4. Zara

4

ZARA

I had hoped talking to Bianca about my situation with Giovanni would help ease my anxiety about the whole thing, but it only seemed to make things worse.

I know she thinks the obvious solution is to quit my job, but she doesn’t understand that it would make no difference. I quit once before, and he still managed to find me.

But she doesn’t need to know that. She has enough to worry about already with a five-month-old baby, so I need to stop complaining and learn to deal with this on my own.

I had hoped that having Dimitri pretend to be my boyfriend would at least get Giovanni off my back for a couple of weeks, but it’s only seemed to spur him on more.

By taking myself off the market, I’ve made myself into even bigger challenge.

He’s relentless, calling me into his office multiple times a day just to have an excuse to watch me fulfill the most mundane tasks. Tasks that I could easily complete from the safety of my own cubicle, away from his wandering eyes.

But I can’t say no. As a paralegal, I’m required to attend all of Giovanni’s meetings, organize his calendar, and file all of his case reports. I’m his go-to for all of his admin tasks, for which there is a never-ending list, so I’m practically glued to the man all day, every day, much to his delight.

This past week has been even worse than I imagined.

I knew it would be difficult being around Giovanni given our history, but seeing him in the flesh every day has triggered a lot of feelings that I thought I had worked through. It seems those feelings of guilt and shame have been lying dormant all this time, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

I can’t stop looking over my shoulder. Every time I go into the break room to make coffee, I keep feeling eyes on me. If someone gets too close to me in the elevator, my heart starts to race, and sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.

It doesn’t help that I’ve barely slept either. Every time I lay my head down on the pillow, he’s there, whispering in my ear as he reaches up my skirt.

I wake every night drenched in sweat, my throat hoarse as if I’ve been screaming.

I can’t live like this, but I don’t know a solution that doesn’t involve me ruining my career.

Bianca will likely call me tomorrow to discuss it further, but right now I just want to head home and crawl into bed to watch reality shows and order some takeout for dinner.

I’m exhausted, physically and mentally, so I’m hoping I’ll have a rare night of dreamless sleep.

I jog down the front steps of Bianca’s house and head across the gravel toward my car. I’ve had it since I was old enough to get my learner’s permit, and it shows.

The thing is covered in scratches and dents, but it’s gotten me through some tough times, so I will continue driving it until it gives out.

“Zara, wait! ”

I groan at the sound of Dimitri’s voice.

“Not now, Dimitri.” I unlock my door.

His footsteps crunch against the gravel behind me.

“Can we talk?”

“I have nothing to say.” I open my door. “Please, I’m tired, and I want to go home?—”

Dimitri slams my car door shut, and I whirl around, furious that he’s refusing to take no for an answer.

I’ve had enough of overbearing alpha types for one week. I go to yell, but his strong arms are on either side of me, trapping me between him and my car, and all words seem to leave me.

“Talk to me,” he murmurs, his dark eyes flicking down to my lips.

“About what?” I can barely think when he’s this close, which is exactly why he’s doing it.

A deep crease appears between his eyebrows, and he dips his head so that he’s almost resting his forehead against my own.

If I took a deep enough breath, my chest would brush against his. Just the thought of running my hands over his broad chest, feeling the heat of his body beneath my fingertips has me almost melting.

Dimitri Koslov is intoxicating, which is exactly why I make such an effort to keep my walls firmly in place whenever he’s around.

He’s the worst type of playboy. He makes you feel special, as if you’re the only girl to ever catch his eye. Then once he’s had his fix, he’ll leave you to wake up alone, wondering if you dreamed the whole thing.

Most of the time, I can convince myself that sleeping with him wouldn’t be worth the emotional damage. But right now, I barely have the energy to keep my eyes open, so when he looks at me like I’m the only girl to walk the earth, I’m tempted to walk straight into the trap.

“Is your boss still bothering you?” His breath tickles my cheek. He smells of bergamot mixed with alcohol, and I want to smother myself in it.

“Dimitri…”

My voice trails off as he reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my cheek.

“Zara, I know you, and this isn’t you.”

I sink my teeth into my lower lip as tears start to prick my eyes. I’m emotionally spent, and it’s clear I’m not doing a very good job of hiding it.

“So, I’ll say it again. Talk to me, Zara.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Dimitri.” I lean back against the car door. “I’m tired.”

“I know, pcholka .”

“Don’t…call me that.” I frown, folding my arms across my chest. I don’t even know what he is calling me.

“I can call you my girlfriend if you prefer?”

I roll my eyes, and he chuckles, the sound causing a shiver to run down my spine.

“I must say, I quite enjoyed playing the role of overprotective boyfriend.”

“Is that so?”

