Page 8 of Captivated By Him

“You have managers there reporting to you. Your manager here seems to be doing well; you haven’t fired one in almost seven months.”

“Eight. Nora has been here eight months, and hopefully she won’t be going anywhere.” The hunt for a good manager had been long and hard before I picked her up. Now that she’s settled in so well and has this place straightened out, I’m not letting her go for anything.

“Okay then. You’ll make it work. You always do.” He yawns.

“And what do I get with this expansion?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m going to be creating a new part to this club, bringing in union workers on the sly, and keeping the revenue here up, I think I should get a little something for my trouble.” I level him with a stare. “Don’t you?”

“What do you want?”

“Another ten percent ownership and then an extra five percent on the back end.”

He nods. “Done.”

I should have gone for more, but I’m not as greedy as some of my family thinks I am.

“Fine. I’ll talk with Nora today. Send me the information on the construction company you want used.”

“First I have a meeting with the owners for next door. I’ll get the rest of the information for you once that’s settled.” He gets up from his chair and stretches his chest.

“You want to crash for an hour before you head off?” I ask, motioning toward the spare room attached to my office. Some nights drag into the daylight. I like having a place I can get a few winks or sleep off a few drinks.

Dominik shakes his head. “No. I have to get across town. I’m meeting with Micah this afternoon. I want to get this matter settled first.”

“Micah’s in on the construction deal?” I keep my tone level, but my insides tremble with irritation. Micah Ivanov isn’t a Staszek. He shouldn’t have his damn hands anywhere near our business. I don’t give a shit if he’s married to our little sister.

“No. Lena’s hosting a fundraiser at one of his restaurants next month for the Staszek house. I’m just going over there to make sure he knows it’s a Staszek event. I don’t want the Ivanovs or their associates pushing us out of the event. He gives our sister what she wants, but she forgets underneath it all he is still an Ivanov.”

Micah would never betray Lena. He’s sacrificed for her, as much as she has for him. But Micah would still take an opportunity to nudge us out if given the chance.

“You better get going then. I have shit to do,” I push up to my feet and walk him to the door.

“Kasia will want you at the house this weekend for family dinner. Dad will be there, and I’ll be sure Lena will be there as well. It’s been a while since we all sat down for a meal.” He yanks open the door, trying to end on that note.

“I’ll see. Probably.”

I’m saved from his lecture by Nora popping in the doorway.

“Hey, Dominik.” She smiles brightly at him. Her pixie haircut makes her look innocent and sweet. But I’ve seen the woman during club hours. She’s anything but.

“Hi,” Dominik greets her. I doubt he remembers her name. No woman matters since he found Kasia. I can’t imagine having so much energy put in one direction. When there are so many beautiful women in the world, why limit yourself?

“You look beat, you sleep okay?” She breezes past him and into the office, flittering about my desk with papers.

“Hard night with the baby,” I say on his behalf. She finds what she’s looking for. “Wait, don’t go. I want to talk to you about some new ideas for the club.”

Her gaze flickers from me to Dominik. She’s not ignorant. She doesn’t know specifics—I wouldn’t endanger her that way—but she’s not a fool.

“Okay, no problem.” She relaxes her stance, waiting for me.

“Talk to you later,” Dominik says, then with a wide yawn heads out of my office.

“So, what’s the new idea?” Nora asks with as much enthusiasm as I feel for the project.

“Expansion,” I tell her and her eyes go wide.

---