Page 52 of Emerald Malice

“Please. Andrey doesn’t play favorites.”

“Shocker.”

“I’m gonna go scope out the rest of the place. Just?—”

“No,” I interrupt, using his elbow to draw myself up to my feet to see if I can spot Andrey through the frosted glass. “Stay right here and keep talking to me. I don’t want Abby coming over here.”

He glances over his shoulder. “Is she the one with the low-cut blouse?”

“The one and only. Don’t make eye contact!”

The glass doors open and Mr. Ewes steps out, laughing loudly. Andrey is sitting in one of the chairs behind him, looking all too comfortable.

“Natalia!” Mr. Ewes calls over. “Join us in here for a moment.”

I plaster on a fake smile and slump my way into the office. “Good morning, Mr. Ewes.”

“You didn’t tell me you knew Mr. Kuznetsov!”

“She never tells anyone we know each other,” Andrey remarks with a wicked smile in my direction. “Embarrassed of me, I think.”

“Ha!” Mr. Ewes guffaws. “Embarrassed of Andrey Kuznetsov… imagine.”

I’ve heard that laugh before. It’s the one he uses when he wants to schmooze a client.

“Well, don’t you worry, my dear—Mr. Kuznetsov has explained the situation to me and I’m sure we can accommodate the security measures you need.”

If my cheeks get any hotter, I just might burst into flames. “Are you sure it’s not an imposition, Mr. Ewes?”

“Not at all, not at all! Happy to.” He turns from me back to Andrey. “It’s a little early for a drink, but my office has just been fitted with a new cappuccino machine.”

Andrey rises and waves him off. “Nothing for me, Richard, thank you. I need to get going.”

“Anything at all you need, just let me know, Andrey.”

They shake hands. “I’ll send word through Natalia.”

Mr. Ewes doesn’t look in the least bit put off. “Wonderful. Of course. Whatever you need.” He practically bows us out of the office.

“Jesus,” I mumble. “I think I threw up in my mouth a little.”

We haven’t even reached my desk before our path is blocked by none other than Abby. “Arch nemesis” is a slight stretch, but only very slight. She certainly annoys the crap out of me. Now more than ever.

Her gaze is fixated on Andrey. I thought she was already operating on too few buttons, but she’s proving that there is no bar she isn’t willing to stoop under, because I could swear another button has gone missing since we arrived.

“Can I get you anything, Mr. Kuznetsov?” she croons without bothering with an introduction.

To his credit, Andrey looks at her as though she’s a wet piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe. “Nothing, thank you.”

That frigid tone would have sent me backing away, because I’m not a moron. Abby, however, is undeterred. “Are you sure? It’d be my pleasure to help out in any way possible.” And just in case she was being too subtle, she strokes a hand along Andrey’s arm and bats her eyes for effect.

I’m this close to pushing the bitch right out of our way when Andrey drawls, “Kindly remove your hand from my arm before I remove it for you.”

Damn.

I could freaking kiss him.

Abby blinks, clearly bewildered that her magic boobs haven’t done the trick. But at least she drops her hand. “I could show you the rest of the office, Mr. Kuz?—”

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