Page 17 of His Smile
Eventually spoke, keeping her eyes locked on a point abovehis head. “They plan on having a tryout for the lead role in the upcoming play,La Sylphide, and whoever gets the role will also be named principal position atthe company.”
Nodding, he understood now. “I would not think having to tryout for the role would be uncommon.”
Straightening to stand, her shoulders drooped as she walkedheavily back towards him, her feet thumping against the floor. Sitting back onthe edge of his desk, she crossed her legs on top of it and propped her chinonto her folded hands. “No, it’s not uncommon, but I feel like I have been“trying out” for a year now.” The exhaustion in her voice was evident.“Theodore, the director, is known for knowing exactly what he wants and makinga command decision. What I can’t understand is why he is having a hard time onthis decision!” Angry now, she sat up straight with her eyes igniting withindignation as she explained her case further. “If they wanted a demanding,egotistical harpy who refers to herself as a prima ballerina then sure, pickNadia. But Theodore knows me, and my dancing speaks for itself. He knows I canout-perform anyone, plus I’m pretty easy-going and not at all demanding to workwith.”
“Then maybe you should be,” he offered. “Only the bold getexactly what they want in life.”
Considering his words, she looked out the window behind himfor a few moments.
“You’re absolutely right,” smiling with renewed energy,Rahina hopped down from his desk and stood with her fists on her hips. “Ishould start being bold right now.”
Roman had been in enough situations in his life to know whensomething unexpected was about to happen, and he knew instinctively this wasgoing to be one of those moments. Swiveling his chair in her direction, helooked up to her eager grin and waited.
“Roman,” she pointed at him, barely holding back a laugh.“You and I both know you are unbelievably sexy under those clothes; I demandthat you remove your shirt.”
Obediently, he stood up facing her. Giving her a slowspreading smile, he reached up and began unbuttoning his black button-downshirt. Her reaction was better than he anticipated. Going stiff, her eyesbounced between his and his hands in shocked panic. With both hands, shegrabbed the tops of his hands to stop his progress, he already had threebuttons undone.
“I didn’t mean it!” She yelped. “I was just joking.”
Roman shook his head slowly. “No, no, you started this, nowI want to see where this is going to go.”
Hopping backward away from him, she rounded the desk puttingit between them. She was still laughing, but Roman could easily see the traceof nervous excitement in her eyes.
“The only place this will go is you being shirtless, mesnapping a picture for my own records of course, and then me running away.”
Planting his hands on his desk, Roman leaned forward and gaveher a look of dark excitement. “Do you think I can’t lock that door from here?By the time you’re halfway there, I will have locked it and be coming around mydesk to pick up where we left off.”
Long black eyelashes fluttered in startlement as she processedhis words. Christ, there was something so strikingly innocent the way herround, expressive eyes widened or the way she pressed her lips together tomoisten them. She was like a kitten trying to play in the den of hungry wolves.Reality reminded him of its presence, this had to end. Why the hell was he evenentertaining her like this, dammit? Her bright naïve smile had lured him in,made him ignore the glaring difference in their worlds—but he was awake now.
Standing up straight, Roman exhaled and gave her a piercingstare. “Today will be our last meeting, our last lunch, and the last time I seeyou,” he explained carefully, making sure there was no confusion in the bubblydancer’s mind.
“What?” Surprised, she blinked a couple of times beforemarching back around his desk to stand in front of him. “Why? What happened?”
Roman was not accustomed to repeating himself, nor was he inthe mood to argue with her. Taking a threatening step forward, he crowded herclose. “Why? Because you are quite literally dancing with the devil. You haveno fucking idea what kind of man I am and the things I have done. Do you knowhow many people I have killed, Rahina? How many enemies I have made? My worldis so inconceivably evil, you could never truly comprehend it, nor would I wantyou to.” For the briefest moment, Roman felt the overwhelming urge to tuck thestray strands of hair that escaped her bun back behind her ear. He wanted tofeel her skin again one last time, but he didn’t trust himself. Strengtheninghis resolve, he hardened his gaze. “Bottom line, you provided temporaryentertainment, and now you do not. Leave and do not come back.”
She made a sound in her throat that sounded as if she wasgoing to say something but suddenly stopped herself. Her fists tightened at hersides and hurt sparkled in her eyes back at him. With years of practice, Romanmasked his emotions behind a cruel gleeful grin.
“Fine,” she turned on her heel and began looking for hershoes. Grabbing her backpack, she stuffed her books into it, keeping her backtowards him. Hoisting the bag onto her shoulders, she stood stiffly in themiddle the room, facing the door. “I thought we were getting along.” There wasa cracking softness to her voice, a vulnerable tone he never once heard her usebefore. The sound of it only reinforced his decision.
Tilting his head back, Roman directed his cold gaze at theback of her head. “The guards at the gate will be informed not to let you in,and if you try to persist, I will call your overeager brother and see if hecan’t rectify the issue.”
Still not turning to face him, her shoulders stiffened. “Iunderstand,” she whispered.
Saying nothing else, she walked towards the door.
Looking at his desk, he spotted her phone sitting at thecorner. “Your phone,” he called out.
Stopping immediately, she backed up and extended her arm outbehind her with her palm upward, saying nothing.
Normally, this would be the time he would say somethingcruel, to maliciously ask if she was crying. Looking down at her hand however,he could see the slight tremor in her body, and he knew the answer already.Setting the phone gently in her hand, she took it and walked out the door.
Chapter 8
“So, Dimitri tell us,” sitting behind his desk, Mikhailleaned his elbows on the surface and spread his hands outward towards them,indicating all of them in attendance. “Just what the hell is going on withRoman?”
Leaning against the back wall of Mikhail’s office, Moscalooked around to the occupants. Sitting in one of the chairs in front of thedesk was Dimitri, while Alexei sat deathly quiet on the couch against the farwall. Glancing at the accountant, Mosca noted the way Alexei flexed and poppedhis knuckles on his right hand. From the moment they walked in, the man had yetto say a word. It was plain to see that Alexei was furious.
Lolling his head back, Dimitri turned slightly and gaveMosca a provoking smile. “Care to explain?”
