Page 7

It’s eight, and the venue I hired is packed with business associates, friends, my family, and investors, both bratva and not.

It’s a celebration for the launch of our new office.

Finally, we have it up and running. All of the issues have been ironed out, and we can start pushing some of the workload over to them.

It took weeks to get the computers, media equipment, and printing machines delivered and set up, and power to the building kept shorting, so we called in several electricians to fix it—but luckily it wasn’t a huge expense.

Now everyone is equipped and ready to work.

Things should start getting easier, less chaotic, over the next few weeks.

Serafina and I are probably going to have to micromanage it all for a while longer before everyone learns their role.

She’s brilliant, though.

With her at my side, I am confident I won’t have to double-check or question anything. She’s the perfect person to have on my team, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I look around the crowded space, searching for her, but she isn’t here yet. I’m excited to see her outside of the office again, in a more personal environment. Not that this is personal.

The evening I walked her home still plays over and over in my thoughts.

I wanted to kiss her.

Standing on her front step, the cold biting against my skin. I wanted to taste the warmth of her lips against mine.

A voice breaks through my thoughts. “Nico, congrats on the new space. I stopped by this morning. It looks fantastic.”

I smile as I turn towards him. “Thanks, Roger. We’re pleased with it. How are things with your wife after her surgery?”

Roger and I have been working together since the beginning. He’s a trusted friend and colleague. His wife was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and has had numerous surgeries since. He’s been taking a lot of personal time to take care of her, and I know it’s been difficult for both of them.

“She’s here,” he says, to my surprise, his face lighting up. “The doc gave her all clear last week. I meant to message you, but things have been—we’ve been celebrating. We’ve hardly told anyone except family. I think we’re scared we’ll jinx it.” He smiles broadly.

The love this man has for his wife is something special. He glances around and waves his hand in the air when he spots her.

“Jenny,“ he calls out, and she walks over to us.

“Jen.” I pull her into a hug. “I heard the good news. That’s fantastic. How are you feeling?”

“Still exhausted. Head to toe exhausted, as though the tiredness lives inside my bones. I want to sleep for a week. But we’re so excited. We had to pop in and celebrate with you, even if it was just for one or two drinks.”

“Have three. Go wild,” I laugh.

“Nico.”

I turn towards the familiar voice.

“Ark. Hey, man. Give me a sec.” I turn back to the smiling couple. “I’m so happy for you guys. Let’s do dinner soon. A proper celebration of your news.”

“Enjoy your party, Nico. We’ll chat later,” Roger says, slipping his arm around his wife.

Ark hands me a glass of whiskey. “Just what I needed,” I say, taking it from him.

“Are you doing your dutiful rounds? Checking in with the clients and investors, making sure everyone is having a great time?” Ark asks.

“I am. What are you doing here? Luka said you couldn’t make it.”

“Ugh, I finished up sooner than I thought, so I swung by. Looks like a good turnout.”

My eyes run over the crowd, taking in the smiling faces. “It is a good turnout. Gets bigger every year. Next year we’ll need—” My heart stops when I see her. I forget whatever it was I was saying.

She’s laughing with one of the ladies from HR. Her face lights up the room, and suddenly all I can see is her.

“Who’s the hottie in the black dress?” Ark says, his brows raised as he stares at Serafina, taking a sip of his drink.

“My assistant. Don’t even think about it,” I say, unamused.

“No wonder you wanted to get back to work so badly the other day. She’s fucking gorgeous. Is she single?”

“Arkady. I swear. One more word. Don’t even think about it. I’m serious. If I catch you near her…” I shoot him a warning glance.

He laughs, amused by my reaction.

“Fine. Keep her to yourself,” he smirks.

“It’s not like that. I just don’t need your reckless, impulsive decisions causing chaos in my workplace,” I snap.

But he’s not sold.

He nods, his eyes filled with amusement. “Don’t worry, Nico. She’s all yours. But if you take too long to make a move, don’t be crying when she’s got her arms around me.”

