Chapter 5

The next day Dimitri could feel the tension in the office that Rose was putting off, almost as if it were a thick fog. The funny thing was he wasn't the one that felt weird about what had happened. He figured Rose would be a little awkward but he didn't expect the hostility that she was putting off.

He knew he needed to be worried about the case, and getting the paperwork drawn up for his consultation with Jesse. The kid was an official adult, and yes he had told Mikhail and Sonya he would take the case, but he has also told them it was all up to Jesse whether or not he cooperated. The thing was; he couldn't do any of that until he got this problem with Rose out of the way.

"Rose?" He had no idea how to broach the subject, but regardless of her unease he had told her he wouldn't, more or less, babysit and he meant it. It didn't matter that she was beautiful, or how bad he felt for her he couldn't have 'this' in his office.

Rose walked in to Dimitri's office and closed the door when he motioned for it. She refused to meet his eyes, and looked anywhere but those rich brown pools. She couldn't afford to see the disgust that she knew was clouding them.

"Sit." She heard a trace of anger color his voice and she cringed slightly. She knew she was about to get fired and that was ok. 'Yeah, Rose, its ok, no big deal, you're a disappointment anyway so no one should be surprised.' She did as she was told still never meeting his eyes. She did however find her bracelet interesting.

Dimitri was known throughout the American Bar Association as being calm, cool and collected; it was something he prided himself in. Regardless of how bad is temper boiled, he was always able to keep it under wraps in the court room, interviews, or whenever it started to rear up. But sitting here in front of one of the most beautiful women he'd ever laid eyes on, he wanted no more than to flip his desk over, and shake her out of this coma like trance she was in.

"How long has this been going on?" He wasn't sure if he was going to get anywhere with his question, and when she just sat there staring at her wrist he had his answer. Just when he was giving up hope she surprised him.

"Since the accident." Rose hated that she answered him, but she thought that if she did he wouldn't be so harsh in firing her.

Dimitri sat and stared at her form for a long time. He was wracking his mind for something that might help. It was almost like she needed closure from losing her former lover. When he lost his best friend he had almost gone over the edge. He had never known such anger and rage at himself than he did in those months prior to his 'breakthrough'.

"Did you go to his funeral?" Dimitri knew he hit a nerve when Rose immediately stiffened and her eyes shot up to meet his. He expected to see sadness and loss in those beautiful eyes but all he saw was anger.

Rose couldn't believe the audacity of the man sitting in front of her. It was frankly none of his business what went on in her life and how she dealt with things. She didn't know where the anger came from, considering she hadn't cared enough to feel anything in a while, but she didn't care at this point. She was livid at the fact someone dared question her about anything concerning Mason.

Rose stood and lifted her body to its' full height, anger blazing from her very pores. "Listen here, Comrade, anything concerning my personal life has nothing to do with you. I'm fine and I don't need you or anyone else 'thinking' you know anything about me." With that she stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind her, and back to her own desk. Rose was sure he would follow and demand that she pack and leave. But miraculously all was quiet.

Dimitri sat in stunned silence, trying and failing to come to terms with what had just happened. He hadn't pictured the conversation going anything like that. He figured there would be some tears and maybe some apologies but definitely not that kind of anger.

'What the hell am I supposed to do now?' Dimitri questioned his tactics and his ability to read people, something he never did. He was excellent at reading people and their motives, that's one of the things that made him a good lawyer. But he had absolutely gotten it wrong this time, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Shit." He stood so fast his chair flipped backwards with a thump, not that he cared, the damned thing could stay right there as far as he was concerned. He raked his fingers through his chin length hair and turned to reach for the folder of papers lying on his desk, but in doing so he felt his groin push against the fly of his slacks.

Dimitri looked down incredulously at the bulge, wondering when and how that had happened. The only thing that he could figure was Rose's anger had ignited something in him, which made the whole situation even worse. He hadn't been with a woman since he had won his first case, and if he was honest he hadn't even wanted it that much then. He looked at sex like it was something more than just a one night stand, it was something to honor. Of course this thinking came after he moved to the US and changed for the better.

