Russian Mafia Billionaire’s Secretary (11 page)

Alanna smiled and took the arm he offered as they walked inside. She had remembered the living room from her last visit, but it looked different at night. A fire was burning cheerily in the fireplace and the lights from the city were a spectacular backdrop for the floor to ceiling windows.

Smooth jazz played quietly in the background as she looked around. 

“There’s really no one else here?” she asked him in disbelief.

“There’s really no one else here. I wanted us to have a quiet night alone together. Is this a bad thing?” he questioned her.

“No, of course not.”

“The truth of the matter is that I’m attracted to you. Well, that should be obvious.” Rubbing his head, “I know that I run hot and cold around you. Well, mostly hot, but my work is important to me. It took me too many years to get to where I am today and I had to work for every penny. I know you had to wonder why I brought you to Miami given that most everything took place in Russian, but selfishly, I wanted you by my side.”

Alanna’s mouth opened and closed at his admission.

Shaking his head in frustration. “I’m terrible at, how do you say it, wooing a woman. I wanted tonight to be all about you. Does that make sense?”

He looked at her expectantly, as Alanna wondered how to respond. He’d shared so much of what she’d been thinking, she was overwhelmed.

“I…don’t know what to say.” Alexander suddenly sagged and she reached out to take his hand, as he looked at her expectantly. “I’ve been attracted to you since the day you interviewed me,” she confessed. “You had to have noticed, I must have behaved like a smitten teenager. I couldn’t concentrate on anything you were saying to me. I’m embarrassed just sharing that but I have Roman to think about and I worry about what would happen if we were in a relationship and things don’t work out.”

Smiling, he took her hands in his and kissed them. “You did seem distracted during the interview. I thought it was nerves.”

Alanna laughed as she tried to pull her hands free, but he wouldn’t let her. “I was a bit nervous, but that wasn’t it. I kept fantasizing about you naked and the more I tried to stop, the worse it got.”

Alexander laughed, as he kissed her lightly on the lips. “I had similar thoughts about you and if you had worn anything like you have this evening, I doubt I would have been able to speak.”

Resting her head against this shoulder, “So, what now?”

“For now, let’s take things one step at a time. Okay?”

Nodding her head in relief, “Okay.”

“Come into the kitchen,” he demanded as he walked backwards, tugging at her hands. “We’ll have some wine while I finish making dinner.”

Following him into the spacious kitchen, she sat down at the bar and accepted the glass of white wine he handed her. Smiling, they clinked glasses, as Alanna took a sip of the wine. She made a face, as she set the glass down.

“You don’t like the Chablis?” he questioned as he finished putting some items on a plate before setting it down before her.

“It’s a bit dry,” she answered as she touched the base of the glass.

“True, but try it with this.” Pointing to the plate, as she looked down.

“Well, I recognize the lox, but what’s this?” she asked pointing to the doughy item. “It looks like a crepe.”

Nodding his head, “Sort of. It’s a blini, which is a Russian pancake, of sorts. It is delicious with the fish. Try it,” he coaxed.

Placing a bit of crème fraiche on the blini, he placed a piece of lox on top followed by a slice of jalapeno. “Taste,” he told her as he held it to her mouth.

Leaning forward, Alanna took a bite, as her eyes lit up in appreciation. “Good?” At her nod, he gestured to the wine. “Try the wine again.”

Picking up the glass, she took a small sip. “Oh, that’s much better,” she confessed, as he laughed. “Where did you learn all this? Russia?”

Shaking his head, he turned back to the stove as he stirred at the contents of a pot. “Nyet, Amelia. When we came to New York, we were both very young. I had just finished college and she had yet to start. She wanted to take some English classes before she started at the university, but she was very shy at the time. So she started with cooking classes. She is quite the…what do you call them…foodie. I learned from her,” he answered proudly.

Alanna stared at him deeply impressed and a bit embarrassed. In all the years she’s lived in the city, she never thought to take any enrichment classes. Rich smells broke her out of her reverie, as he prepared a dish that started to smell like heaven. She studied his confident movements as he easily moved around the kitchen.

