Watch Me

I couldn't have it on me.

"Good evening, Mr. Archer," the doorman said as he opened the door for me.

"James," I said with a nod of my head. I stepped through the door, but then stopped before Nikolai could enter the building. I turned back to James and said, "James, this is Nikolai Falkov. He is not a resident of this building nor is he my guest. Would you please escort him from the property and contact the authorities if he attempts to enter the building?" I glanced at Nikolai and said, "You have a good evening now, Nik."

I could tell that Nikolai was irritated but he seemed otherwise unfazed. He nodded his head at me and said, “You too, Jude." He paused for a brief moment and then added, "I'll see you soon."

The ominous warning put me on edge but I told myself to ignore it. Like it or not, Nikolai had no standing to enter my building. I'd won this round and somehow I’d figure out how to win the next. It was what I did. I always stayed a step ahead of things so I wouldn't fall flat on my face.

Never again.

For the first time all day, I felt a little bit more at ease. But once I reached the door to my apartment, I actually found myself hesitating. My building was secure, but how secure?

I cursed Nikolai for putting thoughts in my head that didn't belong there. I unlocked my door and entered the apartment. I spent the next hour winding down as I went through the motions of making dinner and setting myself up to succeed the next day. I was just sitting down to eat when there was a knock at my door.

My heart lurched in my chest. I didn't know any of my neighbors and since all visitors were announced, I couldn't even imagine who was at my door. Because of Nikolai, all sorts of illogical thoughts as to who it could be went through my head.

“Get a grip, Jude," I muttered as I climbed to my feet and went to the door. I cursed the fact that I hadn't thought to have a peephole installed.

I put the flimsy chain on the door like I was in some slasher flick and opened it a notch to see who was on the other side.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered when I saw Nikolai standing there. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "I'm calling the cops."

I went to shut the door, but Nikolai put his foot in it.

"Now, is that how you talk to all your new neighbors, Jude?" he asked.

"My new what?" I asked, certain I hadn't heard him. I forced the door shut and then removed the chain so I could yank the door completely open. "My new what?" I repeated in disbelief.

Nikolai held up a key. I could see the number fifteen on the keychain along with the logo for my building.

What the hell?

"Those aren't real," I bit out. "What did you do, steal them?"

Nikolai leaned against the doorframe. "Your boyfriend does quick work," he murmured. "One call and your neighbors suddenly felt the need to upgrade to a nicer place. Whatever price Hayes offered them for the place was just too good to pass up, I guess."

As if on cue, the door to the apartment next to mine opened and I saw the couple who lived there rush down the hallway, several bags in tow. They were talking excitedly among themselves.

Fuck.

"Something smells good," Nikolai said, then asked, "Did you make enough for two—" Before he could finish, I slammed the door shut in his face and locked it.

I heard a light chuckle from the other side of the door and moments later the door to the neighboring apartment was opening and closing.

So much for thinking I'd won the battle.

I returned to my dinner but couldn't force any of the food down. My brain threatened to scatter into a hundred different directions, so I did the only thing that I could do. I focused on something that was almost as important as the deal I'd been working on, if not more so.

My next move against Nikolai Fucking Falkov.

I might have lost this particular battle, but I would win the war.

Chapter 7

Nikolai

The man was as stubborn as they came.

I learned that over the next few days as I stuck to Jude Archer like glue.

First off, the man was a master at the silent treatment. When he'd come out of his apartment the morning after I'd shown up informing him I was his new neighbor, he hadn't said a word to me despite the fact that I’d been camped out by his front door. Fortunately, Mike had been able to provide someone to back me up overnight so I’d been able to sneak in a few hours of sleep, but since I hadn’t known when Jude would get up, I'd positioned myself outside his front door long before dawn had started to break over the horizon. And it had been none too soon because he'd appeared a mere twenty minutes after I'd taken up residence.