“You shouldn’t have to.”
Something in me stutters.I look down at my tea, unsure what to say. My heart is making a mess of things, and I can’t seem to pull my thoughts into any kind of order.
“I’ll see you back in the office.” Yuri walks away, his long strides effortless, his presence hanging in the air.
I stay where I am, fingers wrapped around my mug. It’s lukewarm, but I hold it anyway, like it might be able to tether me to something solid.
I remind myself I’m not here for him; I’m here to uncover the truth.
The café hums around me though nobody is paying me any attention. Tatiana’s gone, Yuri has folded back into the cold lines of his world. I’m just a woman at a table, holding a secret and trying to catch her breath.
I set my teacup down, fingers loosening. The weight of resolve settles in—soft, but sure.
Nothing to do but go back to work.
CHAPTER 13
ASTRID
Hours later I’m in my own office with my spreadsheet open, half-finished, eyes unfocused. I can still hear Tatiana’s voice and I hate it. I hate the way she got to me, the way I allowed her to get to me.
As the water begins to boil in the little electric kettle I brought from home, there’s a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Yuri enters, flicking those gorgeous eyes to mine before shutting the door softly behind him. “You handled her well.”
I glance over my shoulder as I prepare my tea. He’s ditched the jacket, sleeves rolled to the elbow, top buttons undone.
“I didn’t do anything,” I mutter, turning around. “You did.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. I’ve seen grown men shrink like children under her words. I could tell you were moments away from tearing into her.”
I chuckle lightly. “You’re right about that. You beat me to it.”
He smiles. “I have a feeling whatever you were about to say, it wouldn’t have been so nice. My interrupting was more of a favor to her than you.”
“Well, in that case, she should be thanking you.”
His smile fades, a serious expression replacing it. “I don’t mean to suggest you can’t fight your own battles. But all the same, I didn’t like the way she spoke to you.” Anger flashes on his face for a brief moment.
I sit down at my desk with my mug and tap a key. “Well, thanks. All the same, you don’t strike me as the type to interfere in cafeteria drama.”
“I’m not. But I am the type to make sure my staff knows where the line is. Tatiana needed a little reminder. She often does.” He sits down in one of the chairs across from me.
“Thank you,” I repeat quietly. “I do like to fight my own battles, but it was nice to know someone had my back.”
“I’m very protective of my staff.” He changes the subject. “So, you grew up in Chicago?”
I nod. “Yep. Well, in Schaumburg. My foster parents were both educators—my mom taught high school history, and my dad was a community college English professor. Dinner conversations were basically mini lectures.”
Yuri’s brow lifts slightly. “Yet you ended up in finance.”
I shrug, a small smile tugging at my lips. “My little way of rebelling.”
Yuri chuckles. “My rebellion was going into finance as well instead of following my father into other parts of the family business.”
“Let me guess, he didn’t take it well.”
