Page 21 of The Payment

“Focus,” he growled at his reflection.

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Russian, would it?”Jarek clenched his jaw at Declan’s knowing tone.

“The Morrison deal.Walk me through it.”Forcing his mind back to business, Jarek turned from the window.He had meetings to run, deals to close, and a bastard Russian Pakhan’s life to ruin.He couldn’t afford these distractions.But even as he settled behind his desk, her scent lingering in his mind was a ghost he couldn’t shake.

Declan smirked but didn’t push further.Instead, he spread the documents across Jarek’s desk.

“Their stock dropped forty percent last quarter,” Declan pointed to a graph.

Jarek leaned forward in his chair.With his fingers steepled under his chin, he studied the financials.Morrison Tech’s numbers told a compelling story of a company with solid fundamentals struggling with leadership and direction.

“Their CEO’s divorce scandal hit the papers.The Board is losing confidence in his leadership.”

“What about the R&D department?”Jarek’s eyes narrowed onto a particular section of the report.

“That’s the gold mine.”Declan’s face lit up.“They’ve got three patents pending for AI-driven security systems.Military-grade stuff.The Department of Defense is already showing interest.”

Jarek stood and paced behind his desk.The business predator in him recognized the opportunity.

“Do we know their asking price?”

“That’s the beauty of it.They don’t know we’re interested yet.We can grab controlling shares for about sixty percent of actual value if we move fast.”

“Competition?”

“Two venture capital firms are sniffing around, but they’re focused on the commercial side.They don’t see the potential in the defense contracts.”

Jarek stopped pacing with a small smile playing on his lips.This was exactly the kind of legitimate acquisition he loved—clean, profitable, with long-term potential.

“Start buying shares through our shell companies.Keep it quiet.I want position papers on my desk by tomorrow morning.”

“Already on it.”Declan gathered the documents.“One more thing.Their Chief Technology Officer is looking to jump ship.Might be worth having a conversation.”

“Set it up.”Jarek’s phone buzzed.He glanced at it, surprised to notice it was a message from Tatiana.His jaw tightened, but he ignored it.“Anything else?”

Declan hesitated.“Just...don’t let personal stuff cloud this one, boss.Morrison Tech could be our biggest legitimate win yet.”

Jarek’s glare shot daggers at his friend.“When have I ever let personal matters interfere with business?”

Jarek stared at the Morrison Tech proposal, but his mind kept circling back to the bigger game.Tatiana was also supposed to be just another piece on his chessboard.He had planned it meticulously—marry the granddaughter, shake the Pakhan’s control and his confidence, and watch his empire crumble.Simple.Clean.Emotionless.

But that inner voice, the one he had tried to silence in the elevator, mocked him now.She wasn’t just a pawn anymore.He was starting to doubt she ever was.That thought annoyed him more than any threat Gregor could make.

“Never,” Declan admitted, breaking into his thoughts.“But you’ve never had someone like Tatiana Polov in your carefully controlled world either.”

Jarek’s jaw clenched.“She’s a means to an end, nothing more.The mighty Pakhan is already losing his grip.His allies are abandoning him, and his business partners are getting nervous.Even his own men are starting to whisper.”His lips curved into a cold smile.“Taking his empire would’ve been enough, but watching his pride shatter?That’s priceless.”

“Maybe.”Declan leaned forward with his expression turning grave.“Deny it all you want, boss—that woman has gotten under your skin in ways you never planned for.”

“My relationship with my wife isn’t your concern.”Jarek’s voice could have frozen hell.“Nothing has changed.Gregor Polov’s fall is inevitable.”

“And then what?”

“He’s a proud man, Declan.When everything is gone, when he has lost it all...”Jarek’s eyes held a distant look.“I won’t even have to pull the trigger myself.”

“You think he’ll eat his gun?”Declan watched him with a guarded expression.“That’s a dangerous assumption.Gregor’s been quiet, too quiet.Men like him don’t just accept defeat.They strike back harder and nastier, and I don’t believe it would matter to him that his own granddaughter might be caught in the crossfire.We need to watch our backs.”

“You think I don’t know that?”Jarek stood with controlled but tense movements.“Why do you think I’m paying an inside man seven figures?Gregor can’t take a piss without me knowing about it.”

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