Page 37 of Boss

“Come with me.”

Tarek came down the step and she forced him to let her help. Together they followed Yegor. They were led to an office she supposed. Tarek took a seat.

“Trouble?” Tarek asked.

“Nyet. It’s under control. What I can’t have is the press finding out you are here. I’ve arranged to send you out now. Back to Anchorage. The storm is easing up. Enough for you to leave.”

“But we have things to discuss. I have a proposal that can be submitted to LuxeOil that...”

“Da. Da. I get it. Whatever you need. You have my full support. I’ve called father and he agrees. Do what you must but do it away from here.” Yegor looked over to Kassidy and changed his tune. “It was unfortunate that these men lives were lost. Let’s find a way to keep this project moving.”

Kassidy didn’t buy his empathy for a second. She was even more repulsed by Tarek’s duplicity. But she kept her mouth shut.

“How soon can you be packed?” Yegor asked.

“We are packed. We can leave now.” Tarek said.

“Da. Can you give us a minute, lisichka?” he asked.

Tarek seem hesitant for her to leave him. He knew without saying so that she wasn’t safe without him.

“I’ll wait for you outside of the door. Okay?” she asked.

He relented and agreed. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I won’t,” she said.

Yegor focused on her with his battered face. She thought he smiled. But she couldn’t be sure. She was glad to be away from him.

***

“Father is very impressed with you,” Yegor said. “But he is curious. Why now?”

“My father is dinosaur. I’m here to save the company.”

Yegor smiled. “Do you know anything of your family who gave you up in Russia?”

“No.”

“Do you care to know?” Yegor asked.

Tarek frowned. “Has nothing to do with our business. Reassure your father that my motives are the same as his. Greed.”

Yegor laughed. “He’d like to hear that. Maybe someone day soon.”

“A meeting? We can arrange a sit down to discuss....”

“Nyet! You deal with me. You are not worthy of a face to face with father. Not yet. Though you pack a helluva punch!” Yegor touched his jaw. “I am sorry for last night. The ambush. My boys aren’t used to seeing me take a....”

“Beating?” Tarek corrected.

Yegor put up his hands. “You caught me by surprise. Da, you proved yourself. And now because of our actions we are connected. I can trust you.”

Tarek remembered those men being alive, barely, before he blacked out. He didn’t kill them. But he was just as responsible as Yegor. And the blood-bond he forged today was one his weakling brother would never make.

He stood and extended his hand. Yegor stood and extended his. “If you ever want to know about the Russia you left behind. Call me. All you have to do is ask.”

Tarek wasn’t sure of his offer, but nodded all the same. He left Yegor’s office to find his woman unharmed. And for the first time he saw her as such. She smiled for him and put her arm around his waist. He allowed her assistance. He trusted her help. He was learning to trust her.

---