"Y'know, I thought I'd be getting the other Ivanov. The real one."

Dima who'd sat on the other side of Clara's desk, didn't react to the comment. He felt a migraine coming on however, holding back the constant irritation from showing on his face. His features remained hardened and stoic.

"You knew exactly who you were meeting with today. And exactly what we have to discuss, I'm sure you even know how it'll end too."

Silence permeated between the two, Clara stared at the pale, dark haired man. Dima was arguably the worst option out of the Ivanov clan to deal with right now. She'd done her research like always, especially considering she worked for them. There were three Ivanov men at the top of everything.

The oldest, the Don, had become more reasonable with his wife by his side. And to call those two psychos reasonable is insane in itself- but compared to the other two options they win the title. The youngest was wilder, she might have been able to mislead him and manipulate the situation but there was an off chance that it could all go to shit with his unpredictability.

And of course, across from her sat Dima. The second oldest, the middle one, the runner up as she liked to call him. He wasn't likely to give her anything to work with, he had something to prove.

"You're awful silent compared to your cousin." The Don wasn't a friendly man but he also gave his two cents whenever he pleased.

"Sounds like you miss him, given the fact that you won't shut up about him."

Clara nearly rolled her eyes. But she held it in.

Dima almost allowed the amusement on his face to show.

"What would you rather me talk about?" She knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. And she could tell he knew it as well with how he raised a brow at her, cocking his head to the side condescendingly.

Dima leaned back in his seat. Watching and waiting.

Exhaling roughly through her nose, Clara knew there was no way out of this. He was right, she did know the end result of this conversation. "The Don has nothing to worry about with the Pavlova's. They're an American Russian family full of wannabe's. My security team has it under control."

Sliding his tongue over his teeth, Dima's jaw ticked at her dismissive tone and vague run down. "Can you give me a refresher on your position?" His accent thickened, a tell tale sign of his annoyance.

Digging her nails into the sides of her chair, Clara could feel her control of the situation slipping away right into Dima's hands. She took a shaky breath before swallowing hard at the first sign of his instability.

"I run point on the Ivanov's financials. All of the families working for your business check in with me on their profits and the products they run. I report straight to Dominik Ivanov, the Don. And you- Dima Ivanov. I advise on business strategies and decisions when given the say so." Her bland, robotic tone nearly made her sound unbothered by this turn of events but Dima knew better.

"I figured you would know that since you flew all the way here."

Scoffing, Dima shifted to lean back in his seat. Folding his hands over his spread legs. "I know what you're job is. I was seeing if you knew. Because if you did, you wouldn't be so dismissive of the threats and attacks the Pavlova's have tried."

"I get threats every second of every day. It's nothing new adding in an attack or two, nothings come of it."

Shaking his head with a grunt, Dima cracked his knuckles. "I don't think you realize the fragility of this entire ecosystem my family has created. We don't take threats lightly, they are dealt with. You aren't a disposable character in this entire set up, we can't replace you as quickly as we'd like. You're loyal sure but tie you up, rip out some of your teeth, and break a few bones and the information you hide away daily is free range. And what about the pretty thing you've got roaming the halls so freely out there," Dima nodded back at the door.

Clara hardened at the mention of her daughter.

"Ignoring situation's like these from a group with considerable man power like the Pavlova family is stupid. Not just for you but for her- for everything we pay you to protect." Dima huffed, already over all of this chatter. If Clara would just take the reality check and move on they wouldn't find themselves in this back and forth.

Crooking her jaw, "Alright and what is the next step then since everyone is so concerned? I'm assuming Don Ivanov decided already."

Dima raked his hair out of his face, nearly tearing his hair out at this ongoing conversation. "If the Don was the one deciding he'd be here himself."

This had the older woman pausing.

Her faltering made a small, cruel grin spread at his lips. "Catching on finally, Bernard?"

"You're taking over?" Her voice came out a little rougher than it had sounded before.

"I'll be here to help gain control. It's not permanent. I'd be stupid to not realize the Pavlova's have chosen you to target because you're a woman. It'd undermine you if I came in and publicly took over. As far as everyone outside of the inner circle here I'm here on unrelated business. I'll report to my cousin but other than that, it's you and I working together to get those pricks under control. You get to show everyone you're in control and competent at the end. I don't plan to take that away from you."

