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Thankfully, before she can kiss me, my phone starts to go off.
I sigh. “Sorry, I have to go and do the orientation meeting.”
Meredith crosses her arms against her chest, her lips pouting. While I do like a brat, there’s something about this that just isn’t quite attractive. Or maybe it’s because I’ve spotted something else I want more…something I shouldn’t crave. “Can’t you get somebody else to do it?”
I let go of her. Maybe it’s for the best anyway. She’s starting to get too attached, which means it’s time for me to start putting some space between us. “In case you don’t remember, I’m the boss.”
“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes. “Well, maybe after…”
“I’ll text you.” No, I won’t. “I should get going.” I don’t give her a chance to say anything else as I go to the conference room.
The truth is that there’s nothing less attractive to me than a clingy woman, which is precisely the reason none of them typically last longer than a night or two. I should have known Meredith would be no different.
I clear all thoughts of her as I get closer to the meeting room, already bored before even starting.
I always get the most boring jobs.
Damian constantly makes it clear that he doesn’t trust me to take care of important matters, because I’m too “go with the flow.” Not that I can say differently. I don’t take things as seriously as I should. But, with two older brothers, it’s not my job to take things seriously.
I stride into the meeting room, a smile playing on my lips as I take in the fresh faces of our newest employees. This is hardly the work I’d expect to be doing within the bratva, but somehow, I always find myself here—charming newcomers and onboarding them. The employees here don’t have a clue that this is just a cover-up for what we do behind the scenes.
“Welcome, everyone,” I announce, my voice smooth and engaging. “My name is Cassius Volkov, the president here, and I’ll be overseeing your orientation today.” A few nervous smiles meet my gaze.
I notice the looks from the women, the way their eyes devour me and their tongues dart out to lick their lips. I get that quite a bit. I know I’m eye candy, and I often use it to my advantage, especially when I’m looking for a partner in bed…
Some of these girls look ripe for the picking.
“Let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves, shall we?” I suggest, flashing my most disarming grin. “Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.”
One by one, they stand and share their stories. As a young man finishes speaking, my eyes drift across the room to the next person, and that’s when I see her.
So, I was right earlier. It is Anna.
“Hi, I’m Annalise Tryst,” she says, her emerald eyes locking onto mine, hinting at recognition. Memories of tangled limbs and heated whispers consume me. That night three years ago feels like an eternity away, and yet it’s suddenly right here before me.
She’s the last woman my brother and I ever shared.
How did she end up here?
“Um, I’ve recently joined the marketing department,” Annalise continues, her voice wavering slightly. She seems nervous, and I can’t blame her—not after our last interaction.
She doesn’t look all that surprised to see me. What I don’t understand is why she’d come back here if she knew… What could she possibly want? To blackmail us? It wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried, but I didn’t get that vibe off of her.
She’s just as gorgeous as I remember. Her brown hair is pulled out of her face in a neat bun. Her cheeks are defined, and even in the ethical outfit she’s wearing—a blouse and a pencil skirt—I can remember every single one of her curves, although I’d like to get reacquainted with them. She’s covered up a lot more than Meredith, yet I want her more. Briefly, I wonder how that works, before I remember that I always want what I can’t have.
She’s the only woman who has ever lingered on my mind after a night together.
I would do another night with her…well, if I didn’t think it would upset Damian. What’s he going to do when he finds out that she’s here?
“Welcome, Annalise,” I manage to say, forcing my features into a practiced expression of neutrality. I can’t let her know that I remember her—that I’ve thought about her more times than I care to admit since that night…used my hand to the thought of her in the shower a few times even.
If she gets suspicious, she could try to leave before I get a chance to let my older brothers know, and that’s the last thing I want. If she does leave, I need to know exactly where she goes.
Once the last person speaks, I stand back up. “Thank you for the introductions,” I say, injecting a hint of authority into my voice. “Now, feel free to mingle and get to know each other better. We’re all part of the same team here.” The group disperses, leaving me with the overwhelming urge to confront Annalise, but I resist. Instead, I plaster on my best smile and pretend not to recognize her while I navigate the room, engaging in small talk and shaking hands.
Then, I stride out of the room. I have to call Nikhil. But first…
At the end of the hall is a tall, bald man with dark shades on. The employees think he’s just security, here to keep everyone safe, but he’s actually a trusted member of the bratva. Well, as trusted as he can be. We don’t really trust anyone except blood, and I’m not sure Damian even trusts that.
