Andrei Romanov

I had changed out of my suit from last night, replacing it with another one. Luca stood over my shoulder as I sat opposite of the filth, one leg over the other as I observed the pacing man.

"Fucking pick up!" Seeing Edmund Pierce stressed to this extent generated warmth in my icy being.

"Stop playing games, Edmund," Luca sneered, stepping closer, "you're just trying to protect your daughter."

"Protecting her is the last thing on my mind." The animosity in his tone was followed by him throwing his phone on top of the table between us.

"Cut the act, Pierce." This was the first time I spoke in the hour we had been in his office, getting impatient myself. "Your daughter stole for me," I spat, pointing a finger at him to accentuate the blame.

"She would not-"

"Information regarding my business is out there," my voice boomed across the room, cutting him off before he could further defend his daughter, "your daughter put it out there. Do you know how much loss I have to bear for this?" The hatred for him and his offspring clung to every word that came out of my mouth.

"First of all-" Edmund's rebuttal was interrupted by the ringtone blaring from his phone and he wasted no time in answering the call. "Eleanora you have fucking ten minutes to get to my office!"

My ears picked up the meek response from the other side but Edmund didn't let it continue for long, "Do you think I fucking care? Get here now or I swear to everything I own I will fucking do something to you!" With the end of his threats, he ended the call before meeting my gaze once again, "Andrei," he sighed, trying to compose himself, pressing a finger to his eyes before opening them, "I don't know how this happened but-"

"There are no buts here, Edmund, " Luca spoke for me, "the main point is, you and your daughter stole from the company."

"I didn't-"

"Your daughter did." The firmness stiffened my claim, not allowing him the chance to complete his useless attempts to clear his name. "She's a Pierce."

The sunlight gleaming through the window highlighted the frown lines that marred his features. The tension was evident on his face, no matter how hard he tried to put over a mask of composure.

This was only my second visit to his office and I hated it much more than the last time I stepped foot in here. The light-coloured wood of his desk, the over-the-top sofa set in one corner, and the big bookcase filled with books I doubt he'd ever read among other things all got under my skin because I was well aware this was all a facade to fool people coming in for meetings here. Everything in here warned me that the man sitting across from me was obsessed with his business, an obsession that blurred all lines in sight.

As the minutes ticked by, the annoyance coursing through my veins intensified. "I don't have all the time in the world, Pierce." My movements were dragged as I stood to my full length. "You'll be hearing for my lawyers-"

The abrupt push of the door ceased my promise before I could seal it, the erratic breathing of the new company begging for attention as I looked over my shoulder to find none other than Eleanora Pierce.

I turned my head back forward but not before noting her being, from the hair that was now tied up into a messy bun on top of her head to the same red dress she had on last night. The hazel orbs held the tiredness she might be feeling from last night's event but her head was held high nonetheless.

"What's wrong, father?" She stepped forward with each word, the confusion wrapped up in her stance as she stopped next to me.

"What's wrong is that sensitive information regarding my business has been leaked." I couldn't help the venom that seeped out, my skin crawling at the close proximity between us.

"That seems to be a problem that concerns you."

"Not when it was you who leaked it." I bit back, quicker than I had anticipated.

"Excuse me?" I caught her turn to me, surprise etched into her movements.

"Not excused." I watched her furrowed brows from the corner of my eye.

"I will not tolerate you tainting my name when you have no-"

"Proof?" Luca cut in from behind me and I caught the twitch in Edmund's eyes. "I have proof." Luca came forward with the tablet he had clutched close to him, stopping between her and myself as he held up the device that displayed the video.

All of us, including Edmund, had our gaze fixed on Eleanora as she watched the security footage we had shown Edmund not too long ago. Her features morphed into a variety of expressions, not trying the slightest to hide what she had going on in her head, going from a state of confusion before realisation and then horror. Her frame did not move, even by an inch, after the video ended.

"That is not me," her vindication came out breathy, as if still trying to process what she saw. "That is not me." It was more firm this time.

