Chapter Nineteen
Maron
I navigate my car smoothly into the parking lot of Visionary Media Works.
My mind buzzes with ideas about the upcoming meeting with the CEO, Albert Solomon. This company, owned by a British couple, is my top choice to collaborate with on Global Media’s next movie project. After thorough research and going through countless reviews, my team and I selected Visionary Media as the ideal partner to handle production for our upcoming film - a Hollywood blockbuster in the psychological thriller genre. We’ve already secured some A-list actors for the movie, and it’s projected to generate billions in profits worldwide.
As I turn the corner, I notice something in the car park. A young woman is leaving the building and I can tell from a distance that she is distressed. As I approach her, my heart starts to race. Her long chesnut hair is what catches my attention first, followed by her curvaceous figure and the way her breasts move as she runs.
I can’t fucking believe it.
It’s Mindy. For what feels like the hundredth time in the past few weeks. First at New York High, then at Walmart with a kid. And now here, in Visionary Media’s parking lot. It’s like fate has a twisted sense of humor or some mysterious plan behind these strange coincidences.
You said you were going to do something about her, Korolev.
You still haven’t.
Pussy.
I feel my breath catch in my throat as I watch her and I curse myself for feeling this way every time I see her. I still don’t understand the effect she has on me, but it’s the same every fucking time. Then, I notice she’s crying. Her eyes are puffy and tears are streaming down her cheeks. Her hands shake as she struggles with her car keys. She’s clearly having a rough day.
But what the hell is she doing here? Is she working for this company? She’s employed by one of my future business partners? More importantly, what could have upset her so much? Or who?
I still can’t believe I’m seeing her again, so randomly. I want nothing more than to screech to a halt beside her, grab her arm, pull her into my car, and kiss away every single one of those tears. In one swift motion, I’d rip off that white blouse and tell her that I can no longer stand this cruel game fate is playing. I imagine my hands exploring her naked body as I fuck her on the rear seat of my Escalade with an intensity like never before. The image of us together makes my dick so hard, I want to jerk off right here and now.
Blyad!
I shake myself, forcing my mind back into the present. I should be focusing on the meeting I’m about to have with my new business partner. Albert Solomon is probably waiting for me in his office already. I take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves down before getting out of the car.
I peer around the empty car park, but Mindy’s already driven off. For a second, I wonder if it was really her I saw, or just my desperate mind creating illusions. Maybe I should get my head checked. Either way, this cannot go on. I must do something about this. I am a man who takes action and one that never procrastinates. Yet, I’m completely fucked when it comes to this woman. I’m acting like a shy schoolboy, not being able to muster up the courage to approach his crush.
That’s enough, Korolev!
Head in the game!
You’ll deal with Mindy after the meeting.
I enter the building with purposeful strides and head straight to Albert Solomon’s office. There is a time for everything, and right now, my focus must be on business.
"Mr. Korolev," Albert Solomon greets me, rising from his desk to shake my hand. "Welcome to Visionary Media Works. It’s an honor to have you here, in the flesh."
I nod and take a seat in front of him, deciding to get straight to the point. "Thank you, Mr. Solomon. As you already know, Global Media is exploring options for outsourcing production on our upcoming project. Your company’s track record has impressed us significantly."
Albert nods, his posture straightening with interest. "We’re honored by your consideration, Mr. Korolev. I’d like to hear more about your project requirements and how we can meet them."
For the next twenty-five minutes, we delve deep into the intricacies of the project. We discuss budget allocations, production timelines, creative control parameters, and resource distribution. I must admit, Albert Solomon’s grasp of the industry and his company's capabilities are impressive.
"Let’s talk about the price of the package, then," I tell him, leaning back in my chair. "Fifty million for full production. How’s that sound?"
Albert’s eyes widen slightly. I can immediately tell he wasn’t expecting a number that high. "That’s… very generous, Mr. Korolev. I think we can make that work."
"Good," I nod, satisfied. "Then we have a deal."
We’re seconds away from sealing the deal with a handshake, but as Albert pulls his mouth to a grin, the image of Mindy’s tear-stained face invades my mind. At the last moment, I casually pull back my hand. "Just one more question, Mr. Solomon - out of pure curiosity."
"Of course, Mr. Korolev," he says. “Please."
"Just before I came up to your office, I saw a young woman in the parking lot, exiting the building. She seemed pretty upset.”
Albert’s expression visibly darkens for a moment, but it almost immediately returns to professional. He waves dismissively. "Oh, that was just our chief accountant."
Just?
I frown. For whatever reason, that sets my teeth on edge.
“She is your chief accountant? The one who is going to handle millions of dollars for the contract we’re about to sign? I hope you're not mistreating your employees, Mr. Solomon."
He winces slightly and glares at me with an expression I can’t quite decipher. It’s somewhere between annoyance and surprise. "Mr. Korolev, are you a married man?" He asks.
