Page 34 of The Pakhan

“Yes, sir. I didn’t think anything of it.”

I walked closer, breathing in and out. “That’s the point. You didn’t fucking think at all. You are now on suspension for two weeks. A single thing and you are gone. Do you hear me?” When he didn’t answer me right away, I let the anger get the best of me, issuing not one but two brutal punches.

He was pitched to the floor, rattling the end table.

“What the fuck are you doing? You’re a horrible man.” As Caroline rushed into the room, immediately crouching down to Ivan, she kept her glare pointed directly at me.

“It’s okay, miss. I deserved that. I didn’t do my job,” Ivan told her as he struggled to stand.

“It’s okay? In what country? The last time I checked that kind of shit wasn’t allowed in here in any workplace. But your boss already knows that.”

As she helped him stand, I was forced to face a couple of facts that would likely come back to haunt me.

Or worse, bite me in the ass.

She was a formidable woman who would likely continue to do risky things, which I’d need to curtail right now.

More importantly, I wanted her. Bad.

Not just to taste and touch or tease and fuck but as my possession.

And not just for the time she was under my protection but for the long haul.

God help me but no other woman had turned me on or infuriated me as much as the lovely, vivacious, and mischievous Caroline Randall.

Caroline

Another storm.

More anxiety.

My mind reeling from the ugly events of the last few days.

I couldn’t keep my eyes from glancing toward the wide-open window, wondering how Vadim could tolerate never pulling down his blinds.

As I struggled with what had just occurred, I shifted my anxiousness toward the ruthless man standing like a beacon of sin.

Insufferable bastard.

I wasn’t entirely certain I hadn’t said the words out loud, but I did know I was glaring at Vadim even as I finally managed to help the abused soldier to his feet.

“You can go now, Ivan,” Vadim said, also locking his piercing eyes onto mine. I’d expected anger in them, maybe frustration but there was amusement instead. Did the asshole think this was funny?

Ivan walked out, even closing the doors behind him and it was lucky I resisted jumping. I certainly didn’t want the damn Russian to realize he bothered me in the least.

Vadim walked closer, allowing what appeared to be a heated gaze to fall to my feet.

“Dlya takoy krasivoy ty—gorstka.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Yes, I was being demanding but I didn’t care at this point. I’d never seen this side of Vadim. To take out his anger on a man who’d just been trying to help was atrocious in my mind.

“I said,” he started as he dared to walk closer. If he thought he was going to intimidate me, he needed to think again. “For one so beautiful, you are a handful.”

“Well, you better get used to it, buddy. I know I agreed to work with you and all, but I will not allow you to treat your employees that way.”

“Oh, you won’t?”

“Nope.”

---