Chapter 15Jenny
CHAPTER 15
JENNY
I stand at my desk, drumming my fingers an impatient rhythm on the polished wood. The constant presence of bodyguards hovers at the edges of my awareness, a reminder of Ivan’s obsessive need to protect me. It’s been days since I told him about Stephen’s threats, and the suffocating security measures are starting to wear on my nerves.
I glance at the clock, sighing. Another hour until my next meeting. I debate stepping out for coffee, but the thought of Andre and Daniil shadowing my every move makes me reconsider. Instead, I turn to my computer, planning to lose myself in work.
A knock at the door interrupts my focus. “Come in,” I call, not bothering to look up from my screen.
“Ms. Graham?” It’s Daniil, his squat frame filling the doorway. “Mr. Markov requests your presence in his office.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Thank you, Daniil. I’ll be there shortly.”
He nods and retreats, leaving me to gather my thoughts. What does Ivan want now? More security protocols? Another lecture on staying safe?
I make my way to Ivan’s office, my heels clicking against the marble floors. The sound echoes in the eerily quiet hallway, reminding me how empty the building feels these days. Ivan’s paranoia has extended to the entire staff, with many working remotely.
I pause outside his door, taking a deep breath before knocking.
“Enter.”
I step inside. He’s standing by the windows, his broad shoulders tense beneath his tailored suit. The sight of him still makes my heart skip a beat, despite my frustration. “You wanted to see me?” I ask, closing the door behind me.
He turns, staring at me. “Jenny,” he says, his voice softening slightly. “Thank you for coming. Please, sit.”
I perch on the edge of a leather chair, my back straight. “What’s this about, Ivan?”
He moves to his desk, leaning against it instead of sitting behind it. “I wanted to discuss the current security situation.”
I can’t help the sigh that escapes me. “What now? More bodyguards? A bulletproof bubble?”
A flicker of amusement crosses his face before it’s replaced by his usual stoic expression. “I understand this has been...difficult for you.”
“Difficult?” I repeat, incredulous. “Ivan, I feel like a prisoner. I can’t go anywhere without an armed escort. I can’t even get coffee without someone watching my every move.”
He frowns, tightening his jaw. “It’s for your own safety, Jenny. Stephen?—”
“I know about Stephen,” I interrupt, standing up. “I lived through his abuse, remember? I don’t need constant reminders.”
His eyes flash dangerously. “And I won’t let him hurt you again.”
We stare at each other for a moment. Part of me wants to throw myself into his arms, to let him shield me from the world. Another part, the part that’s fought so hard for independence, rebels against the idea. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do,” I say finally, softening my voice, “But this isn’t sustainable, Ivan. I can’t live like this forever.”
He pushes off the desk, closing the distance between us. He reaches out, hesitating for a moment before cupping my cheek. “What would you have me do, solnishko ? I can’t lose you.”
The endearment, spoken so tenderly, shakes my resolve. I lean into his touch, closing my eyelids briefly. “We need to find a balance,” I murmur. “I need some freedom, Ivan. Something normal.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. “I’ll consider it, but you must understand your safety is non-negotiable.”
I open my eyes, meeting his gaze. “And what about your safety? You’re just as much a target as I am.”
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “I’ve survived this long, solnishko . I know how to handle myself.”
“So do I,” I counter, stepping back from his touch, though that’s not entirely true. Physically, I can’t fight off Stephen, which I know from experience. It still chafes to have Ivan constantly hovering though. “You can’t protect me from everything, Ivan.”
His expression darkens, a storm brewing in those gray eyes. “Jenny?—”
A sharp knock at the door interrupts whatever he was about to say. We both turn as Marcus enters, his face grim.
“We have a situation,” he says, his gaze flicking briefly to me before focusing on Ivan.
Ivan straightens, all traces of softness vanishing from his demeanor. “What is it?”
Marcus hesitates, glancing at me again. “Perhaps we should discuss this privately.”
“No,” I say firmly, crossing my arms. “If this involves me, I have a right to know.”
Ivan and Marcus exchange a look, having one of their silent conversations. Finally, Ivan nods. “Go ahead, Marcus.”
He clears his throat. “We’ve received intelligence that Alexei Morozov has been spotted in the city again.”
I shudder slightly.
Ivan’s reaction is immediate and fierce. He clenches his hands into fists at his sides, and a muscle ticks in his jaw. “Where?”
“Downtown, near the financial district. We’re still gathering information, but it seems he’s been making inquiries about...certain individuals.”
Ivan’s gaze snaps to me, and I know without a doubt that I’m one of those “certain individuals.”
“Increase security at all locations,” he orders, his voice cold and commanding. “I want to know where Alexei is at all times. Jenny—” He turns to me, his expression softening slightly. “You’re not to leave this building without my express permission. Understood?”
