A Very Corporate Affair book 3 (The Corporate series) (3 page)

I went back into the kitchen, "He's out," I yelled at Jo, "on his way to Moscow to refuel. Put the news on, because there should be a press conference. I've got a quick call to make, but yell if he appears." I went back out to the terrace and called Mr Ranenkiov. "It's Elle, I have news. Ivan's free."

There was a stunned silence for a moment. "That's fantastic. My brother in law said that something was happening at the top levels, but he wasn't privy to it, so couldn't get information."

"Apparently he's on his way to Moscow, and will give a press conference, so put your telly on. Also, can you call Marakov and get him to pull the ransom cash back to Retinski please. I'm hoping it wasn't touched."

"Consider it done. Can I ask though Elle, how you know all this?"

"That's confidential I'm afraid."

"I see, well, I don't know who your contacts are, but you must have some pretty powerful people behind you." I stayed silent. "I'll call Marakov, then the other directors. I'll call you back in a little while."

"Ok." I cut the call. Within 30 seconds it rang again. "Hi Oscar, have you heard the news?" 

"Yes, just spoke to Darius. Great stuff. Can I come over?"

         "Sure, I'll tell Roger to let you in. See you in a bit." I wandered back to the kitchen. "Would you tell Roger that Oscar's on his way over please? I'm gonna nip up and get dressed." Jo was beaming with happiness.

"Do you want some breakfast?"

"No thanks, I had toast earlier, and I'm sure Oscar would have eaten already. Do you know what Ivan's favourite dinner is? I want to cook for him tonight."

Jo thought for a moment. "He likes roast beef the most, I think. Tell you what, once I've seen this press conference, I'll nip to Waitrose and pick up everything you need for a roast."

"Great. He's probably gonna be worn out and sick of cabbage soup, so I'll spoil him a bit."

I ran upstairs, and threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and ran back down, just as Oscar arrived. "Hey, great news huh? Come and have a coffee while we wait for the news conference."

"You look exhausted Elle, I bet you didn't get a wink of sleep. Hey girls, how's my favourite spaniels?" He bent down to pick up both spaniels, one in each arm, and let them lick his face enthusiastically. I watched in fascination, shocked that he seemed to genuinely like them. I would never in a million years had Oscar down as liking animals. "Shall we see if we can watch your Daddy on the telly?" he crooned at them, smiling as their ears perked up at the word 'Daddy'.

We all went into the lounge, and I flicked on the big TV. Jo brought in cups of coffee, and Oscar played with the dogs while we waited. They seemed to adore him, rolling around at his command, and giving paw.

Chapter 2

Ivan looked a little tired, and his suit a bit crumpled at the press conference, which was in Russian, with subtitles. I drank in the sight of his beautiful face, not quite believing my own eyes that he was actually alive, free, and in one piece. He briefly described how his guards had waited for the ideal opportunity to overpower the terrorists utilising the superior training gained from their time in the Russian military.

He fielded a few questions from the journalists, before telling them that he would be heading straight back to London to get on with running Retinski Industries, even though he would have loved a few days holiday in his beloved Moscow. He told the reporters that it wouldn't put him off returning to Russia,
we'll see about that,
and he hoped that terrorists would think twice before attacking people, given that he had proven that Russian military training had made his guards almost invincible.

I saw Nico in the background, looking a little uncomfortable as Ivan spoke. He thanked everyone for their concern, and stood up, saying that his plane would be ready for take off in a few minutes.

As soon as the press conference was over, Jo announced that she was going to Waitrose. Oscar and I decided to take the girls out for a walk through the woods. We walked for a while in companionable silence, before Oscar spoke, "Are you feeling a bit better now?"

"Oh god, yes. I was in full meltdown last night, what with the funeral, the kidnapping, and the hassle I had at Retinski. I came back here and just cried. It all just felt like too much."

"It's what your life will be like with Ivan.... Complicated."

"So you keep telling me."

"You must be able to see it, I hate to think of you living in fear of your life." Oscar spoke softly, but with conviction. I thought about my paranoia the night before in the Retinski offices.

"I know. In a lot of ways I know you're right, but I need to stay the course. Part of my meltdown was the fear that I'd never see him again."

"Are you in love with him?"

I glanced up at Oscar, "Yes, I think so. I have feelings for him."

"I think so, means you're not. When you're in love, you know. It's irrefutable when it happens to you."

"Maybe I'm not an emotional person," I challenged. I was certain that my hesitation with Ivan was down to recent events, and not a lack of feelings for the man himself.

"That's not true Elle, you're quite normal emotionally," he paused, "when you look ahead, how do you see your future?"

I frowned as I thought about it. "Always on my own. I never had daydreams about husbands and babies, if that's what you're asking. It was always just me, with a good job, and a comfortable life. I like that Ivan breaks down my barriers, you know, by refusing to be fussed about my hang ups. He makes me feel normal."

