Page 17 of Dark Seduction

Dalia turns and leaves the office, and I can’t help but admire the way she moves, the sway of her hips. Once the door closes behind her, I take a deep breath, trying to regain focus.

Having her as my PA is going to test my self-control in ways I never anticipated.

Ten minutes later, there’s a knock at my office door. "Come in," I call out.

The door swings open, and Vladimir Smirnov strides in, followed closely by Ivan “Vanya” Korolev.

Vladimir is a key ally and partner in our operations, and Vanya is my right hand and close confidant.

"Gentlemen," I say, my voice firm. "Take a seat. Let's get started."

The three of us exchange pleasantries but I keep it brief. Time is valuable.

“Alright, let's get down to business. The company is growing nicely. We're quickly becoming one of the largest holding companies in the Midwest.”

We discuss possible expansions to the east and west coasts, plans that are ambitious but necessary.

“We need to build a stronger base here before making those moves,” I say, my tone firm.

Vanya smirks, making a crack. “Lev, you've always imagined taking over the world.”

I allow myself a smirk of my own. “True, but I'll start with the U.S. first.”

Vladimir interjects, his expression serious. “There's a growing problem we need to address. A man named Alexei Plushenko has been swooping in and buying properties we've been looking to acquire.”

My eyes narrow. “Plushenko. What do we know about him?”

“He’s a cunning operator,” Vladimir explains. “Seems to have deep pockets and good intel on our moves. He had the audacity to have his personal assistant inform us that he's willing to sell the properties to us, for a 'fair and reasonable price.’”

I glance at Vanya. “Look into it.”

Vladimir continues, his tone heavy with annoyance. “And, of course, the prices are anything but reasonable. He’s playing games, trying to undermine us at every turn.”

I feel my jaw clench. The nerve of this Alexei, thinking he can toy with us like this.

“We’ll see about that,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “Vanya, I want you to dig up everything you can on him. I want to know his every move before he makes it.”

Vanya nods, already formulating a plan. “Consider it done.”

Vladimir adds, “We can’t let him think he has the upper hand. We need to make a move, and soon.”

I agree. “We’ll strategize our next steps carefully. But make no mistake, we will put Alexei in his place.”

A charged silence fills the room, each of us aware of the stakes.

I muse aloud, a trace of confusion in my tone. "It's odd—no one in Chicago's Russian American community would dare challenge Ivanov turf like this. By this point, they all know better."

Vanya leans forward. "There are always new young guns trying to make a name for themselves by targeting those at the top."

Vladimir, however, isn't convinced. He shakes his head dismissively. "Even the ambitious ones here know better than to take a direct swing at us." He pauses, his gaze sharpening. "We need to exercise caution with Alexei. He's clearly not a typical brash youth; he's astute, hungry for power, and obviously well-connected if can afford the real estate."

I nod, absorbing their perspectives. "Agreed, Vladimir. Underestimating him would be a mistake. His audacity implies he has support and resources we haven’t fully accounted for yet. Not to mention the kind of nerve that could prove dangerous.”

Vanya interjects, "I'll look into his networks. Understanding his backers will reveal their confidence in challenging us."

"Excellent," I respond. "And Vladimir, monitor his movements closely, especially around the properties he's targeting. We need to anticipate his strategies."

Vladimir nods firmly. "I'll ensure our real estate team is on high alert. If he tries to outsmart us, we’ll catch him swiftly."

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