Dinara
My high heels click against the tiled floor as I make my way through the quiet, empty building. It’s too early for anyone to be in. I love this time of the morning. I get so much more done in the silence before dawn than I ever do during the hustle and bustle of the day.
It’s not like anyone shares an office with me or that I deal with many people in my position, but there are people. Noisy people. People walking up and down the halls, greeting and chatting, and talking about the minuscule small things that do not matter in the greater scheme of things.
I realize I’ve become a recluse since the stalking, and maybe I’ve come to enjoy it a little too much. But sometimes, I think I’m ready for a change and a challenge, and I have mentioned it to Katya before. Maybe it’s time for something different.
I unlock my office and stroll in, setting my keys on the small table near the door. I put my handbag in the deep drawer of my desk and shut it. My phone goes onto its little charging stand on my desk, and I move to the long table alongside the left wall. I pick up a stack of green-colored folders and take them to my desk.
A few hours into my work through the folders, my phone’s everplain old ringtone goes off, and I glance at the screen.
It’s the boss.
Katya.
I answer it and put it on speaker. “Good morning, Katya. Are you well?|
“Morning, Dina. Always well, thanks, and yourself?”
“I’m good, thanks. Just getting a start on today’s projects.” I smile as I look at the decreasing pile of green folders. I know I’ll make quick work of what’s left of them. My job is to get money to various places through the companies the family uses as fronts. Whatever I set out to do, I am the best at it. Katya knows this.
“If you’re not too busy, can I pull you away from work? I’d like to see you sooner rather than later.” Katya sounds calm, so I’m not worried, but I am curious.
“Am I allowed to ask what it’s in connection with?” I am already standing, switching the phone from speaker and putting it against my ear. I grab my handbag and finally my keys as I leave my office, locking it behind me.
“It’s a promotion, actually. I will give you all the details when we meet. It’s ten now; let’s go for brunch at the bistro.” She hangs up without a response from me.
It wasn’t a request. It was an instruction.
I get in my car and drive toward the bistro. There’s traffic now, unlike predawn, where everyone is still asleep-another good reason to start working early. You get to skip the bullshit that is New York traffic all day long.
By the time I get to the bistro, it’s closer to eleven. I walk in, and the hostess walks straight to me. “Katya is in the family’s private section.”
I follow her to the back and through a curtain. Katya is sitting at a small table.
“I’ve ordered you coffee and a hearty breakfast.” She smiles. “Lord knows with the work ahead of you, you will need it.”
“Is it a promotion or a punishment?” I joke as she stands, and we embrace.
We’re more than boss and employee; we’re lifelong friends, and I’ve always worked for her family from the day I was able to.
“So does this promotion include working from home so I no longer have to deal with people chatting outside in the hallway?” I ask as the waitress brings my coffee and sets it down.
Katya smiles and sits back, her hands crossed on her lap. “Actually, it involves you dealing with people.”
I grimace. “Really?”
“Not so long ago, you said you wanted a challenge, something different from what you always do, right?” She grins. She’s got me there.
“I was actually thinking about that this morning,” I comment. “But at the same time, I hate people.”
“Yes, but you do love bossing people around. I know that much.” She grins. “I have something in mind for you. Something completely different. Something that will not only challenge you but be of great service to me and the family.” Katya leans forward.
“Katya,” I lean forward as well, “you know very well I am happy to assist in any position you want me to.”
We wait while the waitress puts down the food. We start to eat as Katya continues to explain the job. “You see, there are problems the family is having considering the merges we’ve made, especially recently to the
Irish families.”
“I’m not surprised,” I say. “The Irish are the rowdiest bunch around.
Even more so than us Russians.”
“I want to promote you to manage security. For all three families. Keep the soldiers in check and balanced because the Irish are struggling to keep them under control. We need them to learn to trust each other. Although the families have merged in the upper ranks, the lower ranks are still squabbling, and it’s bound to lead to some nasty repercussions.”
“I won’t lie; a leadership role sounds great. I’ve missed coordinating people and giving instructions.” I smile as I have some of my bacon.
