Chapter 9

Instead of Orianne herself, her older brother’s secretary was sent to deal with the deputy minister. This was his secretary, both in the legal and illegal business world, unlike Orianne. Their legal business was owning and managing hotels and apartments, both residential and commercial, all in the heart of Russia’s biggest cities.

Orianne was in the control room, together with the group’s workers. They were all listening to the conversation between Igor, the minister, the actor and her older brother’s secretary. 

They were allowed to listen to the audio but never record it and to not take a video.

“Mr. Dmitri, my question still is, why are you in the need of possessing those research papers?”, the secretary asked.

“Why did they even send you, an underling? Am I not worthy of talking to the boss?”, Dmitri asked back, making the secretary clear his throat. 

Viktor Stalin, her older brother’s secretary is a very responsible man but he doesn’t take responsibility when his patience runs out and the other party suffers. 

“My boss is busy with a serious business and doesn’t have time to play around with kids. You should be thankful that he’s not the one you’re facing right now.”

“A KID? You’re now considering me a kid? Listen, a lot of people adore and love me, both old and young. I won’t be dealing with this unless I talk to your boss.” This is going to be one hell of a long time listening to this kid rant, Orianne thought. 

They heard a thud sound immediately after the actor has done talking.

“I’m sorry for that, mister. Dmitri can be this childish sometimes but we’ll appreciate if you come back next time”, the minister said after giving Dmitri a smack on the head.

“There is no next time. If you won’t answer my question, then at least give us what you’ve stolen.” Orianne can feel that Viktor’s patience is just hanging by a thread. 

“This is all your fault, Igor. You were not careful”, they heard Dmitri say.

“Viktor, resort to force if they won’t still decide to give it and make sure to take Igor back”, Orianne ordered.

“Whoah! Wait!”

Sounds of guns shuffling were heard.

“Mr Dmitri, give us back the papers.”

“Order your men to put their guns down”, the minister sternly said.

A shot was heard followed by glasses breaking.

“Mr. Dmitri, give us the papers back”, Viktor said once again, like a robot programmed to say only that line. 

“Mr. Orlov?”, Dmitri whined like a pussy.

“Just give it back, Dmitri.” Maxim sighed in defeat. 

“Who even are these people? Are they some sort of terrorists?”

Orianne and the others in the control room were baffled when suddenly there was a loud explosion and the connection was disconnected. 

“REPORT!”, Orianne shouted at the sniper on the other end of her earbud. 

“This is Sniper KH1 reporting. Sir Ajax just arrived at the scene. Again, Sir Ajax just arrived at the scene.”

“Damn that bastard! Always doing things on his own”, Orianne muttered as she removed her earbud. 

“Lady K, Sir Ajax wants to talk”, one of the workers carefully said, trying to avoid escalating Orianne’s annoyance.

“Go on.”

“Orianne? Since when did you get married to that Amos?”

“Let go of me---ughhh!”

“Shut it if you still want your face to appear in that stupid drama you are in.”

All the workers were trying to keep their eyes on the big screen, even though it’s just showing Ajax’ name. 

“Yesterday.”

“Yesterday? It’s civil then.”

“Yes, now can we get back to the matters at hand?”

“You, Igor”, followed by a sound of gun being loaded, “why the fvck did you even think of giving this trash here, your key to your freedom?”

“Sir?”

“This project was supposed to be your last. Your gangster of a brother devoted himself to be a part of the group, in exchange for your so-called acting career.”

“Pavel did that?”

Ajax did not bother answering him, instead he focused on stepping on Dmitri’s head. 

“And you? Give us the papers back.”

“SIR MAXIM?” Dmitri’s whine was ignored since the deputy minister is shocked from the scene. All the window and ceiling  glasses were broken, a lot of heavily armed men were around them and two double-rotor helicopters were hovering above his residence. 

“The prime minister won’t be happy if he heard that you got involved in a mess made by this kid. Viktor, get the papers over there.”

“The papers are retrieved, sir.”

“Let’s get the hell out of here”, Ajax said before bending and tightly pressing his lit cigarette on Dmitri’s head. They were once again disconnected and Orianne finally took a deep breath.

“Urghhh! How dare you?!” 

Ajax, with Viktor by his side, left the room. The armed men were pulled up by the two helicopters. Outside, a black limo was waiting for them. 

