Combing her fingers over her perfectly styled curls, Elsie observed herself in the mirror.

Her warm, mocha brown skin was perfected with her light makeup and her chin length curls sat just how she wanted.

Grinning a little in triumph, she fixed one of them before adjusting her skirt with one last final look.

"Now the question is where are my keys?" Her fingers came up to her pouty lips in thought.

As her little kitten heels clicked down the staircase as she tried to recall where she left them, her eyes flitted up to see them hanging from one of the securities fingers.

A wide grin tugged at her glossed lips, the security guards name was Murphy. He was the head of security actually, taking care of Elsie and her mother Clara with his every waking hour and he did his job well.

"You're back!"

Completely forgoing the last two steps, Elsie leaned forward without a care to wrap her arms around the taller man's shoulders.

With a grunt, the salt and peppered guard held her waist carefully to lift her down as if he'd expected it.

"Yes, I'm back. Making sure your mother's next guest wasn't going to do anything stupid. Now, I'm making sure you get to the office. And you can't do that without these."

He dropped the keys in the hands she held out to him.

"I'm surprised you're handing over my keys," Elsie shot him a cheeky smile from underneath her lashes.

"You know how I feel about your driving but unfortunately I'll be here for a few to check up on everything. Then I'll be at the office. It's starting to rain, be careful please."

Pursing her mouth at the insult, Elsie shrugged it off on her way through the door.

"While you're here just remember who taught me behind the wheel," she waved while rushing towards her ride to escape the drizzle that was growing heavier.

Her mother's office had even more security than their home but Elsie drove right in with ease as usual.

Her painted finger nails tapped against the steering wheel as she sped through the long road to get to her parking spot.

In autopilot, she almost ran into the car... the car casually parked... in her spot.

Huffing in surprise before backing into one of the public spots, she knew this threatened to ruin her whole day.

It nearly set off her entire routine. Forcing her frown away before exhaling slowly, Elsie leaned forward to watch the downpour pelting against the windshield.

Pouting a bit, she leaned down and grabbed the umbrella tucked underneath her passenger seat. Glancing over towards her usual parking spot, she did a double take when she saw a man. He was standing unbothered in the rain, seemingly yelling on his phone. He did take cover under the large tree but it was like it wasn't even raining to him.

Tilting her head, she observed him from afar. His clothes were soaked through, he wore a white button up that was see through at this point. Her face felt hot at the physique on this man.

He was freaking huge- she stifled her embarrassment while sucking on her bottom lip. He was big, tall, and built. He was broad in his shoulders. Elsie looked down at her slender arms and realized he had muscles on muscles.

Inhaling sharply, she fanned her cheeks for a moment before opening her door. Popping her umbrella out she squealed at the wind blowing at her legs but she pushed on.

Elsie's dark eyes slid to the door of the office, then back to the mysterious man. He couldn't have gotten through the security without being cleared so it wasn't like he wasn't supposed to be here.

Sucking on the inside of her cheek, she turned away from the door.

Her footsteps were muffled in the rain but even with his back to her, the man abruptly turned around before she even got up to him. Her feet faltered on the slick grass when their eyes locked. His eyes were a light hazel, standing out against his pale skin and dark hair. His hair was wet, stuck to his forehead as he narrowed his gaze suspiciously at her.

She shivered, wondering if it was the cold or his slow stare dragging down her mostly dry figure. But she didn't stop, coming a few feet in front of him. Neither were willing to look away from each other and he grew so quiet that Elsie could hear whoever was speaking a language she didn't recognize.

A few seconds felt like ages as the tension grew, Elsie was trying to keep her eyes up as she could now see through his shirt clearly. She felt heat crawl up her neck, wondering if her brown pigment was enough to hide the flush on her face it.

The man would later confirm that it wasn't.

Without another thought, she held the large umbrella over both of them.

The dark haired man blinked in surprise. The bone chilling cold he hadn't noticed before lessened as he stared down at the woman before him like she was an alien.

She shot him a close lipped smile, her doe brown eyes squinting at the corners. Her tawny skin was flawless even in the weather around them, not a single loose curl on her head was out of place either as they bounced around her chin.

"Are you heading inside?" She managed to ask after gathering her courage. She was proud her voice came out without a stutter or break. Her voice was naturally higher pitched, not squeaky, but definitely one of the softest voices he'd ever heard.