After Ivan had been killed he had spun so deep down in a hole of drinking, fighting, and sex that the only way he had been able to get rid of it was leaving Russia and moving to the United States. Here he was able to go to college and get a law degree, and spend every free minute in the gym.

Dimitri heard his door open and close, and a rustle of clothing, making him look up to see Christian leaning against the back wall, smirking. "Well it looks like something got the big guy worked up."

Any other time Dimitri might have had a comeback for his snarky friend/business partner, but at the moment he wasn't in the mood for joking.

"What the hell do you want?" Dimitri's voice came out as growl and he had to snap his teeth together so no more words formed.

"Oh you know, just coming to see what the yelling was about. Making sure I didn't need to intervene in anything, but it looks like I'm not needed."

Christian's smirk grew when he saw how riled his best friend was. He knew Dimitri had a horrible temper but he wasn't intimidated by any means. He was however, very amused to see his friend on the brink of exploding, and no he probably shouldn't have been spurring him on but he couldn't help it.

When Christian had met Dimitri in college he wasn't what Christian would call stable. Dimitri was one of the most dedicated people he had ever met to his school work, and the gym and well anything to keep him away from girls, parties, and fights. Christian had dubbed him as just 'different' than most college guys until he saw a video on the internet of a 'Russian' guy beating some guy to a pulp. Christian initially watched the video because he wanted to pick on Dimitri about how he knew of a Russian guy that could beat his ass. He thought it was a pretty funny idea, until he figured out the guy on the internet was actually Dimitri. Christian never mentioned the video or the guy that Dimitri had almost beat to death.

"I'm fine, and don't need your help." Dimitri took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. "I'm going down to the police station, keep Rose busy." With that he started to walk out of the office.

"You might want to adjust whatever is going on behind your fly, dude, because that's going to get you more attention that you already get." Christian couldn't help saying something. The situation was impossible and Rose was known for getting herself into impossible situations. Christian just hoped that no one got hurt in the process.

"Shit." Dimitri's voice was back to a growl. Which made Christian's smirk turn into a laugh.

With that Dimitri stormed out of his office, past Rose's rigid form, and away from Christian's knowing laugh.

Dimitri slammed the door to his truck, almost ripping it off its hinges. "Real smooth, Dimitri. Real smooth."

Rose in the meantime couldn't quite figure out why he stormed out the way he did instead of firing her. Hell for all she knew he was going to get the cops to escort her out.

"So what did you and the Russian get into it about to work him up so much?" Christian was still laughing after coming out of Dimitri's office. He still couldn't believe Rose was the reason.

Rose had to stop and think because she honestly didn't know why he would be upset. She thought her reason was valid for chewing him out, but that didn't excuse the fact she more or less yelled at her boss.

"Nothing." She was too angry to speak.

"That's bull crap and you know it. What happened?" Christian's smooth charm was gone, and replaced by the lawyer side of him. He was tired of seeing her mope around and pity herself, he wasn't oblivious to the fact that she hurt, but she had to move on.

Rose spun her chair around and glared at Christian. "He wanted to know if I had been to Mason's funeral, and it's none of his business."

"Okay, so what's the problem?' He really was oblivious to the problem. He was actually surprised that Dimitri brought it up. He was even more surprised that Rose wasn't fired by now, since Dimitri wasn't known for his warm and fuzzy side.

"It's not any of his concern if I did or didn't, and I told him as much." Rose gave an angry sigh and spun back around and continued to type on her keyboard. She was sure if she typed any harder the keyboard would split in half.

"Whatever you say. Obviously nothing I say is going to get through your thick skull." Christian turned to walk off. He knew he wouldn't get far before he would hear Rose pipe up and wasn't surprised when he didn't make it more than three steps.

"What the hell was I supposed to say? 'No I didn't go to his funeral because his mom didn't want me there.' Or maybe, 'No I didn't go to his funeral because she made the doctor knock me out with drugs after she told me to stay away.' Which would you prefer me to say? You know damned well that I didn't go and why. I almost came out of the hospital bed when she told me to stay away from the funeral and her family for good. Hell you were the one to hold me down why the doctor gave me shot, which I'm still pissed about."

