Chapter 45 Episode 45

When he reappears on the screen, I’m annoyed that I can’t quite get a clear view of Jessa’s face. But her body language is plain enough. She’s tense and watchful. Like she’s worried that something is going to jump out at her at any moment. I turn the volume up so I can catch their conversation. “… Anton is in a business meeting,” he informs Jessa. “I’ll show you to the kitchen myself.” Disappointingly, she doesn’t say anything as she follows Lev from the main foyer into the back annals of the mansion. I switch camera feeds when they walk into the kitchen. Her eyes go wide as they scour the place. Even by her standards, it must seem over the top. There are two massive islands, each outfitted with large sinks and induction cooktops. The pantry is big enough to rent out to a family of four. And the whole space is suffused with natural light from the arched windows that overlook the garden. “Are these marble?” she asks, running her fingers across the countertops. “Calacatta marble,” Lev replies. “I’d tell you how much it costs, but I don’t think you’d believe me. Anyway, I think you’ll find everything you need here.” “Wow.” I don’t hear her say it, but I can see her lips form the word. “This is quite the kitchen.” She turns around to face Lev, which means she has her back to me. I don’t mind at all. Her jeans hug her ass to perfection, and it doesn’t take much for me to picture what that ass would look like naked and bent over. My c**k jumps to life in my pants. I keep my eyes glued to her figure as I listen to their conversation. “What’s this?” she asks, pointing at the small stack of white paper on the counter. “That’s your menu for today.” “Yes, I believe Anton has curated the meal plan. You won’t need to worry about breakfast or lunch. So there’s only dinner to think of.” “He planned the menu… for me?” she asks, sounding extremely affronted. “Yes. Is that a problem?” She scoffs. “I really shouldn’t be surprised. He struck me as a control freak from day one.” Lev smiles. “Comes with the job.” “He must drive you crazy.” “You get used to it.” “Look at you playing the diplomat,” she says. “Do they train that into you, too?” “No, that comes naturally,” he says. He clears his throat. “Anton told me that you preferred to work without any staff?” “I’m only cooking for a few people. I can handle that on my own.” “Alright then. There are quarters you can use through that door over there. There’s a shower, too, in case you need it at the end of the day. If you have any more questions—” “I won’t,” she says curtly, cutting him off. “I know my way around a kitchen.” He nods. “Then I’ll leave you to it.” He bows out and leaves her alone. The moment he goes, however, her entire demeanor changes. She goes from unimpressed and detached to genuinely excited. It’s honestly f*****g adorable. She runs around the entire kitchen, opening cupboards, checking out the pantry, pulling out random ingredients from shelves and smelling the contents. She looks like a kid at an amusement park. “She’s in the kitchen now,” Lev says, walking into my office. “Oh, right. I don’t need to tell you.” I keep my eyes on the monitor as she opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of caviar that a new contact from Russia sent me recently as a gift. She pops the top and tries a little with a teaspoon. Then she does a dance around the first kitchen island that makes me laugh out loud. Even Lev joins in, and he’s not really a laugh-out-loud kind of guy. I wait until she’s disappeared into the staff dressing rooms before I turn to Lev. “It would be wrong to turn on the camera in the dressing room, right?” I ask, only half-joking. Lev smirks. “Is this gonna be your whole day?” “Why not?” I ask. “I haven’t taken a day off in f*****g forever.” “True,” he concedes with a nod. “You deserve some downtime.” He glances towards the monitors. Jessa still hasn’t reemerged. “What do you hope to gain from this? I mean, the girl gave back the phone. She has nothing on you anymore.” “A risk you decided to take the moment you decided to let her live. So what is all this really about?” I stay silent. Because what the f**k am I supposed to say to that? Of course, Lev is an expert at reading silences. It’s why I keep him around in the first place. “You care about her, don’t you?” he guesses. “Lots of