Page 26 of Forbidden Boss

Pavel:She told me to “stop shadowing like a creep.” She said if I didn’t walk six paces ahead, she’d scream her head off.

Elyan:I tried to knock on her door and she threw something heavy at it.

They probably want me to do something about the “Mari Problem,” but I’m secretly proud. As annoying as she is, she’s still a fighter. She isn’t just taking this on the chin. If real danger shows up, I can trust that she’ll fight like hell to get away from it. It’s the only comfort I can take right now.

Yesterday, she made my men move her couch in. She said she couldn’t be expected to stay here any longer without her favorite couch.

What I didn’t realize, though, was that she would make my men movemyliving room couch into my home office.

I called Yuri in a fury.

“You said she could bring the couch,” he said with a laugh. “What did you expect her to do?”

“I expected she’d rearrange the living room, not declare war on my private office. Who the hell signed off on this?”

“Believe it or not, you did.” He laughed again. “You said we could move the couch wherever it fit.”

“It doesn’t fit in my office,” I said, seething. “This isn’t working any longer. The penthouse is obviously too small for the two of us.”

“Don’t make this worse than it is, Lev,” he warned. “She’s a tornado in your penthouse. Take her to the compound and she’ll be a full-blown hurricane. I’ve got two guys threatening to quit as it is.”

“Then let them quit,” I growled. “If they aren’t up to the task of keeping a tiny woman safe, I can easily replace them.”

I hung up and fumed.

How has this five-foot-three Latina woman so completely taken over my life? And still, I can’t help but be impressed by her audacity. No one has ever challenged me like this, or if they did, I quickly put an end to it. But when she pushes me away, it only makes me want her more.

On Friday, I line up so many back-to-back meetings that my vision starts to blur. I’m trying to get a meeting with my contacts in the Kozlov camp, but no one will take my call. Agent Halloran calls to say there’s no movement and he’s still trying to track down the fake Agent Cole. I need a weekend out of the city as much as I need to get Mari out of my penthouse for a couple days.

By three, I know I can’t put it off any longer. I have to tell her that we’re going to the compound this weekend. I wait until I see her leave her office, then I “coincidentally” run into her in the hallway. It’s the only way I can be sure she won’t shut me out.

“Mari,” I say as nicely as I can.

“Lev,” she says in the same rude tone.

We stop beside the glass wall outside Finance. I don’t waste any time.

“We’re going to the compound for the weekend.”

She laughs, short and bright and mean. “We aren’t going anywhere. I’ve got plans.”

“What plans?” I ask with a dismissive chuckle.

“I’m having dinner with Susie tonight, and brunch with a college friend on Sunday.”

“No,” I say simply. “You’re not doing any of that.”

“No?” she scoffs, lifting her chin to challenge me.

Infuriating and a turn-on. I want to push her against the glass wall and take her right there, to remind her who’s boss.

“You don’t get to make unsanctioned plans right now,” I remind her. “You’re coming with me. The car leaves at six.”

She scans the corridor like she’s looking for witnesses. A few people do glance in our direction as they pass by. Enough. I set my palm on her elbow and feel the change under her skin.

“We’re not doing this in the hall,” I say.

“You don’t get to just order me around—” she starts.