Ruthless Serenade (Korolev Bratva #2)

Chapter One

Mindy

Seven years later…

"Mr. Chen, could you please say that again?" I ask.

My voice is unexpectedly gentle despite my growing impatience. The office’s ambient noise fades away as I strain to comprehend Mr. Chen’s heavily accented English.

"Invoice… not good," Mr. Chen’s voice comes through, distorted by static yet clearly conveying his distress.

There is absolutely zero chance I can make it to the school in time to pick up my daughter. I sneak a peek at the clock. It's already 4:33. So much for finishing early today. And to top it off, it’s Friday. I know all the other parents have already grabbed their kids. I’m swamped with work and still have one last task to complete before I can call it a day. The end of the month always gets crazy with all these reports that need to be finished.

"I understand you’re having an issue with one of our invoices, Mr. Chen," I respond, surprised by the softness in my own voice. "Let’s sort this out together. Which invoice are we talking about?"

His reply is a jumble of sounds I can’t decipher.

"Sorry, Mr. Chen, could you please repeat that?" I urge him, absently twisting a lock of hair around my finger. My grand idea of grabbing a coffee before picking up my daughter has dissipated into my usual panic of being behind schedule. In my mind, I can already see her sitting alone in the hallway, anxiously awaiting my arrival.

"Yes, Mr. Chen. I’m here to assist you with whatever you need."

I recline in my chair, noticing the sunset painting the sky in vibrant oranges and pinks outside my window. Okay, maybe it’s a little too early for sunset.

Mr. Chen struggles to explain the bad invoice problem and his words remain an incomprehensible muddle.

“Come on, Mr. Chen, let’s get on with it,” I think to myself. “ Sharon is waiting!”

"Mr. Chen," I interject, "would you please be so kind as to send me an email with the details?"

Hoping I was sufficiently polite, I end the call without waiting for a response.

I check the time again, 4:38. It’s peak Friday afternoon and there’s absolutely no way I can make it on time. Anxiously, I give Tania, my babysitter, a call but she doesn’t answer. I start to worry as I shoot her a text.

"Hey, Tania. Could you please pick up Sharon from school today? Sorry about the late notice. I’ll double your fee, of course."

My mind starts spinning with wild thoughts. What if Tania is busy? What if she’s gotten fed up with my last-minute requests and says no? She has every right to. But lucky for me, my phone beeps with a message from her.

“Ok. Willow Heights is on my way, anyway. You’re one lucky girl, Mindy! smiling emoji”

I let out a big sigh of relief. Thank goodness for Tania; she’s a true lifesaver. But I can’t always depend on her, especially not like today when I had to make another last-minute emergency request. I really need to come up with a better way to handle the logistics between my job at Visionary Media and my daughter’s school, Willow Heights. It’s a constant juggling act.

Organizing everyday life as a working single mom in New York sucks, is the least I can say. But I adore my little girl, so who am I to complain? She’s the sweetest thing you'll ever meet.

I smile as I think of my daughter. She’s just so darn lovable, everyone falls for her in a heartbeat. She’s a bit shy, doesn’t open up to strangers easily. But for some reason, people always want to chat with her. And whenever she meets someone new, she sticks to me like glue, burying her face in my shirt and holding onto my hand like it’s her lifeline.

Sharon is the most beautiful kid. No, I’m not parentally biased. Seriously. She has a full head of gorgeous thick hair and a killer pair of wide, blue eyes that are impossible to resist.

She inherited those from her father.

If only she knew who he was.

I quickly push my thoughts about Maron Korolev back into the depths of my mind where they belong. I know I should just get him out of my head and accept the fact that he’s dead. But it’s not exactly easy to forget him and our complicated relationship. The relationship that ended with an unexpected pregnancy. A pregnancy I wasn’t even aware of until I was almost in my fifth month.

My periods had been inconsistent my entire life, even more so since my miscarriage. But then, miraculously, I got pregnant again. From Maron, of course. Just before he kicked me out of his event and disappeared from my life for good. Just before I learned from the news that he got fatally shot…

Despite our previous fallout, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I could not function for months. And then my heart broke all over again when I learned that he left me with a child, our beautiful baby girl.

Sharon is the miracle of my life.

Of course, it’s hard to forget her father. Every time I look at my daughter, I think of Maron. She looks so much like him, it’s impossible not to.

