Chapter 20 - Pippa
I burst into Boris's office, not bothering to knock. The room falls silent as Lev, Damien, and Boris turn to stare at me, surprise etched on their faces.
"Look, I know you guys have found Lenny's daughter," I blurt out, my heart pounding. "I just saw the correspondence from your intel team on Boris’s secretary's desk."
Lev smirks, obviously amused by my entrance. "Ever heard of privacy, Pippa?"
"Save it, Lev," I snap back, ignoring his sarcastic comment. "We don't have to kidnap Lilah. I swear I have a better plan."
“This again?” Damien says, ice-cold.
“Let her speak,” Lev insists.
I look at Lev, and he gives me an encouraging nod. I suddenly feel calmer. The minute I saw the correspondence that they traced to Lenny’s daughter, Lilah, I went into panic mode. I cannot allow another innocent woman to survive a horrific kidnapping like I did.
"Go on." Boris's voice sounds disinterested, but I can tell he's curious.
"Like I said before, instead of kidnapping her, I'll befriend her. Get close to her, gain her trust, and find out everything we need to know about Lenny's activities."
"Are you forgetting that girl's father is the reason we're in this mess?" Damien asks skeptically, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Besides, she knows you worked for her father. What if Lenny told her what happened? What makes you think she won't recognize you as the girl who was kidnapped by Lev?"
"Because Lilah doesn't know anything about her father's business," I reply with conviction. "She's completely unaware of what he does. Trust me. I worked in that house for two years and never knew. I've met her before. She's innocent. She once told me her father was a stockbroker, and now, looking back, he had all his meetings behind closed doors. He would never have told her the truth. He would have wanted to protect her from this world."
Boris leans back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You're certain she won't suspect anything?"
"Positive," I assure him. " I'm good with people. I can get her to trust me. And I know her from before, remember? We’re well acquainted. This is the perfect opportunity. If the information comes from her, we can take him by surprise. If you kidnap her, on the other hand, Lenny could retaliate and take you by surprise."
I look around the room, to see all three brothers looking impressed by my argument.
"Fine." Boris finally agrees, although I can see he's still skeptical. "But if anything goes wrong, you pull out immediately. We'll have a backup plan in place."
"Understood." I nod, feeling a mix of relief and determination.
"Keep us updated," Lev adds, his stormy blue-gray eyes locked on mine. "And be careful, Pippa."
"Always am," I reply with a wink, ready to put my plan into action.
***
The sun beats down on me as I approach Lilah's college grounds, my heart pounding with anxiety. My first undercover mission.
Who would have thought?
It's a new day, and I'm ready to put my plan into action. As I draw nearer to the school's entrance, I spot Lilah standing by the gate, chatting with a group of friends. The moment I lock eyes with her, I know there's no turning back now.
"Hey!" I call out, waving at her with feigned enthusiasm. "Lilah, right?"
She squints at me for a moment, trying to place my face. "Yeah… Wait, you're the cleaner from my dad's house, aren't you?" she asks, sounding slightly puzzled.
"Actually," I reply quickly, thinking on my feet, "I just transferred to this school. But yeah, I've been cleaning houses to help pay for college, including your dad's. I’m Pippa."
"Ah, that makes sense," she says, nodding. Her curiosity satisfied, she breaks into a warm smile. "Well, welcome to our school! If you have any questions, you can always ask us." She gestures to her friends, introducing them one by one.
"Thanks so much," I respond, my heart swelling with relief as my cover story appears to have worked. We walk toward the school building together, and I subtly steer the conversation toward her father. "So, I stopped working at your dad’s. My classwork got too much. How’s he been?”
“He’s been good. Just busy traveling for work,” she tells me.
“What does he do again?” I ask nonchalantly.
“He works in financial services. Stockbroking, financial consulting, that sort of thing.”
I let out a whistle. “Sounds like hard work.”
“He really does work too much!” she gushes and shakes her head.
She clearly knows nothing.
“This is my class,” she says, pointing to a door.
“Oh,” I frown. “I think I have to get to operations management. Where would that be?”
She gives me the directions.
“Thanks, I’ll see you later then,” I smile and give her a wave, turning on my heels.
