The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(2)

Alexei got his drink of water and went back to bed. He would corner Douglas for an answer tomorrow, then he would get out of here.

Chapter 2
Done Deal

Douglas didn’t get out of bed until well into the afternoon. Alexei spent a good portion of his day watching television with Tiffany and Heather. They were the girls he’d slept with the night before. They didn’t interest him as much as Ashley, but they were fun and easy to get along with. Ashley didn’t seem to be around. Alexei asked the girls if they knew where she was, but they just shrugged and seemed indifferent about it.

Alexei expected to see Ashley with Douglas when he came from his bedroom, but she wasn’t with him either.

“Morning!” sang Douglas, even though it was 3PM. “Sleep well?” he asked Alexei, shooting him a lewd grin.

“Fantastic,” said Alexei, forcing a smile. “You feeling up to talking business today.”

Douglas winced. “Jesus. Let a man wake up first, why don’t you?” He went to the sofa and sat down across from the television. “Tiffany, honey, go fix me some coffee, will you?” He waited until Tiffany had gone then turned his attention back to Alexei. “I’m having one of my people take care of the transfer now.”

Alexei raised his eyebrows. “Really?” he asked, shocked but glad to hear that. Ashley had been right, it seemed. “Is there anything I can do to-”

Douglas waved a head, dismissively. “Ashley can handle it,” he said. “The girl has a real head for numbers.”

So that’s where she went. “Does she handle all your accounting?”

“No, but she might as well.” Douglas paused to accept a mug of coffee from Tiffany. “Thank you dear.” He turned his attention back to Alexei. “She handles the shadier stuff, if we’re being honest. Doesn’t have a degree, so I pay her under the table. She was an intern at one of my offices I think?”

Alexei gave a grunt of acknowledgment. “I thought you two were a thing.”

“How do you think she got the position?” Douglas roared with laughter. “Got your eye on her, do you?”

Alexei raised his hands in a playful surrender. “What can I say?”

“Well, you have good taste my friend.” Douglas took a sip of his coffee. “Now, let’s find some way to occupy ourselves until she’s finished, shall we?”

The afternoon gave way to evening then night. It was taking Ashley rather a long time to take care of this business. Alexei was beginning to question the faith Douglas had placed in her. He said nothing, though. Douglas was, clearly, already agitated about it. He tried to laugh and drink and carry on like he had before, but he kept checking his watch. Several times, Douglas wandered off to make a phone call or two.

Alexei had calls of his own to make. His boss wasn’t a particularly patient man. Alexei was the people person. That’s why he had been sent here. That was also why he needed to get results.

“The deal is made,” he promised his boss. “We’re working out the finer details now.” He just hoped that wasn’t a lie. The longer the night went on, the more uncertain he became.

Finally, the truth came out.

“Bitch stole my money.” Douglas said it so nonchalantly, it caught Alexei off guard.

Alexei looked up from his phone, uncertain he had heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”

They were still sitting in the den. Tiffany and Heather had turned on a movie. At Douglas’ words, they abruptly stood and left the room. Douglas said nothing more but handed Alexei his phone. There was a bank account pulled up. There were transfers listed there, sent out to companies Alexei didn’t recognize. They certainly weren’t the shell companies his boss used. If Douglas didn’t recognize them either, well, that was bad for everyone.

Even Ashely. Hell, it was especially bad for Ashley. Alexei sighed. “Well, shit.”

“No kidding,” said Douglas, taking his phone back. He sat there silent for a moment then kicked the coffee table suddenly. “Son of a bitch!” he cursed.

Alexei didn’t flinch. He tended to keep a cool head under pressure. “How can I help?” he asked instead.

Douglas took a deep breath. He gave Alexei a long, hard look. “You get that woman back to me, and you get your money… Plus, I’ll throw in a little extra. This is my own damn fault, after all.”

He had that right. “I’ll see what I can do.” Alexei stood to leave. “Do you have her home address?”

Douglas shrugged. “I’m sure I can get it.”

“Good. Do that. Get me anything else you have on her, too.” At least he didn’t have to sit around and play nice anymore. That was a small relief. Alexei went outside and called a cab. He lit up a cigarette and called his boss while he waited.

His boss wasn’t thrilled, but it wasn’t like this was his fault. Stupid Americans. They were more trouble than they were worth.

Chapter 3

Her Story

Ashley lived in a little hole in the wall apartment downtown. She was indeed an intern for one of Douglas’ offices, where she worked in accounting. She was halfway to a business degree and had a fair amount of student debt. There wasn’t much on her parents. For all Alexei knew, they were dead or out of the picture. They didn’t seem to be part of her life. It looked like she had grown up with her sister as caretaker. Her sister was dead now. Most of the money Ashley used for expenses came from what she’d been left as a meager inheritance - and that was running out fast.