Once again he looked her up and down. It fit her, that's for sure. Her entire arm was extended to get his large stature under the umbrella. She was a little thing.

They both glanced at his phone as whoever he was calling began to speak louder, demanding a response.

Elsie's head tilted when the man grunted something in the same language she couldn't understand- but if she had to guess was Russian. Then he hung up the phone.

His intense eyes slid to the door, he sneered at the sight of it.

"Yes," he nearly spat. "The security let me in through the gates but somehow there is no one authorizing my entry into the building. My meeting is in twenty minutes." His accent was noticeable but not thick enough to cause any confusion.

Elsie's lips parted in realization. This was a common tactic her mother liked to pull. He must be meeting with her soon.

It was a way she would set her clients off balance entering a conversation with her. It was to remind them whose property they were on. Her mother always said since she was a woman that by any means necessary she'd command respect.

Her plushy lips pouted, she didn't notice the man's gaze falling to them instinctively. Elsie had never known her mother to do this trick in weather like this, it was cruel in her mind. She must really want to trip this guy up.

"Come with me," she nodded her head over. "We'll get inside and I'll find some clothes for you maybe, although I don't know what will fit." Her hip cocked out with palpable concern on her face.

The man squinted down at her.

Her own wide eyes only beamed up at him with an openness that nearly made him unsettled. "It's getting cold. Please," he noticed her exposed legs rubbing together in her skirt. He could see the goosebumps from here.

"My name is Elsie, I can help you to where you're going once we're inside," she shivered with chattering teeth.

He nearly rolled his eyes, not only at the idea of this girl being of any help in the office building but also at the lack of clothes she sported.

Not that his were any better considering they were soaked through. He grunted with a nod, knowing this was probably the daughter of some shmuck in the business that couldn't stop herself from helping him.

Bleeding hearts or whatever.

"Great!" She nearly flew towards the entrance, eager to get into the warmth. He even had to quicken his wide stride to keep pace with her little ones.

The swipe of her entry card was satisfying even to him, the warm air of the inside was even nicer.

In a flurry of movement, Elsie had what felt like a hundred things to do. When in reality she was just trying to remember where the closet of spare clothes the security kept was. Closing her umbrella clumsily, her boot squeaked loudly on the marble floor.

Yelping as it slipped from under her, her hand slapped against the wall besides her to stop her descent but it wasn't quite enough.

The man besides her seemed to act on instinct, snagging her other wrist and wildly gripping the front of her shirt to try and halt her fall. She squealed, clawing at his own soaked shirt before he yanked her into his chest.

"Oof!" She grunted as she collided into his sturdy frame. Her slender arm wrapped around his shoulder while the other tugged on the taut fabric. Her head craned down to the puddle that was her undoing.

The man scoffed at how offended she looked, sneering as he turned around. Her legs dangled above the ground because of his hold on her.

Her wide, brown doe eyes whipped up to glance around. His height still caught her off guard.

A step away from the puddle was where he dropped her rather abruptly, pushing himself away as if she had burned him.

Elsie's mouth fell open in mild offense, stepping away even furth to give him the space it seems he desires.

"I uh- I never caught your name."

The man gave her a long sideways look, a moment passed as if he was debating actually answering her.

Only when he glanced away did he grunt out a mangled version of an answer. "Dima Ivanov."

Elsie couldn't help but notice that he said it in a way that implied something. Like there was something that she was missing in what he said to her.

But she couldn't put it together, for the life of her, she didn't know what he was hinting at.

So instead she just shot him a warm, oblivious smile that usually got the men to drop whatever subject they were on to something more light hearted.

But Dima blinked at her, waiting for the expected reaction to even muttering the name 'Ivanov'.

The name was especially notorious. Dominating majority of the underground organized crime world. They were expanding, rapidly. His cousin, the Don, was originally only the heir to the Russian mafia. Once comfortable with his position, the Don did what everyone thought was impossible- he conquered the different mafias like he was Genghis fucking Khan.

And Dima was his right hand man as the second in line for the head of the Ivanov family. And after helping the Don secure the position he is in now, Dima could finally spread his wings. He'd been given the opportunity- finally.

Finally he was leading something, Dima could do right by his cousin and his family name here. He owed them that, he owed himself that and he'd do that here in America.

But this shit was off to a rocky start- stuck in the rain.

"Is that... Russian?"

