Page 20 of The Payment

Chapter Eight

Jarek

One Financial Center, the Financial District of Boston...

The impressive building pierced the morning sky with its glass exterior reflecting the sunrise.Jarek strode through the two-story atrium, nodding to the regular faces he passed.Sunlight poured through the ninety-foot glass ceiling, warming the marble floors beneath his feet.The familiar scent of coffee from the ground-floor café floated toward him in the crisp air from the AC.

This building meant more to him than just another investment.His eighty-five percent ownership remained a closely guarded secret, known only to Declan and Nevil.Bolton Enterprises dominated the top five floors and was a testament to his legitimate success.Here, he never discussed Summerville Mafia business.No violence, no threats, no underworld dealings crossed this threshold.Two worlds on completely opposite spectrums.It made for a hell of a gamble but a challenge he had come to thrive on.

“Morning, sir,” the café barista called out.As she did every morning when she noticed his approach, she was already preparing his usual espresso.

“Thank you, Sera.Punctual and on point as always.”Jarek smiled briefly at her as he took the coffee and headed for the executive elevator.His mind wandered as he walked.These morning routines anchored him, allowing him to pretend he was just another CEO starting his day.Inside these glass walls there was no blood on his hands, no empire built on broken bones.

The elevator hummed as it climbed to the forty-sixth floor.His reflection in the mirrored interior looked stoic.Last night’s memories of Tatiana crashed through his carefully constructed walls.Her taste, her fire, and the way she had surrendered in his arms flooded his mind.It reminded him of the carefree relationship they had started to build before he married her.He smirked at the unwanted and sentimental thought.

“It was never about such nostalgic shit,” he muttered as he sipped on his coffee.Besides, he had been right that Tatiana’s submission wouldn’t extend past sunrise.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered as he tugged on his tie.This morning, she had barely acknowledged him at breakfast, radiating a frosty attitude and furious glares across the table.He had seen it coming, predicted her retreat into anger, but it still got under his skin.Although it hadn’t slipped his attention that she had worn the pendant he had given her.

The doors opened to his domain.Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased Boston Harbor with ships cutting white trails through the blue water.Modern art pieces worth millions hung on the walls, carefully selected to project success and sophistication.

Lisa Parnell, his executive assistant, looked up as he entered.“Mr.Farrel, Declan’s waiting in your office.He’s excited about some new acquisition target.”

“That man has too much energy on any given day,” Jarek grumbled as he pushed open his office doors.The space stretched out before him, showcasing Italian leather furniture, a custom mahogany desk, an informal seating area with plush sofas and chairs, and was finished off with a private bar stocked with rare scotch.It was a sanctuary of power and control, exactly as he had designed it.

Declan Byrne had earned his place here.The man’s sharp instincts served him well in both worlds.He was a respected underboss in the shadows and a brilliant executive in the light.His ability to spot profitable mergers had made Bolton Enterprises millions in legitimate wealth over the years.

“You look like shit,” Declan’s voice cut through Jarek’s thoughts.Sipping on a cup of coffee, he sat in one of the leather chairs with a stack of papers in his lap.

Jarek ignored the comment as he moved to the windows to stand at his favorite spot and stare out at the city.

“What have you got for me?”

“Morrison Tech is ripe for acquisition.Their stock has taken a hit, but their R&D department...”Declan’s voice faded as Jarek’s attention drifted.

The legitimate world still felt like a costume some days, but here in this building, he could almost believe in it and forget the other half of his life...almost, but not quite.For a brief moment, he was caught in a memory of the hustle and bustle of life as a medical doctor dealing with a busy practice.He shook it off.It was in a different lifetime.He had accepted years ago that he could never go back.

“Are you even listening?”Declan’s chair creaked as he leaned forward.“What’s haunting that sharp mind of yours?”

Tatiana’s face kept appearing in the glass.It was as if her sapphire eyes were haunting him.He couldn’t forget the memory of her soft and yielding body against his...only to be contrasted by the ice in her voice this morning.He had told himself it was just sex, a fulfillment of the payment due.Except he hadn’t counted on how her hatred would affect him.There was no denying that even because of that, her submission last night had awakened something deeper inside him...but he wasn’t ready to give it a name or even acknowledge it.Again...falling for the bastard’s granddaughter had never been part of the plan.

---