Semua Bab Reckless Hearts: Bab 41 - Bab 50

For a Friday afternoon, After Dark was already hopping with a sleazy crowd of office workers, getting ready to usher in a weekend of drinking and some lap dancing. Andrei and Igor skipped the bar and headed straight to the back office in the basement, where they found Daniel in the middle of stuffing his safe with thick wads of cash. "Looks like we came at the right time," Andrei couldn't help but smile when he saw the horror on the man's face. "I was about to call you—" "You don't say!" Andrei said as he crossed the room and sat in the crusty office chair behind an equally distressed metal table. With the copious amounts of money that After Dark raked in daily, one would think Daniel would do something about his drab office space. But it seemed the man's tightfistedness also extended to his personal comforts. Igor pressed his back against the door and casually twirled his Glock in his hand, his message loud and clear. They didn't want any mess, but if Daniel wanted to play hard

Holly fumed her way to the presidential suite, unable to believe Andrei's audacity. She found Cooper just as mad, and for the longest time, she had to sit there and listen to him rant and rave about his deep dislike for Andrei."Who the hell does he think he is?" he raged as he paced the living area. "And how dare you dismiss me in front of him! I'm your boyfriend. If anything, you should have sent him away. But instead, you choose him over me.""I didn't choose him over you! He has a business proposal, and I had to hear him out," she explained for what had to be the hundredth time. Cooper, though, wasn't having any of it. "If it was as innocent as you claim, you wouldn't have sent me away," he insisted as he watched her unpack her clothes. "What's going on with you?" he continued when he didn't get a response from her. "You drop off the face of the earth for three days, and then decide to move out of your place. Would you have told me you were moving out if I didn't stop by?"Holl

While one relationship ended in the presidential suite, another began at the Italian restaurant on the ground floor of The Castle. Despite their shaky beginning, and once the introductions and initial angst were out of the way, Andrei and Anton warmed up to each other. It helped that they had a lot in common. Both men were raised by single and demanding fathers. Their educational backgrounds were similar, too, since they had attended all-boys boarding schools. They also had the same mindset regarding business and would stop at nothing to win. Over a round of drinks and Cuban cigars, Anton took Andrei through a detailed presentation on Nexus and their shipping requirements. By the time they were done working out the surface details of their partnership, the restaurant was empty, save for a few patrons scattered around the dining hall. With their business concluded, they shook hands again, with Andrei promising to send Nexus the contract in a few days. "What are some good places to

"Whatever happened, whatever Cooper did, I need you to understand it wasn't your fault, okay? You did nothing wrong," Andrei assured her. Holly shook her head, "It was my fault. Some of it, at least. I should have been clear about our relationship. I thought I was. But—Oh God—" Her words faltered, and her voice died off as she began hyperventilating. Andrei felt as useless as a glass hammer as he helplessly watched Holly fight through her panic, unable to think of anything he could do to bring her immediate relief. But before he could second-guess himself and overthink things, he pulled her close again, resting her head on his chest as he draped his arms around her shoulders. "I'm okay," she said over and over, her words muffled on his chest. "He—he—" "He hurt you," Andrei uttered the words Holly couldn't bring herself to say. "I told him I didn't want to see him anymore because seeing him hurts. I can't watch him live the life that I want. I can't be around anyone from the Ins

Andrei was so overcome with joy and relief that before he knew what he'd done, he already had Holly in his arms, twirling her around the room. "Put me down!" she said, squealing like a little kid. "You won't regret it, I promise," he smiled as he gently set her down, his gaze staying a little too long on her damn luscious mouth, and when she flicked her tempting tongue over her lips, it took everything in him not to give in to his caveman urges. "I still want the penthouse," Holly said, pulling away from him. "But I'm not renting it from you." "What do you mean?" "I mean, why the hell would I want to rent the place when I can own it? Sell it to me and you have a deal. I'll act like such a loving girlfriend, Papa Ivanov won't know what hit him. In fact, I'll be so convincing he'll want us married in no time," she replied as she sat down again and muted the TV. "Deal," he replied, plopping beside her. "Deal!" she smiled, grasping his hand in a firm handshake. And there it was ag