Page 35 of Innocently Imprisoned By the Bratva

She whips around to look at me, her eyes wide with surprise. Our gazes lock, and for a moment, it feels like we're the only two people in the room.

***

The minute the last presentation is over, I make my way over to her, completely disregarding the disapproving glances from her colleagues. It's not every day that the Bratva boss attends public meetings, let alone cheers on an intern.

"Your ideas were brilliant, Pippa," I tell her sincerely, taking her hands in mine. "You have a real talent for this."

"Thank you, Lev," she says, her cheeks flushed pink. "I'm just glad I could help."

"Help?" I scoff, rolling my eyes. "You've done more than help—you've impressed everyone in this room. And more importantly, you've impressed me."

Just then, the atmosphere in the room shifts. I notice it and turn to see Boris standing up, his presence commanding attention. He clears his throat and walks over, his gaze on Pippa. I can't help but feel a strange mix of pride and anxiety as I watch her meet my older brother's intense stare.

"Miss Anderson," Boris begins, his voice authoritative yet surprisingly warm. "I must say, your presentation today has been nothing short of impressive.”

"Thank you, Mr. Zolotov," Pippa replies, her voice steady despite her obvious nerves. I can see the anxiety in her eyes, and it makes me want to reach out and reassure her that everything will be okay.

"Your expertise is invaluable," Boris continues, "and we'd be foolish not to recognize and utilize your talents. Therefore, I'd like to offer you a part-time position with us, complete with a salary, in addition to us covering your educational pursuits. What do you say, Miss Anderson?"

Pippa's eyes widen in disbelief, and for a moment, she seems lost for words. I feel a surge of relief and happiness wash over me, knowing that this opportunity could change her life for the better.

"Mr. Zolotov, I… I don't know what to say," Pippa stammers, looking between Boris and me with an expression of pure joy. "I'm so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you. Thank you!” she almost gushes now. “I promise I'll work hard and do my best in this new role."

"Then it's settled," Boris says, extending his hand for Pippa to shake. As they exchange a firm handshake, I know that this is only the beginning of something incredible for her—a chance to prove herself and thrive in a world that once seemed off-limits. And I couldn’t be prouder of her.

Chapter 14 - Pippa

The heavy door swings open, and I step into the bustling office. I’m five minutes late because of traffic from campus to here. The chatter of keyboards and hushed conversations fills the air as employees hurry about, completely absorbed in their tasks.

"Ah, Pippa, you're here!" Lev greets me with his usual confident smile, his eyes sparkling beneath a lock of dark hair that's fallen over his forehead. "How was the test?”

“I aced it!” I squeal.

His eyes light up. I see his hands itch to reach for me, to hold me, and spin me around in circles, but we are in a professional environment.

He clears his throat and looks away. “Alright then,” he says, not meeting my gaze.

“Alright then,” I whisper.

He suddenly looks at me, desire pooling in his eyes.

But just then, a colleague calls me over. I bid Lev goodbye, and walk over to Yuri, who is waiting to show me around the accounting department today.

***

Yuri leads me through the maze of cubicles, pointing out each section along the way.

"Over here, we have accounting," he says at last, gesturing toward a group of people hunched over calculators and spreadsheets. Despite my nerves, I can't help but quip, "They must be good at keeping secrets if they manage the books around here."

Yuri chuckles. "You have no idea. Everything in here is top secret. Quite different from marketing," he rolls his eyes.

“Whatever do you mean?” I ask curiously.

Yuri stops in his tracks and pulls me closer, speaking in a hushed voice. "This marketing department is responsible for promoting our legitimate businesses," he explains, emphasizing the word 'legitimate' with a knowing smirk. I can't help but roll my eyes at the not-so-subtle reminder of our illegal operations.

“So what about the other businesses?” I ask pointedly.

“Those are dealt with by top management and people close to them.”

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