Page 18 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 1

“This is where I work, Mr.Korolev,” she practically snapped.“This is the only job that I was able to get after you had me fired and threatened any place that paid decently not to hire me.Now, while not particularly glamorous, it pays my bills, so I can’t afford to get fired.”

“I am not here to get you fired,lepestok,”I chuckled, and she really didn’t appreciate it.

“Then what are you doing here?”she hissed.“And quit calling me that.”

I cocked my head.“Do you even know what it means?”

“I don’t care what it means,” she replied through clenched teeth, lowering her voice.

Straightening in the booth, I said, “I’m confused.At what point did you get the impression that you can tell me what to do,lepestok?”

“What is this, Mr.Korolev?”she asked.“Why do you keep coming here?”

“You feeling entitled to answers, why?”I smirked, and it was clear that she was struggling with keeping it together.

“No,” she answered.“No, I don’t feel entitled to anything, much less answers from you.However, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to take your shit lying down, Mr.Korolev.No matter what my uncle did to your family, I don’t deserve whatever it is that you think I do.”

“I’ve already told you to call me Kasimir-”

“I don’t want to call you Kasimir,” she hissed, then quickly fell back in the booth, aware that she might have been a little too loud.“I want...I just want you to leave me alone.”

Leaning forward, I said, “You’re lucky that you’re alive, Zoya.You’re lucky that we didn’t erase your entire bloodline for what Armen did.Do not forget who we are.”

“How can I?”she spat.“I work at a diner for minimum wage and live with my mother because we can’t afford anything else.Every day that I wake up, I’m aware that I’m still in Korolev territory, and if you think that this is fun for me, it’s not.”

“Then what are you still doing here?”I finally asked.“Why haven’t you and your mother left?”

“That’s none of your business,” she whispered quietly.

“Everything about you is my business if I say that it is,” I shot back.“Do not play with me, Zoya.”

“I am not playing with you,” she insisted.“You’re the one who keeps coming here while I’m doing my best to stay away from all of you Korolevs.”

That pissed me off.

Though exactly what she should be doing, her statement still pissed me off.

“Get me a coffee,” I ordered, making her head rear back a bit.

“Wh...what?”

“Get me a coffee,” I repeated.

Her cheeks became two spots of rosy rage as she said, “I’m on my break.So, either order it from Paul, or else you can wait until my break is over.”

My little flower had thorns.

“Baby, I’d rethink your answer if I were you,” I said, but I couldn’t quite hide the pride in my voice.

Just then, a shadow fell over our table, and that slither of heat down my spine was back as Zoya’s shift manager asked, “Zoya, is everything okay?”

She looked up, and the wariness in her eyes pissed me off.Zoya was genuinely worried that she was going to lose her job, and I didn’t like it.I didn’t not want her fearing any other man but me.I didn’t want her worrying about any other nightmares other than me.

“Y...yes, Lowell,” she stammered.“I’m on...it’s my break time.”

“Of course,” he replied kindly.“I just thought that I should remind you that employees are to take their breaks in the back.It’s not a good look to sit in the dining area.”

“Oh, yeah...no, yes...of course,” she replied as she quickly and nervously stood up, and it was enough to make me stand with her.