Chapter 36

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Once in the office, Daniel made a conscious effort to relax his facial muscles, which had tensed from the strain. He greeted the attractive blonde, whose name had slipped his memory, and purposefully walked towards the staircase.

"The mansion may appear modest, but it can accommodate up to two hundred people," Alexander explained. "Of course, I don't need that many; an open space isn't the ideal setting. Regardless, there's ample room. You'll share an office with the marketing and PR director, who is also new. I've recently introduced a marketing function; it wasn't necessary in the past when I relied on marketing teams in my father's companies. The role is standard: enhancing brand visibility and mitigating negative public perceptions."

"Wait a moment," Daniel interrupted, halting like an obstacle on the stairs and looking up at Alexander. "You mentioned I'd be consulting marketers at other firms. Did you hire a marketing director just to justify my position in the company? A venture capital fund typically doesn't require marketing. An agency can handle website creation and maintenance."

"Yes," Alexander replied without hesitation. "Someone needs to train you, introduce you to the basics of a new field."

"Is she aware of this?" Daniel asked, maintaining a neutral expression despite his growing irritation.

"She was promoted from marketing manager to director, a notable addition to her resume. She should be content with the arrangement," Alexander responded, his tone darkening with each word. "If she isn't, I can always hire someone else."

"That's an interesting approach," Daniel commented, slowly resuming his ascent. "You don't consider her aspirations, do you?"

"I don't," Alexander admitted tersely, blocking Daniel's path. "I'm concerned about you. I want you to feel comfortable; otherwise, you'd be too overwhelmed to know where to begin."

"I could manage on my own; I'm not incompetent," Daniel insisted, attempting to free himself from Alexander's embrace, but Alexander held firm.

"No one doubts your intellectual capabilities, Danny, but your emotional stability is questionable. Don't concern yourself with her; once you've settled in and can work independently, I'll transfer her to one of my father's companies for a significant project in the same role. Does that put your mind at ease?"

"Yes," Daniel responded, forcing himself to return the kiss but keeping Alexander's presumptuous tongue at bay. "Remember, we're in the office, Sasha. Anyone could walk in. Please refrain from drawing attention to our relationship."

"I understand," Alexander concluded with a final peck on Daniel's nose. "Just remember, Danny, our personal history must remain confidential. One slip, and you'll revert to your previous role."

"You certainly know how to inspire," Daniel remarked with a sardonic grin as he moved forward.

His new boss greeted him cautiously, offering a polite smile as Alexander introduced him. Her unremarkable, elongated face, which bore a vague resemblance to a horse, tried to convey restrained enthusiasm at the arrival of a new team member, but her watery blue eyes remained devoid of any warmth. She shook his hand firmly, releasing it almost immediately. After Alexander gave a glance to ensure they were alright and stepped away, her expression turned grim.

"Daria, please, let's use first names," Daniel said, his eyes fixed greedily on the expansive desktop monitor and laptop before him. The set up made him feel like a hunter closing in on his prey. Finally, access to the Internet! A chance to reconnect with friends, update them, and search for coworkers on social media to initiate communication.

"First names are fine with me as well," she responded discreetly, retaking her seat at a desk cluttered with printouts. "I've been tasked with getting you up to speed."

The word "tasked" caught his attention, pulling him out of his tech-induced trance. Taking a seat in a plush gaming chair that provided excellent support for his back and head, he noticed Daria's standard office chair. So, Alexander, in his misguided priorities, had made it clear that her role was subordinate to his. A promising start to their partnership, to say the least.

"If you're busy, we can always do this later. I need to stop by HR to finalize some paperwork anyway," Daniel said, peeling off the sticker with the login and password from the laptop lid. He opened the laptop and hastily entered the login. Daria's annoyance could wait; the internet could not.

"I'm available now," Daria responded, rising with a notebook in hand. She gestured toward a cozy nook by an antiquated window, where two comfortable armchairs and a round table awaited.

"Great," Daniel said, reluctantly closing his laptop. He picked up the new notebook, wrapped in crisp beige paper, and bit his lip. The small white star encircled by a noble dark blue background on the cover caught his attention. It seemed unlikely that all employees were issued Montblanc notebooks. Glancing briefly at Daria's notebook, which bore the embossed logo of the venture capital fund, he muttered to himself. Instead of the Montblanc pen secured in the notebook's loop, he grabbed a pencil from the stationary holder.

"They installed the air purifier yesterday," Daria remarked, catching his puzzled expression, as she gestured towards the purifier. "Along with the new furniture, coffee machine, and mini-fridge." She fixed him with an expectant and challenging stare, clearly prompting him to respond.

Daniel nonchalantly flipped his notebook to display its simpler back cover, took a seat, and met her gaze with equal confidence. He wasn't going to offer any explanations; let her draw her own conclusions. After a brief pause, laden with silent confrontation, she opened her notebook.