The sweet, saccharine voice sounded from besides him.

He almost snorted at the question. "Yeah- Yeah you could say that."

Her perfectly trimmed brows furrowed, "It either is or it isn't- come- let's get you into new clothes. You're freezing."

Gentle hands brushed over his bicep, Elsie couldn't help it. Even just the graze made her shiver, her gentle grip turned more demanding. Dima's eyes snapped to her fingers the moment they came into contact with him.

His lip lifted into a snarl but he couldn't even get a word out before she was urging him further into the building.

His dark eyes flickered around the building as he begrudgingly allowed her to guide him through the halls. Meanwhile she was filling what would've been awkward but peaceful enough silence with her nonstop chattering.

"All of the security here think it's silly I keep extra clothes here for them. But what if something were to happen on their shift and they absolutely need to change? Even if they don't appreciate it at least I have them here for you," Elsie glanced back at him reassuringly.

Dima's face didn't shift in response to her words but she still continued on.

"Mm... I hope something fits you," she opened a smaller room that lead to exactly what she needed.

Throwing open the closet, Elsie began tugging out white buttons ups and sliding through the different slacks.

"What about socks- do you need-" She glanced over her shoulder and stumbled over her next few words as she watched Dima undo his last button on his shirt. Frowning, he shucked off the soaked dress shirt to stand in his white tank.

Rolling her lips together, she swallowed hard as she unconsciously tilted her head to the side. His skin was on the paler side, he had a few tattoos going up his forearms and biceps. But the one catching her attention was the sword over his sternum. The hilt and handle of the sword was proudly displayed between his pecs. Her mouth was dry as she watched his muscles flex before she abruptly spun back towards the closet.

Dima, who'd been wringing out his button up, glanced up at her quick movement with a raised brow. He frowned in confusion at her sudden silence after her never ending talking.

His light eyes fell down to her short skirt that was riding up her thick thighs and... plump ass, he sucked on his teeth as his thoughts wandered. He was reluctant to acknowledge that he found this girl attractive... Elsie, she said her name was.

Dima didn't find himself noticing women often, never really, but Elsie surely was hard to ignore. Even if just for how in your face she managed to be. But Dima couldn't explain the simmering in his stomach at the mere glance up her skirt was causing.

Hissing through his teeth as his nostrils flared with irritability, he turned his head away to stare at the wall rather than acknowledge what he was feeling.

As the both of them cooled down from each other presence, Elsie heard him curse under his breath. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him looking at his watch.

Her eyes widened when she realized her mother would be here soon. Wanting to give Dima a fighting chance in whatever meeting this was, she rushed to grab everything. When she turned around, she squealed as her entire face went hot.

Elsie had turned around just as Dima dropped his pants, rough hands pushing at his drenched boxers. Her eyes were wide, clutching the clothes to her chest as the image was seared into her mind even after she whirled right back around. His tank top was gone so he was only in his boxers, the deep 'V' etched into his pelvis leading into his paper thin underwear. His paper thin underwear that did nothing to hide the bulge pressing against his left thigh.

Pressing her hand to her agape mouth, she tried to catch her breath as it felt like it had been stolen from her. The heat brewing in her stomach made her squirm, trying to ignore it as she heard him rustling behind her.

"Toss the pants over," Dima's gravelly voice grunted. Without a peep, she tossed the slacks that looked closest to his size over. Waiting for the tell tale sign of the zipper, Elsie was able to get her thoughts together as she realized they were down to crunch time.

Grabbing an extra shirt to use as a make-shift towel, Elsie turned around with a goal in mind. Now, Dima's eyes widened when Elsie broached his personal space, their eyes locking for a moment before she shoved a white undershirt over his head.

Growling at the abrupt change, he grumbled as he helped her work it over his broad shoulders. "The hell do you think you're doing?"

"Helping you," she replied in a rush. Dima, even though he'd glared down at her skeptically, never once stopped her from helping him shrug on the new dark gray button up.

"Button that, let me dry your hair. You'll get sick." Dima did a double take at her commanding voice. Her tender hands came to his head, forcing it down so she could reach easier as he worked on the buttons from the bottom up. Dima could hardly believe the warmth broaching his cheeks when he felt her tender fingers combing through his hair while drying it and restyling it.

After a few minutes of both of their frantic hands getting him in order, Elsie stepped back. She snatched his wrist but before he could yank it away, she checked the time.

