Love Thy Enemy

by Katie Reus

  “Reschedule it. Reschedule everything this afternoon.”

  Lucy simply nodded and left.

  Dominique’s tears were completely dried as she looked at him. “I should go. I’ve taken up too much of your time. I really am sorry I judged you so harshly. It was incredibly unfair of me to lump you in with your father.”

  “It’s fine.” It wasn’t like he was a good man.

  “No. It’s not.” She took one of his hands, squeezed it once before standing.

  Everything inside him stilled at the feel of her touching him. He wanted more and hated that he didn’t have a chance with her. He stood with her, not wanting to let her go. “If you ever want to see the house, I’m not going to be doing anything with it. It’ll be waiting for you whenever you’re ready.”

  Her full lips pulled into a thin line as she sighed. “I’m not going to change my mind, but thank you. I’ll show myself out.”

  Viktor just nodded and watched her leave, even if he wanted to escort her out simply to spend a few more minutes in her presence. But that was stupid. She might not think he was a monster anymore, but she would never look twice at him as a potential…boyfriend seemed like such a juvenile word. Regardless, she wouldn’t look at him as a love interest.

  He closed his laptop and headed out. His brother could deal with the rest of the day’s meetings. Viktor was too edgy.

  A run and a swim and maybe some time on the punching bag might expel some of this energy. But he doubted it.

  He needed to get Dominique out of his system but he wasn’t sure how. He hadn’t even had a taste of her, yet thoughts of her consumed him. She hadn’t seemed to think he was a monster after today so maybe…he did have a chance with her. Maybe they could be friends. He nearly snorted at the thought.

  Even if he didn’t have a shot with Dominique, he’d call later to check on her, to try to convince her to take the house again. Why didn’t he believe his own lie? He wanted to see if she’d let him take her to dinner, to get to know her more. He’d give her a day then test the waters.

  Walking away from her was something he just couldn’t do.

  * * *

  “Here’s the paperwork to fire Peter.” Lucy set the stack of papers on Abram’s desk, a half-smile tugging at her very kissable lips.

  As if she was trying not to smile.

  “What’s that look?” Abram frowned as Lucy stepped back.

  She blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “You look…happy. Are you glad we’re firing him?” Abram had been planning to anyway, but today’s behavior had been the final straw.

  Peter had been hired as professional security and had thought it okay to make a rude, sexual comment about a woman he didn’t know, right in front of her. It didn’t matter that Dominique couldn’t speak Russian—Peter didn’t know that. For all he knew she could have been a client. That kind of behavior wouldn’t be tolerated.

  “Why? Are you going to judge me if I say yes?” Now she was full-on grinning. “I don’t even care,” she said before he could answer. “I hated that guy. I’m so glad Viktor is firing him.”

  Abram frowned at her words, an alarm bell going off in his head. Lucy seemed to like everyone, even the most obnoxious of their clients. She was sweetness and fucking sunshine almost all the time, usually to people who didn’t deserve her warmth. “You never said anything.”

  She shrugged, taking another step back toward the door. They’d been all over Miami today at various properties they owned, including a hotel he and Viktor favored. He figured Lucy would be leaving soon. Or he’d tell her to. It was well past time she called it a day.

  “If I complained about every jerk who made me feel uncomfortable when he looked at me, I wouldn’t be able to work anywhere. He was just one of those guys you know is a pig, so I’m glad he’ll be gone.” She lifted her phone at an incoming text, frowned at it as she typed in a response.

  Feeling irrationally territorial, Abram stood from his desk. “He made you feel uncomfortable?”

  “What…yes. And now he’s gone. Or he will be.” She gave him one of those megawatt smiles that were rarely reserved for him. “Hey, I’m gonna grab dinner at the diner down the street before heading back. Want to come with me?”

  It was the first time she’d ever asked him and he’d be a fool to say no. Nodding, he grabbed his cell phone from his desk. “Sure. What do you mean, heading back?”

  “I’ve got some stuff I want to get ahead of before tomorrow. You’ve got three meetings, and after today Viktor has way more on his plate because he cancelled his afternoon meetings.” He could hear the slight question in Lucy’s voice but would never talk about his brother’s personal life to anyone.

  “Are we working you too hard?” he asked as they headed for the elevators. This late in the evening the place was almost empty.

  She frowned, smoothing a hand down her black pencil skirt. One that showcased her perfect, pert ass. Today she had on five-inch red heels that defined her calves. Calves he’d love to have resting on his shoulders while…

  “No, why?”

  “If we’re not here, you shouldn’t be here.”

  She snorted. “Abram, I love my job so stop worrying. You guys pay me great, and yeah I work crazy hours but it’s worth it. Eventually we’ll need to hire someone else but for now I’m good.”

  The sound of his name on her lips for the second time ever—the first she’d said it all on her own—made everything inside him go still as they stepped into the elevator. He finally found his voice as they reached the bottom floor. “If someone ever makes you feel uncomfortable at work again, let me know.” There was no room for argument in his voice and he knew it sounded more like an order than a request but he didn’t care. He’d wanted to say something back in his office about it, but then she’d asked him to join her for dinner and he’d pretty much lost the ability to talk. He knew she was just asking because he was the only one here, but still, a guy could dream this was more for her.