Orianne fixed herself when he saw a familiar limo nearing their HQ. Two men walked out when the limo stopped in front of her. Ajax and Viktor does look alike, if only Ajax fix his hair and attire like Viktor. Both were wearing glasses but another difference is that Viktor doesn’t smoke and Ajax always has cigarette with him.

“How was your business in the states?”, Orianne asked as soon as Ajax went in front of her. 

“I really hate dealing with Americans”, he answered and dismissed Viktor. 

“I thought you were going to stay there longer.”

They entered the elevator before he answered her.

“I miss my country.”

Orianne rolled here eyes at his answer. They reached the top floor where Ajax office is located. It had the perfect view with most of its walls built with glasses.

“So, how are you going to work now that you’re married?”

“Most likely under them, but we’re still going to talk about that. Now, can you tell me why that actor is after the drugs?”

“More money, more connections, more power. It’s just that he wants more, and Igor looked up to him. He blabbered too much that he even included this confidential project”, Ajax said as he lit up another cigarette while sitting on his swivel chair. 

“And you’re really going to let him go just like that?”

“You see, that kid’s been already been living a fucked up life. And you want me to make it worse?”

Orianne agreed in her mind.

“So when is it going to be released? The new drug?” She went near the window and watched how two armed men were guiding Igor back inside the building.

“As soon as Igor build everything from scratch. He even blew up the lab, I heard”, he answered and puffed some smoke. 

“Are you finished?  My escort for the night is already at the hotel.” Orianne cringed at his statement.

“Yes, definitely. Are your women even clean?”

“I check their medical certificate during foreplay.”

Orianne’s eyes widened. “Of course, you do. I don’t even know why I’m still talking to you.” 

She entered the elevator and watched how Ajax turned his chair to take a view of the dark lines of trees outside. 

Another long day has passed.

“So he’s been at it since yesterday?”, Orianne, in her corporate attire, asked Hiraya as both of them are looking at Igor from outside. He was working on creating the drugs again. 

“And didn’t even sleep a blink. By the way, Ajax is willingly letting this guy go? After killing four of his subordinates?”

Orianne looked at Hiraya and uncrossed her arms.

“Just get used to it. It’s going to be like this until you die.”

“Of course, it is.” Hiraya knew nothing normal would happen in this lifetime, their normal is way different from the people who know but are not living their lives.

“Lady K, it’s almost time to meet Sir Gustav”, her secretary came and informed her.

Orianne tapped Hiraya’s shoulder before leaving her. “You feel guilty about all of this, and so am I”, Orianne thought while looking at Hiraya as the elevator closed. 

A Cadillac Escalade was waiting for her outside. The valet gave her the keys before she slid on the driver’s seat. Her secretary settled at the passenger’s seat without any complaints. It has been like this ever since Orianne started working at the HQ. It was part of her defense, since most assassins tend to attack the back seat first, instead of the driver. 

With her sunglasses on, she went outside the car, followed by her secretary holding a briefcase. They entered the hotel, where their next big client was checked in. 

“This way, madam.” A uniformed man led them to the lobby’s bar. 

Mr. Gustav was sitting on a high stool, drinking whatever liquor he has on his hand. Orianne motioned her secretary to take one of the seats at the right corner. She took the seat right next Mr. Gustav.

“Watermelon juice, please.”

The bartender nodded at her request.

“Good morning, Mr. Stav.” Mr. Gustav was already a 60-year old man, with almost all his hairs white. Even at his age, his features didn’t fade. With his long stubbles and still fit body and his sense of fashion, he can still date and surely can afford a sugar baby.

“Same to you, Lady K.”

“I have seen Amos yesterday, at the hangar.” Orianne immediately knew where this talk was going.

“Your watermelon juice, ma’am.”

Orianne nodded and drank from the glass while staring at the back bar.

“I can see that he is proud with your marriage. He kept looking at the ring every time he gets the chance to”, he said and drank from his own glass. He shook his head and smiled. “He even asked his married employees the key to a happy married life. That boy.”

Orianne looked at Mr. Stav, shock visible in her eyes.

“Now, we’re not here for that. I want you to arrange for my daughter’s debut. She needs to take over, no matter what. I am getting old and I’ve had enough dealing with energetic youngsters.”

“Mrs. Hachatrjan, arrange Vitaliya’s debut. My daughter needs to be introduced to the world she’s been preparing for.”