“I know exactly what I’ve stepped into. That’s the problem for you, isn’t it?” I hold his gaze until he looks away. “Fourteen minutes now. I’d hurry.”
The door closes behind them, and I allow myself a moment of satisfaction. Short-lived, though. This is just the beginning.
Over the next three hours, I work through the list Pavel and I compiled, the ones we weren’t certain about. I’m nottaking chances anymore. Not with this. Not with Kirsten’s safety hanging in the balance.
HR is having a field day. I’ve given them a cover story about restructuring following the merger, and they’re too busy processing paperwork to ask questions. The head of HR, a nervous woman named Deborah, stops by around eleven to express concerns about morale and optics.
“All of these terminations in one day sends a message,” she tells me, wringing her hands. “The remaining employees will be frightened. Productivity could suffer.”
I don’t look up from my laptop as I respond, “The remaining employees will be relieved once they realize the dead weight is gone. Process the terminations, Deborah.”
She processes the terminations.
By noon, the building feels lighter. Cleaner. The Volkovs’ eyes and ears have been severed, at least for now. They’ll eventually find other ways to gather intelligence. They always do. But I’ve bought myself time.
Pavel stops by around one and drops into the chair across from my desk. “That’s the last of them. Kowalski from accounting put up a fuss. Started shouting about wrongful termination and lawyers.”
“How’d security handle it?”
“Reminded him that his employment contract includes an arbitration clause.” Pavel grins. “Also reminded him that we know about the gambling debts.”
“Subtle.”
“I can be subtle when the situation calls for it.”
I push my empty coffee cup aside. “Any word from the Volkovs?”
“Nothing concrete. They expected Wallace and Tillman to report in this morning. When they didn’t…” He shrugs. “Confusion, mostly. Alexei has people monitoring their communications.”
“They’ll figure it out soon enough.”
“They will.” Pavel’s grin fades. “And when they do, they’re going to want blood. You just gutted their entire operation inside this company.”
“I’m counting on it. Double the security rotation in the meantime. Anyone who doesn’t have a valid reason to be in this building doesn’t get past the lobby.”
“Already done.” He lingers, studying me. “What about the girl?”
“What about her?”
“Is she going to be a problem?”
I consider the question. Kirsten hasn’t spoken to me since last night. She emerged from the guest room this morning dressed for work, accepted a cup of coffee without comment, and left in the car I arranged for her. Separate from mine, as she requested. She didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t even look at me.
“She’ll adjust,” I decide. “She doesn’t have much choice.”
Pavel looks skeptical but doesn’t push. “I’ll check in later. Alexei wants an update.”
“Tell him to call me himself instead of sending his little brother to do reconnaissance.”
Pavel snorts. “I’ll pass that along.”
After he leaves, I turn my attention to the stack of personnel files on my desk. I’ve been going through them systematically, trying to get a handle on who’s who in this company. Who I can trust. Who I can use. Who might become a problem down the line.
My phone goes off with a text from the security team:Mrs. Karpov arrived at 8:47. Currently at her desk on floor three. No incidents.
Mrs. Karpov. The name still feels strange. I didn’t expect to have a wife at thirty-two. Certainly not one who looks at me like I’m the villain in her story.
Which, to be fair, I probably am.
