Page 59 of Emperor of Havoc

“I…have to tell you something,” I gesture glumly.

Nina smirks. “Is this the part where you admit to poisoning the sake yourself?”

My eyes widen and my mouth falls open.

“You knew?!” I sign animatedly.

She giggles. “Kat, this might come as a shock, but after eleven years, Ikindaknow you better than you know yourself—or close to it.”

I bury my face in my hands.

Nina snickers. “Plus, I was right there. I heard Takeshi say ‘I hope you know your doses’, which confused the hell out of me until everything that happened next.” She arches a brow atme. “Pufferfish venom, hmm? Did someone discover a poetic streak?”

“What the fuck am I going to do?” I sign at her, exhaling. “Papa’s going to start a war with Sergey over this if he thinks it’s him.”

“Radical idea, but maybe tell the truth?”

I shoot her a look. “Wouldyoutell Kolya Ishida that you’d sown chaos and disorder at your own wedding when now is the worst time for either of those things?”

“Fair,” Nina says with a grimace. She sighs. “Look, I’ll try to lean on your dad. Maybe make some…subtle suggestions.”

“Could you?”

Nina’s been sort of acting like a personal assistant to Papa for the last few months, which puts her in a unique position to get in his ear about something like this in a way I’m, ironically, too close to him for.

“I’ll try,” she shrugs. “For what it’s worth I talked with him this morning, and he’s already doubting it was Sergey. Not his style, I guess.”

Thank God.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my white linen pants. I pull it out and instantly feel my face flush when I read the text.

Takeshi

Are you able to move yet? Or are you still trapped in bed covered in my cum? If it’s the second, my cock is hungry for your mouth again. I'll be there in five.

I will the heat away from my cheeks as I angrily hammer out a reply.

Me

Has anyone ever told you how off-putting you are?

Takeshi

Only my therapists. Women usually find me charming.

Me

Trust me, there is zero percent chance that any woman ever has found you even the least little bit charming. You’re deranged.

Takeshi

Sticks and stones, princess. So, are you immobilized in bed or not? I’m quite hard and I want to fuck your mouth again before lunch.

Traitorous heat pools between my thighs as I shift in my seat.

Why thefuckdoes him talking to me like this turn me on? I mean, seriously self, get help.

Across from me, Nina stands up, glancing at her phone. “The boss calls,” she says dryly. “Meaning your dad, if that wasn’t clear.”

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