Page 26 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

I managed a smile. "A little."

I was terrified of blowing this chance.

He winked at me. Just as he was about to say something else, the conference room door opened. The low conversations stopped dead. Everyone sat up straight.

Matvey walked in, unsmiling as always. No one in the room dared breathe too loud.

I understood—no one was stupid enough to cross a man with such commanding, oppressive presence. Especially when he was our boss.

His black suit wrapped his body perfectly. The muscles under that fabric were far more powerful than they looked. The plain tie and old-school black Bulgari watch looked natural on him—mysterious and elegant.

I knew it was absurd, but his every movement made my nerves tighten.

His gaze swept the room, then landed on Adrian and me. I felt Adrian hold his breath too. Matvey's gray-green eyes were unreadable, but I caught a flash of something dark.

Had I done something wrong to upset him? Why was he looking at me like that? I swear I hadn't done anything unrelated to work today. I'd actually been deliberately avoiding eye contact with him, but damn it, my gaze wouldn't obey.

Every time I saw that face, I felt the Creator's favoritism—how could anyone be this heartbreakingly beautiful?

He walked steadily to the head of the table.

"Riley Quinn." Matvey's steady voice cut through the entire room. "Come here."

Before I could process it, my body moved toward him involuntarily. The feeling brought me right back to his commands that night.

Kneel. Spread your legs.

My pulse was beating abnormally now.

"Sit here." He pointed to the seat on his right.

I sat down with my knees together, then my thighs unconsciously tensed. His chair was almost touching mine. I had to be careful.

Finally, he sat too—legs naturally apart, his thigh pressing against my knee through the fabric. The heat made my cheeks flush uncontrollably.

"We can begin," Matvey announced once seated.

The head designer immediately pressed the remote. A necklace design appeared on the large screen across from us. The pendant was only coin-sized overall, but rich in detail.

"Based on market research, we're planning to launch these styles. The theme is red—refined but bold."

"Chain and setting in 18k gold, the pendant in a classic teardrop shape..."

She looked so enviable, speaking so confidently. When would I become a designer like that?

"Don't zone out."

"I wasn't—" The words died in my throat.

When had Matvey's hand gotten under my skirt?

"Do what you're supposed to do." He pointed at the computer screen, but his fingers didn't leave me.

His rough fingertips traveled up the outside of my thigh, even tugging lightly at the edge of my underwear! Tell me—who was distracting me from work? But I had to keep staring at the screen, typing away—this was my job, and if I didn't, I might cry out immediately.

"Spring collections determine the year's reputation. Polish them carefully." He addressed the others while his palm obscenely kneaded the soft flesh of my thigh.

My body trembled involuntarily.