“Okay,” says Sophia. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Soph. Thanks for being there for me.”
“Sure, babe. Always.”
I hang up and press the phone to my chest. I feel a tear form in my eye but push it away, flinging back my head to prevent it from falling. Right now, all I need is a Sophia hug. I want things to go back to the way they were before. I want highschool back, us sitting next to each other talking shit to make the time go faster in class.
All I ever wanted was for the time to go faster. For the school day to be finished already.
Now, I wish the clock would tick slower.
Things aren’t the same anymore. Sophia is married off to a member of the Bratva, and I’m carrying his friend’s child. We’re both out of our depth.
Although, it sounds like Sophia is managing to keep afloat.
I take the USB out of my pocket and play with it in my hands. Part of me doesn’t want to read through the contents, scared of what I might find. I shut my eyes. Ignorance is bliss, but I also need to know what my father is doing. Maybe those files even hold answers about my mother’s death.
If only you were here, Mom…
What would you do in my shoes?
I don’t know why I’m starting to believe Nikolai about Timur being innocent, having nothing to do with Mom’s death. As a billionaire Russian gangster, he isn’t exactly the textbook version of reliability. Perhaps that’s why I’m trying so hard to push him away. But one way or another, the “Nikolai effect” is starting to work its way through me.
I have him in my system now.
In more ways than just one…
I turn the USB in my hands, still thinking about him. Why does he want us to manage his investments? Is he up to something? Is he working with my father behind my back? Or is this simply a way for him to keep me close? Or is it something more than that? Something I haven’t figured out yet?
Maybe the USB in my hand has the answers.
I shut my eyes again, but I still see him. His face. His body. His blue eyes touch something inside of me, something that no other person has managed to do before. I have encounteredmany people in my life, but Nikolai Rogov’s eyes are the only pair to actually transcend the physical and make me feel something.
I open my eyes and continue staring at the USB stick.
I need to take action. I need to read through these files and uncover the truth. But I can’t do it here.
I rise from my seat, swing my jacket around my shoulders, and grab my car keys. I should look at this information on my own, personal laptop—not the company computer. Besides, we’re approaching the end of the workday anyway.
I lock up, take the elevator down, and head outside.
The street air feels different out here. Muggier than normal. Undoing the buttons of my jacket, I stride to the parking lot as fast as possible before Father sees me and calls me to find out why I’m leaving early. Besides, I have a feeling it’s only a matter of time before Danielle tells him that I stayed behind in his office this morning. I have to get home and see those files before she spills my secret.
I’m almost at the parking lot when I feel something in my gut, prodding. Telling me to stop whatever the hell I’m doing and walk back. To head back inside where it’s safe. Which is strange because it’s the middle of the afternoon. The sun’s out. It shouldn’t be dangerous to be alone outside.
Still, my instinct keeps screaming at me. Goosebumps rise on my skin, which is weird—it’s hot out here. But I go cold, feeling the need to button back up my jacket.
It’s okay, Lauren.
It must be your hormones again.
I start up again, continuing to head towards the parking lot. Although we’re nearing the end of the workday, it’s still too early for people to start leaving their offices. All the cars are standing still and there isn’t a single soul out here but me.
Except it’s not just me.
There is somebody else out here.
I can feel it.
