Page 144 of Hate to Love You

Rearranges her desk drawers.

And walks to and from the water cooler at least a dozen times, trying to catch wind of any portion of our conversation.

And here I thought she didn’t care.

As five o’clock nears, I decide to compliment Heather on her outfit, making her giggle loudly.

“Do you have dinner plans tonight?” Heather says, biting her lower lip. “If not, you could come by my place tonight, I’m sure I have something you can…eat.”

I chuckle.

“I do in fact have dinner plans,” I say, walking her to the door, and switching the privacy glass off. “But I’ll likely be going to The Studio tonight. If you’re free, you should come.”

“Mmhmm,” she giggles just as I open the door. “I would very much like to do that.”

She reaches for me, but I motion her out the door, aware that Abby can now hear everything we’re saying.

“I need the transfer completed by tomorrow,” I say stoically. “Make sure I’m sent the confirmation number.”

“Absolutely, Sir,” she says, smiling and pressing her files to her chest. “Anything you say. As always.”

She winks at me before walking back down the row. As she presses the elevator button, it dings, bringing my brothers up to the floor, surprisingly on time.

I wonder what Abby said to actually make Pasha punctual.

“Rooooo!” Pasha says, laughing with Lev as they walk down the row of desks toward me. “You ready for dinner?”

Rolling my eyes, I step back into my office to close up shop for the day.

“Lev says there’s a new steakhouse that opened up in Times Square, has these tomahawk steaks,” Pasha continues, wagging his tongue. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving,” Lev laughs, before turning to Abby. “Well, hello there, you must be Abigail.”

“You would be correct,” she says, smiling up at him. “And you are?”

“Oh, I’m just another Antonov brother,” Lev jokes leaning on her desk. “Don’t feel bad if you can’t remember me, there’s like a dozen of us so I’m pretty forgettable.”

“That can’t be true,” Abby says. “Who could possibly forget you?”

She glances up at me briefly, chewing on her pencil and intentionally batting her lashes at Lev, sending my heart rate skyrocketing.

This is her payback for denying her attention all day.

…And, of course, for having a two-hour private meeting with Heather.

“Well, I—” Lev chuckles, but when he looks over at me, his smile instantly fades. He clears his throat and takes his hand off of Abby’s desk as if it is on fire.

“Let’s go,” I snap coldly, motioning for the elevators. “I don’t need Pasha wasting away on me. Especially since I have a job for him.”

“Oooh!” Pasha says excitedly, clapping his hands together. “Ro’s giving me a job, dinner, and a brothers night at The Studio? Is it my birthday, or something?”

“No, it’s a Tuesday,” I snort, stepping up to Abby’s desk. “You two idiots head down and call Niko. I’ll be right behind you.”

I wait until the boys have disappeared into the elevator before turning to my assistant.

Who looks pissed as hell.

“I emailed you the completed excel sheets,” she says, shoving stuff in her purse angrily. “And your meetings are all confirmed for next week. And the week after.”