Alright Mindy, back to reality.

Tania is on her way to pick up Sharon. That gives me just enough time to do one last task, and then not think of work all weekend, just spend quality time with my daughter. All I need to do is review the last of the expense reports and email it to Mr. Chen. Then I’m off.

I start typing the report and am deep into working when I hear a knock on my office door.

"Come in," I call out, not looking up from the computer screen.

"Ah, Miss Williams. Burning the midnight oil again," Albert Solomon says as he strolls in. His voice is a mix of admiration and concern. "I hope you’re not working too hard on a Friday evening."

I glance up, offering a polite smile to my boss’s husband. "Just wrapping up the monthly expense analysis, Mr. Solomon. You know how it is at month-end. And I had quite the adventure conversing with Mr. Chen earlier."

He chuckles, leaning casually against the doorframe. This suddenly makes me think of Maron Korolev - he stood in the doorway of my office at Global Media exactly like this. Except he was taller. Broader. More masculine. Oozing pure, unadulterated sin.

Dammit, Mindy!

That was centuries ago.

Since then, life has gone on. And Albert Solomon is a very, very far cry from Maron Korolev. Albert is a middle-aged man with a smile that I would like to wipe off. And he has a tendency to appear around young female employees, pretending to engage with them in serious work-related conversations.

"Ah, yes." He smiles that fake smile of his. "Our dear Mr. Chen and his linguistic gymnastics. How do you manage to stay so patient?"

I shrug, trying to keep things light. "Practice, I guess. And a lot of deep breaths."

Albert moves further into the office, glancing over the pile of paperwork on my desk. "You know, Mindy, your dedication to this company is truly remarkable. Not many would sacrifice their Friday evening like this."

"It’s just a part of the job," I reply, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the praise.

He picks up a pen from my desk, twirling it absently. "But it’s more than that, isn’t it? You have a real passion for what you do. It’s… inspiring."

I shift in my seat, sensing a change in the atmosphere. "Thank you, Mr. Solomon. I try my best."

"Call me Albert, please," he says. "I think we’ve known each other long enough for first names, don’t you?"

I clear my throat, desperately searching for a way to change the subject. "Um, well, speaking of work, I was wondering about the new time-tracking system-"

"Always thinking about work," he interrupts, a small smile on his lips. "You know, Mindy, I find myself thinking about the company’s future a lot lately. About the people who make it great."

His eyes linger on me for a moment too long, and I feel my cheeks flush. "That’s… that’s good to hear. I’m sure Mrs. Solomon appreciates your dedication to the business."

"Christine understands the demands of success," he says, waving a hand dismissively. "But let’s not talk about her right now. I'm more interested in your thoughts about where we could take things from here."

The ambiguity in his words makes me increasingly uncomfortable. I’m about to respond when, thankfully, I hear another set of footsteps approaching.

The door swings open and Christine enters, her eyes instantly locking onto me. A flash of irritation crosses her face before she quickly masks it with a smile. "Oh, Mindy. You’re still here."

I breathe a sigh of relief, grateful for the interruption. "Just finishing up."

She glances at her watch, purposefully emphasizing the time. "It’s getting late. I’m sure you want to go home now." Her gaze flicks over to her husband, who looks caught off guard by her presence. "Isn’t that right, Albert? We wouldn’t want Miss Williams to be kept from her personal life because of your endless questions about the budget."

"Of course not, my love," Albert replies obediently, like a loyal puppy. "You’re absolutely right."

A wave of disgust washes over me. I can’t help but wonder if Christine is aware of Albert’s suggestive comments toward female employees. I know for certain that I’m not the only one he’s been doing it to.

"Speaking of personal life," Christine continues, plastering on another fake smile, "I’m sure you have to pick up Sharon soon, don’t you?"

Tania’s picking her up again as I couldn’t finish my end of month tasks because of the ridiculous workload, I want to say.

Thankfully, Albert chimes in. "Christine should know. Listen to her, Miss Williams. She was a single mom of three before she met me."

Christine smiles at her husband and the tension in my chest releases. Maybe I was mistaken when I thought Albert was trying to hit on me. Innocent joking is what it was. It’s just his character, that’s all. Why would he try to hit me, with a charming and successful woman like Christine by his side?

