Page 3

A few days passed since I started my digging into Gemma’s office building, and as simple as the job seemed, seeing Sky for myself only made me feel farther away from accomplishing my objective.

Standing by the front door not only seemed to freak out some of the employees, but it also made me antsy. As strong as my willpower was, I hated standing around. It drove me crazy, and knowing Sky was somewhere in the building all day, not too far from my grasp, made me feel even crazier.

Given how I was supposed to be sniffing out the rat, listening in on conversations, and observing any strange behavior that might point to any suspicious individuals or organizations they could be a part of, I figured leaving my post in the foyer would only make my job easier.

Plus, it gave me the chance to see her again.

But that aside, I really was trying to concentrate.

However, given the fact that it was an office building full of numerous employees all with their own lives outside of that place, I assumed I’d at least have some interesting tidbits to keep me entertained during it all. I figured I’d catch some petty drama or gossip that didn’t mean anything to me, but would at least help pass the time.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Instead, I caught distant conversations about family cookouts on the weekend, how a store stopped carrying a specific this and that, how someone’s mom wasn’t doing well and they weren’t sure if she’d make it to their kid’s talent show…it was all so monotonous. Boring.

The job should’ve been anything but boring, and yet, the reality wasn’t quite as scandalous as I’d hoped…although I’d never admit that to my brothers, or any of the Levovs for that matter.

It only made sense that my mind drifted to Sky. I had nothing else to occupy myself with…so she was the obvious choice.

As hard as I tried to focus on the task at hand while I moved aimlessly from room to room, floor to floor, I found myself growing more distracted by those ever-curious thoughts about Sky Ridley and what she was up to…what she was thinking. For whatever reason, I even wondered what her weekends were like…if the store she goes to ran out of her favorite thing…if her family members were well, even if I didn’t know them myself.

They were dumb, pointless thoughts, but I still couldn’t shake them. I didn’t want to, not while I was so damn interested in what her life was like outside of her job.

I felt like an idiot, but to my dismay, I just wanted to be around her.

That first day, I watched her walk through the front foyer, and I had half the mind to think my heart stopped the second I saw her. The sound of her heels against the floor…the way her body moved with every step…how her pencil skirt hugged her thighs so deliciously, I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like under my hands…it was all burned into my memory faster than I could prevent it.

Not that I wanted to.

Thinking back to that moment, easily recalling how her eyes lingered on me with what felt like mutual interest, was the one thing that made my task feel bearable. Aware that at any moment, I had the chance of seeing her again and satisfying that craving I just couldn’t shake.

After some time of being there, I managed to pinpoint the floor she supervised and where she spent most of her time. Ten suddenly felt like a lucky number to me, and I found myself heading there more often than I should’ve.

But I just couldn’t resist.

Scoping out the other floors just felt like biding my time before getting to the main event, where I could sneak my glances and get as close as possible without alarming her.

Every time I reached that godforsaken floor, I could feel that expectation simmering within my chest, just hoping for the chance to see her.

I was no better than a pathetic, giddy schoolgirl. It was embarrassing, and I hated how she seemed to have that power over me so easily, but every time I saw her, it felt worth it. Then, all over again, the cycle would start anew.

Every glance and realization that she was nearby seemed to trip something in my head, and it felt like taking another hit of the most addicting substance known to man.

It was ridiculous…but I couldn’t help it.

After clearing the ninth floor, I punched in the button for the tenth floor, wondering if my constant visits would eventually wear the number down. Even if it did, I didn’t care. It wasn’t my problem, after all.

The elevator dinged as the doors slid open, and almost like muscle memory, I began my usual sweep of the floor.

Moving between the aisles of cubicles and open tables where some people brainstormed together, I scoped out my surroundings, hoping to see Sky again.

Luckily, I could walk around and have no one notice where I was actually looking. As far as anyone else could tell, I was just doing my job.

I kept telling myself this, even when I strayed closer and closer to Sky’s private office, wondering when I might catch another glimpse.

Those attempts were getting bolder and bolder with every passing minute, and I knew that, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t pull myself away. I could only hope she didn’t catch on and spoil those little moments of excitement for me.

But of course, it was only a matter of time.

Before I could make another pass of her office, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I nearly jumped out of my skin the moment it shattered my reverie.

Annoyed by how it rattled me without warning, I fished into my pocket and pulled it out, finding Lukyan’s contact on the screen.

Sighing, I stepped toward the back of the office floor, accepted the call, and put the phone to my ear.

“Yeah?”

“For the love of god, take that damn mask off,” he uttered, bypassing any kind of formal greeting.

I furrowed my brows. “Why?”

“Because you’re scaring the shit out of everyone there,” Lukyan returned, sounding vaguely irritated.

“And how do you know that?”

He sighed. “Gemma has had at least five employees approach her today saying they felt uneasy with you wearing it…they can’t see your face and it’s unsettling. It’s not exactly evoking a safe and productive work environment.”

Scoffing to myself, I could just imagine them going to Gemma, only for her to tell Benedikt, then Lukyan. I knew her employees weren’t like me or my family, but I assumed they’d have stronger constitutions than that.

“I know they were getting anxious about me standing in the foyer, but that’s why I started walking around…plus I can see and hear more this way.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not helping to ease their worries any,” Lukyan mumbled, and I could’ve sworn I heard him drag a hand down his face. “Look, just take it off. Maybe then you’ll start to blend into the background more, and the rat might feel a false sense of security.”