I don’t know why I’m engaging with him. I should just get in my car and drive back to the city. But there’s something about being around Dimitri that has my shoulders loosening and the weight on my chest lifting.

He has the sort of ease about him that I wish I could bottle up and pour on my morning cereal.

“It’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. ”

“If you’re going to ask me on a date, the answer is no, Koslov.”

“Ouch.” Dimitri laughs, taking a hand and pressing it to his heart. “That cut deep.”

“I’m sure you have no shortage of women willing to go out with you, so I don’t feel bad for turning you down.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you on a date, Zara.” He drops his other hand from beside my head, folding them across his broad chest. His light blue shirt sleeves are rolled to the elbows, and I can’t help but stare at his muscular forearms. “But I have a proposition for you.”

“This ought to be good…” I glance up and feel the breath catch in my throat as Dimitri flashes me that signature smirk that I know has most girls turning into a puddle of hormones on the ground.

From the way my skin prickles, I wouldn’t say I’m much better, though I’d never let him know that.

“Trust me, it benefits us both equally.”

“I’m not having sex with you either.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Mullens.” He scoffs.

I raise my own eyebrows in challenge.

He shakes his head. “I’m not asking you for sex.”

“Now I’m really intrigued.”

His eyes search my face for a moment.

My cheeks heat from the intensity of his gaze, but I force myself not to look away. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so serious.

Dimitri lets out a long breath. “I think we should get married.”

I blink. “Sorry, what?”

“I think we should get married.”

“Yeah, no, I heard you the first time. I’m just failing to understand the logic here.”

Dimitri runs his hands through his hair, messing up the soft curls.

“My dear brother has decided to betroth me, and I need an out. You have a creepy boss who apparently doesn’t see a boyfriend as enough of a reason to leave you alone. Perhaps if you had a ring on your finger, he might finally take the hint.”

“You’re betrothed ?”

He sighs. “Apparently.”

“To whom?”

Dimitri narrows his eyes at me. “Why do you care? Not jealous, are we?”

“No.”

Dimitri’s lips twitch as he takes in my flushed cheeks.

“It’s to a daughter of a family we’re currently in…disagreement with. I’ve never met the girl, and I don’t plan on it.”

I don’t ask for more details. I’m no stranger to the sort of business the Koslovs get caught up in after my close call with Mario Gilanto, so I can only imagine the sort of disagreement he’s referring to.

He clears his throat. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s an insane idea.”

Dimitri shrugs. “Perhaps.”

“There’s no guarantee it will even work! I mean, you met Giovanni. I don’t think a ring and a piece of paper is going to stop him.”

“Zara…” Dimitri sighs. “He’s well aware of who I am. I saw it on his face the moment you introduced me. If you’re legally tied to me, he would be asking for a bullet in his skull if he so much as looked at you the wrong way. It buys you not only my protection, but my family’s protection.”

“You would honestly do that for me?” I bite my lip .

“Yes.” No hesitation. “But in return, you will be my wife until Massimo finds another suitable husband for his daughter.”

“That could take years.”

“It could… It’s a risk we’ll have to take.”

My thoughts are running a million miles an hour.

This is the most insane idea I’ve ever heard of. Marrying Dimitri Koslov?

I shake my head. “How do you know this will even work?”

“Because I will make sure of it.”

I look into Dimitri’s dark eyes and see nothing but sheer determination.

“This would solve both our problems, Zara.”

I hate the fact that I’m actually considering this, but Dimitri makes a good point.

If Giovanni knew I was married to a Koslov, he likely wouldn’t come anywhere near me. Not unless he had a death wish. It would mean I could stay at my job, and I wouldn’t be living in fear of what he might do every minute of the day. “If we do this, I have one condition.”

Dimitri’s lips twitch, but he nods for me to continue.

“We have a small wedding. I don’t need this to get back to my family, especially my sister. They wouldn’t buy it anyway, seeing as I’ve never introduced a boy to them before. Well, unless you count the time I was nine and married Sam who lived next door…” I scrunch my nose, my cheeks heating as I realize what I’ve just given away.

“You’ve never brought a boy back to your family?”

Of course, he didn’t miss that information.

“Can we stick to the subject at hand?”

“You’re the one who started rambling.” Dimitri chuckles .

“Do you agree with my condition or not?” I place my hands on my hips.

“I couldn’t care less about the actual wedding, Zara, so yes, I agree.”

I hate the fact that Dimitri is coming to my rescue. I want to be able to handle Giovanni on my own, but I’m terrified. Given our history, I know exactly the sort of thing he’s capable of. And if this past week is anything to go by, I know he’s not going to stop until he gets his hands on me.

The thought makes my blood run cold.

What other choice do I have?

Right now, marrying Dimitri Koslov seems like my only option.

“I guess you’ve got yourself a deal.”