Neither of them notices until I'm almost upon them, and then Novak jumps back, nearly knocking over the chair that’s behind him.
“Sir!” His face drains of color.
Lilibeth turns, her smile fading slightly. “Agafon. I was just asking Novak about his previous job working at a nightclub. Did you know he has a degree in cybersecurity? He was explaining—”
“You're fired,” I say to Novak, my voice coming out flat and cold. “Clear out your things and be off the premises within the hour.”
The silence that follows is absolute. Novak's mouth opens.
“Sir, I don't understand—”
“I don't pay you to understand. I pay you to follow orders, which now include leaving.” I maintain eye contact until he looks away, defeated. “Go to Bardil regarding your severance package.”
Lilibeth stared at me without an ounce of warmth in her eyes. She stands rigid beside the desk, her eyes narrowed to blue-green slits, watching the both of us.
“Leave,” I growl, and I decide that if he brings more trouble, my fist might do the job. As though sensing I’m capable of getting angrier, the young guard nods and retreats from the scene.
“What the hell was that?” she demands once he's out of sight, her voice shaking with anger.
“He was being unprofessional,” I say, coolly.
“Unprofessional?” she shrieks. “We were having a simple conversation, Agafon!
I feel my jaw tighten. “He was being inappropriate.”
She and I are clearly both upset. I’ll wait for her to cool down before we talk any further.
“I’ll see you at dinner.” I turn and begin walking indoors. The image of Novak's eyes on her curves replays in my mind, feeding the anger still simmering beneath my skin.
“Don't you walk away from me!” Her footsteps follow. I'm impressed she can keep pace in those heels. “You can't just fire people because they talk to me!”
I push through the double doors leading into the informal living.
She slips through the doorway before I can close it and runs to stop in front of me, planting herself in my path, arms crossed beneath her breasts. The motion emphasizes her cleavage, a detail my traitorous eyes register before I force my gaze to her face.
“Are you even listening to me?” she demands. “That poor man did nothing wrong!”
“He was flirting with my wife,” I say flatly. “His only job is to keep this house safe. Nothing more.”
“Oh my god.” She runs a hand through her hair. “You're jealous.
“Don't be ridiculous.” I deny it immediately, but immediately feel guilty when I realize she might have read this situation right. It’s just… was that what this was? Jealously?
“He was being friendly! And even if he was flirting, that doesn't justify destroying his livelihood!” She throws her hands up. “God, you're impossible! A complete caveman! Do you plan to fire every male in a five-mile radius who speaks to me?”
My tone is clipped when I speak. “I removed him because he was overstepping professional boundaries.”
”The only one overstepping here is you,” she counters as she steps forward and jams a finger in my chest, her eyes blazingwith fury of her own. “You don't own me, Agafon. This marriage doesn't give you the right to dictate who I talk to.”
“You are my wife!” I bellow, stepping closer until our bodies touch, glowering down at her.
“Oh yeah?” She looks right up with defiance, her eyes making me drown. “You sure as hell don’t treat me like one!”
She’s breathing heavily, her chest pressing against mine with each inhale. I can feel the heat of her body, the tremble in her form.
“And how is it you wish to be treated?” I ask, my voice dropping an octave lower. “What is it you expect? Do you want me to whisk you away on romantic vacations? Buy you flowers? Share your bed? You were the one who proclaimed we should get to know each other first, before we consummate—”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” she cuts me off, blushing at what I said. But as she does, I see her sense how close we stand, see her feel the heat radiating off my body too.
