Chapter 17
“Good evening, Mr. Popov,” Zoe greeted him warmly and held her hand out to him. He greedily took it and kissed the back of it.
Zoe kept her smile in place when she really just wanted to punch him in his face.
“How many times must I tell you to call me Viktor?”
“Very well. Viktor.” Zoe didn’t want to, but she wanted to butter him up to pump him for information. Being on his good side would go a long way.
The old man’s eyes lit up like she had just given him a treat then cleared when Maxim, who stood next to her, cleared his throat.
“Maxim, my old friend. It has been too long.” Viktor held out his liver-spotted hand and shook Maxim’s.
Though they were similar in age, Maxim looked much younger and haler than Viktor. Years of alcohol abuse and probably sampling his own product had taken their toll. Maxim, on the other hand, liked to keep fit with a physical trainer and daily swims in his pool. He hardly ever drank and never did drugs.
“It has, but it’s always good to see you.”
“And you. You should get out to New York more often. It’s been almost a year since you’ve come out.”
“I’ve been busy setting things up here, but they are running more smoothly now. Perhaps soon.”
“I’m sure it’s all thanks to this lady, no doubt.” Viktor glanced over his shoulder at Zoe.
“I can’t take all of the credit.” Zoe held her hands up in surrender. She really didn’t do much other than make sure things moved smoothly.
“Being modest, I see.” Viktor gave her a toothy grin, revealing heavily stained brown teeth. “You did a beautiful job with my assets. Things aren’t the same since you left.”
“Maxim here should take the full credit. He had a vision. I just helped him achieve it and maintain it.”
Viktor looked like he wanted to say something else, but Leo stepped forward, stealing Viktor’s attention. “And Leo, my boy. My, how you’ve grown. Standing next to your father, I see how similar in looks you are. The same drive for business as him too. I’m looking forward to our partnership.” Zoe watched Maxim stiffen. “For all of us,” he amended. “If we can come to an agreement,” Viktor finished, looking at Maxim with another toothy grin. Viktor was smart enough to know this was all contingent on Maxim.
Maxim didn’t hear it, but she was trained for it. She’d heard the cut direct. Viktor didn’t want Maxim as part of the partnership. Only Leo, but he was schmoozing up to Maxim until he agreed. He was trying to be incognito about it. Time to go to work and get to the bottom of why he was here. “Dinner will be ready shortly. Let’s adjourn to the dining room, and you can tell us more about this partnership.”
Zoe led the way to the dining room, pointing out where Viktor was to sit. Since he was the guest of honor, he took the right-hand spot and Zoe took the seat next to Leo. There was no way in hell she was sitting next to Viktor over the next several hours, especially as alcohol and food was in abundance. She also wanted to watch him.
A waiter brought in the bottle of vodka Zoe had chosen earlier.
Viktor eyed the bottle as a small glass was poured for him while he placed his napkin in his lap. “Clix, you shouldn’t have.”
Zoe hated how they had to cater to this man. He didn’t deserve high-class vodka. He didn’t deserve anything but a small, cold jail cell the rest of his miserable life.
“Only the best for my guests.” Maxim saluted with his own glass.
Maxim may believe Viktor had the best of intentions, but Zoe wasn’t fooled.
“I can’t wait to see what else is in store this evening.” Viktor tossed back his vodka in one gulp and rubbed his hands in glee as the first course was set in front of him.
“You do know how to show a guest a good time,” Viktor stated as the next course was taken away and another placed in front of him with another glass of vodka.
Zoe had been waiting patiently as the courses continued and most of the bottle was finished before she started her soft interrogation.
“Leo tells us you are working on a partnership with Diego Fuentes,” she mentioned casually as she sipped her own glass of vodka.
“I am.”
“It’s going to be the biggest collage of bosses working together in history,” Leo chimed in. “Viktor has everything worked out. It’s brilliant.”
“Indeed. Viktor, I didn’t know you were acquainted with Diego. When did that happen?”
