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“No!”
Luckily for him, Felix isn’t around when we head back to the luxury suite that evening. After a few snatched kisses in the elevator, a fit of laughter, and another packet of Skittles decimated, I head off for a relaxing shower.
When I return to the dining room, Vadim is there, shirtless and gorgeous, leaning over the table as he arranges the dishes that room service has just brought us.
“Stop ogling me like that, and come eat instead,” he says teasingly, without even turning around.
I do as he says. He puts on a T-shirt before joining me at the table.
“You didn’t eat lunch today, did you?” he guesses, watching me dig into my food.
“My stomach was in knots.”
“I know things aren’t easy with Kate, but—”
“That’s not it. Well, not entirely.”
“Tell me, Alma.”
His eyes, more intense and darker now, trace every feature of my face. And once again, I’m struck by his amazing looks.
“Felix,” I say.
“Alma,” Vadim sighs, “I’m not his father. Fortunately.”
“Lily told me it’s getting more and more serious between them. But I’ve also heard that he’s really enjoying the company of the women on set!”
“Felix is like that. He loves being admired; it’s in his nature. That doesn’t mean he’s going to cheat on Lily.”
“She deserves better than that; better than some guy who flirts with every woman in sight,” I murmur.
Vadim watches me, then runs both hands through his hair. “You’re right. But I can’t do anything about it.”
“You can tell your buddy to be more professional, otherwise I will. And it’ll go down much worse if it comes from me.”
“What is it with you two? Why have you never been able to stand each other?”
“He’s different with me. Almost… malicious.”
Vadim reacts to that last word. “Alma, stop it. I know he’s no angel, but Fe is a good guy. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Vadim pushes his plate away and makes as if to stand up.
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Not sure about what?”
“He’s using you, Vadim. And you’re completely blind to it. Just like Lily, for that matter.”
“I gave him a job because he needed one. And I’m putting him up in this hotel. So what? It’s not like I can’t afford it. I don’t see the problem. If the roles were reversed, he’d do the same thing for me.”
“Do you really think so?”
His eyes narrow in annoyance as they meet mine. I’m backing him into a corner, and he never likes it when I do that.
“You’re always so prickly when it comes to him.”
I open my mouth, but he doesn’t give me time to answer.
