Shirley
I blink my eyes open and glance at my watch. It’s almost two in the morning, and Evgenii is snoring softly in the bed beside me. I briefly study his face in the light from the moon filtrating the room. He looks good with stubble, and I’m almost tempted to stay. But I can feel a headache coming on, and I still have a lot to do.
I slip into my clothes, knowing I’ll have to return to the bar area to get my shoes. As I sneak back through the house toward the front door, I notice his office door is open. I look around for guards, but none seem to be in the house. I tiptoe into his office and look around.
There’s moonlight streaming in through the open window, lighting up this room as well. I take out my cell phone and turn the flashlight on to investigate his desk.
It’s a mess, as usual, but I ruffle through the papers quietly, trying not to disturb them too much. My effort paid off as I found the first draft proposal for Don Pacheco.
I lay it out and take a photo with my phone before returning it where I think it belongs.
I then creep my way to the front door and let myself out. Guards turn to look at me. One nods and offers me my car keys. “Drive safely, ma’am.”
“Thank you,” I say casually, getting into my car and starting it up. I pull onto the road, plugging Alesssandro’s address into the GPS since I don’t know the way from here.
I pull up to the gate, and once the guard identifies me, I drive through to the garage.
Arianna and Carmine are having drinks while she works on her car. I smile as I get out of the Mini Cooper. “You two are up late.”
“We just got back from a race,” Carmine says, sipping his beer. “You look rough.”
I shake my head. “One drink too many.”
They laugh, and I know they want to tease me, but I hold a hand up.
“Mock me all you want tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”
I wave them off and head into the house. I walk toward the stairs but stop when Alessandro’s office door opens.
“I was wondering when you were coming home,” he says as he walks out. He is in a satin robe and long pants but without a shirt, from what I can see. He looks much older than I remember.
I give him a warm smile. “Don’t tell me you were waiting up for me.”
He smiles and walks over. “Of course. You are like my sister, Shirls. I can’t sleep knowing you’re out on those streets. What were you doing anyway?”
“Gathering information,” I say with a bright smile as I take out my phone and show him the photo. “Look, it’s Volkov’s rough proposal for
Staten Island.”
He takes my phone and looks at it carefully before scrutinizing me. “How did you get this? Were you with Evgenii? After everything that happened and the danger you put the family under, he should be the last person you’re near.”
“Our family is united now,” I point out. “And that aside, I’m older and wiser now. I know I can manipulate him so that we can present the best bid for Staten Island. I will do what it takes to get our family this win.”
Alessandro looks at me and sighs. “Goodnight, Shirls.” He kisses my forehead and walks toward the staircase, muttering to himself about the woman in his family driving him to drink.
I smile. He’s an excellent leader and ruthless to anyone outside of our family. I go upstairs to shower and then get into my bed. I fall asleep thinking about Evegenii.
The following day I stretch as I wake up. I get ready and go downstairs, walking into the dining hall. It is bigger than the old one. I suppose it has to be with the ever-expanding family. I sit down opposite my adoptive parents Romero and Helena. I set my phone on the table and start to dish up some scrambled eggs and toast.
My phone buzzes, and Romero glances at it but doesn’t say anything about it.
Helena smiles. “You don’t visit often enough, Shirls. You really should come back more often. The kids are getting so big.”
I smile at her. “I know, Ma, but the West Coast keeps me busy.”
“It’s not right for a young lady not to have time to start a family,” she chastises me as my phone buzzes again.
The third time it buzzes, Romero glances at me again. “Who’s trying to get hold of you so urgently?”
I grin. “Who isn’t, Pa? But it’s not polite to answer the phone while I have a lovely breakfast with my parents.”
“Remember when she first got a phone?” Romero nudges Helena. “It was that summer we took the kids to the lake for Pierce’s thirteenth birthday. Got them each a new phone to gush over something and got Pierce that gaming computer he wanted so badly.”
I smile brightly as other family members join us. “I remember that! That was a great summer. We had so much fun with Nonno taking us out on the tube connected to the boat.”
