Page 24 of The Payment

“Let’s get this over with.”Dragging in a deep breath, Tatiana walked through the door with Levin on her heels.“Ladies, gentlemen...welcome to TAP United Logistics.”

Once the introductions were over, Tatiana settled at the head of the table.Tapping her fingers, she looked around the faces watching her.

“Since you requested the meeting, Mr.Dutton, the floor is yours.”Although she was handing over the control of the agenda to Bolton Enterprises, the quiet authority in her voice thrilled through the room, leaving no doubt in any of their minds that it was a temporary concession.She was the one in charge.

Dutton’s words died in his throat as the boardroom door swung open.The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Jarek Farrel entered.His measured steps and calm demeanor belied the cold fury in his eyes.Several of Bolton’s representatives shifted uncomfortably in their chairs.

“I wasn’t aware of this meeting.”Each word fell like a lightning boom into the silence.“Would someone care to explain?”

Ken Dutton straightened his tie, attempting to project confidence.“Mr.Farrel, as per company policy, we’re conducting a standard operational review of our new acquisition.”

“Acquisition?”The single word carried enough menace to make Dutton’s confident façade crack.

“Sir,” Gregory Pierce, Bolton’s Operations Director, interjected, “we merely thought—”

“You thought wrong.”Jarek remained standing, his stillness more intimidating than any show of anger.“I believe I made it clear that TAP would operate independently under Mrs.Polov’s management.”

“With all due respect, sir,” Dutton persisted, though sweat beaded on his forehead, “as major investors, we have a responsibility to oversee financial decisions—”

“Mrs.Polov.”Jarek’s interruption silenced the room.He honored her insistence to keep her own surname, especially at work.In the bigger scheme of things, it was inconsequential and didn’t bother him.His gaze met Tatiana’s, and she saw something unexpected there—trust, respect, and a challenge.“I believe this falls under your purview.”

Tatiana felt a surge of pride and power.He wasn’t rescuing her; he was acknowledging her authority.She rose slowly, commanding attention.

“Indeed.”Her voice carried clear and strong.“Gentlemen and ladies, let me clarify something.”She moved around the table with deliberate steps.“I’m surprised, Mr.Dutton, that you refer to our association as an acquisition since I would like to believe that you had done your homework before setting up this meeting.It’s a purely financial investment with returns.”Her eyes glimmered coldly.“TAP’s contract with Bolton Enterprises explicitly outlines our autonomous operational status.We welcome your investment, but our management and operational structure remains unchanged.”

At her gesture, Brendon laid out quarterly reports.She discussed them with precision while her darkening eyes challenged anyone to question their figures.

“Since opening the new headquarters here, our overall revenue is up twenty percent.We’ve already expanded into three new markets while maintaining quality control.Our new proprietary logistics software has reduced operating costs by fifteen percent, not only here but also at the Atlanta entity.Our client satisfaction rate exceeds industry standards by thirty percent.”

The representatives’ earlier bravado crumbled under her systematic dismantling of their concerns.Even Dutton sat back, looking chastened.

“Again,” her voice turned a smidgen colder.“All of which you should’ve known prior to setting up this meeting.Therefore,” she concluded, her authority absolute, “while we appreciate your interest, any attempt to interfere with our operational decisions would breach our agreement.Correct, Mr.Farrel?”

“Mrs.Polov is correct,” Jarek said with pride evident in his voice.“TAP was never an acquisition.Their innovation and management expertise are unmatched, which is the reason why we invested in them.”His eyes darkened.“Let me reiterate one more point.The fact that Mrs.Polov is my wife has nothing to do with how the contract was set up.The decision to invest happened long before we met.From this point forward, I will personally oversee this account, and I trust this resolves any concerns?”

The meeting concluded with mumbled apologies and hasty exits.As the last person left, the silence felt electric.

Tatiana gathered her papers with steady hands despite her racing pulse.She heard Jarek’s measured steps approach and felt the heat of him before he touched her.In one fluid motion, he spun her around, pinning her against the glass wall with his body.His smile was predatory, and his eyes were dark with intent.

“You forgot to give me a goodbye kiss this morning, my dear wife.”

“I must have a very bad memory,” she countered as she raised her chin defiantly, “since I can’t recall such a stipulation anywhere in the contract.”

His chuckle resonated through her body.She cursed the shiver shimmying down her spine as he moved even closer.

“Let’s file it under ‘it goes along with making a baby, and us having a normal marriage’...which, in case you forgot, is what you agreed to when you moved to Boston.”

Before she could formulate another clipped response, his mouth claimed hers with devastating intensity.One hand tangled in her hair while the other gripped her waist, pulling her against him.Her body betrayed her instantly as she melted into his dominant embrace, even as her mind rebelled.Yet, she refused to submit easily and matched his passion with her own fierce demand.Her fingers dug into his shoulders as her tongue dueled with his, turning the kiss into a battle for control that left them both breathing hard.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were hooded, and his pupils dilated with desire.She silently cursed the small smile playing at his lips when his gaze dropped to her swollen mouth.Her breathing staggered at the hardening of his cock pressing boldly against her lower stomach.

“Tonight, I’m going to introduce you to my exclusive club, The Irish Star.It’s a leather and lace theme night, so if you didn’t bring your kink clothes with you, I suggest you go shopping on the way home.”He moved toward the door with casual grace, tossing over his shoulder, “We leave at seven.Be ready, little dove.”

Tatiana’s stomach clenched as heat pooled in her body.Their last club visit before the wedding had unleashed something primal between them.In that environment, Jarek’s dominance became absolute and her submission...inevitable.Her body first hummed with anticipation, then started trembling with trepidation.Tonight would push every boundary she had tried to maintain since moving in with him.

“Oh, fuck me,” Tatiana whispered as her professional composure shattered when reality crashed in.Through the crystal-clear glass walls, at least a dozen employees quickly averted their gazes, suddenly finding their computer screens fascinating.Others hurried past, poorly concealing knowing smiles.The floor receptionist, Janet, stood frozen at her desk with a coffee cup suspended halfway to her mouth.The entire floor had just witnessed their CEO being thoroughly kissed by Boston’s most powerful businessman.

Heat crawled up her neck and blazed across her cheeks.For a moment, she considered diving under the boardroom table.Instead, she straightened her spine and smoothed her skirt with deliberate movements.Gathering her files with meticulous precision, she ran a quick hand through her hair.The image in the glass wall showed her kiss-swollen lips and a slight smudge of lipstick on the corner of her mouth.She wiped it away with a precise finger, drew a breath, and lifted her chin.

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