“Remember when we were kids, and I used the pillow to suffocate you when you pissed me off…?"

“Dude, that still freaks me out. You’re the reason I’m claustrophobic.”

“Well,“ I raise my brows at him. “Don’t tempt me.”

Arkady shakes his head, grinning, even more amused than before.

“Okay, okay, I got it. I’m going to find Yilian. Have fun with your assistant ,” he says, turning away from me and disappearing into the crowd.

Sera is moving between people, stopping and chatting as she goes along. She’s so confident and full of life. People are drawn to her magnetism, her beauty, and her charm shining brighter tonight than I’ve ever seen before. She’s magnificent.

Arkady’s words linger in my thoughts.

She’ll have her arms around me…

He was joking, but it won’t be long before she is interested in someone. The thought, the image of her being with someone—it’s painful. I won’t be able to handle that. But what right do I have to tell her who she can and can’t date?

Serafina is wearing a low-cut black dress, covered in glittering sequins that catch the light and accentuate her perfect curves.

When she turns her back to me I see how low it dips, revealing the delicate details of her spine, all the way down to the curve of her back just above her ass.

She has a butterfly tattoo on the left side of her back, the wings just peeking out from the edge of the dress.

My cock stirs, warning me to get control of myself or I’ll have to leave the room.

What other tattoos is she hiding on that gorgeous body?

I’d love to explore every inch of her and—

Dammit.

I clench my jaw, turning away and trying to distract myself with conversation, talking to clients, catching up with people, but the entire time, I’m thinking about her, and my eyes are constantly wandering back towards her.

She is my obsession.

Looking towards Sera, I see she’s been cornered by someone I don’t want near her.

Of all the people at this party, Lucas has the biggest reputation for being a playboy.

He is clearly moving in on her, and while she doesn’t look bothered, I am fully aware of what his intentions are.

I get agitated, and I’m not able to focus on anything else.

Lucas is known for the way he picks women up with ease and ditches them as soon as he’s gotten what he wants out of it. What if he does what Drake did?

I excuse myself from the conversation I was having and walk towards the bar, watching closely as he lifts his hand, and his fingers brush over her arm.

My blood boils hotter, and I clench my jaw.

I should go over there and help her. Except she doesn’t look like she needs to be rescued. She’s smiling and happy. She doesn’t know his reputation.

Okay, Nico, but she’s not going to run off and jump into bed with some stranger she’s just met.

You don’t know that.

I down a glass of whiskey that I had intended to sip.

Ordering another one, I convince myself that I have to protect her in case it’s another incident like the one we had in the office last week.

The shit that Drake pulled still makes me furious.

I would hate for anything like that to happen to Serafina again, so, for that reason, I make my way through the crowd towards them.

To protect her.

“You’re the prettiest girl in the room.” I walk up and hear Lucas throwing lines at her. “Maybe we can get out of here a little early and go for a drink somewhere more private?”

“Thanks, but I just got here. I won’t be leaving anytime soon.” She smiles sweetly, her nose scrunching as she grins at him, and it’s so fucking cute it makes me even more determined to protect her from this asshole.

“Fine, then. I’ll wait, and we can go for a drink later. It's Saturday night, after all.”

He steps closer to her, his hand brushing over her waist, and in that moment, realization slams into me.

I don’t want to protect her—not exactly. She’s doing a perfectly fine job of turning this idiot down. I just don’t want anyone else near her.

I’m possessive. Dangerously possessive, as though she belongs to me.

“Sera, you look gorgeous,” I say, purposefully positioning myself next to her so that he’s forced to step back.

He smiles at me. “Nico. Hey. What’s up? This is—oh, do you know her?” he asks, knitting his brows.

“Serafina is my assistant.”

“Lucky you,” he smirks, and it grates against my nerves.

“Indeed. I suggest you find another target tonight.”

