Mila laughed into her glass even as Lucy turned toward her.
“So what do you think of Red Stone? Do you like working there?”
“I’m still really new, but yes, everyone there is so nice. And the benefits are great.” She knew how lucky she was. They basically had unlimited PTO and sick days. The whole work structure was very European, with the owners treating people basically like, well, grown-ups. If you were sick or had a sick kid, you called in sick or could work from home if necessary. You didn’t have to worry about using up your sick or PTO days.
Not to mention the retirement options were amazing. She understood why people didn’t quit once they got hired there.
“That’s what everyone says. I keep trying to steal Dominique away, but she always says no.” There was an interested gleam in her eye as she looked at Mila. “I looked you up. You’ve got impressive degrees and I like how much hustle you showed while working through college.”
“Hey! Stop trying to poach her.” Dominique nudged her with her hip. “She just started and we all love her. You will not steal her.”
Mila flushed at the compliment even as Lucy basically cackled. “No promises. I might try to steal you away later,” she said boldly.
Mila laughed lightly now, unsure if Lucy was serious. “What about you? Is it weird working for your brother-in-law?” Dominique had told her that Lucy worked for Viktor, had for years before Lucy married his brother.
Lucy snorted. “No. I worked for Viktor before I married Abram. I actually worked for both of them,” she said, a blush tingeing her cheeks. “Now Abram has a new assistant because he says I’m too bossy.”
Mila smothered a smile. “So Lyosha didn’t say this was a whole catered deal. He made it sound like some casual get-together, but it’s for a fight or something, right?”
In unison, the women rolled their eyes. “Yes. We’re only here to see friends,” Dominique continued. “The men love to watch those fights though.”
“Hey, there are some women in there,” Lucy said.
“Fine, I hate watching them. They’re way too violent. But Viktor loves them.”
Mila had noticed that a lot of the men here seemed to be Russian, and most seemed to work for Viktor and Abram in some capacity. Lyosha was fairly private about his work so she wasn’t quite sure what everyone did, but it was clear they were all connected by work or family.
“Well, this house is beautiful,” she said mainly because she had this insane need to fill silences sometimes.
“It really is,” Lucy said. “They just renovated the kitchen and added on like another thousand square feet. I think it’s over ten thousand at this point.” She shook her head slightly.
“If you like this, you should see Lyosha’s,” Dominique added. “It’s on the other side of this neighborhood. And he’s got a better view,” she said with a grin.
Lyosha lived in this neighborhood? A lead ball settled in Mila’s stomach. She knew they were in different financial brackets, but this was waaaaay different than she’d imagined. He wasn’t flashy, drove a truck that was probably eight years old, and they didn’t talk about money or anything.
But…he lived in this neighborhood? She’d lived in Miami her entire life, so of course she knew how exclusive this place was. Actual celebrities lived here. Oh God, her family’s little ranch-style home could fit inside this place easily.
The women continued talking and Mila responded to questions when asked something, but the rest of the conversation was sort of a blur. Icy fingers settled around the back of her neck as it registered just how different they truly were.
Eventually she excused herself, in search of one of the bathrooms. When she came out, she wasn’t sure what came over her but she pulled up her Uber app on her phone and called for one. She couldn’t fight the weird sensation simmering in her stomach and she didn’t want to be a drag the rest of the evening.
She knew if she told Lyosha she was leaving, he would insist on driving her home. Which was why she’d called for the ride first.
As she headed down the marble-tiled hallway, her ballet flats quiet on the floor, she heard male voices—and one of them she definitely recognized. When she rounded the corner into what was some sort of living room/game room, Lyosha smiled when he saw her. He immediately shoved up from the couch where he was lounging with four other guys.
“Hey, everything okay? I came back out there again but you were with Dominique and Lucy and looked like you were having a good time. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“I was. I mean, I am,” she amended. She just really, really needed to go. She didn’t fit in to this world and never would.
“You want to hang out in here? Watch the fight?”
She ignored the sound of cheers going up in the nearby room. “No. I’m not feeling too hot, so—”
“We can leave.” He had his keys out of his pocket before she’d even finished.
She shook her head, smiling up at him. He really was sweet. But way out of her league, and tonight had solidified that. “No, stay and have a good time. I already called an Uber.” She held up her phone to show the little tracking button. “And they’re going to be here in less than a minute. I can’t cancel on them now.”
“I’ll take you,” he insisted, but she shook her head.
“It’s no big deal, and there’s no sense in you driving me all the way home when it’s not necessary. Seriously, have fun. This way, right?” She pointed down the hallway, fairly sure it would lead her through one of the kitchens and to the foyer. Yeah, that’s right. One of the kitchens—there were two.
Frowning, he fell in step with her, because of course he did. He wasn’t going to let her find her own way out. “I don’t like you leaving like this,” he said as they stepped out into the cool early evening air of the front porch.
“I’ll text you this week,” she said before she got into the back of the four-door silver coupe.
Lyosha simply nodded, but his frown didn’t lessen as she shut the door behind her.
“Nice digs,” the driver said as he pulled down the driveway.
“It really is.” She let her head fall back, refusing to turn around and look through the rear window because she had a feeling that Lyosha was still standing there.
She knew she needed to get over her own insecurities, but that was much easier said than done. In that moment, she finally realized how different they were, and that all her silly hopes of maybe having a relationship with him, of him seeing her in a different light than just friends, they were all garbage.
She blinked back tears, refusing to break down in the back of a stranger’s vehicle.
She would just curl up with ice cream when she got home, and get a good night’s sleep. That was something her mama always said. A good night of sleep made everything better.
Though she had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all, not with her insides all twisted up.
Chapter 9
Mila straightened at the sound of a knock on her front door. It was too late for family to stop by and she’d just seen them a few hours ago anyway.