But just then, she grabs my arm. I turn to see Lilah's face lit up with excitement. "I’m throwing a party tonight, you should come!" she exclaims. "It's going to be so much fun! Plus, it'll be a great way for you to meet new people and make more friends."
"Sure, why not?" I agree, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to get closer to Lilah and gather more information about her father. "I could use a fun night out."
"Great! Here's the address." She scribbles it down on a piece of paper and hands it to me, her handwriting a bit messy but legible. "See you there!"
"Can't wait," I reply, smiling genuinely. I’m so glad I didn’t let the Zolotovs kidnap this sweet, sweet girl.
***
As I walk into the party later that evening, I'm greeted by the sound of laughter and chatter filling the room. The atmosphere is lively, and I can feel the energy pulsating through me. I spot Lilah in the crowd talking to a group of girls, and she enthusiastically waves me over.
"Hey, everyone, this is Pippa, the new girl I was telling you about!" She beings introducing me to her friends, who greet me with warm smiles.
"Nice to meet you all," I say, making sure to maintain eye contact and smile brightly. As we engage in lighthearted conversation, I can't help but scan the room for any potential leads on Lenny's activities. Though it's unlikely anyone here would openly discuss such things, it never hurts to be observant.
"Have you met Danny yet?" one of the girls asks, motioning toward a tall guy leaning against a wall with a drink in hand. "He's super cute and totally single."
"Uh, no, not yet," I reply.
"Come on, let's introduce you," Lilah insists, pulling me through the crowd toward Danny. As we approach him, I force myself to stay present and not get too caught up in my own thoughts.
"Hey, Danny, this is Pippa," Lilah says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "She just started at our school."
"Hey, nice to meet you," he greets me with a friendly smile, and we engage in small talk. Though I want to learn what I can about Lenny from Lilah, I know better than to push too hard or arouse suspicion. For now, being present and making connections is the best strategy.
"Drink?" Danny offers, holding out a cup to me. I hesitate for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of accepting. Ultimately, I decide it's best to accept the offer and blend in with the crowd.
"Thanks," I say, taking the cup from him and sipping slowly, careful not to let my guard down. As the night progresses, I continue to mingle and keep my eyes and ears open, hoping for even the smallest clue that could lead me closer to uncovering Lenny's secrets.
Half an hour later, I spot Lilah standing near the fireplace, effortlessly laughing as she flips her hair over her shoulder. I take a deep breath, reminding myself of my mission here, and then stride over to rejoin the conversation.
"Hey, this is quite the party!" I say, smiling warmly at Lilah.
"Isn't it?" she beams, clearly proud of her social prowess. "I'm glad you could make it, Pippa."
As the conversation flows between us, I try to subtly steer the topic toward her father without arousing any suspicions. "So, do you miss your dad when he’s so busy traveling?" I ask innocently, sipping on the drink from earlier.
"Ugh, don't even get me started," Lilah rolls her eyes. "He's always on the phone or in meetings or something. But he did promise me that we'd have some quality family time together soon."
"Quality family time." That sounds promising. "Oh? What kind of plans do you guys have?"
"Actually, we're going to our vacation home next weekend," she says, excitement lighting up her face. "My dad's taking a few days off work to show me and my friends around the place."
"Wow, that sounds amazing!" I exclaim, trying to contain my excitement over this potential information goldmine. "Where's the vacation home?"
"It's in Aspen," she answers, dropping her voice conspiratorially. "But don't tell anyone else; Dad likes to keep our trips low-key."
"Your secret's safe with me," I assure her, mentally filing away this valuable tidbit for later use. This could be the break we need.
As the party continues around us, Lilah and I chat easily about school, our favorite movies, and the latest celebrity gossip. I cautiously probe for more information, but it seems that Aspen is all she's willing to divulge for now. Still, it's a start.
"Hey, Pippa!" one of Lilah's friends calls out, interrupting our conversation. "Come join us for a game of Never Have I Ever!"
"Sure, why not?" I agree with a grin, knowing that maintaining my cover means fully participating in the party. An hour later, the party is still in full swing, but I notice Lilah swaying slightly as she downs another drink. Her laughter is a little too loud, and her cheeks are flushed with alcohol. It's time for me to make my move.
"Hey, Lilah," I say gently, touching her arm to get her attention. "I think you've had enough to drink. How about I take you home?"
