When Miles didn’t respond, I said, “Um, it is.”
The next thing I knew, Maksim lunged at Miles. Grabbing him by the throat, he shoved him up against the wall. “Maksim, no!” I cried.
Even though I would’ve loved seeing Maksim rough Miles up, I knew Miles was the type of douchebag to press charges. “He’s not worth it,” I urged.
Finally, Maksim released Miles’s throat, and I sagged over against the handrail of the stairs in relief.
“What is your problem, asshole?” Miles huffed.
“You.You’re my problem.”
“I don’t even know you.”
“Oh yes, you do.” A maniacal look flashed in Maksim’s eyes. “I thought I made myself clear on the phone.”
The color drained from Miles’s face. “That was you?”
“It sure as hell was.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Apparently, you need a physical reminder t-that I’m not fucking around when it comes to Sarah.”
“No, no. I don’t!”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“This is your last chance, Miles. If I get wind you have even breathed in Sarah’s direction, it will end very badly.”
“Okay, okay. I swear.”
Maksim grabbed Miles by the shirt lapels and shoved him off the wall. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Miles quickly scrambled back and headed back towards the office. It was then that I saw Tara standing wide-eyed in the doorway.
“Oh shit,” I muttered.
Maksim’s gaze bounced from me over to Tara. “Hello,” he said politely.
“Um, hello to you, too.”
“Is there a problem?” he asked her.
“First of all, I’d like to shake your hand for putting that asshole in his much needed place,” Tara replied.
Maksim’s expression fit the surprise I currently felt at Tara’s remark. “I thought you felt I had used t-too much force.”
Tara shook her head. “If you hadn’t called him out previously for his behavior, I would think it was too much. But Sarah told me about your phone call with him.”
Maksim turned to me and smiled. “She did, huh?”
“Oh yeah.”
Closing the gap between them, Maksim extended his hand. I’m Maksim Korolov.”
Slipping her hand into his, she replied, “Tara Mulvaney.” Batting her eyelashes at him, she said, “I just begged Sarah to meet you a few minutes ago, but she claimed it was too soon.”
