AMANDA
I leave Adam's office and head to my car, where my driver and a few security guards are already waiting for me. I don't know why, but the thought that I will have to deal with business problems right now even brings me some joy.
Honestly, I just need to distract myself from everything that has happened over these days. Work has always been the best way for me to switch gears.
I'm driving and thinking that something has changed. It's as if the last tragedy has broken something very important, something that will never be the same as it was before.
I remember driving from this city to London seven years ago and promising myself that I would never cry again. But back then, I still felt something, and over those seven years, I had emotions. Now I feel nothing. Yes, I have some attraction to Adam, yes, I want him. And maybe it's even fair to call it love, but there are no more emotions. I don't feel fear, I don’t feel pain over the loss of my child.
At times I feel like I'm numb. But I don’t plan to tell Adam about this. Maybe he will understand me, but I don’t want him to look at me with concern. I need to sort out the business problems that Korneyev left me. I wasn’t ready for this, I wasn’t ready when it all crashed down on me, but now I am more than ready.
I need to find out everything from Victoria. And I am sure that the woman knows a lot. After all, Korneyev entrusted her to find me and bring me up to speed. So today, I'm putting all the dots over the "i".
I need to learn about our partners and competitors. About how my father (for the first time in my life, I refer to him this way. And that thought comes to me almost by itself) ran the business, how he interacted with everyone.
I know that he had great power, connections, and money, and all that was not built just like that. Maybe I won't resort to all the methods he used. But the man certainly knew how to keep this empire in his hands, and I am his daughter. So I can manage too.
Victoria is waiting for me in the office.
- Good afternoon, Ms. Amanda. Are you ready to get down to business? - The woman is sitting emotionlessly with documents, as always.
I come in and sit at the table:
- Yes, tell me everything you know about my father's business. - After this phrase, Victoria lifts her eyes to me. She seems surprised that I referred to Korneyev as my father. But so what. There’s no escaping it. I am his daughter, and I just need to accept that.
- What exactly are you interested in? - The woman’s eyes look somewhat tense, yet curious. These are the first emotions I’ve seen on her face in a long time.
- Don’t pretend you don't understand me. I need to know everything. I need to know how Korneyev built this business. About what methods he used, although I have some idea about that. And about how much dark side there is to this empire. - A cunning smile appears on this woman's face. Can it be that my father's secretary knows how to express any emotions?
- Well, Ms. Amanda, this will be a long story, and I don’t promise you that it will be pleasant. - The woman puts down the folder and asks her secretary to bring whiskey.
- I didn't expect it to be a pleasant story, but I think it's time to learn everything. - So we pour two glasses, and Victoria starts to tell me.
As I expected, my father built his business not exactly honestly; in fact, I would say it was even somewhat bloody. Some stories shocked me, but the overall picture was clear. He took everything by force, power, and fear. And over time, people simply feared him, not even for what he did at that moment, but just because of his past. Well, I don’t have such authority, but I can gain it.
- Victoria, what do you think is the best way to deal with foreign partners? - I don’t know why, but I trust this woman. Maybe because I understand that she knows a lot, and people like Korneyev don’t trust just anyone.
- Ms. Amanda, I don't even know what to recommend. You need to show them your authority. But how to do that in a way that aligns with your views on life? - I understand what she's getting at. The woman doesn’t know how ready I am to adopt my father's management style.
- Victoria, you don't understand me. Give me a clear plan. I am ready to do anything to keep this business at the level it was handed to me, or even better, to take it to a new level. - Looking at me, the woman is silent for a long time, and then she finally says:
- Well, then you will need to meet with one of your father's most unpleasant partners and discuss further cooperation with him. Their contract expires in a few days, and if he agrees to renew it, the other partners will simply have no way to object. But I must warn you, Ms. Amanda, he is a very treacherous and very unpleasant person. - The woman inhales and takes a sip of whiskey, and I realize that a real hell awaits me ahead, as I’m about to meet one of the main demons. But I mustn't forget that once my father was the king of this hell, and therefore, I have the right to take his throne, and I will do everything for that.
For the first time, I am not afraid of the future; for the first time, I am not afraid of my thoughts. The only thing that creeps in is doubt, but will I be able to stop in time, or will this darkness consume me completely?
- Fine, arrange the meeting as soon as possible, and we will figure out how to conduct everything properly so that he has no options but to renew the contract. - I still don’t know what I will do, but I have no other choice.
I need this contract; I need this person's support. I don’t know who he is or what he is like, but it doesn’t matter. If I am determined to go to the end, I will do it.
I spend the rest of the day working in the office; my thoughts completely vanish. I am fully engaged in work, as it used to save me. The only thing that brings me back to reality is a call from Adam.
- Yes, Adam, I'm listening. - His voice sounds quiet and tired.
- Kitten, would you mind if I picked you up? - I don’t know if I want to see him right now, especially since recent events have broken him even more.
- Maybe I'll go myself; we can meet at home. - You might say that I am probably doing this wrong. We need to stick together and not drift apart, but I am not ready yet. I don't want to see suffering in his eyes.
- As you wish; I just wanted to have dinner together. - I hear his voice breaking. God, what am I doing again?
- Adam, can you pick me up in half an hour? - I realize that it’s not easier for him right now, and I simply have no right to hurt him. So I finish my tasks and go outside. My security follows me, as always, and I don’t even notice them.
- I never thought this would become a usual thing. - This thought brings a bittersweet smile.
Adam is already waiting for me by the car. I approach and kiss his lips.