Lucas pulls his mouth tight in annoyance. “Right. I see,” he says, dry and disappointed.

I turn towards the most beautiful girl in the room. I want to get her far away from this guy, make a clear point to him that she’s off-limits. “Would you like to dance?” I ask, holding my hand towards her.

“That sounds like fun,” she grins, placing her hand in mine. Without even glancing towards Lucas, she lets me lead her towards the dancefloor.

My heart races as I realize that, yes, I have gotten rid of the guy, but now—shit—I have to control myself while she is pressed right up against me.

On the dancefloor, I pull her into my arms, and the music pulses through us as we move together.

This was the biggest fucking mistake ever.

Holy fuck. She can move. It’s like she’s trying to seduce me with her body at this point, each sway of her hips, each flick of her long, loose hair—my breath is caught tight in my chest, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

She spins and turns her back to me, laughing as she wiggles her hips, and her ass rubs over my cock. This is not going to end well.

I spin her away from me and as I pull her back again, the music changes. It becomes slower, more intimate.

Shit.

Fuck.

Okay.

She steps close to me and rests her hand against my chest, those bright green eyes of hers turned up towards me, a playful smile on her lips.

Her nails are painted black, too. Perfectly beautiful. Every inch of her is perfectly beautiful.

“You look incredible,” I lean close and whisper against her ear.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she sasses back at me. “A girl could almost think you were a gentleman.”

I chuckle.

“Cheeky little rabbit, aren’t you. You know, girls with smart mouths usually get spanked to teach them not to have such an attitude,” I warn her as a current of desire pulses through me.

“Mm. Well, no one has ever given me that lesson before, so my attitude is very much intact.”

My cock is twitching, and I’m convinced that in the next minute she’ll be able to feel it against her.

I lean away from her, looking down at her and searching my mind for a reason to walk away. Anything . I have to create distance between us. Maybe I should tell her I forgot I had to catch up with a client. Or say I’m going to get us another drink. I just need to get away.

But as soon as our eyes lock, those green pools of enticement—so beautiful, so captivating, I’m sinking into her like quicksand—I can’t think of anything except kissing her.

I lean a little closer.

My eyes are on her lips now. She’s painted them with a caramel tint, and they look luscious and soft.

My lips part, and I feel her breath against my skin.

“Nico, can I cut in and steal a dance with the boss, too?”

Someone’s hand brushes over my arm. My heart spins in panic when I realize what’s happening.

I was about to kiss Serafina, in front of everyone , in public .

In front of almost every employee who works for me.

I step away from her towards the voice.

“Olivia. Of course,” I say, my heart still racing as I throw Serafina a tight, awkward smile. She smiles back at me.

“I’m going to grab a drink. Enjoy the music,” she says quickly, and then turns to hurry away, her cheeks flushing pink.

Olivia steps into my arms, and immediately, it’s uncomfortable. She’s a beautiful girl. Probably my type. But she’s not Serafina and never will be.

We dance stiffly, professional and boring—exactly how I should have been dancing with Serafina. Who am I fucking kidding? I shouldn’t have been dancing with Serafina at all.

I glance in her direction every chance I get as I maneuver over the dance floor with Olivia.

She’s talking to some people over at the bar. Men and women. But her eyes keep drifting towards me as well.

This is a dangerous game I’m playing.

What if I had lost control and kissed her?

What if Olivia hadn’t interrupted me?

My brothers might have seen it, but worse, it would have sparked rumors and whispers throughout the entire office. Shit I don’t have time to deal with.

My professional, controlled nature would be put into question.

The last person the boss wants to be caught kissing is his much younger assistant.

I don’t do things like this.

Arkady is the reckless one who makes stupid, last-minute decisions and doesn’t bother calculating the consequences.

Not me. I don’t do that.

So why have I found myself in so many situations lately where I have been doing that, every single one of those moments being with Serafina?

She’s doing things to me that make me lose control.