Page 6 of The Bratva's Knocked-Up Bride

As hard as I tried to focus on the task at hand while I moved aimlessly from room to room, floor to floor, I found myself growing more distracted by those ever-curious thoughts about Sky Ridley and what she was up to…what she was thinking. For whatever reason, I even wondered what her weekends were like…if the store she goes to ran out of her favorite thing…if her family members were well, even if I didn’t know them myself.

They were dumb, pointless thoughts, but I still couldn’t shake them. I didn’t want to, not while I was so damn interested in what her life was like outside of her job.

I felt like an idiot, but to my dismay, I just wanted to be around her.

That first day, I watched her walk through the front foyer, and I had half the mind to think my heart stopped the second I saw her. The sound of her heels against the floor…the way her body moved with every step…how her pencil skirt hugged her thighs so deliciously, I couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like under my hands…it was all burned into my memory faster than I could prevent it.

Not that I wanted to.

Thinking back to that moment, easily recalling how her eyes lingered on me with what felt like mutual interest, was the one thing that made my task feel bearable. Aware that at anymoment, I had the chance of seeing her again and satisfying that craving I just couldn’t shake.

After some time of being there, I managed to pinpoint the floor she supervised and where she spent most of her time. Ten suddenly felt like a lucky number to me, and I found myself heading there more often than I should’ve.

But I just couldn’t resist.

Scoping out the other floors just felt like biding my time before getting to the main event, where I could sneak my glances and get as close as possible without alarming her.

Every time I reached that godforsaken floor, I could feel that expectation simmering within my chest, just hoping for the chance to see her.

I was no better than a pathetic, giddy schoolgirl. It was embarrassing, and I hated how she seemed to have that power over me so easily, but every time I saw her, it felt worth it. Then, all over again, the cycle would start anew.

Every glance and realization that she was nearby seemed to trip something in my head, and it felt like taking another hit of the most addicting substance known to man.

It was ridiculous…but I couldn’t help it.

After clearing the ninth floor, I punched in the button for the tenth floor, wondering if my constant visits would eventually wear the number down. Even if it did, I didn’t care. It wasn’t my problem, after all.

The elevator dinged as the doors slid open, and almost like muscle memory, I began my usual sweep of the floor.

Moving between the aisles of cubicles and open tables where some people brainstormed together, I scoped out my surroundings, hoping to see Sky again.

Luckily, I could walk around and have no one notice where I was actually looking. As far as anyone else could tell, I was just doing my job.

I kept telling myself this, even when I strayed closer and closer to Sky’s private office, wondering when I might catch another glimpse.

Those attempts were getting bolder and bolder with every passing minute, and I knew that, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t pull myself away. I could only hope she didn’t catch on and spoil those little moments of excitement for me.

But of course, it was only a matter of time.

Before I could make another pass of her office, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I nearly jumped out of my skin the moment it shattered my reverie.

Annoyed by how it rattled me without warning, I fished into my pocket and pulled it out, finding Lukyan’s contact on the screen.

Sighing, I stepped toward the back of the office floor, accepted the call, and put the phone to my ear.

“Yeah?”

“For the love of god, take that damn mask off,” he uttered, bypassing any kind of formal greeting.

I furrowed my brows. “Why?”

“Because you’re scaring the shit out of everyone there,” Lukyan returned, sounding vaguely irritated.

“And how do you know that?”

He sighed. “Gemma has had at least five employees approach her today saying they felt uneasy with you wearingit…they can’t see your face and it’s unsettling. It’s not exactly evoking a safe and productive work environment.”

Scoffing to myself, I could just imagine them going to Gemma, only for her to tell Benedikt, then Lukyan. I knew her employees weren’t like me or my family, but I assumed they’d have stronger constitutions than that.

---