  For a moment, his adorable pixie gave him a confused look. “Oh…ah, okay. I will, promise.”

  He nodded, taking her answer at face value, but he still planned to do another look at their newer hires. They’d made a mistake hiring Peter. On paper he’d been perfect, but at work he’d been subtly rude and not exactly lazy, but also not an outstanding employee. Abram and his brother owned a variety of companies and had enough different investment properties that they couldn’t vet everyone. But the people who worked directly for them better be exemplary. They’d earned their reputation for a reason and they couldn’t afford to look weak now. Not ever.

  And if anyone ever made Lucy feel uncomfortable or even looked at her wrong? They were gone.

  * * *

  “Viktor appears to have a new weakness,” his contact said quietly into the phone.

  There was some sort of thumping in the background, a vibration. “Where are you?” he demanded.

  “I’m in a bathroom at a strip club,” he said after a moment. “The door’s locked. No one is in here with me. You want what I got or not?”

  “What’s his new weakness?” He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but a rush of adrenaline surged through him.

  “Not a what, a who. A blonde woman. I’m not sure who she is yet. She met with him today at one of his hotels. Abram seemed to know her too. Viktor fired one of his security for saying something to her. I don’t know the whole story, but Viktor also threatened him with dismemberment if he even looked at her again. That’s what I heard anyway. After she left, he cancelled all his meetings and worked out for three fucking hours. It was like he was in a rage.” There was a touch of fear in his voice.

  This could be what he’d been waiting for. “You don’t know her name?”

  “No, but I snapped a picture of her when she left. She’s fucking hot. Tall, blonde, killer body and full lips I could imagine sucking my dick.”

  He rolled his eyes. He didn’t give a shit what the woman looked like, just h
ow he could use her against Viktor. “Send the picture to me.”

  “I’ll text it as soon as we hang up.”

  “This is good. Keep me updated if you see her around more. I’ll wire you our normal fee.” This information was definitely worth what he paid the man.

  “Thanks.” He could hear the glee in his contact’s voice.

  The man only cared that he got paid, which was good for him. As long as that loser kept feeding his stripper and God knew what else habit, he’d keep feeding him information.

  He just hoped this woman truly was a weakness to Viktor—that he’d finally found something to use against the untouchable Ivanov.

  Chapter 6

  Dominique picked up her cell phone, then set it down. Again. Next she picked up her glass of white wine and took a sip as she stared out over the balcony of her condo. The complex’s pool was surprisingly quiet this evening.

  She’d been on autopilot again today at work and for the first time ever had actually been counting down the clock until she could go home.

  Her friends had their own stuff going on right now and even though she knew she could talk to them about anything, she didn’t want to. She’d always kept her past private and while she figured her boss knew about her family, considering Red Stone’s vetting process, she didn’t like to broadcast that painful part of her life.

  Now…she had a chance to own her childhood home, a place that held so many wonderful memories. It felt wrong to take Ivanov up on his offer because it was such a huge gift.

  And after doing some research—some of which Lizzy had helped with—she’d found that yes, he was pretty ruthless when it came to business, but he didn’t appear to have his hand in any illegal things. Lizzy said at least not anymore, but that he may have at one time. He also gave a lot to charity, specifically ones that supported education and literacy. Which shouldn’t matter. But it did.

  Even after meeting with him yesterday she’d wondered if her judgment was off, if he really was just like his father. But from everything Lizzy had found it seemed as if he’d hated the man. And he’d seemed so sincere when he’d been talking to her yesterday. She couldn’t help but wonder if her judgment was off because of her growing attraction to Viktor.

  She picked up her phone again and dialed his number. It rang once and she almost hung up but he answered immediately.

  “Hello?”

  “Mr., uh, Viktor. It’s Dominique Castle.”

  “I know.”

  “Oh, right. I…just wondered if the offer to see the house was still open?” Because even if she didn’t take it, she still wanted to see it. Maybe it would give her a sense of closure on that part of her life.

  “Of course. Did you want to see it tonight? I can meet you there or pick you up.”

  His question and offer made her pause. She desperately wanted to see it, but… “I can drive there myself and I’ll be telling a friend where I’m going and who I’m meeting with.” After yesterday, some intrinsic part of her trusted him, but meeting with a man she didn’t really know somewhere alone in the evening? Yeah, she was going to be smart about it.

  Thankfully he didn’t seem insulted at all as he let out a short, amused laugh. “Good. I’ll be bringing my assistant as well. I’ll be there in half an hour.”

  She couldn’t believe how easy this was, how accommodating he was being. She’d expected to have to wait—and she hadn’t expected the small thrill at the idea of seeing him again. Which felt insane. “Thank you.”

  Once they disconnected she stared at her phone, wondering what the heck she was doing. Viktor Ivanov wasn’t a man she should be attracted to, but she couldn’t wait to see him face to face. And it had nothing to do with the house.

