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And in truth? I wouldn’t want him any other way.
* * *
Maxsim
“You’re doing what?” Sergei asked as I packed my briefcase.
“I’m heading to Fiji for a few days.”
“Fiji, as in located in the South Pacific Ocean?”
“That would be the place.”
“When are you leaving?”
I jerked my arm, revealing my watch. “The plane takes off in two hours.”
He moved closer to my desk, his look of shock one I’d never seen before. “Okay. Correct me if I’m wrong, but we just lost somewhere in the neighborhood of two million dollars’ worth of product for one of our oldest clients, you had me send a letter to the City of Charleston threatening a lawsuit for acts of corruption and defamation of character, and three members of the seven-member trust you established are having doubts about your ability to lead this grandiose charity project of yours to fruition, and you’re going frolicking on a vacation?”
My Brigadier was in rare form today. “Cut down on the coffee, my friend. The pirates who ambushed the ship were in no way associated with our business, but that of a client who decided against all common sense to change the parameters of their contract midway through. Certain members of the government decided to flex their muscles since it’s apparent someone made false and highly illegal promises from the building department to Stonewall Development. None of them are my problem. Other than that, we need to do deeper dives on our proposed clients.”
I grabbed my keys, shoving them into my pocket and walking toward the door.
“Maxsim. What is this really about?”
“Oh, and never have I even once frolicked.”
The electric vibrations of his fury and disbelief had me amused. Granted, I was on a higher-level alert than I’d been a few weeks before, but the explanations provided to my councilor were accurate. I was concerned and keeping my eyes wide open.
“We have had a couple recent threats.”
“When don’t we experience threats, Sergei? After all, after annihilating the Dixie mafia, other crime syndicates are on edge.”
“We never took responsibility for what happened. It was a massive fire that consumed their clubhouse.”
I had to laugh. “And you don’t think the women who were there talked?”
“So far, I haven’t heard that any have. Most were paid girls, remember. And I made certain they were given incentive to remain quiet as you commanded.”
“Yes, but people always talk.”
“Which is what you were counting on. However, the threats have escalated.”
“As is to be expected.” I was only minimally worried, but enough to keep my guard on high.
If anything was brewing, I’d be alerted even that far away. I’d debated making this decision, but after the next week including with the start of the construction on the new warehouse, I’d have limited time to do much of anything personal.
“Max. Seriously. What is going on? Is there something wrong with Mina?”
His concern was real and the man deserved an answer. “Nothing is wrong with Mina.” When I turned to face him, I had to laugh. “Seriously. She’s fine.”
“And Isabel? Are you two fighting?”
“Uh, no. We are very happy. When we see each other. That’s the problem.”
“So ask her to move in.”
“She likes her autonomy. There is nothing going on. Not really.”
