Page 162 of Sexting His Assistant

My phone vibrates again.

Nina: Well?

I type without looking at Pavel.

Luka: Buy it.

Nina: That was fast.

Luka: Buy it before I change my mind and tell you not to wear it in public.

Nina: That sounds very bossy.

Luka: It was meant to.

Nina: You realize I’m not one of your girlfriends from the diary, right? You can’t just approve dresses and issue commands.

Luka: The diary is gone. And you’re the only one left.

Nina: Fine. What about this one?

The next photo is worse.

Deep green. Sleek. Off one shoulder. Tighter than the black one. The fabric clings to her breasts and waist, and the slit is lower, but the neckline makes up for it. The dress looks elegant. It also makes me think of my hands under it.

I sit back slowly.

Luka: No.

Nina: No?

Luka: No.

Nina: Why?

Luka: Because if you wear that, I will not make it through the gala.

Nina: That sounds like a you problem.

Luka: It will become your problem in the car.

Nina: You can’t text me that while I’m in a fitting room.

Luka: You sent me the photo.

Nina: For approval.

Luka: I gave it.

Nina: You said no.

Luka: That was restraint.

She does not answer immediately.

I glance at the time.

The meeting has twenty minutes left. I could end it in five if I stopped pretending patience is still available to me.