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Chapter 7 - Ivan
When I walk into the apartment, the first thing I notice is Evgeni and Leonid talking in hushed voices in the corner of the dining room. The quiet conversation stops immediately when they notice me, and it raises my suspicions. They must be able to tell because Leonid steps forward. “Ivan, we want to talk to you.”
“Has something gone wrong?” I ask curiously, pouring myself a glass of vodka.
“We want to talk about the negotiations with the Sorvino family.” Leonid has always been straight to the point. I do like that about him.
I wave him off. “It’s being handled.”
“I think I would be in a better position to negotiate territories with the Sorvino family,” Leonid says bluntly, “I have the family’s best interests at heart, and I can secure the best possible deal for the family.”
I sip my vodka and unbutton my suit jacket. “Tori is already assigned to sort it out. She knows her family best and will secure a great deal for our family.”
“You would trust a traitorous Sorvino over your own brother?” Leonid snaps.
My eyes meet his, and he goes quiet. “I appreciate your willingness to always help our family, but in this case, you’re not the best person for the job. You are always on the attack, Leonid. You are too aggressive and rash to make these sorts of decisions. You’re playing football instead of chess. We need to think ahead of our opponents, and this gives Tori a chance to prove she has a place in this family. She is being double-checked, so it’s not like I’m giving her free reign. If she does double-cross me, she will regret it.”
Leonid glares at me. I know the comments sting, but that’s not my problem. I also know he knows better than to start with me. I’m not one to easily bow down to someone who thinks they’re an alpha male. Leonid isn’t an alpha, although he likes to pretend he is.
Evgeni steps forward. “We, of course, support all your decisions as the head of our family, Ivan. We just have concerns.”
“Do you both think I’m a blind fool? That I would just let her choose what we get and trust she’ll do the best. No, this is one of many tests to ensure she comes into the fold and learns her place.”
Evgeni nods and falls silent, but I can see Leonid isn’t finished. “Was there something else?”
“The shipment might come in earlier than expected. I don’t think you need to be there when it’s opened, I can handle it.”
“I’ll make time for it, don’t worry.” I wave my hand and down my vodka. “Now leave. I have work to do, and so do you. Unless you’ve sorted all your problems before presenting me with what you think mine are?”
“Tori was attacked,” Evgeni says, “That’s the final news.”
“How? By whom? Was she hurt?” I ask with a frown.
“No, she’s fine. Our men contained the situation. We’re already working on finding out who’s behind the attack.”
“Make sure you find it sooner rather than later. There’s nothing else I need you for, you are free to leave.” I comment, wondering who would attack Tori.
Leonid seems to want to say something, but Evgeni puts a hand on his arm. “We’ll leave. Thank you for hearing us out.”
I watch as they walk out of the apartment. I can see my brother isn’t impressed, but he must remember his place. He is only my brother because his parents, my aunt and uncle, were killed, and my parents took him in and raised him as their own.
I go to the kitchen, get a bottle of orange juice, and take it to my office. I sit down and enter my password, bringing up my work. Before I do anything else, I try not to focus too much on this mysterious event and whether it was planned by the Sorvinos. I start to answer a few emails, and I check our secret messages through reviews on online retailers and respond accordingly. Then I pull up the financials for the last quarter. Everything is cleverly disguised behind a ‘legit’ business. We have perfected this.
I open the bank account and see that my mother had paid for the clothes today. I’m sure she made Tori feel comfortable. It’s why I asked my mother specifically.
An amount on the bank statement catches my eye. A hundred thousand dollars was transferred without any reference of who it was transferred by, to who, or to what account. My family doesn’t generally access this account. This is the business account. They have cards to pay for things but can’t log on and initiate transfers. Only the accountant and I can do that.
I email Will, the accountant, and ask him to look into it because I feel like something is going on, and if someone is doing something behind my back, they will pay dearly for it.
There’s a light knock on my door, and I glance up from the email I’m drafting to see Tori standing in the doorway. I sit back and rub my beard. “Did you have fun? At least before you were attacked.”
“Your mother is really sweet,” she says, shifting from foot to foot, “She knows her way around a clothes store. The attack was frightening, but I wasn’t hurt.” She looks shaken but gives me a small smile.
I return the smile then it fades quickly. I can’t give in to my emotions on a whim. What I feel for Tori might be physical, but I can’t let it get emotional. She is a business transaction, and that is all.
“I wanted to ask if there’s anything that I can help with. I’m not doing anything at the moment, and I’m kind of bored,” she explains.
I sit up straight. “The contracts will be coming soon, and you’ll be spending a lot of hard hours working on those to secure us thebestpossible deal. For now, find something to do, relax and watch a movie or something.”
