had to guess. And as soon as she was about to counter, his hands unveiled what had been hiding behind his back.

A bouquet of flowers.

A romantic gesture to most, but her extensive plant knowledge couldn’t help but force her to linger on what kind of flowers he’d brought.

Leafy ferns were the backdrop to golden columbines and vibrant purple snapdragons.

Fascination, foolishness, and deception.

Did he know what this meant? Surely he had to, but Anika wasn’t entirely sure his brain functioned so acutely.

Her teeth gritted. Through text, he seemed eager like she was his first ever date, but now he was off-putting.Even last week when she’d walked through the warehouse with him, he’d been lighter. Maybe he’d set his sights on trying to persuade her to buy from Romanov Real Estate. Most people were either too scared to work with them or too scared to turn them down. She had a feeling Levi was hardly ever told no.