Page 13 of Perfect Stalker

I blink, and the figure is gone. I whirl around, scanning the area, but there’s no sign of anyone suspicious. Just the usual crowd of commuters and pedestrians.

My hands shake when I pull out my phone, ready to call...who? The police? What would I even say? I have no proof of anything, just overheard snippets of conversation and a paranoid feeling of being watched.

The bus arrives, and I climb aboard, sinking into a seat near the back. As we pull away from the curb, I’m afraid my life has just taken a dangerous turn. Ivan Markov, with his intense gray eyes and promises of a better future, has dragged me into a world I never wanted to be part of, and now, I don’t know how to escape.

CHAPTER 6

IVAN

After sending Jenny to the archives and welcoming Marcus into my new office, I settle back in my leather chair. Marcus stands before me, his posture rigid as he delivers his report on the Morozov Syndicate. The name Alexei Morozov chills the room, and I fight to keep my expression neutral.

“We have reason to believe Alexei is playing a long game,” says Marcus. “Our sources indicate he might have a mole feeding him information about our operations.”

I nod, processing the information. Our last encounter with Alexei flashes through my mind—a failed attempt to dismantle his operation that left me retreating to Atlanta. The memory stings, a reminder of my own fallibility. “What do we know about this potential mole?” I ask, leaning forward.

Marcus shakes his head. “Nothing concrete yet. We’re vetting everyone, but it’s slow going especially with the…abrupt shift to this building and having to shuffle staff and hire new ones, alongwith background checks…” He trails off, his disapproval of my quick actions radiating from him, though he doesn’t say it aloud.

He doesn’t understand my obsession with Jenny, or the need to keep her safe. I get that, but I don’t require his approval or understanding. I require his obedience and willingness to do what needs to be done—but I appreciate that he’s brave enough to call me out on bullshit when needed, just like any true best friend.

“We want to shift focus off our known assets then, at least for now, to avoid giving Alexei an edge.” I drum my fingers on the arm of my chair, considering our options. “We’ve used legitimate channels before. The entertainment industry has always been?—”

“Too risky now.” He shakes his head as he pushes back his chair to stand. “The feds are watching those channels like hawks. One wrong move moving through the company, and they’ll be crawling up our asses with a microscope. We can’t afford that kind of heat.”

“There are other ways.” Irritation rushes through me, and I slam my fist on my desk. “I didn’t build this empire by playing it safe.”

The door bursts open, cutting me off mid-sentence. Jenny storms in, her eyes blazing with fury. She slams a stack of classic DVDs onto my desk.

“Ms. Graham, I don’t recall inviting you in,” I say sharply, rising to my feet. My mouth is dry. How much did she hear? I intend to tell her everything…eventually. I just need to secure her affection first.

“I won’t work for you if your business is tainted by illegal dealings,” she snaps, her voice shaking with anger and disappointment.

I take a step toward her, holding up a hand. “Jenny, let me explain?—”

“No.” She cuts me off, waving her hand at me. “I don’t want to hear it. I trusted you, Ivan. I thought this job was a chance to build something real, but it’s all just a front for your criminal activities, isn’t it?”

Marcus moves to stand between us, his posture tense. “Ms. Graham, you’re making assumptions based on a fragment of conversation you overheard.”

Jenny laughs bitterly. “Am I? Then explain to me why you were discussing moving something through the company. That sounds like money laundering or drugs, and I want no part of either. So, go ahead. Explain. I’m all ears.”

I give her a firm look. “This is a complex situation that you don’t fully understand.”

“I understand enough that I can’t be a part of this. I quit.” She turns on her heel, ready to storm out.

“Jenny, wait. Please. Let me explain.” The words escape me before I can stop them.

For a moment, she hesitates, and I see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but then her expression hardens once more. “I’m sorry, Mr. Markov,” she says coldly. “I can’t do this. Goodbye.”

I watch her go, torn between the urge to chase after her and the knowledge that she needs time to cool down. I turn back to Marcus, who’s watching me with a raised eyebrow.

“She’ll be fine,” I say, more to convince myself than him. “Our security team will keep an eye on her.”

He nods, but I can see the concern in his eyes. “Boss, if she talks?—”

I hold up a hand, silencing him. “She won’t. Jenny’s angry, but she’s not stupid. She’s clearly realized our business isn’t just entertainment, and she’s smart enough to know one could expect consequences for betraying a group like ours.” Not Jenny though. Never her. If she shouted her suspicions on the street corner, I’d stand there quietly, just to hear her voice.

I’m a patheticdurak.

I sink back into my chair, thoughts spinning. Jenny’s words echo in my head, her disappointment cutting deeper than I care to admit. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine telling her the truth right now, but I push aside the thought. The less she knows, the safer she’ll be, and I can’t risk telling her much of anything until I know she’s going to stay with me.

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