She blinks at me, clearly tipsy, but she smiles gratefully. "Thanks, Pippa. You're the best."
"Come on," I tell her, guiding her by the arm as we weave our way through the crowded room and out onto the street. “So, where are you staying?”
“Just off campus,” she tells me.
The night air is cool, and Lilah shivers as we begin walking. The streets are dimly-lit, casting eerie shadows on the pavement. I wrap an arm around her waist, providing some support for her unsteady steps. As much as I'm using this situation to further my own aims, I genuinely care about Lilah's well-being. She's innocent in all of this, and it's not her fault that her father is involved in shady business dealings.
"Thanks for looking out for me, Pippa," Lilah slurs, leaning heavily against me.
"Of course," I reply, trying to sound nonchalant while keeping my eyes peeled for anything suspicious.
Suddenly, I hear it—footsteps, behind us. I keep walking, and the steps keep coming. I feel a prickling sensation on the back of my neck, like someone's watching us. My instincts scream that something is off, and I can't shake the feeling that we're being followed. Could this be a setup?
"Hey, Lilah," I say casually, trying to keep the worry from my voice. "Let's pick up the pace, okay? I don't want your dad to worry about you being out so late."
"Okay," she agrees, stumbling along beside me as we quicken our pace.
I glance around, searching for any signs of a tail. My heart pounds in my chest as I spot a figure lurking in the shadows, their gaze fixed on us. There's no doubt about it now—we're definitely being followed.
"Listen, Lilah," I say urgently, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need you to trust me. We're being followed, and I think we should take a different route home."
She looks at me with wide, frightened eyes but nods her agreement. I guide her down a side street, hoping to lose our pursuer. But as I glance back over my shoulder, I see that they're still there, doggedly keeping pace with us.
"Who would be following us?" Lilah whispers, terror in her voice.
"I don't know," I lie. In truth, I have my suspicions, but I don't want to scare her further. Right now, all that matters is getting both of us to safety.
I slip my hand into my pocket, pretending to search for something while I discreetly dial Lev's number. As the ringing starts, I keep up a stream of light conversation with Lilah, doing my best to maintain a sense of normalcy and calm her nerves.
"Hey, so have you ever had a class with that Professor Martin?" I ask with a forced laugh, hoping to distract her from our situation.
"Ugh, he’s awful!" Lilah exclaims.
"Definitely," I agree, feeling a little guilty for using her like this. But there's no time for remorse when our safety is at stake.
"Hello?" Lev's voice comes through, and I quickly end the call and send him my location.
This is our code for emergencies.
"Hey, Lilah," I say gently, gripping her arm. "Some friends of mine are coming to pick us up. Just stay close to me, all right?"
"Okay," she nods, her trust in me both touching and terrifying.
We keep walking, every second stretching on like an eternity as the shadowy figure continues to trail us. Finally, we reach the main road and I hear the roar of an engine approaching. Relief washes over me as I spot Lev's sleek black car.
"Get in!" Lev shouts, the car barely slowing down as he pulls up beside us. I grab Lilah, about to shove her in first, when behind her a man shouts, “Lilah, no!”
Lilah stops and turns back, confused. “Wait, Yaroslav?”
Just then, vehicles start closing in on us from the bend around the corner. More men exit from some of the cars, running toward where Lilah and I stand.
“Get in the car, Pippa,” Lev shouts. “Leave the girl. It’s Lenny’s guys.”
I immediately let go of Lilah and jump into the car while Lev floors the accelerator, rocketing us away from our pursuers. The men get back in their cars and begin chasing us.
I look in the rearview mirror and watch as Lilah stand there confused. The man following us catches up with her. I watch him examine her face, her arms, her legs, making sure she’s alright.
Lev drives off, speeding in the direction of his house.
"Lev, what's going on?" I ask, confusion and fear written across my face.
“It was a ploy. Lenny must have his guards stationed on his daughters. She looked innocent enough, but her guard must have tipped him off. They were coming for you, Pippa.”
I sit there, ashen-faced at the realization that I almost got kidnapped again. Not only that, I ruined the Zolotovs plan.
Behind us, the Zolotov security cars catch up. They deal with Lenny’s fleet while we drive off to the safety of Lev’s home.