“And the other car? The one you drove here?”
He shrugs. “Told my driver to take it home. Thought I’d ride with my beloved big brother.” He smirks, leaning back, making himself comfortable.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. The hotel’s on my way to the penthouse anyway, so I don’t bother fighting it. I start the engine and pull out onto the road.
He doesn’t even give me thirty seconds of peace.
“So…” He drags out the word like he’s sharpening a knife. “You and the kid, huh?”
“He’s not a kid. Don’t make me throw you out of this car.” I say tightly, and he lets out an amused laugh.
“Fine. You and Lucas, then?”
I keep my eyes on the road, refusing to give him the reaction he wants, but he’s relentless as always.
“I saw your driver drop him off yesterday,” he says “ Right at your parking spot.”
My grip on the steering wheel hardens, leather creaking under my fingers. “And what exactly were you doing there?”
“Checking out the high-rise apartment that’s available.”
My exhale is sharp. “You’d better be joking.”
“Why?” He grins, teeth flashing. “Don’t want me in the same building you live in?”
“If you move in, I’m moving out.”
“You just bought that penthouse, Sasha. Eleven million down the drain—” he whistles low, leaning back smugly. “And you’re going to move out just to avoid me?”
It was more than eleven. Much more. But I don’t correct him.
“Absolutely,” I say, deadpan.
He presses a hand to his chest, mock wounded.
“Ouch. That hurts.”
I let the silence sit. Five seconds. Ten. I should’ve known better than to hope.
“Fine,” he huffs. “I won’t pay for the place—yet.”
He tips his head toward me, eyes glinting.
“But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“What question?”
“What’s going on with you and Lucas?” He asks grinning like a shark, I swear one day I’m gonna break his nose.
Of course. Maksim isn’t subtle. He never was. If I give him even half a thread, he’ll pull until there’s nothing left. So instead, I toss the net back at him.
“What’s going on with you and Tristan?”
That shuts him up. His body goes rigid, smirk slipping for just a beat before he masks it with a low, muttered curse and an amused chuckle.
“Fuck. I forgot how goddamn observant you are, Sasha.”
My jaw ticks as I glance at him.
