Page 72 of Bratva's Intern

“Then don’t tell him I stayed. I’ll leave early in the morning, and he won’t know a thing.”

“Oh, trust me, he’llknow.” But after a few more seconds of internal debate, he exhaled and jerked his head toward the staircase. “Fine. But if he fires my ass tomorrow, I’ll have to live with you and your beautiful roommate.”

But considering the big shit-eating grin on his face, that didn’t seem to bother him as much as it should have.

I grinned back and followed him up the sleek staircase, my heart beating a little too fast. Nik led me down a long hallway and stopped in front of a door.

“This is Maxim’s room. Try not to disturb him. He should sleep through the night.”

I stared at the door. A part of me wanted to push it open, to check on him, to see if he was okay. But I didn’t want Nik to see how much I cared.

A little too late, since you’re forcing him to allow you to squat on Maxim’s property.

“Come on. Guest rooms are this way.”

I followed, but as we passed the door right next to Maxim’s, I stopped.

“What about this one?” I asked.

Nik stopped too, giving me a long look.

“That one’s… closer.” God, I was stupid for even saying it out loud. But being down the hall felt too far away.

Nik let out a quiet sigh, glancing toward Maxim’s door like he was making some silent calculation. Then he shrugged. “Pretty sure I’m already fired anyway for letting you stay here. So what the hell?”

He pushed open the door and led me inside.

The moment I stepped in, I had to remind myself not to react like an airhead. The guest room was almost the size ofmy entire apartment. In the middle sat a massive bed draped in soft-looking linens, the kind that probably had thread counts I couldn’t even imagine. The furniture was sleek but looked comfortable. The thick, luxurious rug on the floor felt sinful under my shoes.

I turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. “Jesus.”

Nik smirked. “Yeah. He doesn’t do basic. That’s the bathroom through there.”

I slowly walked toward the bathroom, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. Nothing could have prepared me for the gold and marble, complete with a Jacuzzi tub and glass shower cubicle that looked like it could fit five people comfortably.

At the end of the bathroom was another door. Surely that wasn’t…

“Maxim’s bedroom.” Nik came up behind me, and my stomach flipped. Not from his nearness but the thought of just two doors being between Maxim and me.

Nik leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Spare toothbrush should be in there. Clothes are in the closet.”

I frowned. “Clothes?”

Nik jerked his chin toward the far end of the room. “Check.”

Curious, I made my way over and opened a walk-in closet the size of my bedroom. Sure enough, on the shelves lay rows of neatly folded clothes. Not just robes and generic guest wear. Actual clothes.

I turned back toward him, my brows furrowed. “Is this someone’s room?”

Nik rubbed the back of his neck. “Not anyone specific. Maxim’s… playthings usually stay in this room whenever he brings one home.”

The words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. So the folder wasn’t just fantasy.

Of all the rooms I could have chosen.

Heat exploded up my neck, and my skin prickled like a thousand ants were dancing the samba.

Nik didn’t seem the least bit affected. If anything, he was enjoying my reaction a little too much.

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