Page 2 of Conceal

The woman’s exaggerated mewls are porn-star-esque. I roll my eyes again. We’ve never had sex, but even I know when it’s fake.

I peer into his room. A thin, blonde woman with big tits straddles Leo, bouncing up and down and grabbing her breasts, head thrown back in exaggerated pleasure.

A stab of pain and regret hits my stomach, but I can’t back down. While I may not be involved in my family’s business, I still have the pride that the Chernov name deserves.

I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the doorjamb.

“Am I interrupting?”

And, like a bad TV drama, the blonde squeals, and both she and Leo scramble for the sheets to cover themselves. Like he wasn’t expecting me.

“Tati, it’s not what it looks like.” Leo goes to stand, but in the process, he unknowingly pulls the sheets off the blonde, leaving her naked and terrified by the look on her face. I wince on her behalf as she tries to cover herself with her hands.

I turn to Leo. “Really? Because it looks like you’re sleeping with someone. What else could this possibly be?”

“Nothing! It was a mistake! A moment of weakness! I love you!” Ew. Gross. Gaslighting.

He goes to step towards me, but something in my face gives him pause. I glance at the blonde, who looks like she’s hoping the earth will swallow her whole.

In an instant, I’m more embarrassed for her than I am for me. Clearly, she didn’t know she’d be walked in on. I wonder where she came from. What he told her to get her into bed. Maybe they’ve been together this whole time, and I just didn’t see through his charm.

“I’m sorry. He’s usually not this rude.”

Leo bristles at this. I’m over it.

“Just so we’re clear, we’re done.” Then, just to make sure there isn’t any confusion. “I’m breaking up with you.”

Leo’s mask switches from fear to anger so quickly it makes me nervous. I left Roman outside, convinced this would be a quick stop, but maybe I should call him.

“You fucking did this to me!” Leo shouts. I scoff, clinging to whatever bravado I have left. The man is clearly unhinged, but I can’t show him that he’s making me nervous. He’ll use it to his advantage.

“Oh?”

“You’re fucking around with Mikhail! I just know you are.” Wow. Gaslighting, love bombing, and now blaming me for him falling into another vagina? It’s honestly terrifying just how quickly the mask slipped.

I back towards the door, biding my time and distracting him until I can make my escape. “Mikhail is my best friend. My step-brother. My ride or die. And I’ve never cheated on you with him.”

Leo’s always had issues with him, though. Passive-aggressive comments, being overly possessive and touchy when we’re hanging with Mik, as if staking his claim. I thought he’d get over it eventually, but apparently not.

“I know you two are fucking. It’s so obvious, Tati! I refuse to be a cuckold! Fucking your step-brother. That’s disgusting.”

And... I’m over this conversation.

My upper-crust training kicks in. “It was lovely to meet you,” I tell the blonde, who looks at me like I’ve grown three heads, but also kind of like I’ve hung the moon.

I turn to Leo. “Goodbye.”

I add finality to my words, so I leave nothing for interpretation. I’ve navigated men and dating for the three years I’ve been at college. It wasn’t always easy navigating my family’s reputation, my bodyguards, and my expectations, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot. Going from completely isolated to surrounded by college boys and college boys’ expectations was a learning curve. I knew Leo wasn’t “the one” when Mom suggested him, but I promised I’d try.

Thankfully, he doesn’t try to follow me, and I’m able to escape to his apartment building’s elevator. Only when the doors close do I let out a relieved sigh. I hope he doesn’t take out his frustration and anger on the blonde. She didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think.

Roman is leaning against the car when I walk out into the night, but stands, looking tense, when I come back out.

I ignore the concern on his too-handsome face. He moves to open the back door of his town car, but stops when I bury my face in his chest and wrap my arms around his back.

His hands instantly hold me, one cupping the back of my head gently while the other drapes across my back protectively.

“Tati, I’m working,” he says, his voice rumbling through his chest and into my cheek.