Chapter 2-Leverage
“I don’t know you and I don’t care who you are. Let me go, I did nothing wrong!” I shouted confidently, knowing too well that they were mistaken about me.
” But that’s the thing...” he said icy, grabbing his leather chair from the desk and sitting down,” you did do something and you know what it is.” He pointed to the chair positioned in front of his desk and I complied, aware I could not reason with him. I took a moment to look at the paintings on the wall, and, although I didn’t know that much about art you could have certainly tell there were very expensive art pieces. I glanced at the library full of books that was covering an entire wall and the balcony behind him with two chairs and a black table which I distinguished to be marble.
"I need the video recording!” I heard his demanding voice out of nowhere which brought me back to reality.
“What recording?” I inquired frowning my eyebrows as I had no idea what he was talking about. The question must have pissed him off because he rushed into my direction pinpointing me to the chair and looking at me with an expressionless face, slightly tilting his head to the side. "You think I don’t know you recorded me that night? I know everything...I waited for the video to get to the police but nothing came up.” he said with a smirk and added “...and then I heard a little bird saying you are leaving to New York”. He released me but only so he could now stand tall in front of me. I immediately took it as a sign of dominance and intimidation, but the reason why he did it was still unknown.
” I don’t remember any of this, I don’t remember you...” I told him, trying to be calm and hoping he will believe me.
“Listen...” he said “I don’t hurt women but I have other people that do it for me. Either you give me the recording and you can go home or I will make you beg me to take it when I’m done with you.” he said menacingly. I had no idea what he was talking about...what did I do these past few days that brought me here?
"You say I recorded you, right?” I inquired.
” Yes, pretty much so...” he answered sarcastically.
"Then I will need my phone to delete it.” I said, immediately receiving a genuine smile from him that could melt the coldest heart. For a second, I analyzed his features concluding h was indeed a handsome man but unfortunately his cruelty went hand in hand with his good looks. His eyes were black as night but his skin white as snow. The barely visible wrinkles which surrounded his eyes-only enhanced the masculinity of the man in front of me along with his trimmed beard that had a light scent of something sweet, but I couldn't tell exactly what it was. His lips were of a dark pink, not luscious but small, still they complimented perfectly his diamond shaped face and, if it was to speak strictly from a sexual perspective, the fairer sex would have absorbed everything that came out of that mouth.
” That’s all I wanted to hear. Yuri...” he shouted. The man that brought me to his office stood in the door frame waiting for Nicolais’ orders.
” Yes boss” he answered.
” Go and bring Misha's belongings”.
“Would you like a glass of water? Maybe some orange juice?” he asked politely.
”No.” I gritted through my teeth. There was an awkward silence between us after which I see him going back to his desk.
“After we are done, I promise you I’ll disappear from your life”, he said.
” You will not kill me?” I asked stammering.
”Why would I kill you?” he inquired amused by my question. He took a sip from the glass of water on the desk, without breaking eye contact with me.
”Are you not afraid that I will go to the police?” I asked, trying to find out his real intentions.
”Why would I be afraid? You mean nothing to me” He saw the fear written all over my face and sighed” ...Let me tell you something. I have power and connections everywhere in the world and the fact that a disturbed little girl will go to the police to turn me in is simply irrelevant for me.” he added with the same indifference in his voice. “It’s irrelevant, UNLESS that disturbed little girl goes to the police with proof, then she will be a dead disturbed little girl.” He chortled from his own words and leaned back on the leather chair.
“What a psychopath...” I thought to myself while we stood silently looking into each others’ eyes, mine throwing daggers at him while his were rather curious, with just the right dose of sadism that would make anyone tremble. Suddenly, someone opened the door. It was Yuri with a suitcase in his hand and a purse in the other. Nicolai made a sign to him to bring me my things and, as soon as I grabbed the bag, I began looking through the things inside in search of my phone.
”What happened?” he asked me frowning as I was quickly emptying my handbag on the floor, shaking it face down.
”I don’t know!” I said, scared and frustrated. ”I can’t find the phone... I must have lost it”.
”What do you mean you lost it?” he asked puzzled.
” Where was the last time I had it? I have no idea what happened to it, I don’t understand...” I said with my eyes full of tears sounding desperate and resigned. Out of nowhere I felt a hand grabbing my neck and pushing me to a nearby wall.