"Ladies, I’ll leave you two to it," Albert says. "I need to go now." He looks at Christine, smiling. "See you later, dear."

The door closes behind him and only Christine and I are left in the office. There’s a hint of unease in the air, so I say, "I had a long call with Mr. Chen. That’s why I'm a little late today." I clear my throat. "Apparently, there’s an issue with one of the invoices. The Chinese have a way of managing things that sometimes confuses me. And sometimes their English is hard to understand on the phone, so I asked him to email me the details, and-"

"Mindy," Christine cuts in, "go pick up Sharon. I don’t want to keep the little girl waiting for her mom any longer than she has to. You can send that email on Monday morning."

I heave a soft sigh of relief and close down my laptop. "Thank you, Christine."

Ten minutes later, I’m making my way down the dim office corridor, listening to the click of my own heels echoing in the silence. As I pass Christine’s office, I catch a glimpse of her and Albert through the glass wall. My steps slow to a halt.

Even from this far, the tension radiating from their bodies is obvious. Albert’s hands grip the edge of the desk as Christine paces back and forth with visible frustration. I can practically hear their conversation.

"Albert, for Christ’s sake! Don’t you think I see what you’re doing, trying to charm these young women?"

His response is low, placating. "No, darling, that’s just not true. You know I only love you."

After pacing back and forth, Christine finally stops and pulls out a hanky to dab at her eyes. Albert steps away from his desk to pull her in for a hug. For a moment, they are lost in each other’s arms.

Then, Christine gazes up at her husband with the adoration of a teenage crush. They probably think they’re alone in the building, being Friday evening. Or maybe they just don’t care who sees them at this point.

Watching them, I feel this mix of cute and gross. A part of me is jealous, and a part of me feels bad for Christine. It’s also a big ole reminder of my own situation - working single mom, feeling pretty damn lonely on most evenings. At least Christine has Albert, even if he’s a bit of a creep sometimes. Me? I’ve got nobody besides Sharon.

I step out of the Visionary Media building and look around me. My car is the only one in the employees’ car park.

To ease my loneliness and catch up with the latest news, I give Betty a quick Facetime call. It’s been over a year since she left the corporate world and started her own online dating agency. Since then, she set up base in Bali, and she’s killing it, living her best life as a digital nomad. The only downside is that she often works nights, due to the twelve-hour time difference between Bali and the US East Coast.

But then again, she loves it. Betty’s the girl who just breezes through life like it’s nothing. While everyone else is struggling, she’s just cruising along with no problems whatsoever.

As I wait for her to answer, I hustle to my car and fumble with my keys. With the phone wedged between my chin and shoulder, I finally unlock the door and flop into the driver’s seat. After a couple of tries, my engine roars to life.

"Hey there, cutie," Betty coos into the phone just as I place it on the holder. "I was starting to think you forgot about your bestie on this beautiful Friday night. What’s keeping you so busy?"

"Just the usual work stuff, Bets," I reply nonchalantly as I pull out of the parking lot and ease my car into the Friday afternoon traffic. "But don’t worry, my love for you never takes a backseat, despite my passion for endless spreadsheets and clients with broken English."

"Your passion for endless spreadsheets, huh? Don’t you think you’re pushing yourself too hard, Mindy?"

"Oh, come on, Miss Digital Nomad." I roll my eyes jokingly. "I just called to check on you and you have to come right at me? Besides, you know how it is. Corporate life ain’t a walk in the park.”

"No, it ain’t, but so is raising a child. Sharon needs a calm, healthy, and well-balanced mother. And your clients can wait until Monday for those numbers. So can the Solomons."

"I’ve had much worse bosses than the Solomons." I sigh. "Not to mention that they’re disgustingly in love after all these years together."

"Oh, I’m sure your bosses are wonderful. But I know you, babe. I know you have a tendency of pushing yourself too hard and then getting burnt out in the process. Working as hard as you do and raising a daughter is a lot for one person to handle. I worry about you all the time."

"Don’t make me weepy, Bets." I pout. "Instead of making me ridiculously emotional, dish out the deets on Bali. Give me all the juicy gossip."

A wide smile spreads across her face. "Oh my gosh, Mindy, this place is like a dream! Every day feels like a fairy tale with the sound of ocean waves, and sunsets that are worthy of Instagram."

