Page 45 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

All afternoon, my phone stayed silent. No emails. No texts. No Matvey.

Over the next few days, he barely showed up at the office. I saw him twice—quick glimpses, that's it. Didn't even get a chance to ask him what the hell was going on. Not that it mattered. His ex-wife came back, and suddenly I didn't exist. Even my work assignments came from her now, through email.

"Reconcile the supplier accounts from the last three quarters."

"Cross-check the European division reports and translate them into Russian for marketing."

"Create detailed lists for every event I'm attending—wardrobe, itinerary, guest list."

I was starting to think she'd dumped every possible task on my desk.

I missed Kate. Compared to this, her assignments had been a cakewalk. Now I was pushing twelve-hour days.

That's when a celebrity news alert popped up on my screen.

"Bykov Group CEO Makes Red Carpet Appearance with Ex-Wife—Reconciliation Rumors Swirl"

In the photo, Matvey wore a black suit. Veronica clung to his arm, face tilted up, smiling at him. They stood on some charitygala red carpet, lights blazing down on them. They looked perfect together. I stared at that photo until my vision blurred.

Matvey and Veronica were really getting back together. And if the rumors were true... Veronica was pregnant with his child?

Look at that, Riley. That's reality.

They walked red carpets in designer clothes, sipping champagne and laughing. Meanwhile, I dragged myself into the office before dawn, drowning in busywork. By the time I stumbled out of that building each night, my legs felt like lead.

Tonight was no different. When I got back to my shitty little apartment, all the neighbors' lights were already off. All I wanted was to collapse into bed. But the second I stepped inside and heard that dripping sound, I knew. Shit. The goddamn place was leaking again.

When I'd rented it, the landlord had warned me. "I can give you a discount if you can live with the occasional leak."

Sure, I could live with it. Just didn't expect it to be tonight.

I kicked off my shoes and ran to the bathroom. The floor was already flooded—if I'd come home any later, I'd have needed a life raft. And naturally, the rusted valve wouldn't budge.

"Oh... this is fucking great." I pressed my hand over the leak, but water kept spurting through my fingers.

I grabbed a rag and jammed it against the pipe, then reached for the toolbox in the corner. Problem was, if I held the rag in place, I couldn't reach the toolbox. But if I let go, the water pressure would blast the rag clear across the room. Dammit! Just a few more inches! Why the hell couldn't I be taller?

I gritted my teeth and let go. The force of the water and the slick floor sent me straight on my ass. My clothes were instantly soaked, hair plastered to my face.

"Shit." I cursed and dragged the toolbox toward me.

That photo flashed through my mind again. Matvey's world was full of luxury I'd never touch. Everyone looked up to him.My world was busted pipes and flooded bathrooms. It was never just a transaction between us. It was two different worlds.

After what felt like forever, I finally got the crack wrapped in waterproof tape and forced the rusted valve shut.

The water stopped. I let out a breath.

Honestly, sometimes I wanted to disappear. Go somewhere nobody knew me. But my sister needed me. Needed those medical facilities.

Nothing was over yet.

I changed out of my soaked clothes and mopped up the water. By the time I fell into bed, the sky outside was already turning gray.

In a few hours, I'd have to drag myself back to the office with dark circles under my eyes. But what choice did I have? I needed this job. And I couldn't break that deal.

For the first time, my heartbeat felt like work.

I dragged my exhausted body into Matvey's office the next morning, only to find Veronica sitting in his chair.