Page 5 of Use Me, Daddy

Maxim, my eldest brother, was our leader. His word was law, and he enforced it with a cold authority that made people stand straighter in his presence.

Sergei was all muscle and precision, the silent protector who watched over us with a fierce loyalty. His job was security and he protected all of us with meticulous precision.

Ivan, our tech genius, was so wrapped in code and algorithms, he barely noticed the world around him. But if there was a system to crack, he was already ten steps ahead in solving it.

My brother Nikolai was a force of nature—towering and intimidating, with a fighter’s build that could cow even the boldest adversaries. Yet beneath his raw strength was a playful sense of humor capable of breaking through even the most guarded of defenses.

I was the youngest, ‘the charmer,’ the one who smoothed out the rough edges of every deal and handled the finer aspects of our business. Art, luxury, connections in all the right places—that was my world. I made sure our reach extended into the elite circles that shaped this city from the inside out.

In a way, Amy stepping into my gallery was the perfect test. She was smart, ambitious, and had just enough confidence to think she could play on equal ground with a man like me.

She had no idea what she’d walked into, no concept of the family she’d be dealing with, or how deeply embedded we were here.To her, I was probably nothing more than an eccentric art dealer with a taste for exclusivity.

And for now, that would be all she needed to know.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t tempted to see how far she could be pushed. The last thing I’d expected when I started interviewing candidates for the position as my assistant was to find someone who could match me step for step, word for word.

But she had.

Amy had that spark—a mix of nerve and restraint that made her a worthy challenge for a man like me. And if there’s one thing I knew about challenges, it’s that they were meant to be conquered.

I glanced over at her, noting the way she kept a neutral expression, as though she hadn’t just felt me step closer. But I saw that flicker of something in her eyes.

Anticipation, curiosity. Maybe even a touch of defiance. Enough to make things veryinteresting.

Tomorrow, she’d be back here, in my world, answering to me. And as much as she might think she was the one running the show, we both knew that it was just a matter of time before she realized who was in charge.

I looked forward to watching that confidence chip away as she realized exactly who she was dealing with. And maybe, just maybe, she’d surprise me.

I was always open to surprises.

CHAPTER 3

Amy

It was quarter to eight in the morning, and I was already at the gallery.

After a brief introduction of my job responsibilities, Aleksei left me to my duties, and I took to it like a fish to water because that’s what he expected and that’s what I excelled at.

I was going to do a damn good job on my very first day.

I had no intention of letting him think I’d take this job any less seriously than he did. I was here to show off exactly why he’d hired me, and that meant being on top of everything—art appraisals, guest preferences, the finest details of each piece in the upcoming auction tonight and whatever else needed to be done to prepare for this evening’s event.

I’d done my homework, and I was ready.

I swept through the space, organizing catalog sheets, making notes for the auction, and reviewing each piece on display. Thesewere exquisite works, and I noted that each had a history and a story all its own. My job was to make sure they not only sold, but that they sold for top dollar. And I knew I could do it.

I was deep in planning when I felt him behind me. His presence was unmistakable, a quiet intensity that made the air feel thicker, made my breath come quicker. I didn’t let myself turn around right away; I wanted him to see me immersed in my work.

“Amy,” he said, his voice smooth, drawing my attention at last.

I turned, offering a polite nod. “I’ve sorted the catalog sheets by valuation and placed notes on each piece that might need a closer look. There’s a piece by Ignatyev that might attract lower bids, and I’d recommend a better spot on the floor to ensure maximum visibility.”

Aleksei’s eyes lingered on me with a faint glint of approval, but he merely nodded, folding his arms as he moved alongside me.

“Good work,” he said. “Though I’d consider shifting the Ignatyev to later in the lineup—sometimes pieces that seem like background set the tone more effectively from behind.”

I bit back a frown. He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to let him see me hesitate.

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