Page 127 of Take What You Want

Me: I’m sorry I’m on my way I promise!!

Hallie: Did you forget what the traffic is like here in just a few months?

Me: LA has traffic too I just got distracted at the hotel

Hallie: If that distraction is your hot rockstar roommate then you’re forgiven

Hallie: But I’m tired of standing down here on the street in these heels so I’ll meet you upstairs. Text me when you get here

Me: Will do

By the time I arrive, I’m only thirty minutes after the official start time. That’s not too bad and I’m sure no one will even notice me slipping in a little late when I haven’t even been in the office in months.

The driver pulls up into the valet lane and makes a move to get out of the car to open my door, but I stop him. “I got it, thank you.”

I fluff out my loose curls and reach for the handle when my door is ripped open. A hand appears through the door and I poke my head out to thank the valet when I’m met with the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever known.

“What are you doing here?” My red lips part in surprise as Nikolai’s hand folds over my own and helps me step out of the car. My feet are unsteady beneath me as he leans in, his cologne overwhelming me, and presses a gentle kiss to my cheek.

He’s dressed in a black suit that is perfectly tailored to the slope of his shoulders and the long lines of his legs. The whiteshirt beneath it is crisp and the top few buttons are undone, showing off his summer-tanned skin.

He flashes me a dazzling smile as he says, “I wasn’t going to let you get dressed up without me.”

“But you—the studio?—”

“It’ll be there when I get back,” he says, pulling me into his side and guiding us inside the lobby of the hotel. It’s empty, likely due to the party.

It clicks then that he just kissed me outside, in public, where anyone could see.

“You can’t be here,” I rush out. “What if someone just saw us together?”

He holds his hands out in front of him. “Relax,” he says calmly. “I’ve kept a low profile since I arrived. No one knows I’m here.”

“An entire party upstairs is about to.”

“Do you remember what you told me about this party?” He raises his brow.

I stare at him, willing my brain to focus when all I want to do is continue to check him out. His hair is effortlessly styled and the longer strands curl around his ears. The silver watch he always wears glints under the lights and even his shoes are shiny.

“Focus, Jane,” he says, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Right.” I shake my head slightly. Yes, I wanted him to be here tonight with me, but not if it means he’s going to blow the cover on his relationship with Kerra?—

“Oh…”

Nikolai snaps his fingers. “There it is.”

Everyone at the firm and their guests signed NDAs for tonight's party. We always have for the holiday parties, anniversaries, banquets, you name it. Because our celebrity clientele is often invited, our discretion is of the utmostimportance in making them feel comfortable and ensuring they keep their business with Chester and his partners. So when a celebrity shows up with a woman that isn’t his wife…well, we look the other direction.

The same goes for many of the men in the firm. Some bring their wives but oftentimes, I’m introduced to three new girlfriends of someone over the course of a year and then get a Christmas card signed by his wife.

“No one will be able to talk about you being here,” I say, everything clicking. “As long as we’re upstairs in that party, no one can say anything about what they see.”

Nikolai smiles knowingly. “Now that we have that out of the way”—he extends his arm to me—“shall we?”

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NIKOLAI

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