CHAPTER 2: She's Gonna Be A Problem

KENDRICK

“What were they thinking, letting her live with you?” Victor asked, leaning back lazily in the chair across from my desk like he owned the space.

“Safety.” I shrugged, flipping through the folder in front of me without bothering to look up. “Apparently, her father thinks London will collapse if she spends three weeks alone.”

Victor snorted. “Or maybe he realized his daughter is living with one of the richest men in the country and thought she’d be safer inside your walls than outside them.”

I signed the last page of the contract and tossed the folder aside. “You’re dramatic.”

“No,” he corrected with a grin. “I’m observant.”

Through the glass walls, London stretched beneath the fading light, clean, structured, predictable—unlike my thoughts.

“You’re distracted,” Victor observed.

“I’m working.”

“That’s not an answer.”

I leaned back slightly. “Then ask a better question.”

He grinned like that was exactly what he wanted. “What’s she like?”

My pen paused for half a second, not enough for him to miss it. “Who?” I asked flatly.

“You know who.”

I set the pen down. “She’s staying in my house. That’s what she’s like.”

Victor tilted his head. “That’s not an answer either.”

I stood, grabbing my suit jacket from the chair behind me. “You spend too much time analyzing people.”

Victor laughed as he followed me out of the office. “Occupational hazard.”

The elevator ride downstairs was quiet for all of ten seconds before he spoke again. “Kennn… what’s she like?”

I shoved my hands into my pockets and studied him. “Why do you care?”

“Because your expression changes when I mention her.”

“My expression never changes.”

“That’s exactly why this is concerning.”

I snickered. Victor had known me long enough to notice things other people missed, and unfortunately for me, he wasn’t entirely wrong. There was something about Yulia that stayed in my head longer than it should have.

Maybe it was the way she looked at me like she couldn’t decide whether I was dangerous or fascinating. Or because she didn’t try to impress me the way most people did.

The moment we stepped outside the building, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Damon.

I answered. “What’s up?”

“Tell me you’re not working all night again,” Damon complained dramatically through the speaker.

Victor groaned beside me. “Why do you always sound drunk?”

“Because life is beautiful, Victorrr!” He slurred.

I stepped toward my car. “What do you want, D?” 

“Street race tonight. Usual spot. Nine o’clock.” Damon paused before adding, “Weekend’s officially started, gentlemen.”

Victor immediately grinned. “Now that sounds like a better idea than listening to Kendrick pretend he doesn’t have emotions.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Damon laughed loudly through the phone. “So are you coming or not?”

I glanced toward the city skyline briefly before answering. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Good. Bring that Aston Martin of yours. I’m tired of embarrassing people alone.”

The call ended shortly after.

Victor watched me. “You’re coming for the race… or for distraction?”

I unlocked the car. “Get in.”

He did, still smiling like he had already won something.

The drive home was smoother than usual, music quietly playing through the speakers. Normally, driving helped clear my thoughts.

Tonight, it didn’t. Because somehow, despite meetings, contracts, and conversations, I still kept thinking about Yulia. 

I exhaled through my nose. “She’s gonna be a problem.” 

By the time I pulled into the driveway, I was already irritated with myself. The front doors opened before I reached them.

“Good evening, sir,” Edwin, one of my security guards, greeted politely.

I nodded once as I stepped inside, handing him my keys. 

“Welcome back, Mr. Fernsby.” Tessa approached me immediately.

“Thank you. Dinner.”

“Yes, sir. And Miss Adley is in the theater room.”

That made me pause. “The theater room?”

“She said she was bored,” she added carefully.

I didn’t respond. I made my way down the hallway quietly, and soft lights dimmed throughout the house. The closer I got to the theater, the more I heard the low sound of a movie playing.

I stepped inside, and there she was, curled into the oversized couch like she belonged there, completely focused on the screen. For a moment, I just watched her.

The room’s dim lighting softened her features, making her look relaxed and more tempting. My gaze drifted slowly over her face before lower thoughts threatened to follow. The kind that made me wonder what she’d look like beneath me instead of sitting innocently in my theater room.

Damn!

I cleared my throat to catch her attention. Her head snapped toward me.

“Oh.” She stood quickly, like she hadn’t expected me to exist in that moment. “Hi.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips, seeing how flustered she looked. “You look like you got caught doing something illegal.”

“That depends…” Her lips twisted to the side. “Am I allowed in here?”

“Yes.” Wetting my lips, I looked her over. “You seem comfortable already.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly. “I got bored upstairs, so Tessa showed me this room.”

I nodded once, stepping further inside. “Good choice.”

Silence settled briefly between us before declaring, “I wanted to let you know I was back.” 

“Sure.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Welcome back.”

My attention lingered on her longer than necessary. There it was again, that pull. I should’ve left right then. Instead, I asked. “You want to come out tonight?”

“Huh?” She was confused.

I chuckled at her expression. “There’s a street race happening in Canary Wharf tonight,” I explained. “My friend is hosting, and he invited me.”

Her brows lifted. “Street racing?”

“You sound disappointed.”

“No,” she shook her head immediately. “Just… surprised.”

“Why?” I asked curiously.

“You don’t exactly seem like the type.”

I grinned mischievously. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me yet.”

The words hung between us longer than they should have. Then slowly, she smiled. For some reason, that smile hit harder than it had any right to.

“I’ll go,” she agreed.

“Okay,” I checked my wristwatch. “We leave at nine.”

A soft smile split her face. “I’ll be ready.”

I nodded once before turning toward the door. Taking Yulia with me tonight was probably a bad idea, and the worst part? I was looking forward to it anyway.