I roll my eyes again. “I'm green with envy,” I chuckle. “All I see from my window in the mornings is the never-ending parade of New York traffic, knowing I’ll be stuck in it in thirty minutes. How’s the matchmaking business going?”

"Blowing up, Min. Looks like my inner matchmaker is finally paying off! My database is growing so quickly, I’m thinking of hiring a virtual assistant."

"This is just so you, Bets," I giggle. "You’ve always had that knack for bringing people together. I’m so proud of you, girl!"

“Thanks, babe. Believe me, this is what living is. New York and Global Media - that was just existing, at best.”

"You know what? As soon as my salary is quadrupled at Vision Media, I’ll book a flight to Bali for me and Sharon. A one-way, might I add." I can practically feel the butterflies in my stomach as I think about it.

"Yes, please!" Betty exclaims. "We can start each day with a sunrise yoga session on the beach."

"Nah, I’ll be too busy sleeping in until noon and then finding a hot local to marry on the beach." I laugh.

"Speaking of hot locals, any potential husbands on the horizon?" Betty asks.

"Husbands? I don’t even have a boyfriend."

"Oh, honey, let’s start small. How about going on a date first?"

I sigh. "I haven’t been on one in forever."

"Well, you’re young and gorgeous. There’s gotta be someone out there dying to take you out." Betty sounds mysterious.

"I’m not really looking for anyone right now." I pause for a second. "The only guy I could date right now is Albert Solomon."

"Seriously?"

I shrug. "Yep. He keeps getting at… things. And I’m finding it more and more difficult to avoid him."

She groans. "Ugh, what the hell, girl? What is it about you and your bosses? Remember when Maron hit on you?"

I certainly do.

"But seriously, babe," Betty continues. "You’re still young, hot, and you could have the world if you wanted. There’s gotta be someone out there just waiting to sweep you off your feet." She pauses. "And I happen to have that someone on my database."

My eyes widen. "No way!"

"Yes way. This guy, Nesbit McCullan, is a catch. He’s rich, successful, and has a soft spot for kids. What more could you want?"

I heave a sigh. "I appreciate it, but I think I’ll pass for now. I don’t think I’m ready to date, Bets."

Betty gives me a sly grin, "Stop it, Mindy. When was the last time you let yourself have some fun?"

It’s a rhetorical question, but it catches me off guard. She’s right. Fun hasn’t been the focus lately. At least not the kind of fun Betty is talking about. I spend the little free time I have with Sharon and I’m loving every second of it. She’s the light of my life. As for my nonexistent love life? I’ve got other priorities right now.

"Betty, dating is secondary at the moment. Sharon just started school, and well, it’s been a challenge for her. Plus, the logistics are a nightmare. Just an hour ago, I had to call Tania again for an emergency pick-up. How could I fit in a romantic relationship? When? When Sharon is sleeping? Or playing in her room on her own which she rarely does? She’s always where I am." I sigh yet again. "Sorry for ranting. All I want to say is, maybe when she’s older, I can start thinking about myself."

"Listen, Mindy, you can’t just bury your own hopes and desires. If you keep pouring all your energy into work and raising Sharon you’ll eventually burn out."

I don’t mention to Betty that sometimes I download dating apps and browse through them at night, hoping to find a decent guy. A partner for me, a stepdad for Sharon, imagining a nice guy treating me well, and being in love with my daughter. We’d have wild sex all night… and then I wake up from my ridiculous fantasy.

I take a deep breath. “Alright Bets, set me up on a date with this Nesbit guy. Who knows, he might be the one.”

“That’s what I like to hear, babe.”

I finally pull up along the curb outside my apartment block and bring the car to a halt. Facetiming my bestie on my way home made the trip feel so much shorter. Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess. I really miss Betty. Sometimes I wish I could just wrap up my life in New York, take Sharon, fly to Bali to meet her, and never look back.

“I'm home, Bets. Gotta go. I'm sure Tania wants to skedaddle now to feed her cats or meet her boyfriend or something.”

“Give Sharon kisses for me,” she adds.

As soon as I end the call with Betty, I feel loneliness descend on me once again. I find myself thinking about the past seven years. It's been a long time since that night when everything changed. When Maron exited my life and… got killed.

After almost five months of grieving him and our relationship, I found out I was pregnant with his baby. It was a shock, to say the least. I was a total mess. Finding out that he left me with a child just made the pain worse. It was Betty who was with me through it all. She helped me find a small apartment, came with me to doctor’s appointments, and all the rest.

