Chapter 6Ivan
CHAPTER 6
IVAN
A fter sending Jenny to the archives and welcoming Marcus into my new office, I settle back in my leather chair. Marcus stands before me, his posture rigid as he delivers his report on the Morozov Syndicate. The name Alexei Morozov chills the room, and I fight to keep my expression neutral.
“We have reason to believe Alexei is playing a long game,” says Marcus. “Our sources indicate he might have a mole feeding him information about our operations.”
I nod, processing the information. Our last encounter with Alexei flashes through my mind—a failed attempt to dismantle his operation that left me retreating to Atlanta. The memory stings, a reminder of my own fallibility. “What do we know about this potential mole?” I ask, leaning forward.
Marcus shakes his head. “Nothing concrete yet. We’re vetting everyone, but it’s slow going especially with the…abrupt shift to this building and having to shuffle staff and hire new ones, along with background checks…” He trails off, his disapproval of my quick actions radiating from him, though he doesn’t say it aloud.
He doesn’t understand my obsession with Jenny, or the need to keep her safe. I get that, but I don’t require his approval or understanding. I require his obedience and willingness to do what needs to be done—but I appreciate that he’s brave enough to call me out on bullshit when needed, just like any true best friend.
“We want to shift focus off our known assets then, at least for now, to avoid giving Alexei an edge.” I drum my fingers on the arm of my chair, considering our options. “We’ve used legitimate channels before. The entertainment industry has always been?—”
“Too risky now.” He shakes his head as he pushes back his chair to stand. “The feds are watching those channels like hawks. One wrong move moving through the company, and they’ll be crawling up our asses with a microscope. We can’t afford that kind of heat.”
“There are other ways.” Irritation rushes through me, and I slam my fist on my desk. “I didn’t build this empire by playing it safe.”
The door bursts open, cutting me off mid-sentence. Jenny storms in, her eyes blazing with fury. She slams a stack of classic DVDs onto my desk.
“Ms. Graham, I don’t recall inviting you in,” I say sharply, rising to my feet. My mouth is dry. How much did she hear? I intend to tell her everything…eventually. I just need to secure her affection first.
“I won’t work for you if your business is tainted by illegal dealings,” she snaps, her voice shaking with anger and disappointment.
I take a step toward her, holding up a hand. “Jenny, let me explain?—”
“No.” She cuts me off, waving her hand at me. “I don’t want to hear it. I trusted you, Ivan. I thought this job was a chance to build something real, but it’s all just a front for your criminal activities, isn’t it?”
Marcus moves to stand between us, his posture tense. “Ms. Graham, you’re making assumptions based on a fragment of conversation you overheard.”
Jenny laughs bitterly. “Am I? Then explain to me why you were discussing moving something through the company. That sounds like money laundering or drugs, and I want no part of either. So, go ahead. Explain. I’m all ears.”
I give her a firm look. “This is a complex situation that you don’t fully understand.”
“I understand enough that I can’t be a part of this. I quit.” She turns on her heel, ready to storm out.
“Jenny, wait. Please. Let me explain.” The words escape me before I can stop them.
For a moment, she hesitates, and I see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but then her expression hardens once more. “I’m sorry, Mr. Markov,” she says coldly. “I can’t do this. Goodbye.”
I watch her go, torn between the urge to chase after her and the knowledge that she needs time to cool down. I turn back to Marcus, who’s watching me with a raised eyebrow.
“She’ll be fine,” I say, more to convince myself than him. “Our security team will keep an eye on her.”
He nods, but I can see the concern in his eyes. “Boss, if she talks?—”
I hold up a hand, silencing him. “She won’t. Jenny’s angry, but she’s not stupid. She’s clearly realized our business isn’t just entertainment, and she’s smart enough to know one could expect consequences for betraying a group like ours.” Not Jenny though. Never her. If she shouted her suspicions on the street corner, I’d stand there quietly, just to hear her voice.
I’m a pathetic durak .
I sink back into my chair, thoughts spinning. Jenny’s words echo in my head, her disappointment cutting deeper than I care to admit. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine telling her the truth right now, but I push aside the thought. The less she knows, the safer she’ll be, and I can’t risk telling her much of anything until I know she’s going to stay with me.
“We need to focus on finding that mole,” I say, forcing my attention back to the matter at hand. “Double-check everyone’s backgrounds, especially new hires, and increase security at all our properties. If Alexei’s planning something, I want to be ready.”
He nods, already pulling out his phone to relay the orders. As he speaks in hushed tones, I think about Jenny again.