“Let’s get you to the dining room so you can have a seat, sweet Alanna,” he told her as he picked up the wine bottle and the lox plate. “If you would be so kind as to bring our glasses,” he asked as she picked up the glasses and followed him to the dining room. 

Setting everything down at the table, he pulled her chair out. “Relax. I won’t be long.” She sat down on the chair and reached for more of the lox, stacking it onto the blini the way he did. While she knew that the jalapeno was not Russian, it definitely gave the appetizer a bit of extra bite that she found delicious. Sipping her wine, she looked around at the overly long table that looked as though it was carved from a single tree.

Leaning back in her chair, she looked out at the lights of the city, marveling at what it would be like to live here fulltime. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of the view.

Moments later, he returned with their plates filled with what looked to be some sort of a chunky fish stew. Setting her plate down in front of her, he sat down opposite her, grabbed his own glass, took a giant gulp and raised it high in the air.

“To you, beautiful princess,” he toasted as he studied her intently.

She raised her glass and took a drink when he did. Alanna placed the glass on the table and forked a piece of the white fish into her mouth. She closed her eyes as she savored the buttery taste.

“Wow, this is delicious. I wish I could cook this well,” she confessed as she skewered another piece.

“My sister was insistent that I learn. It turned into a bit of a competition as we both vied to see who would do better.”

Laughing, “Oh, and who won?” she questioned.

“Sadly, my sister is the better cook,” he answered solemnly but his eyes seemed to twinkle, as he spoke indicating how proud he was of her.

Alanna looked at him in surprise. “Amelia can do better than this?” She was starting to feel inadequate.

Shrugging his shoulders, “Well, we do have our specialties. Personally, I think I make this better and she would have never put pepper on her lox.”

His response made Alanna laugh. Even in the kitchen, he had to be the best.

As they ate, they made small talk, sharing stories about their lives, growing up in different parts of the world. Alanna was pleased that he asked about Roman and that he seemed genuinely interested in her son. After a lull in the conversation, Alexander changed the subject.

“I want to talk to you about the future of the business,” he started as he set his fork down on his plate. Her eyes grew wider as she wondered at the shift to business.

“Okay,” she said in response as she looked to him to continue.

“I want to expand Denisov International and I would like you to play an integral role in the business, Alanna.”

“And here I thought you only kept me around for the wild sex,” she teased him. She blushed, but hoped that her statement had some ring of truth.

“And just what’s wrong with having sex with such a beautiful woman?” he questioned her, putting her on the spot. She hadn’t expected him to turn her words against her, but was glad that he wanted her in the same way she wanted him.

Alanna’s face reddened and she felt her heart race. She bit her bottom lip as memories of their trip to Florida replayed in her mind.  

He grinned widely at her and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing. “Can he read my mind?” she thought as she pictured him in the shower with her.

They finished eating and he stood to take her plate to the kitchen. While he was gone, she poured more wine in her glass and downed the whole thing hoping it provided her with some liquid courage. She didn’t know why she was suddenly so nervous around him.

Alanna hadn’t heard Alexander return to the dining room until she felt his presence behind her. She allowed him to turn her in the chair, as he tugged her to her feet. Taking her hand, they walked into the living room and he sat her down on his over-sized couch.

Walking over to the fireplace, he poked at the flames, which had greatly reduced. As he turned, Alanna wondered why there was a red laser light on him. It seemed to be coming from outside, as she tried to see out onto the darkened balcony. Alexander hadn’t noticed it yet and she was about to say something when there was a simultaneous crash at the front door and balcony door. They both turned to see men dressed in black body armor come storming in and point guns at them.

Alanna’s mouth fell open as she stared at the scene unfolding in front of her.

Chapter Sixteen

Alanna watched horrified as Alexander was handcuffed and escorted quickly from the room. Feeling paralyzed, she watched helplessly as men moved from room to room, shouting “clear” each time.

“Were there only the two of you here tonight?” an officer asked her. She stared into blank space for a moment before she was able to answer him.

