There was a lot of background noise. It was past 7 pm in Moscow. The vodka was flowing.
“We have to talk, Max,” he said above the noise. It was more of a command than a suggestion–that much was certain.
“Okay. What would you like to discuss?”
“No. Not on the phone. Come to Moscow.”
Another not-so-subtle command. It irritated me that Grigoriy deemed me one of his lackeys. I worked my ass off to make a success of my business, but no matter where in the world I was or how successful, I was nothing more than little, snot-nosed Maxim to him–the son of Igor Mikhailov.
“Okay. I’ll need a few days.”
“Come this weekend–to the house in the country.”
It was obvious that I wasn’t going to get out of it, so I agreed and hung up. Fuck! Russia was the last place in which I wished to spend my weekend. But I had no choice. Going against Grigoriy’s wishes was tantamount to suicide. I called my PA on the internal line.
“Samantha, please book me on a flight to Russia. Preferably on Thursday.”
“Of course. Returning on?”
“Sunday.”
Hopefully that would give Grigoriy enough time to bully me. Arrogant, fucking prick.
I called Vlad on his cell.
“I’ve been summoned,” I groaned when he answered.
“Give Mother Russia my best, will you?” he needled me.
“Three-quarters of Moscow has had your best, Vlad. You’re lucky I dragged you away from the angry boyfriends and husbands.”
“Yeah yeah. When are you leaving?”
“Thursday. Hold down the fort, Cuz.”
“Sure thing. Max, be careful.”
“Always.”
5
ANGEL
Iremembered the conversation from a year ago like it was yesterday. Josie was awake when I’d floated into the apartment, high on post-coital bliss.
“What happened to you?” she’d asked, trying her best to breathe through a blocked nose.
“Nothing. You were right. It was a great evening for tips,” I said and hauled out a decent wad of cash.
“Uh-huh,” she said slowly. “Wonderful, but that’s not what I’m talking about. You had sex, didn’t you?”
“I may have,” I grinned from ear to ear.
“You hussy!” she squealed. “Okay, tell me all about it. Who is he?”
“Let’s just say the birthday boy went home a very happy man.”
Josie wouldn’t shut up until I gave up the salacious details of my tryst with Max. I had no idea how I’d given in to him. It was very sluttish of me to screw a stranger like that–not something I did as a rule. But I couldn’t help myself. Max was irresistible. We’d progressed from zero to a hundred so quickly, I scarcely had time to think.