Page 19 of Forbidden Boss

We cut through midtown faster than I thought was possible. We head west and reach a building I recognize as Lev’s. Marcus presses a button on the rearview mirror, and a gate opens for us. We glide into a private garage and drive to the top floor.

No one helps me out. Yuri is a wall that moves. He steers me into a freight elevator that smells like clean metal and shuts the doors with his hand. It rises without anyone pressing a button. When it opens, the air changes.

The penthouse is all glass and stone. The city sits under it like a model. Lev is pacing with a phone to his ear, jacket off, sleeves rolled. His eyes cut to me briefly before he turns all his attention back to the person on the other end of the line. I step out of the elevator and wait for an explanation.

Lev reaches the window, stops, listens, and turns. “Do it,” he says into the phone. “No noise.” He ends the call, and the silence feels heavy.

I’m so dazed I’m not even sure what to say to him. I’m both incredibly pissed and a little scared. I try for a middle ground.

“You had me dragged out of my office by a stranger,” I say as calmly as I can manage.

His gaze rakes me head to toe, as if scanning. “Mari, this is Yuri,” he says, sarcasm threading the words. “I assume you’ve become fast friends in the time you were in the car.”

I roll my eyes and challenge him. “What the hell is going on?”

“Are you okay?” he asks instead, with more concern than I’d expect.

“Yes,” I answer, annoyed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He looks at Yuri, then back to me. The line of his jaw is tight. “There was an incident,” he says vaguely.

“Define incident.” I keep my voice level, but my palms are damp and my heart is racing.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he says with nonchalance. “It’s contained.”

“That isn’t an answer.” I set my bag on a chair and square my shoulders. “You can’t just pull me away from my work and then refuse to answer my questions.”

“I am your boss, Mari,” he says with authority. “During work hours, I can do whatever I want, and I don’t have to tell you anything.”

His jaw shifts. He glances at Yuri, who has become part of the wall, then back at me, waiting to see how I’ll respond.

“No,” I say in a huff. “I don’t accept that. You said you would be honest with me. If I’m in danger, I have a right to know.”

He exhales once, sharply. “I ordered a hit,” he says plainly.

The words land harshly at my feet, and I play them over in my head. He ordered a hit. He had someone killed. I think I’m going to be sick.

“Some people are angry,” he continues. “It’s not a big deal.”

My heart knocks against my ribs.

“Not a big deal,” I repeat, scoffing. “Then why was I rushed out of my office like the building was on fire?”

He looks uncomfortable, which isn’t an expression I’m used to on him. The silence stretches between us, but I refuse to back down. He sighs heavily.

“Someone sent me a troubling picture,” he finally admits. “Of you.”

A chill runs up my spine. “Oh,” I breathe.

I feel dizzy. My face is flushing, and the room is definitely spinning.

“What was I doing in the picture?” I manage to ask, as if it matters.

“You were leaving the mansion,” he says, but I hardly hear him over the roaring in my ears. “They took it from a high angle, but they were close.”

“What does this mean?” I squeak out.

“It means you’re linked to me,” he says. “My enemies think you’re important.”