I don’t want to engage in a personal conversation with him, so I reply curtly. "No."
"Good for you, Mr. Korolev," he says. His professional smile returns and he winks at me. "But I’m sure you know how it is with women. Sometimes they can get hysterical over nothing. She’s probably on her period or something."
My mind goes from calm and composed to furious in an instant. All I see is red and I suddenly feel like I want to break the fucker’s jaw. A primal rage surges through me, one I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m on my feet with lightning speed. "I happen to know that woman," I growl, spelling out each word like a warning.
Solomon is visibly taken aback. He grips the edge of his desk, like he’s trying to steady himself. "I… um… what do you mean, Mr. Korolev?" he blurts, each word stumbling over the other. ‘Guilty’ is written all over his face. I don’t know what this cretin did to Mindy, but I’m certain he’s done something. And I want to kill him for it.
My hand snaps out before I could think better of it. I reach over his desk and grip his collar. "I’ll tell you what I mean," I sneer. "I’m about to sign a 50-million-dollar contract with you and your company. And just when I arrive, I see your chief accountant crying in the parking lot, getting into her car, and speeding away during work hours. Can you explain how something like this could happen?
"I… I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Mr. Korolev," he stammers, shaking like a leaf. He looks so scared, I’m pretty sure he’s pissed himself. It’s all too fucking clear: he’s done something to her. His reaction to my anger only confirms my suspicion. Whatever he’s done, he’s the one who upset Mindy.
"Tell me what you did to her or I’ll break your fucking arm," I roar. I don’t care anymore that this was supposed to be a civilized business meeting. "And don’t you fucking think about lying to me!"
"Alright, alright! Just let go of me, please!" He’s practically begging me, the pathetic piece of shit. I release my grip and shove him away. He shudders and falls back into his seat.
"I’m listening," I grunt, my patience wearing thin. I don’t want to waste another minute here. He’s either going to tell me the truth about what he did to Mindy or I’m going to beat it out of him.
"I… uh…" he hesitates, struggling to collect himself. "Alright… you really want to know what happened? Yesterday, our dear chief accountant made the mistake of her life. She brought the wrong flash drive to present some numbers to the board. She ended up accidentally projecting some of her, um… private photos onto the boardroom screen."
I frown. For a second, I think there’s something wrong with my hearing. She projected her ‘private photos’ onto the screen? Like nudes? In front of the entire board?
Jesus Christ.
No wonder she’s upset. It reminds me of her slip-up seven years ago, when she was still working for me. When she accidentally sent me nudes. It’s like the same thing all over again.
I glare at the man in front of me, and I already know there’s more to this story. It’s written all over his face. He did something to her. Something unforgivable. "And?" I ask, giving him a stare that is designed to freeze his blood. "What did you do to her?"
He stammers, fear evident in his voice. "I… I…"
My patience snaps like a twig. I grab his collar again and roar into his face. "I asked you a question! What the fuck did you do to her?"
"Nothing!" His voice comes out as a pathetic squeak.
"Did you touch her?"
"No! I didn’t I swear!" He shakes his head frantically. "She rejected me!"
She rejected him?
So, he did try to touch her!
Ublyudok!
I shove him away so roughly that he falls on his ass and crashes against the cupboard by his desk. He stares at me with wide eyes and so much fear on his face that I’m pretty sure he soiled himself.
"Congratulations, Solomon." I scoff, not even making the effort to look at this piece of human garbage. I’m already turning around, prepared to leave his office. "You just kissed a 50-million-dollar contract goodbye."
He immediately jumps to his feet. "Mr. Korolev," he says, frantically trying to collect himself. "I can assure you, this is all just a big misunderstanding. I can guarantee you, our partnership will generate profits beyond your wildest expectations."
"There will be no partnership," I bark. I can barely resist the urge to grab him by the neck and toss him out the window. What a pathetic loser. I don’t even bother listening to him anymore. I know I can’t stay here for another minute, or else I’m going to rip off his dick and feed it to him. So, I storm out of Albert Solomon’s office, shutting the door behind me so hard it rattles on its hinges.
Nobody touches Mindy Williams.
Nobody except me.
As I make my way to my car, a thought keeps gnawing at me. For some strange and unexplainable reason, Mindy keeps crossing my path. I must stop being a fucking pussy. I don’t believe in any esoteric woo-woo shit, but I can’t ignore the signs anymore. If there is a greater power out there, it is clearly telling me that I must take action. I must take action before I go insane with all this longing for her.
I slam the car door shut and grip the steering wheel. The engine roars to life, matching the fury pulsing through my veins. I’m done playing games with Destiny. I’m going to find out everything about Mindy’s current situation. Where she lives, who she’s seeing, and if that kid is hers.
I pull out my phone and dial my second-in-command.
This cannot wait any longer.