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Different

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Chapter 21: Different (Evie's POV)

I wheeled my chair away from my desk and groaned softly, pinching the bridge of my nose and then looking under the table, pulling my heels back on. 

It had been two days now since Rowan and I went ring shopping and that was just so much fun, wasn't it? No. No, it wasn't. In fact, we argued on our way back. I was trying to explain to him how it was incredibly stupid of us to be spending so much money on such a superficial wedding when it didn't mean anything to either one of us. Then he was arguing that he had to make a show out of it, even if he didn't want to. Then I shut up for the sake of ending the argument and then we didn't speak for the rest of the day. 

Even yesterday, he only spoke to me about work, didn't ask for any updates on the wedding preparations, nothing. He just came in this morning once we were at work and threw a large pile of paperwork on my desk and demanded, "Finish it all by the end of the day. Don't keep me waiting." 

I wasn't even halfway through and lunch break was around the corner. 

I might have to skip it today. 

I stood up, gathering a few files that were already completed but couldn't move from my spot when I realized that everybody in the room was focusing on me as I drew attention to myself unknowingly. A few people had enough decency to look away when I caught them staring at me and others continued whispering and judging shamelessly. I hesitantly walked to Jason's desk, knocking on the table. 

He looked up from his computer, giving me a smile. "Hey, what's up?" 

"Nothing, I was just..." Taking another look around, I blinked in confusion. 

What did I do to draw attention to myself like this? 

"Wondering why everybody's staring and whispering?" he chuckled. 

"Yeah," I mumbled. "What did I do?" 

"You're the talk of the town, Eves. Everyone's gossiping." 

"Well, I can see that, Jason. But why?"

His brows furrowed in confusion. "Because you're marrying our boss, Rowan fucking Volkov?" 

My hand slipped from his desk where I held myself up. "W-what?" I laughed forcibly. "What are you talking about?" 

He shook his head, giving me a sly look. "Don't act dumb. We all heard about the shenanigans that take place in this office after hours." 

I grabbed the first file from my pile and smacked his arm with it as hard as I could. 

He laughed, rubbing the spot. "What? It's true, isn't it? Do you dare to deny it, Ms. Spencer? Or should I call you Mrs. Volkov now?" 

"Jason, shut up, seriously. How did you hear about this?" 

"First tell me, is it true or just a ridiculous rumor?" 

I hesitated, then said, "That's none of your business. Tell me who you heard it from." 

He shrugged. "I just heard people talking about it when I came into work. So, I joined it to hear what they were saying. I didn't hear any dirty details, don't worry," he teased. 

"Jason, shut up," I huffed, rolling my eyes and taking the files, leaving the office, glancing into the room over my shoulder as I left. I ran to Rowan's office faster than I ever have before and knocked on the door a dozen times, not even waiting for his permission to enter. I shut the door, locking it behind me, and marched to his desk, dropping the files on them and releasing a heavy exhale. When I finally looked at him, my breath got caught in my throat. 

He's wearing his glasses. 

He glanced at me but ignored me otherwise and continued typing away on his laptop. Rowan looked so... different. I blinked a few times, just watching him, all thoughts leaving my brain. He had his blazer off, hanging on the back of his chair with his white button-up rolled up at the sleeves. His legs disappeared under the table but I knew the black slacks he wore from this morning. His glasses fit perfectly on his face with the round but not too round, thick black-rimmed frames. 

Evie, snap out of it. Oh, but how can I? He looked so... cute. 

"Rowan." 

Nothing. 

"Everybody knows," I sighed, placing my hands on the table and leaning forward, lowering my head in frustration and defeat. 

"And why do you look like the world has ended, Ms. Spencer?" 

"What do you mean?" I forced out a laugh. "I don't want people to know." 

"We've had this conversation." 

"Yes, and I told you exactly why I'm so afraid of this." 

"And I told you exactly why you have nothing to worry about." He finally looked at me. 

My shoulder slumped as a soft sigh escaped me. He lifted a brow sharply and I looked away, rolling my eyes. "Rowan..." 