I never tried to reach out to Maron’s family. I thought about it a lot, but I felt it was best to not tear open old wounds. Maron and I fell out really bad before he got shot. His family must have been in a lot of pain already after losing him. Besides, who would I talk to from the Korolev family? Maurice? Definitely not. I don’t even know where he is. Timofey? We weren’t that close. Or Maron’s mother? She probably doesn’t even remember who I am. Sometimes, it’s best to just leave things as they are.

And now, seven years later, here I am - single mom, corporate job, and a six-year-old daughter who looks just like her father. It’s a different life than what I imagined back then, but it’s mine. And for Sharon, I’d do it all over again.

Before entering my apartment, I take a moment to collect myself. Time to switch from ‘work-Mindy to ‘mom-Mindy.’ I open the door, drop my keys, and head straight to the kitchen.

Tania greets me with a hint of concern on her face. "Hey, Mindy!"

"Hey, Tania," I reply, feeling guilty about the last-minute call. "Thank you so, so much." I dig into my purse and pull out some cash, handing Tania her double fee. "Take it, Tania. I promise I’ll try to plan better next time."

Tania smiles warmly. "It’s okay, Mindy. I grew up with just my mom, too. Now I understand her struggles even more."

I return her smile and glance around my small apartment. "Where’s Sharon?"

"In her room," Tania says, then hesitates. "Her teacher says she didn’t have a great day."

I frown. "Oh. Did she tell you what happened?"

Tania shrugs slightly. "I’m not family, so… confidentiality, I guess. She just said Sharon had a… situation today." She grabs her stuff. "But I really have to run."

"Sure, Tania. Thanks again."

After Tania leaves, I sneak to Sharon’s room. The door is closed, which is strange. I open it and peek inside. And there she is. My beautiful baby girl is sitting on the floor, totally engrossed in a puzzle. She doesn’t even look up when I enter. That’s just like Sharon; she can tune out the world when she wants to. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s intentional or if she just gets lost in thought.

I walk over and give her a kiss on the head. "Hey there, honey bunny," I say with a smile. I glance at the picture on the puzzle; it's a cute puppy. Sharon loves dogs and always asks me for one, but I know it would only add more chaos to our already hectic lives.

"What’s the cute pup’s name?" I ask.

"It’s not a pup, Mommy," she corrects me. "It’s a boy dog named Lucky."

"That’s a great name," I reply. "Are you hungry, sweetie? We have some fish sticks in the freezer."

Sharon doesn’t respond; sometimes she does that. I pick her up from the floor. "Come on, let’s go eat," I tell her. "Wow, you’re getting so heavy!" She hugs my neck, and I kiss her face. "Love you, baby."

As we head toward the kitchen, I gently broach the subject. "Hey, sweetie? Tania mentioned you had a tough day at school. Do you want to talk about it?"

After a long moment, she whispers, "They played the quiet game at recess."

I feel a flash of anger but quickly suppress it. "Oh? And how did it go?"

"I won," she says softly. "But they said it didn’t count because I’m always quiet."

I close my eyes briefly, fighting the urge to march back into that school and give those kids a piece of my mind. Instead, I reach out and take Sharon’s small hand in mine.

"Listen to me, Sharon," I say, keeping my tone firm but gentle. "Your voice is yours to use however and whenever you choose. You’re not broken or strange. You’re just… you. Perfect as you are. And I love you to the moon and back."

Sharon’s big blue eyes, so much like her father’s, look up at me. Then she wraps her arms around my waist, burying her face in my shirt.

"Can we have ice cream for dessert?" she mumbles into the fabric.

I laugh, running my fingers through her hair. "Sure thing, kiddo. How about we make sundaes after dinner? You can use all the toppings you want."

I feel her little head nodding.

"Race you to the freezer!" I say, and I pretend I’m running, dragging her with me. Sharon’s giggles echo through our little apartment.

As we finish our meals and dig into our ice cream sundaes, I watch Sharon carefully arrange her toppings, her tongue poking out in concentration. For a moment, I let myself relax, pushing away thoughts of work, of Albert Solomon’s lingering looks, of the constant juggling act that is my life.

This moment, right here with my daughter, is all that matters.