"The tasks are straightforward, just two of them: enhance brand awareness and monitor the information landscape. I've organized them into segments. I've already linked up with Medialogy and BrandAnalytics for the first segment and integrated our account with the oil company..." she explained, noting her unspoken query.

"I used to work at Starcom-oil before joining here. We already had contracts with Medialogy and BrandAnalytics. The volume was too insignificant for a separate agreement, so I incorporated it into the existing Starcom contract. You'll be analyzing weekly reports, tracking mentions' dynamics and tone. I've outlined a media publication plan pending Alexander's approval. I'll handle the articles. Have you written before?"

Daniel quickly jotted down unfamiliar names, deducing from her icy demeanor that Googling the services would be quicker than waiting for her explanations.

"Not really, but I'm open to learning."

"Only in English," Daria replied with a resigned sigh. "I'll forward the Russian articles to you for translation and adaptation. We also need to update the project section on the website. It's straightforward: gather details on new projects we can discuss, pass them to the agency, they draft according to the brief, you review and approve, then they publish. That's the gist of it."

"Understood, thanks," Daniel started to rise but hesitated when her next question burst out unexpectedly.

"Can you tell me why you're here?"

Daria seemed to instantly regret her forwardness; her lips tightened, and she frowned, unsure of how to backtrack. Daniel sighed inwardly, frustrated with Alexander. Working solo would've been much simpler. He could easily manage these basic tasks. This wasn't sophisticated marketing for an FMCG company but essentially trivial work for a venture capital fund that had no real need for marketing or PR.

"I apologize if I came off as harsh," Daria said, adopting a more conciliatory tone. "It's just that the whole situation," she gestured vaguely, "is unsettling. I've been here for two weeks, chasing after Alexander for strategy and action plan approvals, and he's been evasive. Then suddenly, they bring in luxuries, clearly not for me, and the next day you appear, even though I've mentioned that the workload here is too much for one person."

"Let's just say I'm on an extended probation due to a past project that didn't go well," Daniel responded cautiously, feeling the need to share some context. "So, for now, I'll be taking on tasks outside of my primary role. I've had experience in consulting before."

"How long is this probationary period?" Daria, appreciating his straightforwardness, relaxed a bit. "Why I ask is, should I consider returning to Starcom-Oil if you're taking over my role?"

"Only if you want to. I'm not here to take your job; I aim to return to my original line of work eventually. If that's settled, let's wrap up. And please, let's keep this conversation between us," Daniel stood up.

"Thank you, Daniel. Given your apparent senior role in your previous project, I hope you can return to it soon," Daria closed her notebook, still wearing a frown. She seemed to have more questions but took the hint.

There were no documents to sign; no one would sign them for a person on house arrest. Daniel wandered around the office instead of heading to HR, feeling the curious gazes upon him before returning to his workspace feeling downcast. The team was involved in genuinely significant projects, the type of work he could have been engaged in. Overhearing snippets of hushed conversations, recognizing familiar terms, only deepened his longing. Two more years wading through this mess - two critical years for a budding professional like him to advance towards his goals. It felt like being presented with a feast while being famished. Daniel opened his laptop with diminished enthusiasm, logged in as instructed, and updated his credentials.

Daria seemed engrossed in her work, making it safe for him to proceed with his plan under the pretense of reviewing the charter sent to his email. Daniel connected to the VPN, set up a new LinkedIn account under the alias Danila Miloslavsky, and with a heavy heart began searching for his former colleagues.

Most had stayed at Arc, except for Pavel and Mikhail, who had moved on. Mikhail's new role was disappointing, as Daniel had hoped otherwise given their good rapport. However, Pavel's position was intriguing. His career trajectory hinted at guilt. After a decade at Arc, Pavel had achieved the pinnacle of his career there. While a move to another industry was not uncommon, it was still concerning.

Pavel had relocated to China, enjoying an elite expatriate lifestyle as the Director of Strategic Development at Sinec. If only there was a way to trace his financial transactions... Daniel tapped his fingers on the desk, contemplating how to persuade Alexander to investigate Pavel Ivanov's overseas accounts. Alexander did not like Daniel's attempts to absolve himself by pointing fingers at others, making the task seem nearly impossible.

Daniel meticulously noted down the names, positions, and new roles of his former colleagues in his notebook. A wistful smile crossed his face as he recalled Mikhail's serene, kind-hearted aura - Mikhail would have been genuinely pleased with the positive changes in his life. Always aspiring to provide his children with an international education without the financial strain of international school's in Moscow, Mikhail now helmed a prominent health tech startup in Argentina, overseeing the entire Latam market. It was uplifting to know that someone was thriving.

With a sigh, Daniel entered 'Powerplace' into the search bar - a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This minor step towards his goal had to lead him back to the ill-fated club where he had been photographed. He noted down the address and swiftly minimized the browser window as Alexander, wearing a beaming smile, entered their office.

"Well, marketers, shall we discuss strategy?" Alexander's voice broke the silence.

Daria sprang to her feet, hastily gathering her notebook and laptop.

"Great. Perhaps in the conference room, so I can present the slides?"

