Page 13 of Triplet Babies
“Security incident at the warehouse. Theft, vandalism, or something that makes our current protection look inadequate.” He scrolls through more photos, showing different angles of the same men. “Then they offer to help solve the problem they created.”
It’s a classic Nikitin move, elegant in its simplicity and difficult to prove afterward. Create the crisis, then position themselves as the solution. “Double security at all our facilities. I want our people watching their people, and I want documentation of everything. If they try anything, I want proof.”
“Already handled, but there’s another issue.” Valentin closes the laptop and reaches for one of the files. “The engagement contract.”
I set down my coffee cup, suddenly losing my appetite for both caffeine and this conversation. “What about it?”
“Leonid’s lawyers sent over the final draft yesterday. They want your signature by the end of the week.” He slides the document across my desk. “It’s more detailed than the preliminary version.”
I flip through the pages, noting the formal language that makes a personal relationship sound like a corporate merger. Which, in many ways, it is. The contract outlines everything from wedding dates to inheritance rights, from public appearances to business integration, and has the audacity to include a clause that I must produce at least two children with Katya, and a third attempt if both of the first two are girls.
“They’ve added clauses about joint decision-making for major business investments,” I say, stopping at one particularly problematic section. “Katya would have veto power over any deal involving more than fifty million dollars.”
“They’re positioning her as an equal partner rather than just a wife.” Valentin’s tone carries the warning I already understand. “Sign this, and you’re not just marrying into their family. You’re making them partners in ours.”
“Which is exactly what they wanted all along.” I close the contract and push it aside. “The warehouse surveillance was never the real goal. It was just the opening move.”
He nods, looking troubled. “So what do we do?”
“We buy time. I’ll review the contract, request modifications, and generally stall while we figure out our alternatives.” I stand and walk to the window, looking out over the estate grounds.“What about our other options? The Italian connections, or the Romanian routes?”
“Possible, but they’ll take months to establish properly, and they won’t give us the same reach in Eastern Europe that the Nikitins offer.”
I sigh heavily. “They also won’t give the Nikitins control over our operations.”
“True.” He gathers his files and stands as well. “There’s one more thing… Your new assistant.”
The mention of Sarah makes me turn away from the window. “What about her?”
“She has a clean background, exactly as we discussed, but there’s something interesting in her employment history.” He opens a different file and hands me a single sheet of paper. “Her last job in New York ended abruptly. She gave two weeks’ notice, but her supervisor noted she seemed anxious to leave and didn’t provide a forwarding address. You understand this information didn’t come officially, since it’s illegal to reveal that, but for a grand, he was ready to talk.”
I scan the document, noting the dates and the brief comments from her former employer. “People leave jobs for all kinds of reasons.”
“True, but people who are just seeking new opportunities usually don’t refuse exit interviews or decline to participate in company alumni networks.” Valentin’s expression is neutral. “It could be nothing, or it could be something worth knowing about.”
“Such as?”
He pauses, as though considering. “Personal problems, financial issues, or legal troubles that didn’t show up in our standard background check. Or there’s someone she was trying to get away from.”
The possibility settles in my mind with uncomfortable effect, putting me on edge and instantly making me angry. Sarah carries herself like someone who’s learned to be careful and is always aware of her surroundings. I’d attributed it to the normal caution of someone starting a new job, but maybe there’s more to it. “Keep monitoring, but quietly. I still don’t want her to know we’re digging into her life.”
“Understood.”
After he leaves, I try to focus on the contract review and the morning’s other business, but my thoughts keep drifting to Sarah. Yesterday’s meeting went well, and she’d performed better than I’d expected given her limited office experience. She asked intelligent questions, and seemed genuinely interested in doing the job correctly.
More than that, she didn’t flinch when I looked at her directly or try to fill uncomfortable silences with nervous chatter. Most people are either intimidated by me or performing for me, but she simply seemed present.
Around noon, I decide to check on her progress. Her office door is open, and I see her at the desk, completely absorbed in whatever she’s working on. She’s wearing a different blouse today in pale blue that brings out the green in her eyes, and her hair is pulled back in a simple style that somehow looks both professional and graceful.
I knock on the doorframe, and she looks up with a slight smile that seems automatic before becoming more genuine when she recognizes me. “Mr. Barinov, how may I help you?”
“I wanted to see how you’re settling in. Are you having any problems with the scheduling software?”
She gestures to her computer screen, where I see a complex calendar display with color-coded entries. “Actually, it’s more intuitive than I expected. I’ve identified two more potential conflicts and drafted some options for resolution.”
“Show me.”
She turns the monitor so I can see it better and walks me through her analysis. Her explanations are clear and logical, and she’s caught details that could have caused significant problems if left unaddressed.
