Page 19 of Savage Little Lies

Once the doors are shut, I hurry over to Dmitri’s office phone and inspect the receiver. It’s been a while since I learned how to tap a phone like this. Cell phones are easier to work on, but there’s no way that I’m sneaking a bug into Dmitri’s that he has within reach at all times.

I open the receiver. Slide the bug inside. Seal it.

The sound of the doors opening behind me makes me jerk away from the phone and grab any sheets of paper that I can reach. I shuffle them into a neat stack as Dmitri enters the room.

He seems so pissed off with something else that I’m barely on his radar until he reaches his desk. “What are you doing?”

“Organizing your reports, sir,” I say, forcing my voice to be as calm and steady as possible.

Dmitri drops into his office chair with a heavy sigh, one hand squeezing his temples. “The fucking things that I have to deal with...”

My eyes shift to the phone as the sound of my heartbeat thumps in my ears. Hopefully, he doesn’t notice that it’s been tampered with, or I’m dead. He’s smart enough to figure out who would’ve had a chance to plant it.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask as I place the stack of papers down and take a step closer to him.

Dmitri lowers his hand to look up at me. At first, I swear his expression softens for a moment, but it soon becomes hard and stony. “No. If there’s something for you to do elsewhere, do it. If not, go home.”

I blink at him in surprise. It’s barely past lunch. “I⁠—”

Dmitri fixes me with a glare that makes me shut my mouth.

Maybe it’s best if I leave for the day.

With a small nod, I grab my things and walk out of his office before he can take his anger out on me. I pass by Karly quietly as she also keeps her head down and focuses on doing work at her computer. The office will probably be even quieter than usual for the rest of the day.

When I step outside of the building, I pause for a moment, unsure of what to do. I know my father wants an update on the bug, but I don’t think that I can handle another lecture right now. The call can wait until tonight.

I turn to head back to my apartment, but something catches my eye down the sidewalk. A bright white fur coat in summer. I quickly back up where I’m hidden by the entrance of the building, carefully peeking around the corner of the entryway to watch Annika talking on the phone outside of the sleek black Lexus that I assume is her ride.

Her driver stands next to the back door, waiting for her to be done so that he can let her inside.

I shift on my feet, desperately wanting to know who she’s talking to and what she’s saying. It seems like she’s in a heated conversation.

I scan the area. Not much traffic or pedestrians right now. There are multiple cars parked along the street in front and behind her car. They’ll have to be my cover.

My adrenaline spikes as I hurry behind the closest car to me and crouch down, my heart racing. If I get caught snooping, she’ll tell Dmitri, and who knows what conclusions he’ll draw from that.

That I’m a jealous woman? A creepy stalker?

I’d rather be either of those than a spy.

I ease forward to the next car and then the next until I’m two cars behind her. Luckily, she speaks loudly naturally because she always wants to be heard, so I can hear her from here. Thankfully, she’s speaking to someone in English not Russian.

“I’m starting to get sick and tired of it! Why am I the only one involved in the wedding planning? All I asked was for him to attend the cake tasting, floral arrangement appointment, venue tour, and meetings with officiants!” Annika rants to whoever is listening on the phone.

I raise an eyebrow. Sounds like the two are already quarreling. Good.

“I know…I know. He’s a busy man. Maybe I can get him to buy me a little wedding gift,” Annika says with a ringing laugh. “I’d love a vacation home somewhere. Maybe Italy.”

She must be talking to a friend. Ranting about her fiancé so soon before her wedding is definitely a sign of a happy relationship.

“I bet I can convince him to fire that bitchy little assistant of his. That would be a wonderful wedding gift,” Annika says.

I go still. I can’t even see her face because I’m crouched down, but I can hear the smirk in her voice.

“Alright, I’ll see you there in a few. Kisses,” Annika replies, making a kissing noise before hanging up the phone. “Take me to Ravage.”

I can only assume that’s one of her father’s clubs.