women are. But don’t duck the question. You care about the girl.” “There’s something endearing about her,” I say, still smiling at the memory of her happy dance after she tried the caviar. “Not like the others.” “Of course not. You’ve spent your whole life surrounded by Bratva women. They’re a different breed altogether.” “You don’t have to tell me. I’m still trying to avoid Jhené after that f*****g dinner.” Lev chuckles. “She’s set her sights on you.” “The woman thinks that I’m looking for a new wife. I’d rather shoot my d**k off.” Lev is silent for a second. Then I see his eyebrows rise thoughtfully. “No f*****g way, Lev,” I growl before he can even make the suggestion. “What?” he asks. “She’d be a good fit.” “If I wanted a pretty woman with no personality, I’d buy a f*****g statue.” “You don’t have to talk to the poor girl,” Lev points out. “Just marry her, pop out a couple of kiddos, and give her a comfortable life.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re starting to sound like my father now. Not a good way to try and convince me of anything.” Lev purses his lips. “I guess that didn’t work for you the first time.” “It did not. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.” “Jhené is different, though,” he points out. “She’s young and…” “Adaptable,” Lev corrects diplomatically. “She’s not going to expect much from you, apart from a cushy life. That you can give her.” I wrinkle my nose. “f*****g hell, Lev. You’re disappointing me right now.” “If you don’t have children—” “I have a younger brother,” I remind him. “If I don’t have children, then the Bratva will pass to Yulian.” “You’d really do that? Hand the Bratva over to Yulian?” “Why do you sound skeptical?” “I’m not skeptical about you doing it. I’m skeptical about Yulian running this whole show.” I smirk. “You don’t think he’s up to the task?” “He might grow into it,” Lev muses. “But I don’t know. He’s a good man, Anton. I just don’t know about leading an entire Bratva. Running several businesses. Managing colleagues, clients, suppliers, allies, enemies. It’s a delicate balancing act. I’m not sure Yulian has the patience.” “It’s the plan for now. I’m not getting married any time soon, Lev,” I say. “My wife hasn’t even been dead a year. I’ve sworn off marriage indefinitely.” My attention is diverted a second later when Jessa reappears on the screen. She’s swapped her white t-shirt for a blank tank top and pulled her hair up into a high bun at the back of her head. When I turn to Lev, he’s looking at me with raised eyebrows and a sympathetic expression. I frown. “Stop looking at me like that.” “Is she gonna be a problem?” “I already told you, I’m just having a little fun. I’ll get bored of her soon.” “You sound confident,” Lev says. “So why don’t I believe you?” I could tell Lev the truth about what the little kotyonok does to my c**k, about that weird clenching feeling she ignites in my chest, but I’m not interested in explaining s**t to him. It’s irrelevant, anyway. Jessa’s sudden intrusion into my life changes nothing. The trajectory remains the same. No matter how sexy she is. No matter how alluring that smile of hers may be. “Probably because you make it your job to worry,” I suggest acidly. “Now, get out of here. I need to handle some paperwork.” “Oh, is that right?” Lev asks suspiciously. “Is that what you’re calling jerking off now? ‘Handling your paperwork?’” I turn off the cameras, but Jessa is still on my mind. I’m rock f*****g solid and I badly need a release. But I already know the only release I’ll be satisfied with is one that involves her. I’ve never felt this kind of craving for a woman before. She’s nothing like my past fare. She’s awkward and clumsy. She’s vulnerable and emotional. She’s confused and uncertain—and despite all that, she is brimming with untapped fire. Each of her reactions have been as unexpected as my feelings for her. Just knowing she’s downstairs in my house, humming under her breath and singing as she cooks for me, is enough to bring me to the edge of coming. No, not good at all. I think, probably not by accident, about Marina. She’d have done anything to dominate my thoughts like this. Hell, she tried. She used to show up to my office in lingerie, whisper filthy promises in my ear, beg and plead and cry. None of it worked. The Bratva was all that mattered.