Page 59 of Bratva's Intern

I grabbed the phone and dialed Archie.

He picked up with a clipped, cheery tone. “Maxim. To what do I owe?—”

“What the fuck were you thinking giving Wren work without clearing it with me?”

Silence on the other end.

“It was a joke,” Archie said finally. “I thought he’d realize it wasn’t serious. Half of that stuff was outside his level. I should have realized he was too dense to figure that out.”

My blood thrummed in my veins. “Too dense? Archie, he spent the night at the office working on the files you sent. Slept on my office couch. He’s not dense. He’s dedicated and eager to please. Why would you do that to him?”

“Calm down, Maxim.”

“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down. You had no right.”

“Jesus, he’s got you wrapped around his finger, doesn’t he? I've got to say, Maxim, this is a low for you. Do I need to remind you who he is?”

“The only thing you need to remember is that you do not have the right to assign him tasks. You don’t speak to him about anything job-related without my approval. Got that?”

“You’re taking this a little too seriously. Aren’t you, Maxim?”

“You bet I am. I mean it, Archie. Stop targeting Wren, or you’ll be sorry.”

“You’d threaten me because of him?”

The bathroom door creaked open, and I glanced up. Wren stood barefoot on the polished floor, wearing one of mycrisp white shirts, the hem brushing his thighs, the collar too wide for his neck.

“Yes, because he is mine,” I snapped. “Watch yourself.”

I ended the call. Wren’s skin was flushed from the heat, his curls damp and springing wildly across his forehead.

He looked like someone who’d just been thoroughly, sweetly fucked, and I hadn’t even touched him.

My mouth went dry.

Do I need to remind you who he is?

Archie’s voice echoed in my head.

“Better?” I asked, voice rougher than I liked.

Wren grinned and twirled once. “Clean. But I can’t stay in this all day. It’s just a shirt, but it’s so big on me. I’ll have to call Jess to bring me something appropriate to wear.”

I nodded, trying not to stare at the way the shirt shifted against his hips. The fact that the shirt was oversized didn’t detract from how beautiful he looked. It only made me want to strip the shirt off him and see what he looked like naked.

“That’s best,” I said.

Nik knocked once and entered with the breakfast tray. His eyes flicked briefly to Wren. Too long.

I stood. “Thank you. You can go now.”

Nik raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

Wren sank into the couch with a grateful sigh. “Oh my god, I’m starving. That looks so good.”

He popped a grape into his mouth, then another, followed by half a croissant. “Thanks for not firing me for drooling on your couch. I’ve missed half a day of work. I’m so sorry. As soon as Jess brings my stuff, I’ll get to work, and I’ll make up for the hours.”

I leaned against the edge of the desk as he devoured a croissant like it was a rare delicacy.

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