Page 28 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“Ah yeah. I guess I don’t have anything to compare it to. I like it fine,” I tell him, thinking I might have misread the situation.

“Huh. Guess so. So, what do you do for fun when you’re not at college? His playful grin lets me know I had read the situation just right.

“Um, normal stuff. Go out to the movies with friends, watch law TV shows.” I chuckle, not sure how much I want to divulge.

Chris stares at my mouth making me self-conscious. “Right, right.”

Oh, he is into me. Shit. I didn’t want this to go this way. “And you?” I say, humoring him.

“Jet-skiing when and where I can. My parents have a place in Lake Tahoe, but unfortunately, I don’t get a lot of time to do that with running a law firm.”

“I can imagine,” I say, finishing up the rest of my burger, hopeful that he won’t take the personal questions any further.

Tightening up, Chris’s smile broadens as he plays with a fry, frowning at me and then looking down at it again. He scoffs, shaking his head. “Umm…,” he says. “Nah, might be the wrong timing,” he adds, confusing me.

“What is it?”

“There’s this event I have to go to, and I wondered if you would like to attend with me.”

With my suspicions confirmed, I take a long look at Chris, sure I’m skating on thin ice. “What’s the event?”

“It’s a big charity gala event in New York.”

“Wow! It’s in New York, that’s so cool.” It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the whirlwind of what he’s offering. A charity gala event in New York, attending with the head of a top Chicago law firm will have me rubbing shoulders with all the right people. But at what cost?

Chris grins, but immediately places a caveat in place. “There’s no obligation to attend the event either. I promise you, it’s not going to hurt your chances if you don’t want to go.”

Twisting my mouth in thought, I think about how nice it would be to get out of the city and clear my head. Maybe it will help me make this difficult decision easier. And if I can advance my career at the same time, it’s a bonus.

He might be claiming it’s not going to have any impact on whether I receive the internship, but what’s to stop him saying I found somebody else who’s a better fit for the job?

“When is the event and what’s it called?” I ask, wanting to know more.

“It’s official title is the Phantom Charity Gala. And that’s because there are a lot of blind auctions of valuable goods being offered up to raise funds for charity.”

Frowning, I take a sip of my drink, not wanting to screw things up. “What type of charities? Can I find them online?”

“You sure can. I like that you’re not just taking things at face value and questioning. I can see why you’re going to make a great lawyer. Here’s the site. It’s legitimate.”

Chris slides his phone in front of me showing me the website, and as I thumb through the gallery, I notice five to ten big power players of New York, including the mayor, politicians I’ve seen in the news, media personalities, New York celebrities, businessmen, and beautiful glamorous people. The charitiesthey support seem to change each year, but I can see mainly it’s for impoverished communities, small business funds, collegiate funds, and animal shelters. Impressed, I slide the phone back to him.

“It does look amazing, and I’ve never been to New York.”

“There you go. You get to mingle with some of New York’s finest, and I can put you in their path. It’s important to have your name mentioned in the right rooms when you need them to be.”

As I roll my shoulders back, summing up my decision, I feel as if I’m carrying a heavy backpack that I can’t put down. Seeing Andrei, the pregnancy… the decision—it’s all too much for me. A getaway to New York won’t hurt.

Smiling, I put my hand out across the table. “I accept your offer. I’ll come with you to New York,” I tell him. He didn’t force you to go. It’s going to be a fun time.

Chris beams, shaking my hand, but doesn’t hold on too long. “We have a deal. Let’s go to New York, baby, and show them what you’ve got.”

Chapter Fourteen – Andrei

Bright twinkling lights and fancy suits can’t cover what I know about these people. Some of them are the most depraved, calculated people on the planet. I should know. I’ve got all their dirt stored for further blackmail purposes.

Buttoning up my suit jacket, I step out of the limo ready to play the game in New York and rub shoulders with the rich, famous, and fraudulent. It’s good for business because, well, they have the money and the resources we may need to expand our operations.

Makar slides out behind me as I tap the side of the gleaming black vehicle, and it drives off. Bright yellow taxis, honking horns, and the loud buzz of the Big Apple surround us as I stare at the historic ballroom we’re about to enter.

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