I open my mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stops me. This isn’t just about Stephen anymore. This is something far more dangerous. “Understood,” I say quietly, hating the way fear curls in my stomach.
He nods, seemingly satisfied. “Marcus, brief the team. I want a full report in an hour.”
“Got it, Ivan.” He leaves, and we’re alone again. The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife.
“Ivan…” I start, not sure what I’m going to say.
He closes the distance between us in two long strides, pulling me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmurs into my hair. “I swear it.”
I cling to him, inhaling his familiar scent. For a moment, I let myself believe everything will be okay. That Ivan can protect me from all the dangers lurking in the shadows, but as I pull back, meeting his intense gaze, reality crashes back in. This isn’t a fairy tale. He isn’t an invincible hero, and I’m not a damsel in distress waiting to be saved.
I trust him, but I can’t depend solely on him. I have to be ready to take care of myself too. “Teach me some self-defense moves,” I say impulsively.
His eyes widen, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, his office becomes an impromptu gym as he takes me through several ways to protect myself. They’re all dirty and underhanded, he assures me, and Stephen won’t expect them. I hope to never need them, but I’m glad to have the skills if I do.
I’ve worked for him for more than a month now, and one area where Ivan truly needs me, at least in the office, is in organization. He keeps a neat office, but he’s a bit haphazard with filing and tracking.
I stare at the pile of papers on his desk, sorting them into neat piles. The clutter is driving me to distraction, so I plunge in. The chaos of his work life spreads before me, a challenge I’m eager to tackle. I glance up at Ivan, a teasing smile playing on my lips. “You know, for someone who runs a criminal empire, you sure let your paperwork get out of hand.”
Ivan leans against his desk, arms crossed. His eyes narrow slightly. “Jenny, this isn’t a game. The deeper you dig into my empire, the more danger you invite.”
I wave a hand dismissively. “Please. A little disorganization can topple a company faster than any external threat. Consider this my contribution to your protection efforts.”
He doesn’t smile. Instead, his expression grows serious. “Speaking of protection, and why you need it... Tell me about Stephen.”
The playful mood evaporates. I set down the stack of papers in my hands, my stomach clenching. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Start from the beginning.”
I square my shoulders. “Stephen was so charming in the beginning, just like they always are. I fell hard and didn’t realize he was isolating me from my friends at first. He’d make excuses for why we couldn’t go out, why I shouldn’t see certain people, or how he wanted me all to himself. By the end, I barely spoke to anyone but him.”
Ivan’s jaw tightens. “And the physical violence?”
I close my eyes briefly, memories flooding back. “It started small. A grip too tight on my arm, a shove that was just a little too hard, but it escalated, and it woke me up. I realized he was going to hurt me someday, and I had to end it. The night I broke up with him...” I trail off.
Ivan steps closer, his hand hovering near mine but not quite touching. “Tell me,” he urges gently.
“He was on a business trip when I texted him, ending things. I thought... I thought it would be safer that way, but he came to my apartment the next night. He broke in, Ivan. I had to run.”
Ivan’s eyes flash dangerously. “What happened next?”
“You know.” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the office. “If you hadn’t been there... I don’t know what he would have done.”
He nods.
“The police got involved, but his father has money. He arranged a plea deal with probation and anger management and shipped Stephen off to London for a while. Of course, it wasn’t over. Stephen harassed me for a year. Anonymously, but I knew it was him. He used his graphic design skills to doctor photos of my family and friends. Sent them to me, trying to reel me back in with threats.” I look up at him. “I was scared. I’m still scared, Ivan. If Stephen gets hold of me again... I think he’ll kill me.”
The silence that follows is heavy and charged with unspoken emotions. Finally, he speaks. “I won’t let that happen. I swear it, Jenny.”
I nod, surprised by how firmly I believe that. No doubt at all that he’ll do anything to protect me. “I trust you to keep me safe.”
His eyes soften slightly. “Always, solnishko .”
I step closer to him, reaching out to touch his arm. “And when the day comes that you tell me Stephen can never hurt me again... That he’s dead… I’ll be grateful.”
He doesn’t respond immediately, but I see the promise in his eyes. It should frighten me, this tacit agreement to end a man’s life. Instead, I feel only relief. “Now,” I say, forcing lightness into my tone, “Let’s get back to organizing this mess of yours. Your empire won’t run itself, you know.”
Ivan allows a small smile. “By all means, solnishko . Work your magic.”
As I turn back to the papers, I can feel Ivan’s gaze on me. Our conversation hangs in the air, but there’s something else too. A shift in our dynamic, and a deepening of trust. It feels good.