“Yes,” she said quietly. Her heart felt like it wanted to beat out of her chest. She had no idea what Alexander could’ve done that necessitated the use of so many police officers. Her face felt flushed as she sat there in disbelief.

“Ma’am?” the one officer asked as he tried desperately to snap Alanna back to reality. “Can you hear me?”

He waved his hand in front of her face to draw her attention. She faintly heard him as he mumbled but couldn’t make out what he said. She shook her head side to side and focused on the tall, older man who had intruded into her evening.

“Yes, I’m sorry, what?” she asked as she realized that this wasn’t all some sick, twisted joke.

“My name is Officer Cruz, what’s your name?” he asked her again, perturbed.

“Alanna,” she muttered. “Alanna Vella.”

“Ms. Vella, what is your affiliation with Alexander Denisov?” he questioned her as he took the chair another officer handed him and sat down close to her.

“I work for him; he’s my boss,” she said as the uncertainty of the situation caused her to panic internally.  

“He’s your boss?” Officer Cruz reiterated. He looked her up and down, taking in her overly short, lace dress.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked at him. “Yes,” she answered as she calmed herself down. She closed her eyes and relived the moment Alexander was being dragged away in cuffs.  

“What do you do for Mr. Denisov?” the officer interrupted her thoughts. She didn’t like the tone of his voice.

“I’m his executive assistant at Denisov International.” 

“What can you tell me about Mr. Denisov’s business affairs?” he asked her as she stared off into space.

“He hired me to maintain his schedule, coordinate meetings, prepare documents and complete tasks related to the office. I also answer the phone and deal with the clients when he isn’t around.”

“What about his business affairs outside of work?”

Shaking her head, “I don’t know what you’re referring to. This is the first time we’ve met outside the office.” She wasn’t about to mention Miami.

“You can’t tell me that you’ve worked in close proximity to the man and you don’t know about his business dealings,” he ranted in disbelief.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she cowered.

“How about starting with the truth,” he badgered her. She looked down and thought back to how she answered his job ad. She was well qualified to work in her capacity as an executive secretary and assistant. Falling for him hadn’t been in the cards.

“I am telling you the truth, I don’t know about his business dealings,” she reiterated.

“Do you sleep with all of your bosses or just the billionaires with criminal enterprises?” he hounded.

“I’m sorry?” she asked him, appalled at the suggestion. “Should I have a lawyer?”

“You know what I think? I think you’re covering for him,” he answered arrogantly, ignoring her question. “I think he knew you’d be so impressed by his wealth that you’d keep quiet for him.”

“No, that’s not true,” she said in a louder voice.

Another officer approached Officer Cruz and whispered into his ear, but he never stopped staring into her eyes as he searched for answers.

“Sit tight and wait here, we have someone from the FBI en route to talk to you.” She sat there, but still felt worried about everything that went down.

“Why is the FBI involved?” she asked herself quietly. “What is going on here?”

Twenty minutes later, a younger man with a square jaw and light brown hair entered the room. He briefly spoke to the officers, but as he moved toward Alanna, the officers left the room. He sat down in the chair that Officer Cruz vacated and smiled, disarming her. It immediately reminded her of Alexander and his charms.

“Do I need a lawyer?” she repeated as he sat down and made eye contact.

“My questions won’t take long, but you’re welcome to contact your lawyer if you’d like,” he told her matter-of-factly. “But it would only delay things as that would require having to shift to a more formal setting at the police station, which could take hours.” She studied the man and wondered what his end game was.

“You’re not in any trouble, Ms. Vella. I just want to talk to you,” he assured her.

She sighed loudly. “Agent Arthur Franklin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he said aloud as he introduced himself.

“Alanna Vella,” she told him, but looked down, as it was information he already knew.

“Here’s what’s going to happen, Alanna. I’m going to ask you a few questions and then I’ll take your official statement,” he advised her. He placed a folder on the table and opened it.

“Okay,” she agreed.

“I have to record the conversation, but when we’re all done, you can sign your sworn statement and then you’re free to go with the warning not to leave the state without first checking with us,” he uttered as she listened intently.