Page 10 of Vienna Bargain

“I’m going to speak with her. Alone.”

“Sir, that is not a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Alexander took his phone from his pocket and sent a quick text to his VP of security and operations. Fischer would fill her in on what had happened, and she could oversee the investigation into where the data had been sent and who she had worked for in the past.

As for dealing with Alena herself, he had a plan. A plan born of the icy-rage inside him, and a need to protect his secrets.

Chapter 3

“Leave.” Alexander’s single word rang with enough command that the security personnel standing guard all swiveled to face him.

Behind Alexander the man who’d led the questioning—she’d heard one of them refer to their leader as Fischer—nodded.

The men filed out, some better at hiding their expression than others. They clearly didn't think it was a good idea to leave her alone with Alexander. She wasn't so naïve as to think it was concern for her, the helpless damsel, that prompted their mute disapproval.

She’d even tried the helpless damsel routine on the one who’d been in the closet with her and it had gotten her nowhere.

The security personnel were smart and well-trained enough, they were probably objecting to what was a clear tactical mistake—leaving a captive with someone who was not trained to handle that type of situation.

The last man out pulled the door partially closed leaving it open several centimeters, enough so they be able to hear what was happening in the room.

Alexander stretched out one long arms and pushed the door fully closed.

Then he locked it.

Alena's heartbeat began to race.

“Alexander?”

He walked down to the other end of the elegant conference room and locked that door.

“Alexander, I’m so sorry that—”

“That what?” He still had his back to her, and his shoulders sagged.

Alena closed her eyes. She reminded herself that he was dangerous, she’d seen that, felt it, when he caught her on the stairs and choked her.

But right now he seemed wounded. A man betrayed.

He turned around. “That what, Magdalena?”

“Alena. That wasn’t a lie. Alena is the name I use.”

“So only your family name was a lie?”

“Alexander, please believe me. I had no idea what would happen between us. My attraction to you, the way you make me feel, that was something I didn’t plan for.”

“What was your plan?” He bit off the last word. “Fuck me so I’d let you into my house?”

“No. That’s why my original limits included no intimacy.”

“You think that doesn’t make you a whore?”

Alena’s body jerked, and if her arms hadn’t been zip tied to the arms of the chair she would have lashed out and slapped him.

“Ah, that got a reaction.” His smile was more like a sneer. “Don’t like the truth?”

She forced a cold smile onto her face. “I’m a little disappointed you couldn’t do better than calling me a ’ho.” She smirked at his clear confusion over her slang term.

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