I couldn't stop myself as I turned to face her completely for the first time since her arrival, "Are you denying what you just saw?" I held my hand up when I caught Luca trying to add his view, stopping him midway. "That was you, your figure in this same red dress going to the main lobby, picking up my coat from the closet, taking out that specific envelope from the inside pocket, and then disappearing for the night entirely. No one knew where you went." I had stepped forward, closing what little space existed between us, forcing her to tilt her head up to match my fiery gaze.

"I wouldn't do that." She shifted her troubled vision from my face to her father.

"Then where the fuck did you run off to in the middle of the auction?" Edmund barked, lasering his red anger at his daughter, not caring that he had people other than family in his office.

"I was not feeling good-"

"So you went off and played out your burglary fantasies."

"Father, I was sick-"

"You cannot deny what we all saw!" I saw her blink twice, staring helplessly as her eyes shifted from my face to her father as he barked.

"I got sick last night," Eleanora peaked, her voice ringing higher as if it would help prove her innocence. "I went to a vacant room in the building to fucking sleep! I woke up no longer than an hour ago when you called!"

Edmund picked up his phone once again, dialling a number and putting it on speaker. It took two rings for someone to answer.

"Hello?" A female voice questioned.

"Paige, Edmund Pierce, " he started loud and clear, "I wanted to enquire if anyone stayed in any of the rooms last night during the event."

"Sure, Sir, let me have a look." There was a brief silence on the other end. My gaze discreetly tracked over to Eleanora, the thumb of her hand grazing over her fingernails, her bottom lip victimised by her teeth but despite the nervousness, a calm swam in her eyes, like she knew her innocence would be proved any moment now.

"No, sir, all the rooms were vacant last night."

"What in the actual fu-"

"Now, Pierce," Luca cut Eleanora off just as Edmund hung up, "I suppose your lawyers are ready?"

"I did not do anything!" An exasperated sigh left her parted lips.

"Don't utter another word, Eleanora! Isn't it enough you not only stole but leaked information about another business for God's sake." Edmund's anger tore through the roof but the shaking of his hand could be associated with the fear of the consequences of his daughter's action.

"I do not know who here has something against me or who the fuck is trying to frame me-"

"I have already lost over a million dollars because of you." My arms crossed over my chest, my body turning to her with a calm composure, "Whether you own up to your theft or not, that video will be used as evidence in court and I will tear this Pierce Enterprise brick by brick." The iron-clad threat hung over their heads.

"Now, Andrei, we don't have to jump here, I'm sure we could work things out without involving the authorities." Edmund ended with a chuckle wrapped up in his nerves and my hand itched to grab onto his neck.

"You and your daughter have caused enough damage," I spoke through gritted teeth, "Luca will let you know of the details."

"What is it that you want?" Right where I wanted the head of Pierce Enterprise.

"What are you willing to give?" I was intrigued by how I could make him dance at the snap of my fingers.

"Money," he uttered quickly, "However 
much you ask for."

"That would only cover the monetary value I have lost," I stated as a matter of fact.

"What else?" His burning eagerness set the satisfaction coursing through my veins.

"A contract." My ears perked up at what Luca proposed, stepping forward as the attention now shone on him. A hard clench of my jaw was accompanied by my eyes narrowing by just a fraction as I caught on to Luca's intentions, my hands balling into tight fists as my arms fell to my sides. I bit the inside of my cheek, refraining myself from cursing out Luca on his move after I specifically remembered telling him the contract would be the last resort, much to his dismay.

"A contract detailing what exactly?" Edmund did not try to contain the slight alarm in his tone.

"I want her." My gruff demand was followed by a thick lull, the atmosphere weighing heavier than before as I saw the gears in his head turning, processing what I asked of him. I felt the heat of her gaze burning into the side of my face, but I paid no heed, having no problem ignoring her entirely as I patiently waited for a response.

"No."

"Done." The father and daughter contradicted each other with their statements.

"Are you fucking serious?" Eleanora erupted as her father sold her off for his business. "I will not let a bunch of men decide-"

"You left me no choice, Eleanora!"

