1. Zara

1

ZARA

“Another, please.” I clutch the edge of the bar to keep myself steady, trying to ignore the pounding of my heartbeat in my ears.

My boss worked me into the ground over the past few weeks getting everything ready for the new senior partners that are joining the firm, so the least he can do is provide me with bottomless champagne.

Spencer & Meyers has booked one of the most luxurious cocktail bars in Manhattan for the occasion, and it’s a pretty good turn out with most of the firm in attendance as well as a few of our best clients and associates.

I should be happy that the firm is growing and bringing on more senior partners. But it’s hard to be happy when one of those new partners is the reason for the nightmares that still have me waking drenched in sweat most nights.

His beady eyes bore into my back, prickling my skin, and a thin sheen of sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.

He’s everywhere—in the halls of my office block, at the coffee cart at lunch, sometimes I could swear even on the subway home—but I’ll be damned if I let him break me again.

“Here you are, miss.”

I flash a smile at the bartender as I take my fresh glass of champagne. As I’m about to take a sip, a hand touches my waist, and I startle and squeal, spilling some of my drink down the front of my cream blouse.

“Have you missed me, Zara?”

I whirl, coming face-to-face with the devil himself.

“Giovanni.”

“You’ve grown up.”

I hate the way his gray eyes strip me bare as he towers over me in his custom navy suit, with his gold Rolex and perfectly-styled dark hair.

To most, he’s the picture of success, but to me he’s evil incarnate.

“Last time we saw each other, you were only an intern. Now look at you.”

Fighting the urge to launch what’s left of my champagne at his face, I swallow down the bile in my throat as his eyes roam over my body making me feel as if I’m standing stark naked in the middle of the room.

I clutch my glass so tightly I’m worried it might shatter.

He places a hand on the bar, leaning forward until his mouth almost brushes my ear. “Well, aren’t you going to congratulate me on making senior partner?”

“Congratulations.”

His eyes flick down to my chest. “I must say, having you beneath me is a nice little bonus I wasn’t expecting.”

The innuendo makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

He chuckles. “I had hoped to have a word at the board meeting the other week, but you ran out of there so fast I was worried you were upset by my arrival.”

More like disgusted .

“I’ve been very busy.” I’m trying my best to sound strong and confident.

“I hope Daniel hasn’t been working you too hard.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Giovanni’s eyes light up. He takes another step closer to me. “Have a drink with me, Zara.”

I’m backed up against the bar with nowhere to go. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Come on, Zara,” he purrs. “It’s my party.”

“It’s not just your party,” I remind him. “You’re not the only person who was made senior partner.”

A smirk tugs at his lips. “Perhaps not. But I’m the only one who matters.”

“How do you manage to hold your head up with an ego that large?”

Giovanni throws his head back and laughs. “I have missed your quick wit.”

I take another sip of my drink. “Is there something you wanted, or can I get back to my friend?”

I look around for Karlie, but the room is so crowded she’s impossible to find.

“Oh, there’s something I want, but it can wait until later. Enjoy the party.” He flashes me a wink.

I barely register the fact that he’s left.

My body is trembling, and my eyes are stinging with tears. My stomach churns as I fight the memories trying to resurface.

Not here. Not now.

“Hey, Zara!” Karlie appears at my side, snapping me back to reality. “Sorry, got caught up chatting with Harrison. Urgh, it’s unfair that he gets to be that good looking and successful.”

“Mmm…”

“Is everything okay? You look pale.”

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine.” I force a smile, though my eyes keep scanning the room for Giovanni. “It’s been a long few weeks.”

“Tell me about it.” Karlie rolls her eyes. “I’ll be glad when all this is over. The new senior partners seem nice, though, which is good. I was worried they’d all be a bunch of egotistical douchebags.”

I open my mouth to tell Karlie to watch her back just in case, when someone who gets my heart pounding even more than Giovanni catches my eye. But this time not from fear…

“Oh no.”

Dimitri Koslov.

What the hell is he doing here?

He’s my best friend’s brother-in-law and a complete and utter playboy.

I can’t deny the fact that the man is incredibly sexy with his broad shoulders, dark eyes, and dark hair that curls slightly around the back of his neck.

I’ve never known someone to work a black shirt and pants as well as he does. But he fucking knows it, and that’s the problem.

And so do all the girls at my firm, apparently. There’s a swarm of them surrounding him, hanging off his every word as he flashes them each an easy smile.

I’ve been with guys like Dimitri before. It’s all fun and exciting to begin with, but when it comes down to actually putting a label on things, they run in the opposite direction and leave you a weeping mess on the bathroom floor.

