On paper, this contract would have been a phenomenal deal. It would have locked in our European logistics for the next three years. But intuition is the exact thing that allowed me to triple my father’s inheritance, and right now, my gut is screaming at me that Harrison Vance is up to no good. I refuse to put my trust in the hands of a man who can’t even keep his sexism out of a pitch meeting.
"I am pulling our interest from this merger," I state smoothly, rising to my feet.
Harrison stumbles up from his chair, panicked now that the hundred-million-dollar deal is evaporating in front of his eyes. "Are you serious? You’re that sensitive? Pulling out of a multi-million-dollar deal over a joke? You’re being emotional."
Being emotional.
Fuck. Him.
He thought I was far too deep into this deal to pull out over his misogyny disguised as humor. He was wrong.
"Gather your little papers, Harrison. You have exactly two minutes before I have my 'boy toy' personally throw you down the elevator shaft."
Harrison pales, his eyes darting back to the glass where Viktor stands.
Without another word, Harrison and his entourage scramble to grab their briefcases and leave.
Now that the door is shut on his company, my focus shifts to the alternatives. There’s a boutique logistics firm out of Munich that’s been begging for a meeting. I’ll have Sarah pull their files before lunch.
But the moment I look back at Viktor and see him engaged with my primary security team, I get distracted. Marcus and John—two seasoned ex-military men—are standing around him. But they aren’t looking down on him, like I initially feared. In fact, they are listening to him with focus.
Viktor is gesturing with his scarred hands as he points toward the elevator bank and then back toward the emergency stairwell.
“You’re too focused on the street,” he says. “The second she gets out of the car, both of you look outward. That leaves this entire side open.”
John frowns at the layout. “The service entrance?”
“Yeah.” Viktor nods once. “If somebody actually wants to get close to her, they’re not coming from the front where you can see them. They sit back there looking like they belong. Delivery guy. Maintenance. Whatever works.”
“Shit. You’re right,” Marcus hums.
“One of you needs to cover the rear before the car door even opens,” Viktor continues. “The other guy walks her in. Simple.”
John looks back at him. “You really think someone would wait inside the blind spot?”
Viktor gives him a flat look. “That’s exactly where I’d wait.”
How the hell is he this good at this?
As if sensing my gaze, Viktor’s head snaps in my direction. Marcus and John immediately straighten up, clearing their throats when they spot me.
"Ms. Blackwood," Marcus says, giving a respectful nod. "We’re ready when you are."
I keep my eyes pinned on Viktor as I walk toward them. He steps into his position two paces behind me.
I’m fucked because I’m starting to look at him as a shield. Feeling protected. Safe. And I can’t do that. Especially because this—whatever the fuck this is—has a three-month expiration date.
Chapter Fourteen
Valentina
And weeks go by just like this.
I no longer experience tantrums from Davis, as I had my lawyers deal with him.
Viktor quickly becomes the absolute best security asset I have ever had. Over the course of those weeks, his role naturally expands. He begins managing the security of my other companies. Everyone who was initially skeptical of the towering Russian in compression shirts grows to realize very quickly just how brilliant he is at what he does.
But some things never change.
