“$400,000,” he said, his face grave.
“Hmm.” I nodded, sitting more upright and placing my elbows on the desk. “So, you inject it into your business and get back on your feet. How long would that take?”
“A year and a half. That’s the longest time possible.”
“18 months. What would your collateral be, then?”
“My company buildings, both of them,” he answered, unfolding some papers and moving them towards me. “Their documents and current valuations. We didn’t use them as collateral for any loan. We couldn’t afford word getting out that it was at risk of being claimed by any creditor.”
“I always go for something more liquid. Not buildings.” I looked through the documents. “$180,000… and $500,000. Both are located in Vladivostok.”
I sighed, looking up from the papers. He had an expectant and uncertain expression on his face.
“Well, you’ll get the loan.”
“Oh! Thank you so much, Mr. Konstantin! I can’t believe I got it!” he rushed.
“In 18 months, you’ll be paying $600,000,” I notified.
“Six…that’s 50%!” he exclaimed, his eyes enlarging. “Thank you!”
“It’s 50%, not because you’re my client or because you lost everything. It’s for myself, so you’ll have no excuse if you default. There will be no limits, then.”
“I won’t disappoint you, I promise.”
“No need to promise,” I dismissed, shrugging. “I hope you realize it’s a one-time repayment?”
“Yes,” he answered, nodding fervently.
“You should also know that, aside from your listed collateral, my men will record all you have—living and non-living. Should you default on the loan, we’ll remind you by using any of them.”
“It won’t get to that,” he remarked.
“I hope so. Because if it does, you’d wish we never went beyond you buying stuff from me.”
“I’ll pay up even before then,” he promised.
“My men will give you the necessary steps to follow,” I said, gesturing towards the door of the office.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Konstantin,” he gushed, rising to his feet. “God bless you. God bless your family!”
“Hm-mm,” I muttered, nodding as he opened the door and left.
My family?
Well, that now included my wife. The wife I’d buried myself in work to avoid thinking about. Since last night when we talked in the library, I hadn't laid my eyes on her. I knew she would either be in her room or the library, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be around her or avoid her. The brief conversation in the library had felt so different and made me feel almost normal—and that was the main cause of my internal conflict. Maybe it was also why I'd found my way into my office since dawn. To avoid running into her.
Someone knocked on my door, and I called out, “Come in.”
Sergie, Devlin, and Matvey entered the office. That only meant one thing: important intel.
After the greetings, and Devlin stood beside the two chairs Sergei and Matvey took, they went straight to business.They knew better than playing around with pleasantries and waiting for me to ask. After all, they were my main men who had soldiers under them.
“Boss, Vitya Morozov’s network is crumbling,” Killian proclaimed.
“Yes, boss. His guys are beginning to pull out, although one or two are joining in. His detention has made things uncertain for them,” Sergei went on.
“That’s quite predictable,” I commented.