  * * *

  Viktor stepped out of his office, not surprised to see Lucy still at her desk. He knew she had plans to leave soon since it was well after seven, and he hated to ask her to work even later but he wanted her with him for this meeting.

  “Lucy, would you mind coming with me to visit one of our properties? I’m meeting a woman there and think she’d feel more comfortable if you were with me.”

  “Is this the same blonde from yesterday?” Lucy asked, her smile just a little mischievous as she stood.

  Over the last couple months Lucy’s relationship with him had become a little more relaxed. He’d never had employees comfortable enough to treat him like anything other than a boss and he’d never had female friends. But he liked the dynamic of their relationship. “Maybe.”

  “I knew you liked her,” she said, her smile growing wider as she pulled her purse out of one of her desk drawers. “I saw you checking her out at the Chef event. I’m never wrong about these things.”

  Lucy was far too observant—which was one of the reasons he’d never regretted hiring her. “It’s not like that.” Even if he wanted it to be. “We are…acquaintances.”

  She snorted as Abram stepped out of his office, a frown on his face. “Where are you two going?”

  “To show Dominique the house.”

  Lucy’s eyes widened slightly. “The one right on the beach you had Rita cancel all those rental reservations for? That place is gorgeous. Are you selling it to her?”

  His brother was the only one who knew why he wanted to give it to Dominique, not sell. That wasn’t something he’d share with Lucy or anyone else. “Something like that.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Abram said, stepping back into his office.

  “No.” Viktor didn’t want his brother there. That would only make Dominique uncomfortable.

  His brother stared hard at him, the tension between them clear.

  Lucy cleared her throat. “I’ll meet you downstairs,” she murmured, her heels clicking as she hurried out into the hallway. Abram’s gaze strayed after her for just a moment, the longing in his eyes clear. Viktor didn’t think his brother would ever make a move on her, and not just because he was her boss. He seemed to view Lucy as unattainable. Viktor could relate to that sentiment.

  “You don’t want me with you?” Abram asked once they were alone.

  “Not tonight.”

  “What if this woman wants to hurt you? You don’t know that she doesn’t blame you for our father’s sins. Maybe this is a plot to lure you there alone.”

  Viktor sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. He was glad his brother cared enough to be concerned, but he wasn’t worried about Dominique trying to attack him. “You think I can’t handle myself against a woman?”

  “I think your judgment is clouded. This house is worth so much…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I understand why you’re doing it, but what if the offer insulted her and now she wants to hurt you?”

  “Is this about me bringing Lucy?” Because his brother couldn’t seriously think he’d be ambushed by an untrained woman.

  Abram just clenched his jaw.

  “Well?” Viktor demanded.

  “I think we’re pushing her too hard. She’s putting in seventy-hour workweeks with us. And now you’re bringing her with you when she should have left an hour ago? I want to hire another assistant so she doesn’t burn out.”

  Ah, so it was about Lucy. “I agree. You want to tell her or should I?”

  Abram lifted a shoulder. “Maybe you should. And she should be the one to approve the final hiring—after we’ve vetted them.”

  “Agreed.” Lucy would be working closely with whoever they hired so they would need to get along. His brother was right too. They had been pushing her too hard. Some days he felt as if all he did was work. But he’d rather be at the office than go home to an empty house or out to some bullshit event where he didn’t like most of the people there to begin with.

  As expected he found Lucy waiting downstairs in the lobby, talking with one of the security guards. And as usual she was a chatterbox on the way to the beach house, talking about what they had on the books for the rest of the week and the next, some figurative fires he and his brother specifically needed to put out
and other stuff he half listened to.

  He was glad she was talking, filling the space with noise so he could try to ignore the anticipation humming through him at the thought of meeting with Dominique.

  It was completely stupid to be excited to see her, but after she’d been so visibly vulnerable yesterday she’d gotten even further under his skin.

  When he steered into the driveway he saw she was already there, leaning against her car. She had on sandals, white shorts that showed off miles of her tanned legs, and a flowy summer top. It was clear she’d come straight from home or somewhere not work. The last two times he’d seen her she’d been wearing professional dresses that came to just below her knees. Though nothing could hide her incredible body.

  He nearly groaned at the sight of her, but kept himself in check. “Once we’re inside, can you give us some privacy?” he asked Lucy quietly even though Dominique couldn’t hear him. Yes, he’d brought Lucy to put Dominique more at ease but he could admit that he wanted time alone with her. Didn’t matter if he didn’t have a shot with her. A deeply buried part of him wanted her to see him as a man and not a threat.

  “Of course.”

  Dominique had pushed away from her car and was standing at the front of his SUV, her body language nervous. When he got out, she forced a smile, clearly uncomfortable.

  “Thank you for doing this.” He hated that uncertain note in her voice.

  And he wanted her to just take the damn house. He didn’t understand why she was being stubborn about it. She’d only said she wanted to see it tonight. She hadn’t mentioned anything about taking ownership.

  “It’s no problem,” he murmured, trying not to stare at her. “Dominique, this is Lucy, my assistant.”

  After they made polite introductions, he asked Lucy to open the front door and told her they’d be inside in a minute.