“I’ve been watching your progress in Trnava with interest,” the duke said as they took their places on the dance floor. “I understand that the Poshani are considering greater investment in my territory for the future.”
“Of course.” Tatyana nodded as the music started. “But our priority has to be the economic best interests not only of our territorial partners but our own people.”
“I understand completely.”
Tatyana had not expected to become a skilled ballroom dancer as part of her leadership role as Poshani terrin, but surprisingly, it had been one of her first tasks. Luckily, sheenjoyed ballroom dancing nearly as much as she enjoyed ballet, and she picked up all the dances with ease.
Vampire regents loved pageantry, and there was nothing more spectacular than a gold-paneled room full of beautifully dressed immortals dancing without any sweat or exhaustion. Many balls like this went nearly until dawn.
But unlike the storybooks she had read as a child, vampire balls were not for romance. They were for business and politics.
Tatyana’s second waltz came to an end with a solid twenty-two percent of jobs in the new factory committed to Poshani workers, while Tatyana had agreed to bring up the idea of a second factory in Kosice at the next terrin meeting.
Three more dances followed, one resulting in a further meeting for an investment opportunity in Austria and another to solidify a new distribution agreement in Czechia.
She was back with Rumi and Diana a moment later, sipping on a glass of blood-wine as she took a break between dances. Sándor stood behind them, surveying the room.
Tatyana put her empty glass on the tray of a passing server. “Who is next?”
“Ivan Sokholov,” Rumi muttered. “He was insistent, and Kezia agreed to it.”
She caught her sister’s eye as she passed on the dance floor, and Kezia only smirked.
“Ivan was determined to get a dance with one of you, and Kezia opted out first, so you’re stuck with him,” Rumi said.
“He’s a very good dancer!” Diana tried to reassure her. “Very… commanding. And according to gossip, surprisingly light on his feet.”
“Oh, what a relief.” Tatyana kept her expression blank. “I won’t have to worry about my toes being crushed while he badgers me about Khori Transport returning to Moscow.”
“Push him off without pissing him off,” Rumi said. “We don’t want to damage the relationship with the Kievan Rus, but all three of you have already decided it’s not a good idea.”
“Sándor.” She already knew what Rumi advised, and while she agreed with her assistant in nearly everything related to business, Ivan was a brute.
She wanted the opinion of someone who understood brutes.
“Yes, madam.”
“What do you think about Ivan Sokholov?”
“Ivan Sokholov is not a security threat in these circumstances.” Sándor kept his eyes on the room, constantly sweeping from one end of the ballroom to the other.
“I trust you on that, but he’s going to press for something that we are not willing to give and will expect a negotiation.”
“Are you or the other terrin willing to negotiate on this?”
They were not sending trucks back to any areas around Moscow while Ivan was still in charge.
“No,” Tatyana said firmly.
“Then be direct and businesslike. Keep it very professional, but be very direct.” Sándor glanced at Rumi. “Most of the vampires in this room understand the protocol of subtlety. Ivan does not.”
Tatyana nodded. “Understood and agreed.”
She had the fleeting thought that Oleg would like Sándor very much, and if he could, would probably poach him for his own territory.
“Thank you, Sándor.”
Her stoic security guard held out his arm. “Come, Terrin. I will escort you to the dance floor and meet Ivan Sokholov halfway.”
