Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
She quietly exits, and I return to drafting a document for a sale of a car dealership that I’ve been ignoring for too long. The parties are both currently in the Bahamas, but they’ll return soon.
After a couple of hours. I’m done.
I’ve had it with waiting for Alexei, and I’m just about to leave my office when Lillian Sokolov appears in my doorway.
My paralegal rushes up the hallway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see anybody come in.”
“That’s okay. It’s after seven, Eloise. Go ahead and go home.” I cock my head and stare at Alexei’s stepmother. “What, no kidnapping today?”
Her smile doesn’t reach her sad eyes. She’s dressed in a too tight but lovely pink Chanel suit with Manolo Blahniks and enough diamonds to choke a horse. Her hair looks limp today. “I said I was sorry about that. I really am, but it was kind of fun to be the bad guy.”
That’s surprisingly understandable to me. “You didn’t need to get so pretty on my account.” I push an unopened stack of bills away. I don’t get paid until Friday.
Lillian takes a seat across from me. “I want to avoid another trial for Alexei if possible,” she says, crossing her legs. “Tell him if he pleads guilty and serves ten years, I’ll turn Hologrid Hub over to him when he’s out.”
“I don’t believe you.” Has Hendrix sent her here with this silly offer?
She blinks. “I’m telling the truth. I’m unable to charge the amethyst crystals strong enough for our servers. And sweet Hendrix? He works hard, and we’re keeping running, but he’s not going to get any better.”
I steel myself against her pleading look. “You mean while Alexei is alive.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” She shakes her head. “There’s no guarantee that the death of either of them will lead to more strength for the remaining one. It may work, it may not. But it’s not worth it.” She sets her bag down on the floor and leans back. “Do we have a deal?”
“I’m sure we do not,” I say. “There’s no way Alexei is returning to prison. If you want to reach an agreement with him about the company, why don’t you just do it above board? If Hendrix isn’t charging the crystal strongly enough, I’m sure Alexei would love to get involved again.”
She tsks her tongue. “Alexei is dangerous and will kill both my son and me if he remains on the outside. It’s who he is. Be a smart girl and at least see that much.”
I do know that he can kill, but I don’t think he would just murder them for power and money, although the crystals might be another draw. I’ve seen the craving in his eyes when he’s talked about them, though I’ve pretended I haven’t. I’m well aware of how badly Alana needs to charge the aquamarines, even though she seems to be turning some of that over to her cousin. I can’t help but wonder if she’s able to charge garnets with Thorn, but that’s a question for another day.
Lillian takes a deep breath. “I’ve made a good offer. Don’t make me testify against him again. That was grueling the first time.”
“This is an insane offer,” I mutter. “No way will he agree to return to prison.”
Her chin lifts. “He killed David Fairfax, Rosalie. The evidence convicted him, and nobody bribed the judge or prosecuting attorney. Not for Alexei’s case, anyway. He’s handsome, but the jury will see the killer lurking beneath the surface.”
I need to read over her testimony again. It had been disastrous the first time.
“Please talk him into taking Hendrix’s deal.” She stands, grasps her purse, and plunks it on my desk. “It’s not right, but Hendrix is buying the loan for your home.”
“The mortgage I took out?” I ask.
“Yes.”
What a jerk. “That’s fine, but I’m almost current with payments. So he can own a loan all he wants, but I will pay and keep my home.” How am I going to get caught up?
She winces. “I’m sorry, but Hendrix believes there are a couple of acceleration clauses in the original contract.”
That’s true. I had really needed the money, and I hadn’t qualified for the best of loans. “This could be considered blackmail or extortion,” I say quietly. “If you think I won’t have Hendrix arrested and charged, you have not read me correctly.”
She shakes her head. “Just think of you and all those old men out on the street. If I were you, I would convince Alexei to take the deal. Ten years of his life, and then the company’s his.” Which would give Hendrix a decade to raid all of the company funds and quite possibly put a hit out on Alexei in prison. I don’t know a lot about hits or how they work, but I’m afraid Hendrix is capable of it.