Page 72 of Taken By My Grumpy Pakhan

“Hi,” I replied, trying to hide my awkwardness.

There was no way for her to know I was burning with jealousy over her a few weeks ago, but I was aware, and the awareness was currently judging me.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t meet the other night. I asked Kazimir to introduce us, but he said it wasn’t important.”

“Oh.” Her tone was cheery, but her words stung in a way I couldn’t place. Not important.

“Were you his previous PA or…”

“Not at all,” she waved off the idea with a laugh. “I cannot tolerate his bossy, gloomy ass for more than three hours.”

When I didn’t say anything, she added, “Old friend. We’re just old friends.”

A knot I hadn’t noticed forming loosened in my chest as another sales rep wheeled a rack of clothes and a glass of champagne into the room.

I waited for the staff to position the items for her and leave before speaking.

“It’s nice to meet you. I never knew he kept female friends.”

“He doesn’t,” she responded, browsing through the rack with her perfectly carved stiletto nails. “That dick could never keep a woman longer than two months if his life depended on it.”

The knot returned with a sting. “Oh.”

She turned. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s fine, really,” I forced a smile. “I was just surprised, nothing else. I’m just a PA anyways.”

The weak chuckle that followed almost forced me into the ground. I sounded so guilty.

The woman looked me up and down slowly, like she could see something I couldn’t, before resting her razor-sharp gaze on me. “Of course you are.”

“Sorry?”

“You said you were just a PA, and I agree with you.”

Her tone had gone from playful to teasing with a hint of mockery. My chest tightened. It felt like my worst fear was finally coming to pass. Did Kazimir tell her anything about me?

Relax, Gen. She knows nothing and your mind is just playing tricks on you. You’re judging yourself again.

My inner voice tried to bring some rationale into the situation, but nothing could quell my growing discomfort.

“Remind me though,” she turned again, clutching a dress. “How did you become his assistant? He never kept one of those, and suddenly, he picked a beautiful woman?”

“Ummm… I guess I just made an impression.”

“Really? He interviewed you personally?”

My brain froze and my head couldn’t come up with an answer soon enough. I swear I saw her lips tip a little.

“Sorry if the question was too personal. I’ve been told I could be too forward sometimes, but I have this interview next week and I was hoping I could get a tip or two.”

I felt my body begin to relax again. Something about this woman, I couldn’t stay completely tense around her, yet I couldn’t relax either.

She blew hot and cold at the same time, confusing your body's thermometer and soothing you with relief almost immediately.

You couldn’t let down your guard completely, and yet, you couldn't have your armour up because then you’d look guilty.

“It’s no trouble,” I smiled. “The question definitely took me off guard, but it’s fine.”