“He loved making you kids laugh,” Helena says lovingly.
I have so many fond memories of the time I’ve spent with the
Sorvinos, who I consider my true family. My biological family… Well, Romero made sure that my father would never hurt Pierce or me again, and my mother didn’t argue when, at seven, we moved in with the Sorvinos permanently. Dominic used to say that Romero had my abusive father offed and paid my mom off to let us go.
I’m so grateful he did.
My phone buzzes again, and I turn the vibrate off, not bothering to see who’s messaging. As other family members sit down, we chat about upcoming plans for some of them to come out to stay at our properties on the West Coast to watch Ariana race. Alessandro and Frankie will remain behind to manage the business side of things, but Dominic will be there, along with Kira and Tori.
I still find it strange that our family is connected to the Volkovs. I won’t lie, it felt like a bit of a betrayal at the time. I know Tori isn’t fully aware of what happened between Evgenii and me, but it stings. Only Alessandro and Frankie know the truth, so I can’t blame everyone else.
I finish breakfast and excuse myself, kissing my parents’ heads before leaving the room. I pause when I reach my room and check my messages. There are several missed calls from Evgenii and quite a few messages. The last one asks why I left so early and didn’t wait until he woke up.
I shoot him a quick text back to let him know that I had said I had an early start and that I just thought it would be better to have that start from home. I send the text and grab my things, going into my makeshift office and powering up my laptop.
I transfer the photo of Evgenii’s proposal to my laptop and go over it. It isn’t a bad proposal for what looks like a first draft. He’s not just offering them money but detailing positions for Pacheco family members within the area should his family take over. I can definitely up that, add a few shares to the profits we make to give him a pleasant retirement, and I’m sure I can sway him my way.
I have a meeting with them later today that I need to prep for. I want to get a feel for what it is, exactly, that they are looking for out of this deal.
It’s surprising that Pacheco isn’t passing his legacy on to one of his sons. This kind of trade, this kind of negotiation, is entirely unheard of. I’ve never known a family to willingly give up a territory permanently for retirement, not when there are sons who are heirs. It’s just not how things are done, and even more so because of how profitable Staten Island is for moving Opioid products.
I start drafting my proposal, noting what questions I need to ask. I keep glancing at my phone to see if Evgenii has sent another message. I don’t want to message him. He’ll think he has me on a hook. I want him to be on his knees, begging me for mercy when I’m done with him. I want him to know how I felt when he broke me six years ago.
I sigh, I can’t let that be my main focus. Alessandro will be so pissed if I mess this up. He called me to do this for a reason. I’m known for making deals and closing them. It’s why I run the West Coast operations. I didn’t think Alessandro would ever trust me after I leaked family operational secrets to Evgenii when we dated, but he did trust me. He knew I’d never purposefully put the family at risk. He gave me a second chance, and I didn’t only grow our West Coast base, but now we are thriving and making more money than ever. Slightly trailing behind New York, but just.
I glance at my phone again and then put it away so it won’t distract me. Evgenii cannot distract me from what I intend to do.
Evgenii
I read the message over and over again, my pride a little stung. I set my phone down and sighed. I don’t need this right now. Shirley is a distraction I can’t afford to have, and yet, despite my recollection being a little hazy, I do remember most of last night and how pleasurable it was, hopefully for both of us.
My heart feels like it’s hammering in my chest, and I’m unsure what to do, so I sit back in my chair and rest, taking deep breaths as I look out my office window at the ocean.
I think about our first proper date together, the first time I took her out alone. I remember how beautiful she was.
A Few Years Prior
I straighten my suit jacket, comfortable and confident despite being old enough to be my date’s father. This is simply business. I need information about the Sorvino family, and she’s an easy in.
I wait outside the restaurant, wanting to escort her in. I’ve secured a private booth for us and have asked for a special menu to impress her.
A taxi pulls up next to the curb, and Shirley emerges. For a moment, just a moment, my breath catches. She’s in a short blue figure-hugging dress with thin straps over her shoulders. No sign of bra straps, so either she’s gone strapless, or she isn’t wearing one. The idea of the latter really pleases me.
