Page 10 of Beautiful Deception

He leans back in his seat and steeples his fingers together, looking at me intently. “Are you in trouble?”

Yes. “I’m not exactly safe. Please. I need this job. I can’t let my father find out I have it.”

“Mmm. All right. I make my money through means that not everyone knows about. I can understand discretion. If you need me to pay you in cash, I can.”

“You’re not going to ask any more questions?”

“I understand the need for privacy.”

But you’re a Bratva man, I almost blurt out. Doesn’t he want to make sure everything is secure in case he could be compromised? That’s the last thing I can say though. Viktor cannot know I know who he is.

“Thank you,” I say instead. “For being understanding.”

“You seem like a girl down on your luck. I want to help you, Inessa. As long as you do your job well, we won’t have any problems.”

“Of course.”

Just then, the door opens and in walks a man I’ve never met before. Dark hair. Sneaky grin. Incredibly handsome in a bad boy sort of way.

“Finn,” Viktor says, making my blood run cold. “I’m in the middle of an interview.”

Finn. I know who this is. Finn Murphy is brother to Aiden, Elena’s husband. Finn killed Elena’s father, Ivan, and then tried to kill her. Aiden was the one to save her from him and that’s how they fell in love.

Finn used to work with Dante before he left. No one knew where he went. But he’s here now.

And working with Viktor by the sounds of it.

“Who’s this pretty little thing?” Finn asks, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms. He eyes me over like a lion does its prey.

“My new maid. She’s none of your concern. You will not go near her. Is that understood?”

“Come now, Viktor. That’s not fair. You can’t flaunt something so pretty around without me noticing.”

“Inessa is my new maid,” Viktor replies flatly. “She is to be left alone. Is that understood?”

“What are you going to do? Kill me if I don’t listen?”

“I just might. You reached out to me, Finn. If you don’t like this arrangement, you can leave.”

He huffs. “Fine. I won’t touch the girl. But if she wants me to, I’m not sure I could stop myself.”

I step away from him and bump into Viktor’s desk.

“Finn,” Viktor warns. “You’re scaring her. Inessa, you may leave. Remember to show up at seven tomorrow morning. And Finn, leave her alone.”

Knowing I’m dismissed, I hurry out of the office and away from the hungry eyes of Finn.

And the stern eyes of Viktor.

I can’t believe that just happened. I actually got a job working for the man who tried to kill my dad because he tried to kill him. It’s all kinds of messed up. No one can know about this – not even Elena. If anyone were to let slip who I was, what’s to stop Viktor from killing me?

Or at the very least firing me? And then I’d be right back in my old predicament.

I’ll tell my dad I got a job but he doesn’t need to know where. I’ll keep us both safe.

And once Viktor gets to know me well enough, I can ask him to spare my father’s life. He’ll take pity on me – I hope.

I know this is a risky and stupid plan but I’m out of options.

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