Page 47 of Fallen Prince
CHAPTER 18
Allie
Your escort has arrived.Isabel’s text was accompanied by a photo of Davis and Charlie, who were grinning and waving for me to join them.
My heart squeezed. My friends really were the best. When I’d messaged them to blow off some steam about Gavin, they’d all rallied and rearranged their schedules to meet me after work.
My phone vibrated with another text as I stepped onto the elevator that would take me down to the ground floor to meet them.
Davis says to invite Captain Douchebag. We dare him to show his face.
I released a sigh when the elevator doors closed, locking a barrier between me and mytormentor. Gavin had been especially unnerving today. He’d shown up to work wearing a cast and a sling—it turned out he had broken his elbow when he’d hit the pavement. His face was bruised from Max’s brutal punches, and I’d overheard him telling a senior colleague that he’d been mugged.
As though the bastard hadn’t been the one to commit a crime againstme.
I didn’t breathe a word about what’d really happened. I didn’t want to draw any attention to Max.
Gavin hadn’t spoken a single cruel word to me all day, but his eyes burned with a new level of loathing I’d never seen before. His hateful gaze seemed to follow me everywhere I went, singeing my skin. His terrible glower promised retribution, and I was worried he might try to accost me again if he followed me home from work.
My besties had come to my rescue. They didn’t know anything about Gavin’s assault or Max’s involvement. They didn’t know about Max at all.
But I’d told them Gavin was making me anxious and uncomfortable, and that’d been enough to trigger their protective instincts. They would walk with me to our favorite nearby restaurant, and wewould all have a martini and a decadent meal to unwind.
I exited the building and stepped into the flurry of supportive hugs from my besties. Immediately, the warmth of their love enveloped me, and I squeezed them back. Isabel slung a slender arm over my shoulder and tugged me close as she led me the short distance to the restaurant. Davis practically bounced at our side like a boxer preparing for a fight, issuing dark threats about what he would do to Gavin if I’d let him. Charlie whooped her agreement, my usually mellow friend growing fierce in my defense.
We were just outside the restaurant when my phone rang. For a moment, my heart leapt. What if Max had decided to call me?
I checked the contact details, and my small bloom of joy wilted. I didn’t recognize the number.
I held up one finger to my friends, indicating that I needed a minute to answer, just in case it was important or work-related.
“This is Allie Fitzgerald,” I answered in my most professional tone.
“Allie.” A deep, masculine voice said my name with shocking intimacy. This wasn’t a work call. “It’s Niko.”
My brain stalled out. Niko? As in…
“Nikolai Ivanov,” he clarified when I said nothing in response. “We met at your dad’s fundraiser on Saturday.”
“Oh. Yeah. Hi.” I clapped a hand to my forehead. Could I have sounded more awkward?
The last time I’d seen Niko, the impossibly gorgeous man had draped his deliciously man-scented jacket over my shoulders and asked me on a date. Just before Max had stormed out of the darkness and shoved him away.
“I got your number from your dad. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh.” My mind scrambled to catch up. Nikolai Ivanov was the last person I’d expected to hear from. I’d barely even thought about him since Max had gotten between us and snarled at him to leave me alone. “I don’t mind,” I said, automatically polite.
“Good.” I could practically hear his dazzling smile over the phone. “Because you never did give me an answer. Can I take you out to dinner sometime? It’s the least I can do. I’m pretty sure my dad planted that article. Sorry about that.”
“What article?” I could scarcely keep up. The very fact that Niko had called me was baffling. What he was saying made even less sense.
“In theTimes. I guess you haven’t seen it yet.”He sighed. “My father isn’t very subtle. He definitely approves of you, and he wants to fix us up. Just one date. That’s all I’m asking for. If nothing else, it’ll get him off our backs. But don’t get me wrong,” he continued, filling my stunned silence. “I would’ve asked you out anyway. I’m sorry if he’s made things uncomfortable. I hope that doesn’t put you off, because I’d really like to see you again.”
“But you barely know me.” And why had that protest popped out of my mouth? I should be thrilled that a man as devastatingly handsome as Niko was interested in me.
“I’d like to get to know you,” he countered smoothly. “Are you free this Saturday?”
“Oh, um. Sure.” I was so flustered that my agreeable nature overwhelmed reason. This was far too jarring, and he’d caught me completely off guard.
