“Kiara Keith,” I murmured softly, trying this new name out.
“Where’s Mr. Rodriguez?” a man asked from his seat.
“He won't be joining us today; that’s why she’s here. She’s representing the company,” Mr. Petrov replied.
“Her?” another man asked, shock flickering in his gaze. “She’s no older than my first daughter.” He glowered at her with a mix of jealousy and frustration. He clearly didn’t like that she’d attained this much recognition at a young age. His daughter obviously hadn’t gotten to this stage in her life.
“No one gives a shit about your first daughter, Calvin,” someone else said to him. “If Mr. Rodriguez asked her to represent the company; it means he believes in her ability to do so. So, instead of debating about how young she is, why don’t we get down to business?”
“Well spoken,” Mr. Petrov said. “Shall we begin?”
He helped her with her seat, smiling faintly.
A frown graced my face, and I felt a dose of rage swelling inside me. Why was he nice to her? What was his game? I’d kill him and everyone else in this room if he didn’t stop fooling around with her.
“Thank you.” She smiled at him, taking a seat by his side, directly opposite me.
I was already so pissed at her, and now, she was trying to make me jealous? Had she forgotten so quickly what I could do when I was jealous?
I was seething in silence, especially when he stole a glance at her, discreetly checking her out.
My fists were balled and ready to drill his face, but as my eyes met with Andrei’s, he gently shook his head at me. I got the message and inhaled deeply; then, I let it out slowly.
The meeting began in no time, and ideas were being shared. The men were negotiating, trying to reach an agreement, and while they were at it, I continued to feed my eyes with her gorgeousness. I was going to fill my head with thoughts of how I’d make her suffer, just as I had suffered, but her beauty was something that I could not ignore.
At intervals, she’d steal glances at me, masking her concern with confidence. It was admirable, and she was fucking hot.
“Ms. Keith.” Mr. Petrov turned to her. “Your boss wouldn’t shut up about how insightful you are. Care to help us out?” he asked.
Her boss wouldn’t shut up about her? Is she having an affair with the man?
I fumed, and she could see it in my eyes that I was boiling. There sure were a lot of men that would feel my wrath.
She cleared her throat and glanced at me for a second before providing the board with her idea on the deal. While she spoke, my focus was on her, but this time, I wasn’t staring at her on a personal note.
I was engrossed, captivated by the words of knowledge she was spilling. Her confidence, her aura, and her eloquence, not offering so much as a stutter, baffled me. She knew exactly what she was doing; she was well-educated, well-informed, and simply brilliant.
She was so good that everyone in the room was stunned, especially given that she was the youngest among us. Even Vlad was impressed, and he couldn’t hide it. Andrei was smirking in his seat, and even when I cast a glare at him to stop, he ignored me and continued to listen to her, intrigued.
I had always known she was brilliant, smart, but this was on a whole new level, and a part of me was proud of her. Despite my anger, I was proud that she’d become this confident to address the likes of us.
The Wolkovs were hard men to please, and this performance really satisfied us.
As much as she could, knowing there was an impending doom awaiting her after this meeting was over, Vivian maintained her cool.
I wasn’t surprised; she was a good actress. She’d managed to trick and, eventually, escape me. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I wouldn’t lose her again. Destiny had brought her to me, and now, she was mine for the taking. I smirked at the idea of what I’d do to her.
The board members were all nodding their heads in affirmation of what she’d said; they were blown away. Words were spoken in hushed tones amongst themselves.
“She’s a natural, this one,” Vlad said to me.
I gave him a wry grin and returned my gaze to her.
“It’s Kiara, am I right?” I asked her.
For a second there, I watched her breath cease.