"Yeah, I suppose you could have told him that." Christian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, he knew what he wanted to say was going to piss her off and maybe even get his ass kicked, but he was so sick of this. "At least that would have been the truth, instead of you blaming yourself for something you had no control over. Maybe then you could get off this 'poor Rose' kick."

Rose's mouth opened slightly in shock. She knew Christian wasn't known for his gentle side and the only time she ever saw it was when he was with Lisa and when she was in the hospital after the accident. Her shock was short lived however. "Screw you, Christian." Rose was up and walking towards the door before she gave it a second thought.

"Where the hell are you going?" He wasn't one to feel bad for saying things, but he had to wonder if maybe he went too far. 'Lissa is going to kill me.' But instead of going after her, he let her storm out of the double glass doors. 'This is something she has to work out on her own.'

Rose stopped momentarily outside of the doors and looked both ways before deciding to head towards a small restaurant she saw on the first day Lisa had brought her in. She didn't know how far it was, or even exactly where, but surely she would be able to find it.

When Dimitri made it to the police station his mood was still volatile. He hated the fact that someone could get under his skin and hated even more that it was her.

"I'm here to see Jesse." He spoke to Stan Alto, the office behind the counter. He didn't dislike Stan, but he never held any real feelings of friendship for him either, but the guy was who he had to deal with each and every time that Dimitri needed to speak to a detainee.

"I heard you were going to be defending him. I hope you know what you got yourself into with this one." Stan buzzed the gate, letting Dimitri in, and done a quick pat down to ensure Dimitri wasn't carrying into the station. Luckily his groin had receded; because that was the last thing he needed when getting a pat down

"You know the way." With that Stan went back to his usual roll of watching cameras and drinking coffee.

Walking back to the cell, he tried to come up with an introduction to his being there, but failed, which irritated him even more because he was never unprepared. He normally had a brief case full of evidence and questions, but the only thing he had was his mind today. Not that that was a bad thing because that was a powerful thing in its own.

Dimitri looked into the cell and couldn't help but notice the white walls with crude writing that suggested people do cruel things to police. He looked to where the toilet and the sink were and noted the stains that covered all sides. The floor looked like it needed a good cleaning, but this was nothing new. Then he looked to were a young man was slumped over onto the one lone bench in the cell that served as a bed or for sitting.

"Jesse?" Jesse looked up and Dimitri was taken aback by the haunted look in his eyes. It was a mix of pain, and loss. A look that said he had lost too much and been through too much already. The same look Rose seemed to carry around with her.

"I'm Dimitri. Your parents came and talked to me and wanted me to represent you. Do you mind if we sit and talk?"

Jesse snorted, "Does it look like I have anything better to do? I'm not planning on getting up and leaving any time soon."

Dimitri didn't acknowledge the comment. He knew from the many of people he represented that helplessness seemed to go hand and hand with people that thought their life was over.

"Tell me about when you found your girlfriend dead." He knew it was harsh and brash but he found that the more direct question or statement seemed to get a rise out of the ones that were innocent. He figured mainly because their conscience couldn't handle the directness.

Jesse's shocked expression told Dimitri all he needed to know, even if Jesse covered it up with contempt. "Are you kidding me? That's how you plan to help? Why don't you go read the police report and screw yourself?"

Dimitri didn't know why his anger gave way, or maybe he did and it had everything to do with that little temptress back at his office. No matter the reason he had had enough for the day, hell for the whole week.

Dimitri stood to his full six foot seven height, and rolled his shoulders and gritted his teeth, making his neck muscles strain under tension.

"I'm going to say this once; I'm your only shot at getting out of this trial alive. You screw this up and you're dead. Honestly I could care less about whether you accept my help or not, I could leave here and not bat an eye. They would give you another lawyer and that lawyer would most likely be bought off by the same people that killed your girlfriend. So if that's what you want, I'll walk."

