Perhaps being a bastard is best.

CHAPTER 25

NOW

Katia

“Argh!” I cry, tossing my purse onto the bed and stomping my foot, yes, stomping it.

My favorite handbag just broke. The handle snapped right off. It’s the only bag I’ve ever had that I love and I’m devastated. I throw myself forward onto the bed, landing on my stomach. I’m pouting and I don’t care.

“What’s wrong with you?”

I lift my head to see Marcus leaning against the door frame, bare chested, looking fine.

“Hello husband.”

He smirks. “What’s wrong, Katia?”

“My handbag broke.”

He quirks a brow. “And that calls for this,” he waves his hand at me, “tantrum?”

“I am not having a tantrum!” I protest. “It was important to me. Special. I loved it.”

“Go buy another one.”

“I would, except I don’t know where it’s from.”

His eyes scan my face.

I let mine lower to his man V. Mmmmmmm.

“Any chance you can come in here and just let me lick you a little bit?” I murmur.

He snorts. “Katia.”

“Come on, Marcus. You can’t walk in here like that and expect me not to want to lick you.”

He takes a step forward. My heart begins to pound. Things between Marcus and I have been good for the last week. I wouldn’t say it’s great, but there’s no tension and we’ve even had moments where we talk. It’s been...refreshing. He stops in front of me and I’m faced with his man V. Yes please.

“You really have a great man V,” I murmur, reaching out and running my fingers over it. He flinches.

“What the fuck is a man V?”

“This,” I say, tracing it. “Hot.”

“Are you goin’ to touch me, Katia, or are you going to make me coming in here worth it.”

I grin up at him. “Oh, I’ll make it worth it.”

And I do.

~*~*~*~

MARCUS

“Just find it, I don’t care where, I don’t care how much.”

“Dude,” Mack mutters. “Are you sick?”

“Fuck up, bro. I need you to get your girl onto it, yeah?”

“Seriously?”

“Does it sound like I’m fuckin’ joking?”

“Marcus Tandem,” he snorts. “Are you in love?”

“Fuck you, Mack.”

I hang up the phone and lean back.

Fuck love.

Fuck this.

What the hell is happening?

~*~*~*~

KATIA

After work the next day, I pad into my room.

I stop dead when I see something sitting on my pillow. It’s a gift.

I look around, but no one is here. Unable to contain my excitement, I rush forward and throw myself onto the bed, reaching out for it. I lift the note and read it.

K,

Just because.

M

I can’t help but smile as I drop it and tear open the paper. I gasp and then squeal with delight. A brand new handbag, exactly the same as the one I broke, sits in my hands. Marcus got me a handbag. The one I wanted. The one I love. Happiness swells in my chest and I can’t help but whoop loudly.

Then I get up and run down the halls and back into the office. Marcus is just entering with some clients, but I charge towards him. His eyes flash to me and he catches me as I lunge, wrapping my arms around him. I kiss his cheeks, his lips, everywhere then I pull back. “You got me a handbag.”

“You broke yours.”

“You’re the best, Marcus!”

“Katia,” he leans into my ear. “I’m working.”

Right.

He lets me go and I step back, waving sheepishly to the men who are smirking at my little performance.

“I’ll thank you later,” I grin.

Then I rush off.

Nothing can kill my happy vibe.

CHAPTER 26

NOW

Katia

“God, this day is taking forever,” I moan to Candy as we sit at the reception desk, doing some filing.

“Tell me about it.”

“We need to go out, do something this weekend,” I say, shoving some paper into a file. “Maybe Dusty can come?”

“We should go clubbing, it’s been so long.”

I sigh, “It so has.”

The bell above the door rattles and I lift my head to see five men entering. I’ve never seen them before, but they don’t look happy. Four of them are dressed in black. The one at the front is older and icky looking.

“Better get back to work,” Candy sighs, standing and rushing off.

I smile at her then turn my attention back to the strange men. Only one approaches the reception desk; the other four stand back, arms crossed. It’s the old man that stops and leers down at me. Ick.

“Can I help you?” I ask.

He grins at me. “Katia, is it?”

His eyes are on my nametag. Double ick.

“Yes. Can I help you?”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I’m confused. “Sorry, do I know you?”

His smile gets bigger. “My name is Walter. I’m, shall we say, a friend of Marcus’s.”

Walter. I’ve heard of him. Marcus told me he used to run the company until his Grandfather signed it over to him after he died. He said Walter is bitter and dangerous, and I should stay away from him. He also said if he ever came in to call him right away. With a pounding heart, I force a smile. “Are you here to see Marcus?”