Grumbling to myself, I forced out a breath and pulled at my mask as I continued walking aimlessly through the floor. A flood of fresh air hit me the moment it came off. “Fine, fine…but if this rat ends up recognizing me—”

The words died in my throat as Sky stepped out of her office the moment I walked by, nearly causing us to collide. Luckily, we both froze right in time, wearing mutual looks of surprise.

“Damien?” Lukyan’s voice asked a bit quieter on the other side as the phone was pulled away from my ear. “You there?”

“Gotta go,” I mumbled before immediately ending the call and keeping my eyes on Sky.

God, she was gorgeous…even more so up close.

Like some incompetent idiot, my heart felt like it was in my throat as I looked down at her, immediately taking in how perfectly her work clothes clung to her body again. How there wasn’t a single strand of cropped blonde hair out of place on her head. Her eyes were so clear and blue, and I almost hated how perfect they looked.

I needed to get a grip, but having her so close…right in front of me, I couldn’t.

“Rat?” Sky asked, brow lifted curiously. She glanced around before murmuring a bit quieter so as not to alarm anyone else, “Do we have some here?”

Blinking back at her, trying to find the words after a moment, I nodded and tried to sound as casual as possible. “Yeah…unfortunately, I spotted one just the other day, but rest assured, someone will be in here to take care of the problem.”

Despite seeming convinced by the response, she looked just as curious. “…and you said something about it recognizing you?”

Shit.

“Uh…yeah, you know…they say rats get to know your face and can associate positive or negative memories with it…I don’t want them getting too scared to come out again.”

She barely tilted her head with quiet consideration. “Is that right? I didn’t know that.”

“Mhm…they’re intelligent creatures.”

I didn’t know a damn thing about rats…I was lying out of my ass.

But she was so polite. So friendly, and so understanding, it was killing me.

Even after knowing her for a short time, and only ever fully interacting with her for the first time in that moment, I knew Sky was like that with most people. She was so outwardly kind and impressionable, but for whatever reason, it felt like that gentle demeanor was meant just for me.

It was a delusional thought but a comforting one all the same.

“Anyway,” I forced out, hoping to steer the conversation away from rodents. “I hope I didn’t startle you too much.”

Sky smiled then and let go of a quiet laugh. “Maybe just a bit…but I’ll be alright. Promise.”

Despite myself, I felt my expression softening a touch just from hearing that sound alone…the gentle warmth of her amusement. Whether she knew it or not, she really was going to kill me one day, especially if she kept that up.

There was no mistaking her friendly, sunny demeanor, and there was something so undeniably attractive about it. Especially since she didn’t cower from me. Even while face to face with me, shocked into a sudden conversation while dressed in my fatigues, she was as cool as ever and willing to talk. To smile and joke.

She was so far from anything I used to entertain myself with, but that was exactly what pulled me in even more.

“Good, good,” I murmured, finding myself wanting even more of her.

“I know it’s none of my business, but has everything been okay around here? Security wise, I mean,” Sky asked, sounding vaguely hesitant to even ask the question. “It’s just that we’ve never had anyone in the building like this before.”

The softness of her tone and how genuinely concerned she sounded immediately made me want to tell her everything. To reassure her that I’d figure out who the rat was, and that I’d keep her safe regardless of what happened.

But I immediately came to my senses and remembered that she wasn’t supposed to know about any of it. Not the incidents with the Levovs, with the rat, or any of the undercover work I was doing. Everyone other than Gemma, Ben, and the others needed to be completely in the dark about it all or run the risk of fumbling the operation altogether.

As much as I wanted to be completely honest with her, I couldn’t.

Instead, I gave her the most convincing look of reassurance I could. “It must be alarming to see all of a sudden, but there’s nothing to worry about. You can continue to work as you did before.”

Sky’s gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if considering whether I was lying to her or not, but she let go of a gentle breath. “Alright…Gemma gave me a similar answer, so I’ll just have to take your word for it.”

Nodding in return, I kept my arms behind my back. “There’s no cause for concern.”

She smiled a bit more genuinely then and adjusted a notebook and folder in her arms. “Then I won’t worry…but I should get going. Duty calls.”

As much as I didn’t want her to leave just yet, I tipped my head in acknowledgment again, finding myself feeling strangely tense in her presence. Almost like I was afraid of fumbling it, or making her believe I was too strange to be worth the effort.

It was unlike me, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.

“Sure. Not a problem.”

That pleasant expression lingered as she gave me a small wave and kept going, saying a polite ‘see you later’ before she disappeared again.

Even after she was gone, I stood there aimlessly, not paying attention to my surroundings or anything else.

Instead, I pulled in a deep breath to try and get a grip on myself.

But I just wanted more of her, and the whole thing was becoming too stifling to ignore.

Shaking off how addictive it was to merely speak to her, I forced myself to keep moving. I eventually reached the small base I had set up for myself in one of the back rooms and opened my laptop to focus on working again.

I opened up the live surveillance feed and watched as things seemed to continue as they usually did, while I sifted through employee files again in the meantime. Even if Sky was incredibly distracting, and the thought of being so near without being able to do much about it was fraying my nerves, I had to familiarize myself with more of the faces around that place.

It was in everyone’s best interest for me to focus and get to the bottom of the situation, and to do that, I had to push Sky out of my head for a little while at least.