Page 41 of Ruthless Lullaby

Have you gone insane, Mindy?

It's all strange, unsettling, all kinds of wrong, but I can't shake it off. Especially after the mind-blowing sex we just had.

Why?

Why am I drawn to him this way?

Why him?

Whatever the case, this is too much too soon. I need time to clear my head. Especially after everything that happened these last few days. My responsibilities loom over me like a dark cloud. And this, this contract could be the solution.

But at what cost, Mindy?

Are you seriously considering this?

"One final thing," Maron breaks the silence with a dark look on his face. It's a familiar expression I've seen in the boardroom; it's when he pounces on someone who dares to challenge him. His voice drops to a menacing whisper as he leans in, his eyes burning with a ruthless determination. "This conversation is strictly confidential. And so is the contract, regardless if you agree or not. If even a hint of this discussion reaches anyone else, consider it null and void. You'll be out of my life immediately." He leans back, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Tell anyone about this, and trust me, you will never get work again for as long as you live. Am I clear?"

My throat tightens and a chill runs down my spine as I nod in understanding. I can tell by his tone that he’s not joking. "Crystal."

"Good."

I swallow hard, my throat dry, drier than the fucking Kalahari Desert. Has he just threatened me? My visceral reaction would be to tell him to go fuck himself. Toss his ridiculous contract in his smug face and storm out. But for whatever reason, I am stopped by an invisible force. And a big part of that invisible force is the overbearing, magnetic pull I feel to this dangerous man. The other big part is the chance that maybe I can save my family. And maybe this is the sacrifice I have to make to do so. And to redeem myself after what I’ve done. If that’s even possible.

Slowly, I close the folder and look up at Maron Korolev. "I'll think about it."

He nods. "I expect an answer from you in no more than a week."

Chapter Seventeen

Maron

"Boss, you’re not going to believe this! The latest Tramoxine trials are off the charts." Igor, my head chemist, is practically bouncing with excitement at the other end of the telephone line.

Igor is probably the most enthusiastic guy I know. He's been in the chemistry game for decades, but he still acts like a kid with his first matchbox set whenever he sees results from his research. He also seems to have the urge to share them with me immediately, which suits me. Especially with a project as important as Tramoxine.

My ears perk up. "What are the numbers?"

"We're seeing a whopping 92% success rate in treating PTSD," Igor explains. "And that's not all - it's also proving to be a game changer for depression and anxiety disorders."

"Otlichnaya rabota,Igor. That's very good," I say, allowing myself a small grin. "Any side effects?"

"We’re still looking into it, but nothing major so far," Igor reassures me. "We’ve been monitoring our first set of patients for months now and the results seem to last. If our data is correct, we might actually be making permanent changes in brain chemistry."

I lean back in my chair, trying to wrap my head around this information. This is great news. Fuck, no. It’s better than great!

"What about addiction?” I ask Igor. “Any risks?"

"Nothing so far, boss,” he sounds like he can barely contain his excitement. “We’re still running studies, but nobody got hooked after the treatment so far. Every one of our subjects quit without showing any withdrawal symptoms."

"Great fucking job, Igor. Looks like we’ve hit the jackpot."

"Looks like it, boss. If we continue to have these results, we’re going to revolutionize mental health treatment. And with the market we're targeting..."

"We're looking at billions," I finish for him. "Everyone's screwed-up one way or the other. Well done, Igor."

I can almost see his smirk through the phone. "Spasibo, Pakhan."

"Keep me posted," I tell him. “I want to know everything.”

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