“It comes with a bigger paycheck, a new house, and a new car.” She says this as though these are the things that will sell me on the job.
“Unfortunately, this does mean you’ll have to work alongside one of the Irish brothers. I can’t remember which one, but I’ll get that information for you. Your office will now be in the East Village, so it’s a more neutral location, and as for your current position, I think your assistant, Privanka, should be up to the task of taking over.” She looks at me, waiting for an answer.
A cold shiver runs down my back at the mention of one of the brothers, but I hide it well. “I love the East Side, and Privanka will do an excellent job. She’s the only one I’d trust to do it at any rate.”
“Good because then we don’t have to go through the process of training anyone.” Katya smiles and sips her coffee.
Between all the chatting, we’ve finished breakfast, and we both relax a little, full and content-except for my apprehension of the brothers.
“I know you’re the best person for this position, Dina.” Katya looks into my eyes. “I know you won’t take their bullshit, anyone’s bullshit. I know what you went through was intimidating, and I still don’t know why you never told us what Irish guy stalked you so we could deal with it. But you are strong, and you can kick ass.” She gives me a warm smile. “Especially since you’re not a twenty-something-year-old little girl anymore.”
“No, now I’m a young recluse who hates people and prefers the company of cats.” We both laugh and settle down again.
Katya rummages through her purse and pulls out a set of keys.
“Before I forget.”
She hands the set of keys over and then gives me a piece of paper. “This is your new address. I hope you like the house I’ve picked out for you. It will be registered under your name, not the family’s. So it’s yours in all ways. Let me know if I missed anything.” She grins and stands up. “I do have to go, though. I promised the twins we would go horse riding this afternoon.”
I stand out of respect and to hug my friend. “Thank you for trusting me with this. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. That’s why I chose you.” Her confidence in me knows no bounds, and I leave shortly after her.
I sit in my car, mulling over Katya’s words. I’m confident I can do the work-I am good at what I do-but I will have to deal with some of my past issues, which might be tricky.
I sigh and look for something to distract myself. I notice my fist is still clenched around the paper Katya gave me, and I carefully unfold it. After staring at the address on the note for a moment, the location registers in my brain. They bought me a house where? Now, I’m too excited to do anything other than see my new home.
It takes a while to drive there, and when I reach the gates, I take out the keys. There’s a clicker, and I press it. The gates swing open effortlessly, and I drive through. The gates close automatically, and I wind up the curving driveway to what I can only describe as a small mansion.
I park and get out. I squeal and give a slight jump up and down before I rush to the door to unlock it. When I walk in, my mouth drops open in awe.
It isn’t the first time I’ve been gifted a place to stay by the family, but this is definitely the grandest they’ve ever bestowed upon me.
I make my way through the place slowly and realize there are a lot of modern appliances and luxuries that I don’t have at my old home. The kitchen is so fancy, which I love because I truly enjoy cooking and baking.
If I’ve gotten this as a home, then the position must be significant, and this excites me. I hardly even care that I have to work with an Irishman. I mean, I’m not a naive little girl anymore being stalked by an obsessed psycho. I’m a woman, a dangerous one at that. I can take care of myself. I didn’t just sit idly by these years and play the victim. I learned self-defense, to shoot, to kill, and to do it well.
If this Irish guy wants to take me on, he will have a lot to answer for because my loyalty to Katya knows no bounds, and I will do anything for her, even go to war for her.
I give a little twirl in the living room and flop to sit in the deep cushions of my new sofa. It’s so luxurious that I sink right in, and I picture napping here some afternoons.
The room is perfect for it, with the sun streaming through the floorto-ceiling windows. The room is warm, both in temperature and decor.
I sigh and rest back for a moment. I know I need to go back to work and get everything sorted, but sometimes, it’s nice to take a little kickback and relax.
I picture the Irishman who caused me so much trouble in my past and pursed my lips.
He was trouble I never should have gotten into. If I had known what I know about him now before meeting him, I would have run miles away or put a bullet through his head before he could so much as introduce himself to me.
It took years for me to overcome my fear of him and for him to stop stalking me.
Years.
I will never let a Quinn brother make me fear for my life like that again.