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“KIRILL!” I roar.
She recoils back, hurt blanketing her face. “You’re not even gonna hear my side?”
“Youwere theonlyone who was supposed to know about that contract!” I roar. “If you didn’t fucking talk, how the fuck did Remmy Jefferson get his hands on it?”
The redness on her cheeks has spread to her chest. “I was a fool—”
“Notthe word I’d use.” I turn my back on Emma when Kirill appears at the door. “Make sure this woman is wiped from my life. Make sure her desk at Bane Corp. is cleared, make sure our contract is severed, make sure I never have to see her again after this moment.”
“Ruslan,please. You need to listen to—”
I whirl on her. “I’m done listening. And I’m done with you. Our agreement is officially at an end, Ms. Carson.” She flinches when I backslide into her surname. “Your services will no longer be required.”
I’m almost at the door when she grabs my arm. “I just needtwominutes! Please!”
I twist out of her grasp and shove her against the wall. She stumbles backward, a strangled scream escaping her lips. I step forward and tighten my hand around her throat.
“You know exactly who I am now,” I snarl at her. “What you should also know is that I’m apahkanfirst and a CEO second. If you cross me again, I willdestroy you. Do you understand?”
I put just a little bit of pressure on her throat. Not enough to hurt her but plenty to scare her. Her eyes go wide and I get what I’m after.
Fear.
“I asked you a question, Ms. Carson. Do. You. Understand?”
She nods slowly.
“Good.” I release her and sweep out of the room. “Kirill… get rid of her.”
I hear her sobs even as the elevator doors slide shut. I try to block out the sound but even after the doors spew me out onto the ground floor, I can still hear her. I can still feel her. Even now, after everything I just discovered, she’s everywhere.
On my tongue.
Under my skin.
In my fucking soul.
72
EMMA
I didn’t just imagine it, did I?
Wasn’t it just a few days ago that we were talking babies? Planning a future together? Merging together two worlds that somehow made sense even though they shouldn’t?
I cry for most of the ride back to Hell's Kitchen. I figure I might as well get the tears out now, right? I can’t exactly break down in front of the kids.
The kids.
“Oh, God,” I whisper, covering my face with my hands.
I’ve been silently crying this entire time to try to preserve my dignity in Kirill’s presence. But the moment I think about those kids, I think,Fuck it. What dignity do I have left that I need to preserve?
I start ugly crying, loud, snotty sobs breaking through the silence of Kirill’s car. For the most part, he ignores me. Right up until he parks outside the apartment and I realize that he’s got the baby lock on, trapping me inside. I wipe my tears and turn to him. He’s looking at me carefully, like he’s not sure what to make of me.
“Can you let me out or did your boss give you instructions to humiliate me some more?”
His brows arrow downward. “I thought you were better than this.”
