Page 22 of Blood Mosaic

“The advance is standard with contracts of this kind,” Elene said. “As you will not be paid the full commission until your contract is complete, you’ll need money to live on, and that’s what the advance is for.”

“But the money Zara owed me?—”

“Was also correct,” Elene said. “You were paid for your six months of wages. We calculated your per-day rate based on that amount and paid you for the six months of workdays—roughly one hundred and twenty days minus bank and government holidays—for that period and added that amount to your payment. It’s standard back pay. Mr. Sokolov insisted. He wants no problems with the Ukrainian or Russian labor authorities, and he trusts that SMO has remedied the situation to your satisfaction.”

She blinked. The icy little wolf blinked, and Oleg smiled.

He’d surprised her. Good.

“Of course. You are correct.” Tatyana nodded. “I appreciate how quickly you resolved this, Ms. Beridze.”

“She didn’t say thank you.” Mika glanced over his shoulder. “Ungrateful human.”

“No thanks are needed when a debt is settled,” Oleg said. “I paid her what Zara owed.”

Elene was just as brusque. “Excellent.” She handed Tatyana one last form. “If you could sign this, we will make a copy for both SMO and your own files so that we have a record you have received your back pay from ZOL and that any outstanding wages have been settled before the start of your current contract.”

“Of course.” The little human signed on the line, and Elene snatched up the paper and handed it to the secretary.

Your foot is well and truly in my trap now, volchitsa.

“She’s mine now,” Oleg said.

Mika raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

Oleg shrugged. “Exactly what I said. She’s mine.”

Oleg was walkingtoward the conference room when he nearly ran into Elene’s secretary. He looked down at the dark-haired woman who only came up to his chest.

“Marta.”

The young woman blushed. “Mr. Sokolov.”

“Thank you for staying late tonight.”

The secretary stammered. “It’s always a pleasure… I mean, it’s no problem, Mr. Sokolov.”

He’d fed from her once. Enjoyed her innocent attempts at seduction before he wiped her memory. She would have been embarrassed to look at him otherwise.

He lifted his chin and looked down at the woman. “Is Elene finished in the conference room?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “I believe Ms. Beridze is showing Tatyana to the office she wants her to use.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s the one right behind my desk.” Marta blushed a little. “If you want me to show you?—”

“No need. I remember where your desk is.”

Marta smiled. “Of course.” She blushed harder, and Oleg took a deep inhale of the light, floral scent of the human’s blood.

Was she a vegetarian? Possibly.

He moved past the blushing human and walked down the hall, turning quickly into another office where he spotted Elene and Tatyana behind a half-open door.

“…not sure what you mean, Miss Vorona.” Elene’s voice was low and cautious.

Oleg paused at the door, scanning the room for other ears. It was late and there was no one else around since Marta had left.

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