Page 36 of The Arrangement

And there he is, in all his glory, not a stitch on him, and completely unbothered by it. Me? I'm momentarily rooted to the spot, my exit strategy suddenly looking less appealing. The view's enough to short-circuit any sensible thought, leaving me wondering if a speedy departure is really in my best interests.

Maksim’s gaze dances over my own body, his eyes lingering. I love the way he looks at me.

"As much as I appreciate the view from here, we really should get a move on," he chuckles, pulling on some clothes on with a speed that suggests he's no stranger to quick changes.

Following him through the house, I'm hit once again by the sheer size and grandeur of it. It's like stepping into a different world, one where every corner and corridor speaks of a life miles away from my own.

He catches me looking around, an eyebrow raised in silent question. "What's on your mind?" he asks, that playful edge still present in his voice.

"Oh, just calculating how many Murphy beds I could fit in this place," I reply, throwing him a smirk. "Turns out, it's a lot."

Maksim laughs, a sound that's becoming increasingly familiar and welcome. "Well, if you ever need more space, feel free to expand into here. I'm sure we could find a corner for a dog or two.”

Just as we're about to leave, a car rolls up, cutting through the late morning calm like a scene straight out of a suburban fantasy. Behind the wheel is an older woman, her demeanor speaking volumes of warmth and authority, and in the back seat, a young girl who could easily win a cuteness contest.

Maksim's face lights up with both pride and affection, a sight that's oddly disarming.

The door swings open, and the girl pops out of her booster seat and onto the driveway, curiosity written all over her face. "Who's the lady?"

Maksim smiles at her and introduces me. "She's a friend."

But little Miss Adelina, with a name as charming as her curious little self, isn't about to let that vague introduction slide. "Friend? Is she your new best friend?" Adelina's eyes are wide, her questions fired off with the rapid precision of a seasoned interrogator.

Maksim chuckles, a sound both warm and a tad evasive. "A very special friend, Ade."

She's not satisfied, her gaze flitting between us like she's putting together a puzzle. "Do you have a dog? What's your favorite color? Will you come to my ballet recital?" The questions tumble out, each one more adorable and probing than the last.

I squat down in front of her, putting my hands on my knees. She’s so adorable it hurts – and she looks just like her father.

“Do I have a dog? Little lady, you asked the right person that question – I don’t have just one dog, I have dogs, with an S.”

“Really? How many? What kind of dogs? How big are they?”

Maksim gently cuts in, "Ade, let's not overwhelm my friend, okay?"

Adelina huffs, a miniature version of a grown-up sigh. "Okay, but I still wanna know if she'll come to the recital."

With a laugh that's both apologetic and filled with paternal love, Maksim scoops her up. "You're being a bit too forward, young lady," he tells her, but it's clear there's no real reprimand there, just a father's amusement at his daughter's inquisitive nature.

Standing there, watching them, I'm struck by the duality of Maksim Morozov. Here he is, a man whose life is shrouded in danger and shadows, displaying such undeniable love and tenderness for his daughter. It's a juxtaposition that's both baffling and intriguing, painting him in shades I'm only just beginning to understand.

How does he reconcile these two worlds? The loving father and the feared mobster? It's a puzzle, a complex enigma wrapped in the guise of a man who's just introduced me as a friend to his daughter.

Adelina's eyes meet mine, bright with curiosity and something akin to approval. Before anyone can say anything else, the woman steps out of the car.

“Come along, Ade,” she says, her tone firm. “Let’s leave your father be while he speaks to his friend.”

The strange emphasis she puts on the final word, along with her quick up-and-down of me with her eyes, makes it clear she understands I’m not at the house for business.

“Thank you, Irina,” Maksim says as the pair vanish into the house.

Maksim, with his unexpected depths and contradictions, has firmly caught my interest. Figuring him out, understanding the man behind the mystery, suddenly feels like a challenge I'm more than willing to accept.

Chapter 18

Tory

Riding shotgun in Maksim's sleek car, I'm hit with this wave of rightness. It's bizarre, considering the whirlwind of events that's been my life since he waltzed into it, but here I am, feeling downright cozy next to the most mysterious man I've ever met.

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