“You are businessman,da?” Yakov said flatly as he leaned back in his chair, gaze unreadable as he stared at Jamie. “Then you must know the jobs you do for us reflect badly on you and yourfather.”
“If this is where you say you have blackmailable material on Jamie through my company, then I suppose I should inform you that it would have been terribly remiss of me not to gain the same leverage over you,” Katie calmly said. “Whichwedid.”
Stanislav’s gaze snapped to her, watching as Katie took a sip of wine, unfazed by his anger. “You can’t trace anything backtous.”
Katie smiled, one Alexei recognized for when she went in for the kill. “I’m a very skilled hacker, Stanislav. If you thought I wouldn’t protect my people, you’re sadlymistaken.”
The tense stalemate lasted silently through the serving of the next course, a tiny iron kettle filled with clear broth, chewy noodles, and thin strips of tender beef. Alexei brought a spoonful of the broth to his lips and sipped at the hot liquid. It tasted like toasted sesameseeds.
“I’m not like the people we’ve helped you corner over the last year or so,” Jamie said once the waitstaff haddisappeared.
“I can see that,” Stanislavgroundout.
Alexei tried not to tense at that phrase, half-wondering if Stanislav had already foreseen the end of this conversation and was somehow steering it to a conclusion that would benefit the Pavluhkins and nottheMDF.
Jamie didn’t take his eyes off Stanislav. “That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in pursuing a different sort of business partnership with you. I can’t speak for my father, but there are several competing companies I know he wouldn’t mind seeing fall by the wayside, if you get mymeaning.”
The younger Pavluhkin looked across the table at his father, but Yakov said nothing, content to chew his way through a few bites of food. Alexei turned his attention to the elder and quietly sipped at his soup. He wondered why Yakov wasn’t taking a more active role in this argument, unless this was a test for his son to see how well he could closeadeal.
“We are listening,” Stanislavfinallysaid.
Jamie leaned back in his chair, his attention split between the two men. “I can push Root Source, Inc. as a better security option to the companies you’re interested in…working with, shall we say. In exchange, you’ll introduce us to some of your contemporaries in other countries. I want Ekaterina’s company to grow. I have a vested interest in it,afterall.”
By contemporaries, Alexei knew Jamie meant other criminal organizations. Identifying the ringleaders outside the Pavluhkins’ immediate sphere of influence was a long process. Direct access to the inner circles of the people involved in this global criminal alliance would cut everyone’s workloadinhalf.
“Quid pro quo,” Katie added. “We help you, and youhelpus.”
“The bargain doesn’t favor us,” Stanislavsnapped.
“My family is worth more to you untarnished. If you feel that we,” Jamie gestured at those gathered around the table with him, “are no longer of any use to you, then by all means, try a smear campaign against my family. I guarantee it won’t end how you predictitwill.”
Stanislav narrowed his eyes, mouth pressed into a hard line. “Youthinkso?”
Jamie shrugged, picking up his wine glass. He hadn’t touched his soup, which was a shame. Alexei thought it was really good soup. “You don’t have enough money or connections to ruin myfamily.”
Alexei’s perusal of the food was abruptly halted when Yakov cut in, drawing Alexei’sattention.
“Nothing to say about this, Alexei? Or you always willing to march lockstep with Jamie?” Yakovasked.
Alexei shrugged. “Would follow Jamie anywhere. You want best? Heisbest. Be stupid toignorethat.”
A quiet settled over the table, lasting long enough that the servers returned to take away the soup and serve them with artfully plated bites of wagyu tenderloin. Alexei eyed his plate mournfully, wishing it was an entire steak, not threemouthfuls.
“Loyalty is measure I take seriously,” Yakov said after the servers left. “Most people not worth my time. Not worth effort. You, Jamie, we makeexception.”
Stanislav’s expression was stony, but he didn’t argue his father’s tacit agreement to Jamie’s counteroffer. What food he’d eaten settled uneasily in Alexei’s stomach. They couldn’t know if this was the exact conclusion the Pavluhkins wanted, but Alexei didn’t like the corner they were being backed into, Jamie especially. This dinner could be too easily branded as collusion if the Pavluhkins decided to cut their losses and toss them to the sharp teeth of the mediacrats, and beyond them, the Department of Justice. Jamie’s father’s political career would be in tatters if thathappened.
“I’m glad to hear it. We want to make this business relationship work, Yakov,”Jamiesaid.
“Will work only if we like what you provide. We want initial contacts in one week, or dealisoff.”
“I’ll need more than a week. Myfather—”
“One week,” Yakov interrupted, a hint of irritation filtering through his tone. “Is enough time to get what we want. You own company,da? Be easy to do. New contracts for us, introductionsforyou.”
“I don’t think we need to impress upon you the…consequencesthat will result in you not following through,” Stanislav added through clenchedteeth.
“Fine. One week.” Jamie raised his wine glass and tilted it in Yakov’s direction. “To newpartnerships.”
