JESSA
I spin away from him, giving Yulian my back. I don’t want him to think that I’m open to a conversation. Especially not here. My boss is occupied on the other side of the room, but I have a feeling Douglas has an eagle eye for this kind of unprofessional “fraternization.”
“Expecting someone different?” Yulian whispers over my shoulder.
“No,” I lie.
“It’s the bane of my existence, you know,” he says.
I shouldn’t engage, but curiosity gets the best of me. I look back at him. “What is?”
“Being second-best.”
I shake my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about right now.”
“Sure you do,” Yulian says. “You’ve been watching my brother all night.”
I try to fight the blush that rises up on my cheeks, though I’m pretty sure it’s a losing effort. “I have not!”
“No need to get defensive on me. Most women watch Anton. It’s just… hormones. Or pheromones, whatever. Animal instinct.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m working.”
“Are you?” he asks. “Looks more like you’re an undercover spy. And not a very good one at that.”
“The only reason I’m even here is because of your damn brother.”
He wags his finger in my face like a disappointed parent. “Actually, the only reason you’re here is because of you. You took something that doesn’t belong to you.”
I laugh at him. “You’re going to give me a lecture about right and wrong?” I scoff. “Pretty sure murder ranks a little higher on the list than petty theft.”
He just smirks at me as though nothing I say can affect him. “You’ve got more spirit than I gave you credit for.”
“Oh God,” I groan. “I’m this close to throwing up in your face.”
“Well, that would certainly make a party out of this nightmarish evening.”
“What is even the point of tonight?” I snap. “Everyone here looks—”
“Embalmed?” he offers.
I snort like a pig. Very classy.
“Don’t let appearances fool you,” he continues. “This room currently holds some of the richest and most powerful people in the whole city. Hell, the whole country.”
“I haven’t heard of any of them.”
“That’s because they’ve built their empires on hidden corpses and blood money. It doesn’t exactly earn you a spot in the papers. Unless you’re unlucky.”
I frown, feeling a chill run down my spine. Is he trying to scare me? I study his face, but he’s looking around the room like he’s trying to give me a tour.
“There’s been some turnover since the last shindig. Especially amongst the women,” he says. “They’re a lot younger now.”
I wrinkle my nose. “You’re disgusting.”
“Hey, I didn’t do it. I’m just telling you how it is.”
“I don’t need you to tell me anything. I can see for myself.”