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“Sure she did. But I’m also doing this because I care.”
I smile, placing my hand on his arm reassuringly.
“I promise, if there’s something I can’t handle and if I need your help, I won’t hesitate to ask.”
“Your sister’s worried about you,” he informs me.
“She shouldn’t be. Let me do all the worrying. You guys just be happy.”
“How about you try to be happy too. Huh, cognata?” he asks,
“We’ll see.”
I can’t be happy. Not if I don’t get to at least meet my son. I just need to see him. Just once. When he was in D.C, protected by his entire family, unreachable, I managed to convince myself that I had no choice to stay away.
But now that he’s in my city. So close to me. I don’t think I can stay away. Not anymore.
“Make sure the warehouses are in strategically hidden positions across the city,” I’m saying to Rico. “We can’t risk an FBI raid right now and loose the entire shipment so we have to keep them hidden until they’re ready for exportation. Okay?”
Rico doesn’t reply. He’s staring at me from across the table, dark eyebrows furrowed. I sigh softly, clasping my hands together.
“What?” I question.
“You still haven’t told me what went down with Alexander Steele,” he states.
“Nothing much. Our conversation reached an impasse and we couldn’t continue. And exactly why are you so interested in him. I told him, this has nothing to do with our business. He requires my help on something and we’re negotiating the terms of the agreement.”
“What terms?”
“I’m not saying.”
His jaw clenches. “You know I trust your judgement, Katerina. You’re smart as hell, smarter than most people and I know you know what you’re doing. But in the past few days, I’ve watched this man affect you more than anyone else ever has. You can’t blame me for being curious.”
No, but I really wish he wasn’t. Especially not since he could very well find out the truth.
“I know but I promise there’s nothing wrong. I won’t let him affect me like that anymore.”
“Feelings aren’t a button you can just turn off and on, Katerina.”
My eyes narrow. “I’m sorry, did I ask for a lecture?”
“No,” he says, sighing defeated, “You were telling me about keeping the shipment hidden from the FBI. I’m listening.”
We go back to discussing business. When I woke up today, I decided that the only way to truly get what I want from Alexander, is to separate my emotions. We’re conducting a business deal, and sure it has something to do with an issue that’s vastly personal. But if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s negotiation.
As long as I can keep my head in the game and my heart out of it.
CHAPTER 10
Alexander
Amuscle ticks in my jaw as I stare at the man standing in front of my desk. His eyes hidden behind thick black framed glasses widen as I get to my feet, rounding the table. I stand in front of him, slamming the documents in my hand on the desk. He jumps at the sound.
“What’s your name?” I question.
“T-Th-Thomas, sir,” he stammers.
I study him for a second, wondering exactly how he was hired and who was in charge of the hiring process at this branch.
