Page 7 of Bride By Coronation

I scoff. "You two deserve each other." I step into the foyer, slam the door, and vow that whatever they're hiding from me, I'll stop at nothing to find out, even if it's dangerous.

2

Kirill Petrov

Several Hours Later

"Come on," I mutter, pushing the elevator button for the third time and shaking my head at Jasper, the daytime security guard.

"It's getting fixed today, Mr. Petrov," he reassures.

"About time. This is ridiculous," I grumble, just as the number one lights up and the steel doors open.

The redhead, who lives on the floor below me, tries to hide her disgust. Like always, she can't. She takes one look at my scar, cringes, and plasters a tight smile on her face.

My chest tightens. "After you," I offer, motioning for her to get off the elevator so I can get in and forget this little encounter.

She squeaks out, "I forgot my gloves. I have to go back upstairs."

Awesome. A ride with Ms. Uppity.

I step inside, press my palm against the screen, then hit eleven for her floor.

The doors shut, and there's no movement.

I press my hand against the screen again.

The redhead offers, "It's just taking a while."

"Totally absurd," I bark, a little louder than I should.

She jumps, then steps closer to the back corner, as far away from me as possible. The back of her black boot heel hits the wall.

I sigh. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

The thin line on her mouth forms again. She refocuses on the doors and tightens her black wool coat around her scrawny body. Her cheeks flush a shade of maroon, darkening her freckles.

The elevator creaks and slowly begins to lift.

I lean against the wall, cross my arms, and try to ignore the clawing in my gut.

She doesn't speak, but I can feel her sneaking glances at my face from the corner of her judgy eyes. She does it whenever I see her, so today is no different.

I shove my hands in my coat pockets and squeeze my fists tightly, cursing myself for letting her judgment affect me.

She's a bitch.

No different from every other woman.

Fiona didn't give me that look.

Don't fool yourself. She only hides it better,I scold myself. But I can't escape what's been flaring in my mind since I left her in the snow.

I misinterpreted it.

I didn't.

I did.

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