I refuse to do that again. I’ve worked too hard to get to a place where I’m confident and secure not just in myself but in my career too, and I’m not going to jeopardize that for sex, no matter how mind blowing it would be.

Dimitri certainly looks like he knows what he’s doing.

As if he can read the dirty thoughts running through my mind, he looks up and catches my eye, flashing me a wink that has my cheeks burning and heat pooling in my lower belly.

“What?” Karlie glances around, most likely to try to see who or what’s caught my attention.

“N-nothing.” I grab her by the hand. “Come with me to the bathroom?” I don’t give her a chance to reply before I’m dragging us in the opposite direction before Dimitri has a chance to come over.

I manage to stay clear of both Dimitri and Giovanni for the next hour or so, slowly sipping on my champagne as I wingwoman Karlie as she tries her best to land a date with Harrison, one of the junior solicitors.

“I think we’re getting out of here.” Karlie has a huge smile on as she shrugs on her coat. “Harrison and some of the other guys are going to a bar downtown. Are you okay getting home?”

“Yeah, I’ll grab a cab.”

“See you Monday?”

“Bright and early.” Unfortunately.

Karlie gives me a quick hug goodbye before hurrying off to catch up with Harrison.

I’m happy for her—she’s been pining after him for months. But I make a mental note to check in with her in the morning just in case.

What happened with Giovanni has meant that I’m always on high alert when it comes to men, no matter how nice they seem. Because at one point in time I thought I was safe with him. He was charming and kind, and seemed genuinely interested in me as a person.

Or so I thought.

Sometimes, I wonder if I only saw what I wanted to see. Perhaps if I hadn’t been so blinded by his success, the red flags would have made their appearance much sooner.

I push the thoughts away, not wanting them to ruin any more of my night.

After finishing the last of my drink, I go in search of my coat, which I left at one of the tables when I first arrived.

My feet are screaming at me in my heels, and I can’t wait to climb into bed and fall asleep watching some trashy reality show.

“Leaving so soon?”

I pretend I don’t hear Giovanni as I make my way through the sea of tables.

“You’re not ignoring me, are you, Zara? Perhaps I’ll have to make a note of your rudeness in your performance review coming up?—”

“Can I help you with something?” I whirl around, almost colliding with his chest.

He knows exactly the right buttons to push. He knows there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect my career, which means he has all the control, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

“Have another drink, let it loosen you up a bit.”

“I’m fine, thanks.” I keep my voice almost bored, though my body is screaming at me to run.

“I’m more than happy to give you a ride home if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’ve got it covered.”

“Come on, Zara. This isn’t like you,” he murmurs. “You used to be fun. Why don’t I remind you how much fun we used to have together?”

He reaches out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, and I can’t stop myself from recoiling at his touch, at the feeling of his calloused fingers against my skin.

“I’m not interested.” I move to turn away, but Giovanni grabs my arm, gripping me hard enough to bruise. “I have a boyfriend.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“He won’t like the fact you’re touching me right now.” My eyes dart around to see if anyone noticed. To see if the one person who could save me happens to be watching.

“Well, it’s a good thing this boyfriend isn’t here,” he murmurs in my ear.

Cringing at his hot breath on my skin, I screw my eyes shut as I fight back the memories that are starting to claw their way to the surface once more.

“He doesn’t need to know, Zara…”

My eyes fly open, and I gasp as I find Dimitri stalking toward me, his dark eyes blazing as they lock onto mine.

“Dimitri,” I breathe.

Giovanni freezes, and I take the chance to pull myself free of his grip and stagger toward Dimitri.

It’s clear he can see the fear in my eyes as he glances behind me at Giovanni, and his jaw tightens.

“Hey, you.” I offer him the warmest smile I can muster.

“Did you miss me, pcholka ?” Dimitri’s chuckles before wrapping his strong arms around me.

I almost collapse into his arms as relief courses through my body. Sinking my fingers into the soft material of his shirt, I inhale deeply to try and calm my racing heart.

I’m safe.

I’m safe .

I’m safe.

“Please, for the love of God, play along,” I whisper in his ear.

Dimitri pulls away and grins down at me as his hands travel south, cupping my ass, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Gladly.”

Before he has a chance to change his mind, I take Dimitri by the hand and turn to face Giovanni, trying to ignore how warm and large Dimitri’s hand is as it clutches mine, how his thumb rubs back and forth along my knuckles causing goosebumps to break out across my skin.

“Giovanni, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend. Dimitri Koslov.”