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I would die before I shared a woman in any sense of the word.
My upper lip curls as I glare at her. “I told you to leave now. Are you deaf or simply dumb?”
The woman’s eyes well with tears as she stands, not bothering to pull her dress back down when it rides up. “Honey, you’re so tense. You need a shoulder rub before we get to the fun.”
“Denis!” I take a long, slow drag on the cigar. It does little to ease my irritation with this woman, even as the door swings open. Denis sticks his head in, his eyes darting to the woman. “Escort her out and make sure she gets paid for her time. Have my driver take her back to the club. Then come back here.”
Denis gives a sharp bob of his head. His forest green eyes narrow as he strides to the woman and wraps his hand around her bicep. “Come with me.”
She pouts and bats her eyelashes at me in what is a clear hope that I will change my mind. I flick my cigar and turn my attention to the files on my desk.
Her heels click against the black herringbone floor before the door slams.
I sigh and lean back in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. If there is one thing, I hate more than the cute act, it’s the thought of sharing a woman with another man.
That escort clearly didn’t research her clientele before showing up.
I rake a hand through my thick, disheveled hair before smoothing it back at the collar.
Denis enters the office a few moments later, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. “Sorry for the interruption, boss. I should have knocked before I entered.”
As I stub out my cigar in the ashtray on my desk, Denis sinks into the chair across from me.
I shrug and stretch my legs, crossing them at the ankle. “I regret bringing her home. As my right-hand man, you’re supposed to advise me of bad decisions. Remind me to avoid the escorts at the club.”
Denis chuckles as he leans forward. “Will do, though we know that you will ignore me either way.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “True. Now, what did want?”
“You have a flight to Chicago that will be leaving in three hours.”
“How can it be that I don’t leave for another three hours when I have a plane and can take off whenever I want?” I reach for the glass of Russian vodka on the corner of my desk and take a sip.
Denis sighs. “During the pre-flight check, the pilot noticed that there was a problem with the engine. He called one of the mechanics, who determined that the plane needed to be repaired before it was ready to fly. I had to charter a small jet.”
I down the rest of the vodka. “Stop beating around the bush, Denis. How long will it be out of commission?”
Denis pulls out his phone and checks something on it. His blond eyebrows pull together, his lips pursing before he tucks it away. “In the message the mechanic sent, it should not take more than a day or two.”
“And in that time, I have to take a chartered jet like one of those damned celebrities who are too cheap to buy their own plane?” I scoff and cross my arms. “At least tell me that it will have some of the comforts of my plane?”
“Attendants will be on board, as well as food and drinks. There is no bedroom, but I’ve been told that there is a separate lounge room with a wide couch.”
I grimace and roll my shoulders, trying to ease some of the tension working its way through my body. “I have to travel to Russia after Chicago. Am I expected to make that flight without a bedroom?”
Denis shifts his weight from one side to the other, his gaze cutting to the bookshelf behind me. “Your jet will be fixed by the time you are ready to leave Chicago.”
“It better be. I knew you would be on top of the matter.” I check the time on my computer, a yawn tearing through me. “Is my luggage ready?”
Denis stands and clasps his hands behind his back. “Your bags have been packed and sent to the airport.”
With a sharp nod, I stand and stretch. “Well then, if I am to leave in three hours, I’m going to rest a bit and freshen up. You will manage everything here in New York while I’m gone.”
“Of course. Safe trip, boss.”
“Things should not be difficult here while I am gone, but I trust you will take care of everything in the same way I would.”
Denis steps to the side as I round the desk. “I’ve known you since we were kids. If I don’t know how to diffuse situations as you do, I would be concerned.”