"If anybody said a word to you, then tell me. They will lose their job on the spot and that is a promise, Lyubov. Did someone say something?" 

I shook my head softly. 

"Then?" 

"It's just the way everyone's staring and whispering. Forget it," I said, shaking my head. "I'm an adult, I can handle this. I have to. I can handle it," I repeated, then paused in doubt. "I can, right?" 

"Get back to work," he said, his voice void of any emotions. 

"Work," I stated, pushing the files towards him. "Before you tell me I'm lacking behind on all the work you've given me today, here is a little less than half of it done." 

"I want all of it done." 

"I heard you the first time, Mr. Rowan. I heard you the first time," I said in a sing-song voice. 

He sighed in frustration and paused what he was doing, turning his attention towards the files I placed in front of him, pulling them towards him. "Which ones have you finished?" 

"I don't know, they're in front of you." 

"Make a list." 

I clicked my tongue and rounded the corner, stopping beside his chair, placing one hand on the back of it, and grabbing the first file. "Type," I demanded. 

He stared at me over his glasses and then pushed them higher up his nose, using his middle finger. 

I laughed softly, then added, "Please." 

He wordlessly opened a fresh page on his computer and started typing while I read out the title of each file. We were almost done when someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" we called out at the same time. 

Rowan continued typing while I looked up at the door, my eyes growing wide. I straightened up, slapping his arm twice with the back of my hand. "Mr. Daniel," I said quietly, recognizing Rowan's father from the last time he visited. 

"Hello, dear," he greeted me and never even spared Rowan a glance. 

Rowan retaliated and didn't even glance up after hearing his voice and continued working. "Ms. Spencer," Rowan said to me. "The files." 

"Uh um, yeah, right. Sorry. The Vortex Hotel from January to April of this year," I read, taking another look at Mr. Daniel. Feeling Rowan's gaze on me, I faced him and then slowly straightened up and took a step back thinking we were too close in proximity and his father would see something he wasn't meant to and make assumptions for the worst. 

"Oh, please," Mr. Daniel laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't pretend to be so distant." 

My eyes closed as I released a quiet breath. 

He knew. But... how? 

"Weren't you going to invite me, Rowan? The wedding is in three days. What happened to family, moy syn?" 

Rowan inhaled sharply and took his glasses off, dropping them on the table and looking at his father. "Don't call me your son ever again, Daniel." 

My hands clenched into tight fists behind my back as I watched them stare each other down, jaws hard and bodies rigid with such hatred in not just Rowan's eyes but even his father's. 

"Well, if you're not going to invite me to the wedding, I thought I'd invite myself," Mr. Daniel said, walking towards the table and stopping across from us. Instinctively, his eyes zoned in on Rowan's left hand. "You aren't wearing a ring. No engagement?" he asked with a cunning gaze, looking at me. 

"Who told you about the wedding, Mr. Daniel?" I questioned, forcing on a polite and welcoming smile. 

"Oh, I heard it from a few friends who received invitations. I must say, I was rather hurt that I wasn't invited and rather forgotten." 

"Well, it's not our fault if you told us you'd be back in Russia now, is it?" I lifted my brows, maintaining a fake grin. "If you told us you'd be here, maybe we would have invited you, you never know. Just maybe." 

He watched me, his jaw ticking once. 

"Or maybe we wouldn't have, who knows?" I shrugged. 

"If you're done bothering us, then get out. We have work to do," Rowan said. At the perfect cue, Mr. Daniel's phone rang and he left regardless while answering the call. 

I released a tense breath as the door closed behind him and then faced Rowan. "Who do you think told him?" 

He rolled his eyes and pulled his glasses back on, getting back to his computer. "We'll find out, Lyubov. Don't you worry."

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Chapter 21

We're 21 chapters in and they're not even married yet lol

slow burn at a whole new level

but honestly, normally, I write so often and quickly that my books are finished in like a month so I want to take my time with this one and make it the best and longest version possible

next chapter: mine