“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
Before I can press again, Owen walks in and the moment evaporates. Lina picks up her coffee and escapes with a quick, apologetic glance.
Wonderful.
I try Owen next, later in the afternoon, when he’s alone at the printer.
He smiles when he sees me. “Hey, stranger. Survived the ice king today?”
Barely.
I force a smile back. “Can I ask you something weird?”
“With you, I expect nothing less.”
I glance around, then lower my voice. “What do you know about Mr. Vasiliev?”
His smile vanishes so fast it’s almost funny. “Why?”
“Because I work for him?”
“Technically,” Owen says carefully, “you work near him.”
“That is not an answer.”
He grabs his printouts and avoids my eyes. “He’s the CEO. He’s rich. He’s intense. He scares me a little. That’s the complete list.”
“Owen.”
“Nope.” He backs away. “Nope, absolutely not. I enjoy being employed and alive in roughly equal measure.”
I blink. “Alive?”
He points a finger at me like I’m the one being unreasonable. “See? That right there. That’s why I’m done with this conversation.”
And then he’s gone too.
By the end of the day, I’ve tried three more people with the same result. Tight smiles. Blank faces. Sudden urgent tasks elsewhere.
No one will talk. Not even gossip. fEspecially not gossip, which in an office is basically a supernatural event.
I sit back down at my desk and stare at Aleksei’s closed office door.
He’s in there now. I know because I saw him go in ten minutes ago, dark suit, unreadable face, not a single glance in my direction.
The man who touched me like he was starving.
The man who ignored me like I meant nothing.
The man who told me distance was for my own good.
Maybe I should let it go. I should mind my business.
I should absolutely stop trying to peel back layers on a man who clearly came with bullets, bodyguards, and secrets.
Instead, I open a fresh document on my computer and type his name at the top.
Aleksei Vasiliev
