Page 12 of Knocked Up by the Bratva

She’s been in my head for weeks, invading my thoughts when I least expect it. Every time I try to focus on something else, her image creeps in. The memory of that night, how she felt under my hands, the way she looked at me with those wide, innocent eyes—it haunts me. It pisses me off too. How the hell did she just leave without saying anything? No note, no goodbye, nothing. She slipped away like it meant nothing.

Oleg glances over, smirking. “You hear about the intern who caused all this buzz?”

I blink, pulling myself back to the present. “What?”

“The sales spike,” Oleg continues, clearly amused. “Apparently, some intern in the marketing department managed to make a few posts go viral. It’s why we’re seeing such a rise in leads. Some kid working her way up the ladder. Impressive, no?”

“An intern,” I mutter, half listening, my thoughts still trailing back to Jennifer. I clench my jaw, annoyed that I’m even thinking about her. I’ve had plenty of women, but none of them left this kind of mark on me. None of them made me feel this restless.

“She’ll be at the meeting,” Oleg adds, clearly oblivious to my internal battle. “I’m curious to see who managed to outdo the entire marketing team.”

I nod absentmindedly, my mind still on Jennifer. I remember the way she reacted to my touch, the way her bodyresponded to mine, the soft gasps she let out when I pushed her to the edge. She enjoyed every second of it—there’s no doubt about that. So why the hell has she been avoiding me?

It’s not like I’m new to one-night stands. Women don’t usually affect me this way, but there was something different about her. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s more than just another distraction. Maybe it’s the challenge of it. Or maybe it’s something else. Something I don’t want to admit.

Oleg’s voice pulls me back to reality again. “What’s with that look?”

I glance at him, forcing my expression to relax. “Nothing.”

He grins knowingly. “Still thinking about that girl, huh?”

I glare at him, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s right. “Let’s focus on the meeting.”

“Sure, sure,” Oleg says, chuckling, clearly not fooled. He leans back in his seat, but I can feel him watching me out of the corner of his eye.

It’s frustrating. I should be focused on this meeting, on the empire I’m building, but I can’t stop thinking about how Jennifer slipped through my fingers. It shouldn’t matter. She shouldn’t matter. Damn it, I want her again.

The car pulls up to the office building, and I step out, adjusting my suit jacket. I need to shake this off. Get my head back in the game. As we head to the boardroom, all I can think about is finding her again. This time, I’m not letting her disappear so easily.

We make our way through the hallways of the Empire City Estates headquarters, and Oleg is still talking about the intern, probably excited to see the newbie in action. I don’t pay much attention, but I catch snippets of praise from otheremployees as we walk by. Apparently, this intern is making waves. Good for her.

Oleg is still rambling about the intern, but I only half listen. My mind is preoccupied, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of Jennifer and focus on the task at hand.

As we approach the meeting room, a few familiar faces greet me—executives, board members, all of them eager to kiss up, throwing compliments my way. I nod in acknowledgment, keeping my responses short. I’ve never been one for small talk. I’m here for business, not pleasantries.

“Mr. Sharov.” The CEO, Mitchell Hayes, steps forward, his hand extended. He’s a tall man, always polished and put together, but there’s an edge to him—a man who knows the stakes of being in my good graces. “Good to see you.”

“Likewise,” I say, shaking his hand.

Hayes motions toward the room. “Shall we?”

Inside, the boardroom is all marble and dark wood, a place designed to scream power and prestige. The long, polished table is already lined with folders and notes, the screen at the front lit up with charts and numbers. The rest of the board members filter in, taking their seats. Oleg and I settle near the head of the table, where Hayes prepares to start.

“Thank you all for being here,” Hayes begins, his voice commanding the room’s attention. “Before we get into specifics, I want to extend my gratitude to all of you. This past quarter has been one of our best yet, and it’s all thanks to the hard work and dedication of our teams.”

There’s a murmur of approval from the board members, and Hayes glances down at his notes before continuing.

“Empire City Estates has seen a substantial rise in profits, thanks to several successful campaigns and strategies. The realestate market has been favorable, and we’ve capitalized on it effectively. Our recent online engagement has skyrocketed, and our social media presence—thanks to some fresh talent—has driven in new clients, both corporate and individual.”

I listen intently, even though I already know the numbers. My businesses don’t just run themselves, no matter how much I delegate. My eyes skim the data on the screen—a five percent increase in leads, a fifteen percent uptick in closed deals. Good numbers, but nothing new for me.

Oleg leans over, muttering under his breath, “Looks like your investments are paying off. Might need to add another zero to your bank account soon.”

I give him a sideways glance but don’t respond. Wealth is one thing, but control? Control is what I crave. Empire City Estates is just one more avenue that keeps me on top.

Hayes continues, detailing upcoming projects, growth projections, and market trends. I nod along, making mental notes. The meeting moves smoothly, with the usual back-and-forth between the board members. It’s nothing out of the ordinary—just business.

As Hayes concludes his updates and mentions the intern who spearheaded the viral campaign, my interest piques again. He says, “Before we wrap things up, I’d like to highlight one of the rising stars on my team. She’s the one responsible for our recent surge in social media leads. Please welcome Jennifer Jewels.”

---