You’d do well to remember, Lili: When I want things, I tend to get them.
She glances at the time, then slides her phone screen open.
(7:28 p.m.) What are you doing tonight?
(7:39 p.m.) I’m at the office.
(7:41 p.m.) Can I drop by? Want to talk about something.
(7:45 p.m.) Of course. I’m free around 9. The receptionists can show you in.
Good. Neutral ground.
She expects an empty office, employees gone for the day. Instead, the office is as busy as midday when she arrives. The elevator dings open onto a floor full of people bent over computers, suit jackets thrown over chairs, exhaustion-rumpled shirts, and bleary eyes staring into the blue light of Excel models, clicking through decks on sleek screens, running into glass conference rooms. Empty Sweetgreen containers are discarded across desks, and nervous fingers scrape at the lips of Blue Bottle takeaway cups. The air is frigid with air-conditioning but stale with bodies that haven’t left the office in hours, a contrast to the dark, simmering heat outside.
Before Lili can approach the receptionists, an unwelcome figure in gray cuts in.
“I’ll deal with this,” Michael tells the front desk staff, before turning to Lili. “Are you lost?”
She barely suppresses the urge to roll her eyes. “Is Aleksandr around?”
“One would assume so.”
“He asked me to come by. If you just move, I can find my way—”
“Absolutely not. Just—” Michael glances over his shoulder, as if evaluating the number of witnesses present. “Just come with me.” Without looking back at her, he strides into the bullpen. “He’s busy, you can wait in one of the smaller conference rooms, if he has time later. It’s unlikely though. Honestly, you can’t show up—”
“Lili.”
It’s Aleksandr, emerging from a meeting with what looks like a group of his managing directors and VPs.
The way he says her name, the lethal slip of his grin over his teeth—there arepeoplearound. He must pay them horrifically well; they’re resolutely interested in their work, dispersing to their offices fast and hiding any curious glances, except for the tall brunette at Aleksandr’s side. Sharp stare, high heels, iPad in hand, she looks caught mid-sentence. She’s studying Lili with clear, unabashed interest.
“Michael can show you to my office,” Aleksandr says to Lili. “I’ll be there in a moment.”
Lili hears Michael’s sign of exasperation. She can’t help but feel a little smug. The woman beside Aleksandr catches her expression; she winks at Lili before they walk away.
Aleksandr’s office is in the opposite direction from where Michael had been heading. As he opens the heavy door, she spies a wedding band. A jolt of surprise followed by dark humor; she pities the person married to him. Probably some brittle, colorless woman, The Row cashmere and cold blond highlights smoothed behind her ears, Sakara for every meal, Elsa Peretti jewelry, New York Pilates and rail-thin collarbones.
“Stay here,” Michael says. “Don’t touch anything.”
“No executing after-hours trades? Or does the boss not have Bloomberg Terminal on his computer?”
“I will personally ensure the dismal returns of your retirement accounts.”
“Bold of you to assume I have retirement savings.”
Michael scowls. “Miss Marwan, let me tell you how this is going to go,” he says. “He will have his dalliance with you, however inconvenient and deplorable; I will grit my teeth and manage the consequences for him; and then it will be over, and order will be restored. You’ll return to Brooklyn, and I will never have to deal with you again.”
“Is that a challenge?” she asks.
His jaw clenches. “I beg your pardon.”
“I’m sure I could do more damage than that.”
Michael evaluates her for one long, scathing moment. Lili does not relent under his stare.
Evidently, he decides she isn’t worth his energy.