I turn back to Marcus, pushing aside thoughts of Jenny. We have work to do, and I can’t afford any distractions with Alexei Morozov lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to strike.
I watch Marcus end his phone call, and he nods to me. The moment he hangs up, says, “Handled.”
I incline my head in acknowledgement.
He’s silent for a moment, clearly wanting to say something.
I sigh. “What?”
“Any progress with Jenny?” he asks.
I shake my head, the memory of her storming out still fresh in my mind. “No. She’s...resistant.”
Almost reflexively, my gaze drifts to the monitor displaying the live feed from the office. Jenny’s office is empty, but she’s probably composing herself in the restroom. Even if she thinks she quit, and I won’t allow that, she can’t have left yet.
Her reaction to our earlier meeting lingers in my thoughts. There’s something about Jenny’s fiery spirit that draws me in. She seems submissive, but there’s a tiger underneath. She just needs to unleash it, and I want to be there when she does. The thought of that is intoxicating. Dangerous.
Marcus clears his throat, pulling me from my reverie. “We need to focus on the mole, Ivan. I have a few ideas on how we can flush them out.”
I nod, forcing my attention back to the matter at hand. “Go on.”
As Marcus outlines his plan, I try to focus, but my thoughts drift back to Jenny. The way she looked at me before she left has me more worried than I care to admit. I need to see her, to explain, and to make her understand.
“Ivan?” Marcus’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Are you listening?”
I blink, refocusing on my head of security. “Yes, of course. Your plan sounds solid. Implement it immediately.”
He nods, but I can see lingering concern. He knows me too well. “What about you? What’s your next move?”
I stand, straightening my jacket. “I’m going to talk to Jenny. Make sure she’s calm after our meeting.”
He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment. He knows better than to question me, especially when it comes to Jenny. Moments later, he returns to his tasks, and I try to focus on the work before me. The stack of reports on my desk demands attention, but my mind wanders. I tap my pen against the polished wood, gaze drifting to the security monitors lining the wall.
Jenny’s office remains empty. I frown, checking my watch. She should have returned by now. I shift position to easier scan the other camera feeds. No sign of her in the hallways or common areas. A knot forms in my stomach, tightening with each passing moment.
I press the button and say through the intercom. “Natalia, has Ms. Graham returned from her break?”
There’s a pause before Natalia’s voice crackles through. “No, Mr. Markov. I saw her leave about an hour ago. She said she wasn’t feeling well and declined the offer of a car.”
My jaw clenches. “Why wasn’t I informed immediately?”
She sounds startled that I’m so concerned about my personal assistant’s movements, but she doesn’t know the full extent of my feelings for Jenny. “I’m sorry, sir. I assumed she’d cleared it with you.”
I exhale slowly, reining in my frustration. “It’s fine, Natalia. Thank you.”
The intercom clicks off, and I’m left with the oppressive silence of my office. My mind races, conjuring images of Jenny alone and vulnerable on the streets of Atlanta. I press the intercom again, selecting a different extension. “Marcus, track Ms. Graham’s location immediately.”
“On it, boss,” comes the swift reply.
I stand, pacing the length of my office. The city sprawls below, a maze of streets and shadows where anything could happen. Where she could be anywhere.
My intercom buzzes. Marcus’s voice comes through, terse and professional. “We’ve got a location on Ms. Graham. She’s at her apartment complex. Kosov and Biril followed her home.”
Relief rushes through me, but it’s short-lived. I have to see for myself that she’s all right. “I’m heading there now. Keep me updated on any movement.” I grab my jacket, striding out of the office.
Natalia looks up, clearly concerned. “Is everything all right, Mr. Markov?”
“Fine,” I say, not breaking my stride. “I’ll be out for the rest of the day. Handle any urgent matters.”
The elevator descends, each floor ticking by too slowly. In the parking garage, I slide behind the wheel of my Aston Martin and turn the key. The car revs to life, and I’m soon out of the garage. The streets blur while I weave through traffic, anxious to reach her.
Finally, Jenny’s apartment building lies ahead. I park across the street, scanning the area. Her lights are on, spilling a warm glow from the windows. My full-body tension eases slightly. I could go up to the twentieth-floor apartment, or even to the thirtieth-floor penthouse of my more luxurious building, but I just sit in the car outside her street, starting at the front of the building.
If she came out right now, she’d catch me in the act of spying on her. Part of me wants her to do just that, to end the pretense, so maybe that’s why I continue to linger in the Aston Martin as the sunlight fades, and darkness pervades the city.