Page 23 of Knocked Up by the Bratva

I stand there for a moment, the room feeling colder without her in it. This woman is different from the others. She challenges me, makes me feel things I’m not used to feeling. Shedoesn’t fall at my feet like they all do. She left me once, and now she’s keeping her distance, but it only makes me want her more.

As I leave the meeting room, my thoughts immediately drift back to Jennifer. That pale face, those tired eyes… she’s sick, but even then, she looked so damn tempting. I make my way down to the parking garage, slipping into the driver’s seat of my black SUV. I can feel the chill of the leather through my suit jacket, but my body is anything but cold. My pulse quickens the more I think about her.

Jennifer. The way she looked at me in that meeting, trying to keep her composure, trying to remain professional… but I could see through her. I always can. She thinks she can keep me at arm’s length, but every time I’m near her, the electricity in the air is undeniable.

I grip the steering wheel, remembering how she felt under my hands that night—soft, warm, delicate. She was different from the women I’ve been with. It’s not just her innocence, though that was part of it. No, it’s something deeper. She made me want more. The way she gasped for breath as I kissed her neck, how her body responded to my every touch… the memory alone sends a wave of heat through me. I let out a slow breath, my eyes closing for a moment as I picture her, back in my bed where she belongs.

I can’t shake the image of her. I want her again. I want to see that flushed face, hear those soft gasps as I push her over the edge. No matter how much I tell myself that I don’t care, that it was just a one-night thing, it’s bullshit. The truth is, she’s stuck in my head, and it’s driving me insane.

With a growl of frustration, I pull out my phone and dial Oleg. It rings twice before he picks up.

“Boss,” Oleg greets, his voice gruff but steady.

“I need you to do something for me,” I say, keeping my voice calm even though my blood is still running hot. “I want you to dig into someone’s background for me. Jennifer Jewels. She’s one of the interns here at Empire City Estates.”

There’s a slight pause on the other end. Oleg is used to my requests, but he knows when I’m serious about something, and he can hear it in my voice.

“Got it. You want the usual?” he asks.

“No,” I say, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. “I want everything. Every detail you can find. I’ve stayed out of her personal life so far, but now I want to know who she really is.”

There’s another pause, and I can practically hear Oleg’s mind turning over. He doesn’t ask questions, but he knows this is about more than just curiosity. I don’t chase after women, but Jennifer… she’s different.

“Consider it done,” Oleg says, his voice carrying the weight of a promise.

“Good,” I reply before hanging up.

I lean back in the seat, staring through the windshield at the empty garage. The truth is, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t play games. I take what I want, when I want it, but with Jennifer, I feel like I’m caught in some twisted push and pull. She’s running from me, and that only makes me want her more. There’s something about her I can’t let go of, something that gnaws at me. I need to know everything—what she’s hiding, why she’s trying to push me away.

As I sit there, I realize I’ve never felt this kind of obsession before. It’s dangerous, but at the same time, it’s exhilarating. The need to have her again, to claim her completely, is becoming impossible to ignore.

I smirk, my grip on the wheel loosening slightly as my thoughts turn darker, more primal. I’ll find out everything about her, every little secret. And when I do, there will be no more running. She’ll be mine.

I check the time, knowing I’ll have Oleg’s full report soon enough. For now, I focus on the memory of Jennifer—the softness of her lips, the way she tasted, her body beneath mine, responding to every touch. I can still hear her gasping my name, still feel her hands clutching at me like she didn’t want to let go.

This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

I start the car, the engine roaring to life as I grip the wheel once more. I’ll see her again, at the gala. She won’t be able to hide then. When I see her, I’ll make sure she remembers exactly what it felt like to be in my arms.

Chapter Eleven - Jennifer

I sit in front of the mirror, applying the final touches to my makeup, my hands trembling slightly. My nerves are shot, not just because of the gala, but because of what I’ve decided. Tonight, by the end of the event, I’m going to tell Timur about the baby. He deserves to know, even if I’m not expecting anything from him. The thought of telling him scares me to death, but I can’t keep avoiding it.

Maeve’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

“You look incredible, Jen. Seriously. If you weren’t already glowing from that pregnancy, you are now,” she teases with a playful grin, tossing her wavy hair over her shoulder as she leans against the doorframe. “You’ve got to tell him tonight. It’s the perfect time.”

“I know,” I murmur, staring at my reflection. My long, dark green dress hugs my figure perfectly, and despite the subtle baby bump starting to show, I feel… confident, at least outwardly. Inwardly, I’m a mess. “I’ve already decided. I just… I don’t know how to even bring it up.”

Maeve shrugs, adjusting the strap on her own dress. “You’ll figure it out. You always do. Besides, he’s the father. He deserves to know, and you deserve to get it off your chest. If he’s a jerk about it, well, you have me. We’ll figure things out together, okay?”

I offer her a small smile, appreciating her endless support. Maeve has been my rock since I told her, never making me feel judged or overwhelmed, just there for me in a way no one else ever has been.

“Thanks, Maeve,” I say, slipping into my heels and standing up. “Maybe you’ve got a point.”

Maeve gives me a quick hug before stepping back, eyeing me critically. “You look stunning. Timur is going to lose his mind when he sees you. Knock ’em dead, girl.”

I give her one last glance in the mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my dress, before grabbing my clutch. It’s time.

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