I also found some political contributions and kickbacks, which I would ask him about. But all in all, I found nothing serious. There was nothing concrete to indicate he was such a big criminal. Each file I opened proved to be more challenging. Before I knew it, I was entranced, and I was having fun. I was enjoying it more than my actual job at the law firm.
By the time I reached the sixth file, I was engulfed in finding solutions for his problems. It made me feel good. It was challenging, which was something I craved. The door swung open, and Kolya suddenly entered, finding me absorbed in the work.
He grinned at me as I looked up. “Well then,” he states. “Can you believe you’re actually enjoying something that involves Bratva. You are enjoying it, aren’t you?” I could hear the teasing in his tone as he completed that sentence.
Smiling back at him, I couldn’t help the enthusiasm coming through in my tone as I explained. “Actually, I am enjoying it. It turned out to be more challenging than I thought. I’ve also come up with quite a few solutions. Legal ones to most of the issues you appear to be having.”
“Well then, maybe we should have lunch and talk about these solutions?” Kolya suggested.
“Yes, thank you. That would be nice,” I replied. Being busy kept my mind off the things he may be involved in. It also gave me a better sense of who he was. It was calming, in fact.
Kolya pointed at the stack of files to my side. “These are the files you’ve finished with?” he enquired.
“Yes, these are the ones,” I replied, moving the files closer to him.
“Well, bring your notebook. Let’s see what you’ve got,” he added as he took the files and walked out. Following close behind him, we headed to his office. As we entered, I saw our lunch was waiting. He had already ordered.
He sat down on his side, waving for me to sit down opposite him. “I hope you don’t mind. I took the liberty of ordering our lunch,” he said, grinning at me.
I smiled, rolled my eyes, and replied smoothly. “No, it’s fine, thank you.” I had never been fond of Chinese, but I would give it another try.
The smell of soy and garlic hits me the second I pull open my container. Crispy orange chicken glistened under the lights. Kolya smiled across the table. “Trust me,” he said. “The flavors grow on you.”
Raising an eyebrow, I replied hesitantly. “I doubt it.”
His smile grew, the corner of his mouth tilting just enough to make my chest tighten. “That’s why you need to try it first,” he huffed.
I picked up a piece cautiously. The sticky sauce clung to the chopsticks. Tentatively, I open my mouth and take a bite. The flavor hits me differently than I expected. Sweet, tangy, with a subtle heat exploded in my mouth. My brows lifted. “Huh,” I mumbled in pure surprise. “Not terrible.”
Kolya leaned forward, his eyes locked with mine. “Not terrible?” he asked teasingly. “That’s the best compliment I’ve ever heard from you.”
Laughing softly, I covered my mouth as I tried to swallow before the food popped out of my mouth. Shaking my head at him, I could feel some of the tension leaving me. I was surprised that I was enjoying having lunch with him.
I tried another bite, this time savoring the texture and balance. I found the food actually enjoyable. By the third bite, I was hooked. A small grin played on my lips. I wasn’t about to admit that to him.
“So,” K0lya asked. He leaned back a tad, placed his elbows on the edge of the table, and played with his chin. “Let’s talk business. The issues you found with the company’s recent transfers. Give me your opinion.”
Pushing my hair behind my ear, I played with the chopsticks in my hand. My mind sharpened as it always did when I thought about legal issues. “Well,” I replied carefully. “Those offshore accounts. If the regulators started digging, they would likely find a pattern. It’s a risky move. You need a way to justify the transfers internally. Something a tad more legitimate.”
Kolya’s eyes narrowed. I knew he was impressed as he spoke. “And what do you suggest?”
Biting the corner of my lip, I watched him lean in. He waited patiently for me to reply. Sparks of energy passed between us as I gave my opinion. “You could use real businesses and operations, like say, the legal office and restaurant. Created an offshore account for each. Then transfer small amounts there, make some purchases from that account to show its need.”
Raising my hand as I took another bite, I told him to just wait a second. Once I swallowed the bite, I continued. “The amounts must be small enough not to raise suspicion, but large enough for a plausible income. Rotate between them. Keep the paper trail. But most important will be to keep the staff in line. They must know their limits.”
Kolya sighed, making a soft humming noise. He lifted his hand and turned one finger in a circle. “Hmm… you really do have a brilliant mind. I see why Melody relies on you so much,” he added.
I felt the heat spread across my face, landing on my cheeks. “Thank you,” I replied. Suddenly, I felt shy but also thrilled that he thought so highly of me. Lowering my gaze, I pick at my food, pretending not to care, trying to keep my look casual. My mind swirled with ideas.
Kolya smirked as he pushed his hands through his hair. He was surely an attractive man. I felt my stomach turning as I looked at him. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest. “And what about the fake client accounts? Don’t they do just that? It’s messy, but it works. Any thoughts on that?”
Staring, I felt a surge of energy run through me as I accepted his challenge. I tapped lightly against the rim of the plate with my chopsticks as I considered it. “Multiple accounts, contracts that only exist on paper. You stagger payments and disguise the purpose. It’s risky, but yes, it keeps the auditors chasing shadows for now,” I replied smoothly.
He laughed, shaking his head from side to side. “You’re terrible, Sophia. But I like that.”
Grinning, I wasn’t sure what he meant. “Terrible in what way?” I questioned.
“Intelligent, sharp, and unpredictable, you are,” he murmured. The warmth radiating from him made it impossible not to notice all of him. My pulse quickened as I scanned his upper body. Swallowing hard, I tried to refocus my energy. “You’re not so bad either,” I admitted. That’s when I realized I had grown accustomed to him. Maybe I even fancied him somewhat.