Clara's brows ticked up with skepticism. "What do you get out of it?"

"I'm doing my job, other than that- don't worry about me. Now, are you finally caught up or do you just like the sound of my voice?"

Dima could see it on Clara's face, how much she hated this. It almost made him like the job a little more.

"When do we get started?" She finally asked, she wouldn't let the defeat seep into her tone.

Dima hummed as he moved to stand up, "In two days you and I need to meet with one of my contacts here in the states. If you don't plan on trying to lock me out in the rain or show up late purposefully, we can get there by 12:30."

Now, she did roll her eyes before nodding in agreement. "I'll move some of my things around. Do I get to know who we're meeting or will you leave me in the dark?"

"Some Irishmen, from the Bryne family that are up for helping us out."

Clara grunted, gripping a pair of glasses as she looked down at her paperwork. "I'll bring Elsie."

Dima, who'd turned away from her to leave, frowned as he glanced over his shoulder. "Why would you do that?"

"Like you said she's a pretty little thing, hm? If the big bad Ivanov man managed to notice it- so with the Bryne men. We met at a gala last year and I remember one of them taking a liking to her. Having a pretty face around makes men like yourself more agreeable. Maybe working with me you can pick up a few tricks, thinking like a woman tends to make a lot of things easier in life," Clara shot him a sly grin.

Growling in annoyance under his breath, he wondered if that was why Elsie had been here in the first place. To 'make him more agreeable'? He sneered at the ground at the idea of them assuming he'd be so weak minded to bend at the sight of a pretty face.

"And she just goes along with whatever you say? Dragging the poor girl around all these bad men?" He nearly spat.

Clara glanced up at him, wondering why his mood had shifted. Her head tilted, sighing as she took off her glasses. "My daughter is a very pretty girl. I wouldn't describe her bright however, she does what I say." The mother of one knew in the back of her mind she didn't give Elsie enough credit but the last thing she needed was more eyes on her only daughter. Clara desired a very specific amount of attention on Elsie. No more and no less. Downplaying the young woman was the way to do that.

Looking down his nose at the older woman, Dima shook his head dismissively before showing himself out.

He made a beeline for the door, retracing his steps through the labyrinth of turns. He nearly got to the lobby with no interruptions, he could feel the eyes of the security but they didn't dare meet his gaze when he shot a glare their way. But there was one who wasn't swayed by his quick pace or scowl.

"Dima," Elsie picked up her pace to keep up with him. Falling into step as he approached the exit.

"D-Did it go well?" she worried her bottom lip as her little legs struggled to walk as fast as his long and sturdy ones.

The large man only grunted, not even sparing her a glance as he checked his phone for the time.

Elsie frowned, wondering if his silence was a good thing or a bad thing. "You're clothes are in the washer downstairs- will you be back here for them or-?"

"Listen, I don't have time. You did you're part- a pretty face to sweeten the deal, right? You did what you're good for, don't push you're luck."

That made the young woman besides him falter, just as they got to the door. Her face falling a bit as his words stung. Twisting her lips, she tried not to take the strangers words to heart. Snatching his forearm as he stepped back out into the pouring rain.

Gripping the door with one hand, she shoved her umbrella into his grip. Sucking on her pouty bottom lip, she met his gaze.

"Figured you could use that," she muttered. Not waiting for a response, she closed the door before he could give the umbrella back. Hearing the electronic lock click, he knew he didn't have the right key card at the moment to let himself back in.

"Fuck," he hissed as it thundered behind him. Like the sky was emphasizing the shitty feeling that crept into his stomach for just a moment.

Shaking his head abruptly, he opened the umbrella reluctantly before stepping into the rain.

•••

does this make up for the fact that i was supposed to upload this in november 🫣

how are we feeling what're our thoughts feelings and opinionsss 😚😚

i want to work on this in december along with Maddening

(which will be up at 1pm est check it out today!!)

but unlike maddening this book will be updated sporadically while i manage everything behind the scenes lol BUT either way i love u all sm and appreciate every reader and i so look forward to reading the comments for this book and im so excited for dima and elsie's story