Slowly, I rise to my feet. “Don’t waste my fucking time, Katia. Say what you want to say.”
Katia draws herself up to her full height. “Carlisle is following Oliver.”
“You know he’s keeping an eye on him for safety purposes.”
“Bullshit.”
I step out from behind the, stopping inches from her. “You’re lucky my father isn’t here to make you pay for that statement.”
“Why is Carlisle really following him?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “That’s not your concern. Your job is whatever the fuck I tell you it is, and right now, it’s to mind your damn business.”
“Eliminating threats to the Paynes is part of my job—”
“Not where Oliver is concerned,” I interrupt. “I know you have a soft spot for my brother. Carlisle has been tasked with his security.”
Katia’s eyes blaze with frustration. “I’m perfectly capable of doing my job. What happened with London won’t happen with Oliver.”
“So you’ve said,” I respond. “Need I remind you of what was at stake the last time you screwed up? Oliver is my brother.”
Betrayal or not, he’s still a Payne.
I can’t afford to have Katia’s fondness get in the way of what needs to be done.
Carlisle is the only one I trust to report back to me without sugarcoating the truth, and the less my assassin knows, the better.
“If Carlisle is following him, you must think they’ll target him,” Katia says. Her hands curl tighter, and she takes a step in my direction. “What about Olivia?”
“Security detail isn’t your job where my siblings are concerned. You forget yourself, Katia. You and I might have had an understanding in the past, but the terms have changed.”
Katia growls. “I’m supposed to keep this family safe.”
I draw myself up to my full height, but she doesn’t cower. “Then do your fucking job instead of standing here arguing with me about details that don’t concern you.”
“But Oliver—”
My hand closes around Katia’s wrist. “Do as you’re fucking told, or I’ll find myself a new assassin.”
Katia searches my face, color rising in her neck and cheeks.
I grip her wrist tighter and wait for her to meet my gaze. “Are we clear?”
With a scowl, Katia removes my fingers, one by one, and takes a few steps back. She gives me a long, measured look before moving back.
“Well?”
Katia’s eyes are still tight. “Understood, sir.”
I step back behind the desk and lower myself onto the chair. “Good. You’re dismissed.”
Katia lingers for another moment before she turns on her heels and leaves the office.
A few moments later, I pull my empty glass closer and debate whether to call Katia back in when a figure darkens my doorway. I glance up as Mathew steps in, and I see the gun tucked into the waistband of his pants.
“What do you want?”
“I saw Katia storm out of here. Don’t tell me there’s trouble in paradise.”
