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An unpleasant shiver runs through me, and I do my best to move the conversation along.
“Anything new with the Monkovs?”
“Thanks to the wiretaps, we were able to prevent another of Skylight’s attacks. Kate gave one of her men the access code to the studios, hoping to get ahold of some rushes. We changed it just in time.”
“Didn’t she find it weird that the code had changed?”
“Not likely. From now on, the code will change every day.”
“Still nothing incriminating regarding her father?”
“Dimitri Monkov is not a talkative man. They’re often in contact, but don’t say much to each other. It’ll come, though. Vadim will find a way to make them talk, without their knowing.”
With that, the giant of a man rises from his chair, nods at me, mutters my name in his deep, rumbling voice, then heads for the door.
Suddenly, a question pops into my mind and makes me freeze.
What if my office is bugged, too?
62
Alma
Adrian leaves, and I hear Vadim arrive. They exchange a few quiet words on the other side of the door, their voices low. When their conversation comes to an abrupt end, I quickly bury my nose in a file, so that I look busy.
“Have we been eavesdropping, Lancaster?”
Vadim lets himself in without knocking, then closes the door behind him.
“You were whispering quite loudly. I couldn’t help it.”
“I’ve got nothing to hide from you, Alma.”
Are you sure about that, Vadim?
He senses my doubt. His unflinching gaze locks with mine, and he strides across my office in his striking, black suit, coming to stand directly behind me. His scent envelops me, and my heart starts beating a little faster. Too fast. Then, he slowly swivels my chair around until we are face to face.
He leans close to my ear and starts to whisper. “Stop defying me with those green eyes… They drive me crazy.”
He sighs, and watches as I moisten my lips, then claims my mouth. Our tongues curl around each other, darting and twisting; his hands grip my jaw and brush against my neck. Drunk on him and this all-consuming embrace, I close my eyes so I can savor every second.
But when I open them again, I see something that sends me crashing back down to earth.
“Zoey?!” I gasp.
Vadim turns toward the door, and his expression immediately darkens.
“You’re supposed to knock!”
He straightens up, nervously tugging on the sleeves of his jacket.
“I’m so sorry, Vadim, but I have L.A. on the line. It’s urgent, and Adrian told me I’d find you here.”
He nods somberly, then shoots me one last look that I interpret as “I’m not done with you” and disappears.
“Stay here, Zoey. Please,” I say.
She complies but doesn’t take a single step toward me.