Daniel rose more slowly, noting that she hadn't shared the presentation with him, perhaps fearing he'd steal the credit. It was predictable given his ostentatious entrance into the company, yet still disappointing.

"By the way, I almost forgot," Alexander said, extending a box adorned with an unfamiliar 'Goldvish' logo. "Your phone."

"Thank you," Daniel responded, though inwardly he was irked by the already opened packaging. It was predictable, considering the phone probably came equipped with tracking and parental controls. Stepping back, he subtly signaled his discomfort with the lack of professional boundaries, allowing Daria to step forward.

"Shall we move to the conference room?" Daria asked hesitantly. Alexander nodded absentmindedly, his eyes still fixed on Daniel.

"Uh-huh."

Throughout the presentation, Alexander only sparingly glanced at the charts and key points, repeatedly returning his gaze to Daniel, who remained conspicuously silent, distancing himself from the presentation's content. As Daria's initially confident presentation began to falter, echoing and stuttering, she eventually fell silent.

Breaking the awkward silence, Alexander belatedly spoke up, "Yes, very insightful, thank you, Daria. Daniel, any thoughts?"

"I believe Daria is the expert here. We should discuss the strategy she has put together," Daniel replied, directing his comment towards Daria, signaling to Alexander that he was overstepping.

Alexander responded with an amiable hum, flashing his charming smile at Daria before expressing surprise at the incomplete presentation. "Could you show me the budget slide? Is that all? Why so limited?"

"I optimized the budget using Starcom-Neft's resources," Daria explained eagerly. "You gave me permission to reach out to them, remember?"

"I recall," Alexander said, though his manner suggested otherwise. "It's an excellent plan. You have my approval to proceed."

"I'd also like to present the brand development index and forecasts at different intervals throughout the year."

"Please email the presentation to me; I'll review it in detail. Thank you, Daria; you've done an excellent job," Alexander concluded, standing up and effectively ending the meeting. Daria, looking visibly deflated, closed her laptop.

"Thank you, Alexander. I'll send it right away."

Daniel closed his notebook, which remained untouched during the presentation, prepared to follow his boss, but paused, sensing the unspoken tension in the room.

"Daniel, stay."

Daria exited, casting Daniel a final inscrutable look that clearly painted him in a negative light. He slowly turned around to face Alexander, who approached him with an air of familiarity, brushing a stray hair from Daniel's forehead before planting a kiss there.

"How are you feeling?" Alexander inquired, wearing a soft smile.

"Fine. Could you please stop this?" Daniel pulled back slightly, placing a hand on his chest to prevent any further intimate gestures.

"Stop what?" Alexander responded, his smile unwavering.

"Firstly, we agreed to maintain a strictly professional relationship in the office, and I'd like us to stick to that agreement," Daniel said, brushing away the rebellious strand of hair from his forehead. "Secondly, you unintentionally hurt Daria's feelings by focusing solely on me during her presentation. It undermines me and strains our relationship with her. Do you understand?"

"It's hard to focus on anyone else when you're in the room," Alexander countered weakly. "Alright, I get it. I'll try to be more discreet. You seem tense, Danny. Can you make it through the rest of the workday?"

"Yes, I can," Daniel responded, edging towards the door. "My tension stems from your behavior, nothing else. Please treat me like everyone else."

"Do you remember our first meeting in this very room?" Alexander's expression softened as he reminisced. "It was challenging to keep my eyes off you then. You were captivating - even with that bruise on your forehead and visibly on edge. I struggled to focus on the presentation, yearning to be alone with you, to talk to you, to captivate you, and to kiss you. I tried to concentrate on the slides and simultaneously envisioned a future with you. I saw how you resisted our date, only to eventually give in, and how you gradually warmed up to me, laughing at my jokes and hesitating before our first kiss. In that moment, my life flashed before my eyes, and you were in every scene. I knew right then that I'd do anything to keep you by my side."

"And you have," Daniel replied with a faint smile. "I'm with you now, you've won, but..." He trailed off, unable to continue, feeling drained. He swiftly left the room, almost sprinting down the corridor in search of the restroom marked by a familiar symbol, with hurried footsteps echoing close behind. Upon entering the restroom, he locked the bathroom door just in time to prevent an immediate entry. Alexander's voice came through the door, muffled.

"Danny, I upset you. I didn't mean to, can you believe it? Please come out."

Frustrated, Daniel slammed his Montblanc pen onto the black marble countertop, discarded the cell phone box into a corner, and turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on his flushed face. Alexander's gentle knocks and pleas were drowned out by the rush of water. His head throbbed with escalating blood pressure, and he felt an unsettling nausea. But with each passing moment, the tension seemed to dissipate. Daniel stood up straight, gazing at his reflection - his hair was shorter now than when they first met, yet the colors of his suit, shirt, and tie still eerily matched. He groaned, shutting his eyes tightly. If he had known the emotional toll that meeting would exact on him, he would have rolled off the project and fled.

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