Yury shook his head. He’d had no success in finding out how all those banking transactions implicating him had been made. He had managed to reverse them all before anyone else had discovered them. Nonetheless, she was right. He needed to keep her happy to avoid any possibility of those documents being exposed.
“Are my monthly payments into your Cyprus bank account sufficient? Do we need to go shopping for anything you want? I have given you everything you’ve asked for, right?” Yury wanted to be certain she was fully satisfied with him.
Missy nodded and said, “Yes, but I have been reasonable in all my demands. Win-win.” Seeing they were approaching the Russia National Centre, she said, “Let’s make this yet another evening where we both get what we want.”
Chapter Five
Saturday, May 28, 2022
An hour after their arriving (and her entrance had indeed been both memorable and greatly noticed), Missy was finally introduced to Alexey Rumyantsev. Not surprisingly, he had been the one to seek this introduction. He had become aware of this latest mistress whom Yury had been bringing around in recent weeks and had indeed been intrigued. Not only was she gorgeous and very sexy but her bold antics which the paparazzi kept reporting on had made her quite notorious.
Upon finally seeing her up close and in person, he was not disappointed. Her eyes were mesmerizing and he recognized a great intelligence lurked inside them along with something which seemed to challenge him. He said, “I envy Yury for being the one whom you are with tonight. Your reputation as one of Russia’s most beautiful and interesting women seems to be well deserved, now that I can see you for myself.”
“Well, thank you for saying that,” said Missy with a huge smile. She made her eyes fill with golden specks and enjoyed his reaction. “I understand you are the one responsible for many of the great accomplishments associated with our Minister of Foreign Affairs. While he may give the speeches, it is you who helps determine what he says and does.” She reached out her hand and lightly touched his sleeve, making physical contact in a way he instantly noticed.
Not wanting to deny the truth of what she was saying, Alexey said, “I don’t know where you are getting yourinformation. Am I to assume that you have some interest in public affairs?” He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows.
Missy replied, “But of course! Since Yury here is such an important businessman, helping our country achieve all its goals, the leadership which your agency provides in identifying those goals is paramount. I like to follow all of the great work which you are doing in the hope that I might influence Yury and his associates in the choices they make.” Looking at Yury who had been standing there and whom she had been clinging to, she said, “Tell Alexey how I am constantly striving to do that and how successful you have become as a result.”
Yury was quite honored to actually be having this whole conversation and readily acknowledged her comment, saying, “Missy has helped me and my businesses a great deal. I now rely upon her … ah …influencea great deal.”
Alexey chuckled and said, “Please join me at my table when we are seated for our meal later. I wish to continue to discuss how your businesses are supporting our common goals.” Then he moved on after glancing one final time back at Missy.
Yury looked at Missy and said, “Once again you are somehow working your magic. Since when have you been following things being done by his agency? And, where are you hearing he is the one behind the scenes who decides things?”
“You know I was an ardent student at my university, Yury. Just as I discovered those banking transactions which you were guilty of making, I learned about many other matters which are significant concerning the direction which this regime is going in. Bribes and blackmail are my specialty, as you are well aware.”
Yury now grinned and said, “You are incorrigible, Missy!”
They continued to mingle with other attendees until it was time for them all to be seated for the banquet. As promised, arrangements had been made and there were two place settings for them at the table where Alexey Rumyantsev was sitting.
Although they were several places away from Alexey, Missy was thrilled to find the man sitting opposite to her was Gabriel Profeta from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Switzerland. Surely the Fabulous Fates were helping her.
The food was delicious and after working her way through the main course, Missy finally asked Gabriel if he knew Julius de Weck from the Suisse Bank AG in Zurich. She and Yury were now close friends with Julius and she was hoping they knew one another.
“Ah, yes, yes! Of course I know Julius,” replied Gabriel. He had been very aware of Missy and was now thrilled they had some topic they could talk about. Prior to that night, he had only seen one story about this latest mistress which the Russian billionaire had been bringing around with him lately. He had never met Yury but was well aware of the man because of all the businesses which he operated.
Missy gave him a dazzling smile and said, “Wonderful! Yury and I know him as well and whenever we visit Zurich, we always get together. Yury now has several contracts which are being handled by his bank.”
Once again, Yury was finding himself engaging in conversation with an important contact in a foreign country which he needed help from. Although Missy participated with a few remarks, Yury and Gabriel were soon having a detaileddiscussion concerning the NATO Country and European Union embargoes and sanctions which were being imposed.
Circumventing these would rely on deceptive tactics, such as the use of indirect shipping routes, deliberate falsification of the end-uses of traded goods as well as professional evasion networks to evade established export controls and sanctions enforcement. Since Gabriel was very pro-Russian, he had come to this event with the express purpose of assisting with such tactics.
Having now met Gabriel and seeing how well he and Yury were getting along, Missy excused herself and went to the restroom. Upon returning, she stopped near Alexey and said, “Yury and I want to thank you for having us at your table. We have been chatting with Gabriel Profeta from Zurich who has many helpful ideas for Yury’s business arrangements.”
Alexey was pleased to hear this and said, “It is being at events such as this which enables important businessmen such as Yury to find ways to further succeed. That helps Russia a great deal, of course, as I know you already realize.” He paused and studied her for a moment. “I sense that you are a very astute woman, Missy Kabachnik. Your reputation in the magazines does not reveal that. I also must say the photos of you in those magazines do not reveal just how beautiful you truly are.”
Missy laughed and pushed a bit of her supernatural energy into him. He was openly flirting with her and while she didn’t want to encourage him, she felt she could at least leave him further enchanted by her. She said, “I look forward to our getting to know you better, Alexey. I will have Yury arrange something if you would be open to that.”
Alexey smiled and said, “Perfect!” He knew this was not the time or the place for anything other than business dealings. He was pleased to have met Yury’s mistress and would indeed be interested in further meetings with them both.
-----
During the limo ride back to her apartment, Yury said, “This event was a good idea, Missy. Thank you for insisting I bring you. Did you get to meet all the important people you were hoping to meet?” He had watched her move about all evening, talking to people he didn’t even know. Somehow, they all wanted to be introduced to her.
He had been with her, of course, for many other introductions. In between all the speeches she had worked the room. Yeah, she was using him. The more she did so, the more he understood her strategy of blackmailing him so she could make all these contacts. Likewise, her reasons for inviting the paparazzi to publicize her the way they had done. She was now very famous and had reached far beyond where any young woman in Russia with her background could ever possibly go. She had no family. She had come from nothing. She brazenly touted herself as an escort, a mistress. And yet? It was working.
Missy grinned at him and said, “I did! And you’re welcome. If getting to meet Gabriel Profeta was the only benefit for your businesses, I can see already that his influence will be huge. But, I believe you benefitted from meeting several others tonight as well. Just as I’d promised you would.”
