Chapter 2 - The Ghost of the Past
The air in the ballroom seemed to turn to solid ice.
Larkin’s hand immediately dropped to the lapel of his jacket, hovering inches from his concealed weapon.
I did not flinch, even as Viktor Volkov’s heavy fingers gripped my jaw.
"You have the wrong woman, Viktor," I said, keeping my voice entirely even.
Viktor laughed, a booming, humorless sound that echoed off the marble pillars.
"I never forget a face, especially not the face of the girl who vanished with my brother’s encrypted hard drives five years ago."
My blood ran cold, but I kept the polite, vacant smile of a corporate employee plastered on my lips.
"I am an accountant from Brooklyn, Mr. Volkov."
"I think you’ve had too much champagne."
Larkin stepped smoothly between us, forcing Viktor to release my face.
"She is with me, Viktor," Larkin said, his tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.
"And she is off-limits."
Viktor’s eyes darted between Larkin and me, a cruel, calculating gleam in his pale blue irises.
"Keep a close eye on your pretty accountant, Larkin," Viktor warned, straightening his cuffs.
"Ghosts have a habit of disappearing when you need them most."
Viktor turned and vanished into the sea of expensive suits and silk gowns.
Larkin grabbed my elbow, his grip tight enough to bruise.
"We are leaving the floor," Larkin commanded.
He didn't wait for my response, dragging me toward a set of heavy mahogany doors guarded by his personal enforcers.
We stepped into a private VIP lounge, the doors clicking shut to block out the noise of the gala.
The room was completely empty, illuminated only by the city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Larkin released my arm and turned to face me, pacing like a caged predator.
"Who are you?" Larkin demanded.
"I am your secretary," I replied, crossing my arms over the delicate chains of my dress.
Larkin let out a harsh, bitter laugh.
"My secretary doesn't wear four-thousand-dollar silk, and my secretary certainly doesn't have a history with the Russian mob."
He closed the distance between us, backing me up against the cold glass of the window.
"I ran a background check on you three years ago, Penelope."
"Your file was spotless, boring, and utterly unremarkable."
"Which means someone went to extraordinary lengths to scrub your past."
I looked up into his dark, furious eyes, refusing to back down.
"You hired me to balance your books, Larkin."
"And that is exactly what I have done."
Larkin slammed his hand against the glass right next to my head.
"Then explain to me why three million dollars vanished from my Cayman accounts yesterday morning."
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"I took it," I confessed.
May you like
Larkin pulled his gun, pressing the cold steel barrel directly against my ribs.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't pull this trigger right now."