Her mother would be here any second. Throwing the towel shirt she'd used away carelessly, she pulled him with her. Her little heels clicked on the expensive wooden flooring, Dima followed behind her as his brows twitched up with skepticism.

She guided him through the long halls, taking two lefts until finally a right where a door was at the end of the walkway. Tugging him along, she turned his back to the door and shoved him back.

Dima didn't move.

"Ugh," Elsie stomped her foot. "Humor me," she frowned up at him.

Watching her with an intensity that would've made her cower in any other situation, she pressed his hands to his chest. Her breath hitched as she held his eye contact, slowly she pressed him back into the wall. "Lean- mhm. Stay like that."

"Make her think you've been waiting," Elsie whispered.

For the first time, Dima's face shifted and she could see the momentary surprise.

"How do you know who I'm-"

Checking his watch again carelessly, she saw the time. "She's going to be five minutes late, remind her of it. I'll- I'll wash your clothes, I'll have them ready whenever I see you again. Um- Don't let her get to you okay? She can be... hard to deal with in business meeting like this."

Dima nearly laughed, she looks almost worried for him.

"You... You have no idea who I am do you?"

Once again, her head had that cute tilt to it. "You're Dima, no? What did you say you're last name was? Ivanov, right?"

For a moment, a smirk cracked at his lips. Her dark, doe eyes widened at the sight.

"Right."

"Then I know who you are."

"Yeah, sure."

"What do we have here?" The distant clicking of her mothers high heels could be heard echoing as she turned the corner into the hallway. Elsie gasped, sucking in a deep breath at the sight of her mother. Clara Bernard.

She was running the financials of some organized crime ring. She was often referred to as the 'Queen of Cash' by the people in the underground world. Any and all money in that world was run by her. She worked for the best in America. And she was good at her job. Clara looked at her job as being the most dangerous accountant around, negotiating on behalf of the richest man alive. That's all Elsie knew about it, anyway. She stayed cleared of the dirty, grimy dealings of her moms business partners.

Elsie's job was simple, welcome the men that passed through with warm smiles and pretty -tiny- outfits. She knew why her mother asked her to be in a certain spot at a certain time, even if no one gave her credit for knowing what was going on. But what was she to do? Her mother didn't support her schooling, normal people steered clear of her because of her last name. It was tough stretching out your wings when they'd been clipped as soon as she took the last name Bernard straight out of the womb.

So, she took on the role of the welcome party and didn't think about it too much. She was good at that at least, and the men usually behaved themselves thanks to the countless security.

Her mother may be calculated and a tad heartless but she didn't play about her daughters safety.

"Mom," Elsie plastered that same, reflexive, smile on as she met her mom halfway. Dima felt her warmth leave him as he watched the two women hug. His head tilted as he saw the resemblance between the two. Their brown skin tone was similar, Clara's barely showing her age, wearing her hair straight and long down her back. She wore a sleek dress that reached past her knees as she stood over Elsie. Elsie was shorter than the two of them.

"Mr. Ivanov. You're here- you're timing is impeccable. Even in this rancid weather," Clara's sharp eyes slid down his remarkably dry body and the fact that he reached her office before her. They narrowed for a moment before glancing at her daughter.

Elsie let her gaze drift up to the mirror besides them, admiring her own pretty face while reapplying her lipgloss. Perfectly oblivious.

But Clara knew better.

"You're timing is not, however," Dima reminded. He directed the attention back off of Elsie. "So, if you don't mind- let's get on with it." He nodded towards the door.

"Alright then, Elsie I'll see you after work." Clara nodded down at her daughter before striding into her office, leaving the door open for Dima.

Before stepping in, he found himself glancing over at Elsie.

Her shoulders had relaxed finally, puffing out a sigh of relief as their eyes met once again. Perking up a bit, she shot him an encouraging grin. Holding up two thumbs up, she mouthed 'You'll kill it' before turning on her heel to scurry off.

Scoffing, he shook his head. If she knew half of who he was- what he was- she wouldn't be telling him to 'kill' anything. He'd be too likely to take her literally. Letting his eyes stray over her once more as her hips sway off, running his hand over his mouth as he had trouble looking away from her, he was set free of his daze when she was out of sight.

Groaning in the back of his throat, he turned into the office and shut the door behind him after refocusing himself.