She has sparkling blue heels, and the whole look gives the impression that she has had legs for days, or so the saying goes. Her hair is down in big curls, framing her face. She hasn’t got a lot of makeup on, but her eyeliner and lashes are stark, making her eyes really stand out.
I walk toward her with a big smile, glad she felt the necessity to put so much effort into a date with me.
I smile. “I am so lucky such a beautiful woman has agreed to come out with me tonight.” I offer her my arm, and she blushes slightly as she slips her arm through mine.
I escort her into the restaurant, where several couples are talking quietly over the clink of cutlery against dishes. I smile and lead her toward the back.
“Shouldn’t we wait to be seated?”
“I know where we’re seated already,” I explain. “I know the owners. They gave us a private section.”
She looks pleased, and that makes me happy. She’s easily won over and clearly likes to feel important. This will be a breeze after all.
I pull out her chair for her, and she sits down, setting a small blue handbag I hadn’t noticed next to her. I keep smiling as I go around the table and sit down in my seat.
A waitress comes over to us with a cheery disposition. “Good evening. Can I get you anything to drink while you look at the menu?”
We both take a menu from her, and I nod. “A bottle of your best red wine and a glass of water each.”
I take full control of the situation. I want to test how pliable she is. She smiles and sets her menu down. I know I can order for her, so before the waitress leaves, I say, “We’ll take two dishes of Pozharsky. Bring extra gravy.”
The waitress nods and takes the menus, leaving quickly.
Shirley looks at me curiously. “What is Po…?”
“Pozharsky,” I pronounce slowly for her. “It’s a good dish. Breaded plump Chicken cutlets, served with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy. I know the chef here. It’s delicious.”
Shirley nods. “That sounds divine.”
I smile and lean forward. “So, tell me about yourself.”
She seems shy again but smiles. “Tough one. I’m not sure what to tell you.”
“What’s your favorite color, for starters?”
“Well,” she giggles. “Blue is my favorite color, I won’t lie.”
“I didn’t want to assume,” I chuckle, sitting back as the waitress brings our drinks.
We chat about a few of our favorite things, and at one point, I reach across the table to hold her hand, happy that she doesn’t pull away.
We stay like that until our piping hot food arrives, then we sit back, and I smile. “I always have extra gravy. This place makes the best mushroom gravy.”
She smiles and picks up her cutlery. “I do love gravy.”
We start to eat, and she gives a soft moan that makes me raise an eyebrow. “Enjoying that?”
“It’s delicious.” Her voice is low, and she takes another bite, another small groan.
I chuckle softly as I pour extra gravy on my food before tucking in. She isn’t wrong. My aunt has outdone herself, as usual. We eat quietly before I strike up a conversation about what she does for a living.
“I’m helping my family with some business, a few, actually. At the moment, I’m not much more than a glorified receptionist, but my older brother says that I could go far.”
“Don’t all brothers say that?” I ask curiously. “Surely you want to strike out in the world?”
She smiles knowingly. “No, this is what I want. I want to work my way up, I don’t just want it handed to me, but I want to do it for my family. I mean, they’re technically not my biological family, but for as long as I’ve been friends with their children, they’ve pretty much raised Pierce and me.” She sips her wine.
“Pierce is your older brother?” I ask, inclining my head.
She nods. “Yes. And because we’re like part of the family, I also count Alessandro, Frankie, and Dominic as my older brothers. I consider Ariana as my sister.”
We finish eating, and as the waitress clears the plates, I smile. “The bill is already covered. You know, there’s an entrance to Central Park nearby. Why don’t we take a walk.”
She smiles and nods. “That sounds very romantic.”
I stand and offer her my hand again. We walk out of the restaurant and toward the park. I know we’re safe here. Nobody would dare attack me in this neighborhood.
We reach the entrance to the park and walk down the pathways.
“What do you do for a living?” she asks quietly as we stroll hand in hand.
“I’m an investor,” I say. “Properties mostly, but I own shares in other ventures, as well. I’ve always been interested in it, and luckily, I’m good at it.”
