Page 96 of Daddy Brigadier

I step back from the desk, scanning the room for a familiar face, but there’s no one I recognize. Instead, I notice the heavily guarded elevators and the people scanning their badges to access them. Suddenly, I remember something. I approach the receptionist again, but now her demeanor has shifted; she looks less welcoming and more irritated.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the black key card. “I have this,” I say, holding it out to her. One quick glance at the card and she springs up from her seat.

The phone rings, and she swiftly picks it up.

The person on the other line is loud, and her eyes are narrowing on me. “Yes, ma’am,” she says in a clipped tone and hangs up, leaving a sense of urgency in the air.

“Mrs. Savin isn’t here, but Mr. Savin is expecting you,” she says, her tone suddenly all too friendly as if she hadn’t dismissed me just moments ago.

“Thank you,” I say with a forced smile because moments ago she was a bitch to me. But I understand. I don’t belong here.

“Scan your card and take elevator one.”

I walk through the lobby and approach the elevator. Suddenly, security halts me. I raise my access card, pretending I’ve been here before.

“Just need to wand you,” he says, brandishing a metal detector.

“Oh,” I respond. I extend my arms as he glides the wand from my head to my toes. After a swift check, he motions for me to proceed and holds up the next person behind me.

I approach elevator one and press the button, but it doesn’t light up. Nearby, I notice a card reader, pull out my card, and hold it to the panel. This time, the light illuminates.

As I step into the elevator, I’m surprised to see there are no floor buttons, yet it begins to ascend smoothly. With my hands clasped behind my back, I rock gently on my toes, not sure what to expect when it stops.

I chuckle, thinking about the day I met Valentin in the elevator. From the moment I stepped in, his presence was consuming me, and I began to fall in love.

I take a deep breath, having finally reached a point where I can think about Valentin without falling apart, not because mylove has faded, but because it’s time to embrace my life again. He would want me to move forward. And that is why I’m here today.

As the elevator doors slide open, I’m greeted by a woman I don’t recognize. “Alexis, it’s so exciting to finally meet you.”

I take a moment to assess her, still unsure of who she is. “Sorry,” she adds, extending her hand for a handshake. “I’m Jessica, Elise’s assistant.”

I vividly recall her. When I first arrived in New York, I reached out to Elise. Jessica was the one who consistently promised to pass on my messages, yet my sister never called.

I grasp her hand, and she eagerly gestures for me to follow her down the hallway.

“Elise is in Mexico.” She strides ahead rapidly, as if we’re racing against time to reach somewhere.

I trail after her, my eyes scanning the office as I take in every detail around me.

Everyone is dressed in high-end suits and elegant dresses, adorned with dazzling diamonds and pearls around their necks. The warm brown wood and plush leather chairs create an atmosphere that exudes wealth and sophistication, clearly signaling that this is a billion-dollar company. It’s no surprise the receptionist regarded me with a look that said I didn’t belong.

“I can return another time,” I say slowly, a sense of disappointment creeping in that my sister isn’t here.

“Mr. Savin will be with you shortly,” she insists, pointing toward the large door at the end of the hall.

The office feels deserted. Just as I’m about to say something to Jessica, the distinctive sound of her heels quickly fades as she walks away. Moving closer to the desk, my eyes are immediately drawn to the breathtaking skyline of New York City outside the window.

I pull out a chair, casually settling in to wait. Turning my head to the left, I suddenly stand and walk over to the bookcase, where a picture catches my eye. It’s a photo of Valentin and Andrei at a football game, both looking so young.

The Pakhan was just a kid back then, and Valentin … he was incredibly handsome even as a young man. As I trace my finger over the glass, a tear escapes, reflecting the weight of the sorrow I still carry.

“He’s always been like a father figure to me,” says a deep voice, suddenly startling me.

I turn around swiftly and see Andrei Savin standing there, dressed in a sleek black suit and matching tie. The large diamonds on his watch catch the light, showcasing how far he’s come from the little boy in that old picture.

He takes a seat at his desk and gestures for me to join him.

I slide back into the sleek white leather chair across from him. “I’m sorry to bother you. I came to see Elise,” I explain.