Page 5 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

I chuckled, noting the way her cheeks flushed with irritation. "Semantics, Sweetheart. I'm here on Vlad's behalf."

She exhaled sharply, her pencil skirt swishing as she turned to face me fully. "Is there something specific you need, or are you just here to disrupt my work?"

I couldn't help but admire her spunk. Most people cowered in my presence, but not Pippa. She met my gaze head-on, her green eyes blazing with defiance. It was… refreshing.

"Maybe I just wanted to see what you were up to," I said, my voice dropping an octave.

Pippa's eyes widened slightly, and I caught the slight hitch in her breath. But she recovered quickly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Abrahim, I have work to do. If you don't need anything, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me get back to it."

I held up my hands in mock surrender, but couldn't resist one last jab. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you to your important spreadsheets. But don't work too hard, Pippa. All work and no play makes for a very dull girl."

Her nostrils flared, and I could see the internal struggle playing out on her face. She wanted to snap back at me, I could tell. But her professionalism won out, and she simply turned back to her computer, dismissing me without a word.

I leaned against her desk, watching her do what it was she was doing. I could tell she was aware of my every breath, all the while trying to make sense of the jumped Excel sheet in front of her. "You know, Pippa, if you use Tally, it could be easier than Excel to balance the books of the bar. I could get IT to set it up on your computer."

She paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. I could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to decide if she should ignore me or engage.

"I’ll give it a shot," she replied curtly, not looking up. "Now, if you'll excuse me—”

“Oh, what’s the hurry?” I chuckled, shaking my head. "Come on, Ms. Burrows. There's gotta be more to life than just work."

Pippa's head snapped up, her green eyes flashing. "I don't recall asking for your opinion on how I should fill my life, Mr. Ustinov.”

The sharpness in her tone sent a thrill through me. I loved seeing this feisty side of her.

"Fair enough," I conceded, holding her gaze. "But I bet there's a wild side hiding under all that… propriety. Maybe you just need the right person to bring it out."

I watched as a blush crept up her neck, coloring her cheeks. She opened her mouth to retort, then closed it again, clearly flustered.

The tension between us was palpable, crackling in the air like electricity. I found myself leaning in closer, drawn to her despite myself. Her scent—a mix of vanilla and something uniquely Pippa—filled my senses.

"I…" she started, her voice softer now. She had nothing more to say.

But the way her eyes darted to my lips told a different story. For a moment, neither of us moved, caught in this unexpected moment of connection.

I stepped back, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips. "Well, Miss Burrows, I look forward to helping you with any more… troubles with software." I winked, enjoying the way her blush deepened. "Until next time."

As I turned to leave, I couldn't resist one final parting shot. "Oh, and Pippa?" I called over my shoulder. "When you're ready to grab a drink, you know where to find me."

I caught a glimpse of her face—a mix of indignation and intrigue—before I strode away, the tension still thick in the air between us. The casino's ambient noise faded into the background as my mind replayed our interaction.

Pippa Burrows. She was nothing like I'd expected. That prim exterior hid a fire I was itching to stoke.

Chapter 3 - Pippa

"No, Dmitri, you need to stack the chips this way," I explained, demonstrating the proper technique. "It's more efficient and-—”

"Actually," a deep voice cut in from behind me, "you should be stacking them like this."

I gritted my teeth as Abrahim Ustinov's tattooed arm reached around me, his large hand deftly rearranging the poker chips. The scent of his cologne—spicy and masculine—invaded my senses. I forced myself not to react.

"Abrahim," I said, injecting sweetness into my voice. "I appreciate your input, but I've been training our staff on this method for weeks. It's the casino standard."

His steel blue eyes met mine, amusement dancing in their depths. "And I'm telling you there's a better way, Sweetheart. Trust me on this."

I bristled at the patronizing endearment. Who did he think he was calling me sweetheart? Sure, he was looking over the casino, but this was my job.

"Right," I said tightly. "Well, thank you for your suggestion. Dmitri, please continue as I showed you."

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