Page 52 of Rhet

“I need to get rid of Kozlov. If we get rid of him, you can win the bid.” He leans over my desk. His jacket rides up his arms.

“We?” I need to make sure who’s the “we” he’s talking about.

“I mean, I know you have the means to keep Kozlov silent… forever.” His eyes blazes with deceit.

“I’m not a fan of starting wars, plus, blood is an expensive liquid.” I blow smoke in his direction.

He rocks his jaw. Oh, oh, it looks like someone is upset from not getting their way.

“Kozlov is nothing but a pompous jack ass. I can’t have him winning this bid.” Joe’s face becomes red.

“Do I look like some kind of jack ass whisper, Joe. He has done nothing to me or my family. He stays.” Looking across at Zeeta, I see she’s still stoic. Her fingers moving over her laptop.

She has been grabbing my attention all week, but today, she’s wearing ass fitting charcoal pants, with a long sleeve black turtleneck. The black and white hound’s-tooth jacket and black boots pull it all together.

“Are you fucking listening to me, Banner?” Spittle flicks out of Mackey mouth.

I sigh, wanting to rip his throat out. However, knowing my nonchalant attitude hurts him more. Well, that makes me calmer.

“For some reason, you keep forgetting your place when under stress. But I will not start a war with the Russian.” The smoke of my cigar curls moving toward him.

“Know this, Banner, your father built this empire with blood. An empire built on war and blood is maintained by it or else it falls.”

God he’s exasperating.

“It was nice seeing you, Mackey.” I stand waiting for him to stand and leave.

He rises slowly. “If Henry were in charge still, a lot of things would be different.”

“Yes, Dad would place a bullet between your unibrow. But try your luck, go talk to him. Have a good day.” I wait for him to leave my office.

“You should consider what I said, Banner. A lot of people in my circle are looking for you to get rid of Kozlov.”

I smirk. “Well change your fucking circle, Mackey.”

He walks to the door and looks at Zeeta. “Every man has a weakness, Banner. I wonder what’s yours?” He just stands there expecting her to react.

My heart skips a beat when he looks at Zeeta. I keep a neural face. I grab the phone and call maintenance.

As the phone picks up, I don’t wait for the greeting “Have someone come up to sanitize my office.” I hang up. Joe’s words bother me. If he touches so much as a hair on her, his ass is dead. She says nothing to him, turning back to me she says. “So, about today’s lunch appointment.”

Joe grumbles at the door. Yes, Joe, you don’t exist to her.

“Make reservations at the Southern Door.” I sit and adjust myself. Still looking at Zeeta as she types, remaining stoic. Annoying the shit out of me with her silence.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I don’t even know why I ask but some part of me wants to know.

She finally looks up from her laptop. “So, we’re talking again?”

“I never stopped.”

She turns to me in her chair. “I had one.”

“Had? What was his name?” I need to know who was able to catch Zeeta’s eye.

“His name was Craig,” she replies.

“Craig? What’s his last name?” I already swipe up my phone to open google to see who this loser is.

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