Page 7 of Dirty Little Secrets
I don’t listen or care. The table is still abuzz, fresh drinks arriving. No one notices me slipping away. But one person does.
“Landon,” Mr. Drazen says, his voice cool. “Aren’t you going to see your guest out?”
I stand before he can answer. “That’s okay. I found my way in…I can find my way out.”
And I do.
The night air hits my skin like freedom. The city pulses around me—alive, indifferent, dangerous. And for the first time in months, I feel free.
5
“Ican’t believe it,” Kristina beams as we exit the coffee shop. Steam from our cups curling into the crisp air. “You did it. Did it hurt?”
I nod slowly, the memory of last night blooming across my skin. “It was scary as hell…but also doing it felt… freeing.”
Kristina grins like she won the lottery. “And let’s not forget you left Landon’s sorry ass at dinner in front of the boss. That’s not just freeing…that’s iconic.”
I laugh but sputter mid-sip, coffee misting against the glass wall right before we walk inside. “Oh my God! Look what you made me do, Kristina.”
She laughs through a sip of coffee. “I sure Mr. Perfect upstairs wouldn’t notice. He barely walks around the building. Anyway, you planning to break it off for good?”
“I think so.”
“God, I hope so.” Kristian clutches her coffee like its holy water. “Then you can get a proper, hard––”
“Kristina,” I interrupt, fighting a laugh when the security guard behind the desk raises his brows as we scan out IDs.
She grins. “What? You need a reset. A cleanse.” She grins at the guard. “I got ideas.”
The glass doors of the elevators of Drazen Enterprises gleam ahead of us. We step inside, waiting for the elevator.
“You know your birthday is coming up?” Kristina points out.
She’s probably the only one that remembers. My mother’s memory these days can be found that the bottom of a bottle.
“Beginning of May, in about three weeks.”
“We should do something. And don’t say you can’t afford it.”
I shake my head, smiling. “I won’t.” But we both know I can’t. New York is an expensive city and it’s one of the reasons I’m grateful for Landon letting me move in with him. When I left Seattle, I didn’t have a proper wardrobe for work or going out with his friends. I didn’t have anything.
The elevator doors open and we step inside. Just before the doors close, a large hand stops them causing them to open. The tall manning the door at the restaurant Friday night steps in. Kristina practically undresses him with her eyes.
“Make sure the windows outside get taken care of, Bash,” says a familiar voice.
Xaiden Drazen.
He enters with an air of confidence. His scent clean and expensive scent wraps around me dressed in a dark blue suit that molds to every edge of broad shoulder. No tie. The collar of his shirt casually unbuttoned. My freshly pierced nipples from Friday night ache in response. I try my best not to look up. The gorgeous sharp lines of his jaw call to my eyes for a better look. But he is so tall, I would have to make it obvious by craning my neck. So I stare straight ahead letting the silence fill the space between us while he ignores me as if I wasn’t seated at his table Friday night.
Kristina breaks the silence. “Hmm. It smells good in here.”
I swear I see the corner of Drazen’s lips twitch, but he remains expressionless.
She offers her hand. “Kristina Henry from Talent and Acquisitions. And this is Nori Summers. She works with project Emma in the programming division.”
Bash is the first to react and gives a curt nod. Drazen doesn’t even glance my way.
“I believe you met her the other night?” Kristina presses.