She starts to tell me about a property that her family is trying to secure, they think she doesn’t know, but she does. I listen intently and offer some advice, perhaps not the correct advice by all means, but some.
We settle on a grass embankment and simply enjoy each other’s company until, at one point, she glances at the expensive watch on her wrist. “Shit, it’s already one. I should get home. I’ve got work tomorrow.’
I smile and help her up. “My car is near the restaurant. I’m happy to drive you home.”
She shivers slightly, and in seconds, I’ve slipped out of my suit jacket and hung it over her shoulders. “Here, that should keep you warm until we reach my car. I’ll turn the heating on then.”
She smiles, and we walk, not entirely fast, to my car. I open the door for her and let her in. “Let’s get you home.”
I climb in and pull onto the road. “What’s your address?”
She gives me her apartment address, and I drive there and exit, opening the door for her. I walk her upstairs to her front door, and we stand there for a moment. She slips out of my suit jacket and hands it to me. “I had a lovely evening.”
“So did I,” I say quietly. “I’d love to see you again.”
“I’d really like that, too,” she murmurs.
I smile and lean down, gently kissing her lips.
She moans softly and presses her body against me. I know I can go in there right now and ravage her, but I want her to think of me as a gentleman, so we kiss a while longer before I break it.
“I’ll send you a text,” I say softly, kissing her once more before I leave after watching her enter her apartment.
Present Day
I don’t want to think about the past. It hurts my heart to remember what I did to her, how things ended, and the look on her face when she realized I’d been playing her all along.
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. The guilt gnaws at me relentlessly, and the only reprieve I get is when there’s a knock at my door.
The guard, Igor, comes in. “Sir, your sister, Natalia, is here.”
I stand quickly. “Bring her in straight away.”
Igor stands aside, and my gorgeous sister strides in. “Evgenii!” She throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. The guard is nowhere to be seen.
“How was visiting our parents in Europe?” I ask, motioning for her to sit.
She sits opposite me and smiles brightly. “They’re doing very well.
They love their whole travel the world for their retirement plan.”
I smile brightly. “A wonderful gift from Ivan. Our Pakhan is very generous.”
“Are you feeling generous?” Natalia asks me.
I quirk an eyebrow and smirk. “What do you want?”
“Just to stay here,” she says quickly. “I’ve decided not to travel to England anymore. I want to stay here in New York. Our aunt has already offered me a sous chef position at the restaurant.”
I smile. “How could I ever say no to my baby sister? Unfortunately, though, you will have to get yourself settled as I have some business to attend to. You’ll be fine on your own, right? If you need a car, I have a Chrysler in the garage that you can use.”
We both stand, and she hugs me again. “Thank you, that’s perfect. I’ll see you later.”
I kiss her head and leave, taking my car and driving toward the warehouse we share with the Sorvino family-one of our future Pakhan’s ventures. Roman is inheriting a massive legacy.
When I arrive, I instantly recognize the Jeep that’s parked nearby. That’s Francesco Sorvino’s Jeep. He’s probably here for the same reason as me-inspecting goods.
He looks up at me as I approach him. “Evgenii.”
“Francesco.” It’s a curt response, and I look around. “Anything to report?”
He hands me a folder. “The sales from this month. I thought it would be easier to go over instead of trying to capture them together.”
I chuckle. “Do you hate my spreadsheets that much?”
“They don’t make sense,” Frankie says good-heartedly. “Also, you look exhausted.”
“Actually, I had a few drinks and dinner with Shirley,” I comment casually.
Frankie frowns. “Never a good idea, Evgenii. Most of all, I don’t think my parents have forgiven you for taking advantage of her because it broke her heart. Please leave her alone.”
I hold my hands up. “Hey! She called me. She wanted to meet up with me.” I feel as though it’s a challenge, but I know Frankie is right. I should stay away from her.
“I’m telling you, stay away from her.”
I don’t answer him, and he leaves shortly after. I stand there for a moment before taking out my phone. Frankie might be right, but I can’t help myself as I text Shirley to ask when I can see her again.