Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
If this was the only way to make sure he kept his hands off Fredericka while he worked on winning her trust, then to hell with his honor.
To hell with everything.
He would do whatever it took to keep Fredericka in his life, would do everything to ensure that in the end she would be his alone.
After leaving her house, he called his secretary and gave her the usual instructions. By tonight, the model would receive yet another expensive piece of jewelry, which he knew Madeline would understand was both a thank-you gift as well as a reminder that theirs was purely a sexual relationship and that to expect anything from it would mean the end of their liaison.
Back in the office, Sergei’s executives immediately sat up as the company’s young vice president walked inside the conference room. Although it had only been a few years since he had started working full time in Grachyov Enterprises, Sergei had become infamous for his strict adherence to protocol. Executives that dared to show up with one strand of hair out of place were fined for being unprofessional while those who dared come in one minute late for any meeting were sent a sternly worded memo about attendance.
Today’s meeting involved a potential merger between Grachyov Enterprises and a European company, and the executives of both firms were quietly perspiring at the thought of having to present their arguments to the young Russian vice president.
It was a well-known fact that Sergei Grachyov was even more exacting than his father, and if the proposed merger was not to his liking—-
Everyone gulped silently as the vice president stood up, a chilling look of disapproval his face. “The proposal has merit, but it significant lacks supporting data.” Looking at the people on the table one by one, he asked in a soft, silky voice, “Why is that, do you suppose? Did you not all have sufficient time to prepare for this meeting?”
The executive leading Grachyov Enterprises’ M&A team blanched. He was going to get sacked. He could feel it in his bones, and he wanted to cry.
“Did you think my time was for all of you to waste?”
I’m going to throw up, another executive thought sickly. His CEO had told him not to leave until he had Sergei Grachyov’s signature on the contract, and he had a bad feeling that was as likely as him dating the billionaire’s famously hot stepsister Seri Devereux.
“I’m waiting for an answer, gentlemen.”
The silence in the room was such that the ticking secondhand of the wall clock could actually be heard. Although no one was looking at each other, much less meet the billionaire’s gaze, everyone’s thoughts ran along the same lines.
If only they had more time to prepare the data that Sergei Grachyov was asking for.
If only.
But everyone knew that Sergei Grachyov didn’t do second chances, and so a miracle was the only way for this disaster to be averted. A miracle, coming in the form of—-
Someone’s phone started to ring.
The executives simultaneously bowed their heads in horrified defeat. Goodbye, world. This was it: the perfectly bad ending for the worst day in their lives. Which idiot would be stupid enough to keep his phone switched on in a conference room with—-
“What can I do for you, pchelka?”
Everyone’s heads jerked up, shock written all over their faces. Was this truly Sergei Grachyov, actually taking a phone call in the middle of a meeting?
They watched the billionaire’s lips curve, a sight so rare for the aloof Russian that everyone was struck dumb seeing it. “No, you’re not disturbing me.”
Everyone’s jaws dropped. This was even more of a bigger miracle than they thought! Not only had the billionaire, who was a notorious workaholic, answered a call during a meeting, but it was a personal one – what seemed like a booty call even – at that!
Sergei waved his executives and those of the other company away, gesturing to the door so that they would know he was giving them a break. “This is the first time you’ve called me of your own accord, pchelka. To what do I owe the honor of this pleasure?” As he spoke, he watched in puzzlement as everyone practically ran out of the conference room and started laughing and cheering outside, with one of the executives even falling to his knees, shouting hallelujah.
The noise seemed to have reached Fredericka as well as she asked, “Are you in a party?”
“No. I’m still at the office, but the people around me appear inordinately happy.”
“Must be because you’re the nicest boss ever,” Fredericka couldn’t help quipping.
“I am nice.”
“I was being sarcastic.”
He ignored that, saying, “What did you want to talk about?”
Silence.
“Shall I take a guess? You missed me perhaps?”
“Uhh, no.”
Liar, he thought. The way her voice had suddenly quivered was answer enough, and he chuckled, saying, “It’s alright, pchelka, I missed you, too.”