Page 9 of Plus-Sized Bratva Prisoner

I hurry back inside, straight to my desk.

Glancing up at the big windows of Yefim’s office, I see him standing there looking down at me. Hopefully, he was in the office the entire time and thinks I just went out for a coffee break.

***

I’ve upped my hours for dog walking and editing as much as I can. I study at night when I should be sleeping and then work all day at my internship.

I can feel the tiredness soaking through my body.

I managed to make the late payment, but now I have another payment due in only a week and a half. I’m screwed. They are draining the life out of me, and I just don’t see any way out of this.

I can’t even afford my rent at this pace, and I’m going to lose my home.

It’s just a never-ending battle, and I’m exhausted and stressed and miserable.

The only thing that brings me some kind of relief or joy is when I get to speak to Yefim.

Twice this week I’ve stayed late, and he’s invited me to work in his office.

He’s warmed to me and doesn’t have that severe look on his face anymore. He seems to be smiling more, and even though I’m not supposed to be here after hours, he is letting me stay as long as I work in here, not down on the ground floor. I don’t really know what difference it makes, but I do like the company.

It’s Friday again, and I actually finished what I needed to do about fifteen minutes ago, but I’m pretending to still be working because I just want to spend a little more time near him.

He’s been chatting about how well I’m doing at work and telling me that managers are impressed with what I’m handing in.

At least that’s one relief. I’m doing well at something.

I’ve been so tired I’ve been making mistakes with the editing lately and I got a warning from the magazine.

“Why aren’t you out, seeing as it’s Friday?” he asks, leaning back in his chair.

“I don’t really go out drinking. I’m so tired by the time I get home and finish a few hours of studying that I end up just going to bed.”

“You’re still going to study when you get home?”

“I have to. During the week—not Fridays, though—I also walk dogs and do after-hours editing.”

“Why are you working so much? Don’t you want to enjoy some free time?”

I chuckle. I have no idea what free time is anymore.

“I would love some free time, but I also want to do well in life, and that takes effort.” I shrug, not wanting to explain that I have massive debts I’ve inherited from my mother.

He smiles and shakes his head.

“You are an impressive woman, Tia. There are not a lot of people out there like you.”

A small grin paints across my lips and my cheeks tint light rose.

I glance up at him and see the dimples on his cheeks that appear when he smiles broadly like that. His blue eyes are locked onto mine. My heart skips a beat under his stare. Moments like these—I appreciate them. The small things that keep me going.

He seems like such a good man. His magnetism draws me in more than I ever could have expected, and I feel oddly close to him, even though I’ve only known him such a short time.

Chapter 4 - Yefim

The gorgeous intern has captured my attention in a rather dangerous way. I’m struggling to focus on much else and find myself watching her whenever I’m sitting at my desk.

She has the really cute habit, when she’s deeply focused on the work she’s doing, of sitting at her desk and twirling her hair in her fingers. I smile, watching her do this right now. Her head is tilted to the side as she reads her laptop screen and makes a note on the paper next to her.

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