"So you're selling me off? To pay for a crime I never even committed?"

"Don't fucking deny it. You saw what we saw." Edmund pointed a finger at his daughter. "And unless you have proof of your innocence, you are his in whatever way the contract states." His words were final.

"We will leave you two at it," I interrupted the father-daughter duel, "the contract will be finalised by tomorrow so I would expect you to stop by, Eleanora." Her head snapped in my direction, her face burning red with anger but she bit her tongue as she should, her sharp gaze battling my own. "Bring a pen with you."

I did not wait for a reply as I turned on my heel, walking out of the office with Luca following close behind. Even though the distance between us and the closed doors grew, so did the shouting voices inside.

"Stay in your lane, Luca." The rage that had been simmering resurfaced.

Luca Castellano was someone I considered closer than family, like a younger brother I never had. We met under unfortunate circumstances in our teenage years, him always joking it was fate that brought us together, knowing full well I wasn't very fond of that.

He was the Head of my own startup business, separate from my family's business, over here in Miami and he only needed a call from my side to get up and running, coming to my hotel room at ungodly hours to go through what had been scheming in my brain. Luca never fully questioned my motives, simmering through with the fragments I provided him with but I would occasionally notice the itch he would get to try and understand me better.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He huffed, offended, his shoulders straightened as he tucked his hands away in his pockets.

"The contract was the last resort, not fucking first." There was a tic in my jaw as the scenario played out in my mind, planning how I would take it from here, how I would tolerate a Pierce.

"It is our best option." Luca countered.

"You don't have to live with that-that-"

"You'd be killing two birds with one stone, Andrei." Luca cut me, saving me from the extended struggle of finding the appropriate word for the hell that was upon me. "Your ordeal with Edmund and fulfilling your family's condition together, at the same time would fast-track everything."

"You expect them to believe some woman, especially this one, is willing to tie herself down. To me." I scoffed, having a difficult time believing it myself, let alone convincing my family that is already content with the fact I could never take over the business due to my inability to love or let love.

"Love happens in the most unexpected places, at unexpected times to unexpected people. It does not need permission. " I did not need to turn to look at him to know he had a shit-eating smirk on his face.

"Just fucking shut up." The grumble came from deep within my chest as I navigated out through the building, walking out into the parking lot.

"You're too red." Luca pointed, hinting at my anger which might as well be coming off in waves. "And I can tell the wheels in your head are moving."

My pointed glare did the work of a dagger as I narrowed my brows, stopping next to our vehicles. Luca was quick to hold his hands up in defence whilst simultaneously pressing down on the unlock button of the car key he clutched between his fingers, "All I'm saying is leave the bike and get in my car, you might be a little impulsive right now."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Luca." With his offer turned down, I fetched the key from my pocket.

"You're a hazard, Romanov." I paid no heed as my leg swung over the bike that was parked right next to his car, inserting the key in and holding my hand out, looking straight ahead.

It took only a few seconds for my helmet to be placed in my open palm and I wasted no time in putting it over my head.

"Tomorrow, before or after?" Luca was smart enough to question.

"After." Came my muffled reply. I didn't want any company when I dealt with the problem from the depths of hell itself in human form.

I heard the car door click open and shut, taking it as an indication to part ways. Turning my head, I gave Luca a small, parting nod before shifting the gear and accelerating away.

Luca might be correct, I am a hazard with how my speed kept increasing, the strong wind resisting my forward movement as I shifted lanes left and right in traffic, the boisterous roar of the engine deafening to my ears but I couldn't help it, not with my mind stuck on Eleanora Pierce and how she now was now the centre of my plans, no matter how much I despised her very existence or proximity.

She was what I needed to get what I wanted.

***
Hey lovelies!
Hope you all are doing good and are safe. Another chapter of Damsel In Business is done and out of the way. Do tell how you felt about it and if you enjoyed it, especially Andrei's POV.

ny other thoughts, comments  and feedback are welcome too.

Love and Peace :)

Yours truly;
J. N. Light