Jesse looked up at the man standing before him. He didn't want to admit it, but he scared the hell out of him, but he also knew what Dimitri said was true. Without someone that wasn't afraid to stand up to the people who killed Mia he was a goner. Not that he had much to live for now.

Dimitri stared Jesse down, hoping to ensure the kid that what he said was true. With a nod Jesse gave his answer and understanding, and began telling Dimitri all that he knew.

Rose had been walking through the City for what seemed like forever. She had no idea where she was and she had walked out of the office without so much as a phone or a wallet. But in her walking she was able to assess the 'conversation' she had had with Dimitri earlier that morning.

She felt that maybe her temper had come to quickly this morning and try as she might she couldn't justify it. No matter how she looked at it, and look she had, he was right. She didn't have closure over Mason and that wasn't going to happen until she went and worked through her problem. She hated the idea of visiting his grave, but she didn't have much of a choice. Whether or not Christian would believe her, she was tired of living like this. She hated being the introvert that the accident left her. She missed being alive and full of life.

Rose stopped and with a determined mind spun on her heel and started back the way she came. She was going to drive to Portland and hopefully she would still have a job when she got back. If not well Dimitri could kiss her ass, because it had been his idea in the first place.

She hadn't made it a block when she saw a truck pull up to the curb by the sidewalk she was walking on and a window rolled down, "Get in."

Dimitri had debated on whether or not he should pull over and give her a ride or if maybe the walk would be good for her, but his better side won out and he found himself stopping.

"I'm fine on my own." No matter what her mind had said a few moments ago, looking at the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on made her blood boil.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you have no idea where you are going." Dimitri's grin turned into a smug smile when Rose turned to shoot daggers at him.

"I would rather walk around lost than get in that truck with you." Rose turned and continued to walk the same way she had been going and hoped that when he drove off towards the office she could just follow his direction.

"Rose," She noted that all teasing in his voice was gone, and was replaced by a deeper tone that was laced with irritation. "Get in the truck, or I will get out, throw you over my shoulder, and put you in the truck myself."

Rose shivered at the thought of being in his arms. God only knew how much of a mess she was; here she was mentally unstable from losing one man, and her body had attraction for another one.

She wasn't one bit intimidated but she stopped walking and made her way to the truck. She figured he was already pissed enough at her and she didn't need to make it worse.

Dimitri waited until she was in the truck with the door shut before he pulled back out onto the street. "Good decision." He didn't know why he felt the need to antagonize her more, but he couldn't help it.

"I was perfectly capable of walking, thank you. I knew where I was going and I didn't need you to 'rescue' me." Rose flipped her hair and look out her window at the passing cars. It seemed the nice weather had brought more people out into the city than she was used to seeing.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Dimitri could take it no more. "Rose, about this morning, I'm sorry. I had no right to push you, or to think that your personal life is any of my business."

Rose felt the anger and frustration leave her body on a sigh. It was so sudden she kind of forgot what she was truly angry about. Just being around Dimitri made her senses on high alert and it really wasn't his fault that she was so touchy.

"It's not your fault. I should be the one apologizing to you for yelling at you. I had no right whether I was mad or not. You are my boss and I shouldn't have spoken that way to you."

Dimitri's stomach pitched a little when Rose had said he was her boss. Yes, it was true but that didn't mean that he didn't have thoughts about other things.

Without really thinking through what he was asking, he spoke, "Go to dinner with me tonight. Nothing fancy, just something to let me make up for today."

Rose sat without speaking for a moment, momentarily shocked, just looking at him. What would happen if she agreed? Would this finally get her mind back on her problem with losing Mase or would this just deepen her attraction to the man sitting to her left? She knew she would regret her decision later, but dammit she was tired of moping around too.

"I think that's a good idea."

Dimitri stared in disbelief for a moment, his heart hammering so hard against his ribs, he was sure she would be able to tell. "Good, I'll pick you up around six."

So I'm so so so sorry it's taken almost 3 months to get the next chapter posted, it's been insane!

I hope that you guys like it and that it's worth your wait!

P.S. I'm looking for someone to read through the chapters before I post them to make sure I haven't missed any mistakes. Just message me if you are interested!

Review!