"Didn't I do that for you?"

"No, I felt ashamed of being poor, and as I said before, you found me a bit distasteful. I never felt good enough, so it was almost as stressful being with you, as it is worrying that Ivan's mates being free and easy with the polonium. I can protect myself against them, I refused to eat or drink anything at Retinski yesterday. I can't protect my self esteem from being with a man who is more comfortable with male genitals than mine." I tried to choose my words carefully. "There are times that I wish I was with you, and I want to run into your arms and start again, when I realise I got a lot wrong about you, but then I worry that I'll never be enough for you." I stared at the ground, wondering what he'd say. He stayed quiet for a while.

Eventually he spoke. "I would change for you. I would treat you the way I should have treated you from the start. If you are truly in love with Ivan, then I'll just worship you from afar, but if you're not, or you're unsure, then as your friend, I'd urge you to get yourself away from him."

"You're a great friend," I said, not wanting to say more than that.

"I try to be."

The girls came racing back over, breaking the tension. We headed back to the house. I wanted to shower and change before Ivan returned, and Oscar said he had a builder coming to discuss some repairs to the castle.

Roger saw Oscar out, before informing me that Ivan would be landing in approximately four hours time at Gatwick. "It will take us approximately half an hour to get to the south terminal. I'm assuming you want to meet him?"

"Oh definitely, I'll be ready by three." I made a cup of tea, and checked through my emails. The other directors had each mailed their relief at the situation being resolved, their tone entirely different from the day before.
I bet they're cacking themselves.

I watched the news conference again online, gazing at his beautiful face, trying to understand the feelings I had for him. I'd no sooner closed my laptop when Jo arrived back with bags of shopping. She busied herself preparing everything, waving off my offer of help. I worked out that we'd be home around half four, so she timed everything to be almost ready shortly after that.

I showered, did my hair, and applied some makeup, wanting to look my best. In the end I was ready by half two, and had to endure watching the clock for the last half hour before it was time to set off.

Roger took the Bentley, and we pulled directly into the private flight area of the south terminal, and were waved straight through the security gates. Ivan had been worldwide news, so I figured the staff at Gatwick weren't going to get picky about having his car ready and waiting.

I paced around the seating area while we waited, probably getting on Roger's nerves. Eventually I was rewarded by the sight of Ivan and his entourage striding through the walkway. He looked grim, and frankly rather angry. I hesitated, not wanting to throw myself into his arms until I was sure it would be welcomed. He fixed me with his laser stare as he strode towards me.

"Elle, thank you for coming to meet me. I have rather a lot to ask you on the way back to the house."

I stood rather uncertainly, before trotting along behind him to the car. He looked furious. We slid into the back of the Bentley, and set off. Ivan immediately raised the privacy screen.

"Did you send in the SAS?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"That's confidential. Are you not pleased to be home?" I was shocked by his anger, and his attitude.

"Of course I am, I'm just wondering what the fuck happened. One minute Marakov was negotiating, the next, men in black balaclavas burst in."

I frowned. "Marakov wasn't negotiating. What gave you that idea?"

"The terrorists said Marakov put fifty mill in an account for them."

"Oh yeah, I got him to do that, but he wasn't negotiating. He was too busy trying to persuade me to grant enhanced share options and bonuses to the board. If anything, he sounded as though he didn't want you back alive, none of them did. It's why I chose the route that I did."

"He would have dealt with it, I didn't need you rushing in to save me," he said sulkily.

I stared open mouthed. "Nobody was dealing with it Ivan. It seemed like I was the only person mildly concerned about you. I'll play you the recording so you can hear it for yourself. Now I'm sorry if I stepped out of line, but you know what? I had a bit of a shit time too. If I did the wrong thing, I can only apologise." A thick silence spread between us, and I stared out of the window, trying not to cry. It wasn't the ecstatic homecoming I'd expected.

Back at the house, Ivan made a fuss of the girls. "Are you cooking something?" He asked, sniffing.

"Yeah, a roast beef dinner," I said sulkily.

"I'm not hungry," he snapped. I went to the oven and switched it off. I gathered up my bag and laptop.

"I'll head back to London." I fully expected him to ask me not to.

"Ok." He strolled out of the kitchen, and went upstairs.
So rude.
I called Roger to ask if he would drive me to Derwent station. I didn't even want to put them out by asking for a lift home. Roger seemed puzzled, but did as I requested without comment. I was back home by seven.

I dumped my laptop in the flat, and whizzed round to the mart. When I got back I opened my laptop, and composed an email to Ivan, adding the recording.

From: Elle Reynolds

To: Ivan Porenski

Date: 30th June 2013

Subject: ungrateful git

Attachments: memo A4m 632KB, cache 14ce

Dear Ivan

  I have no idea what your bad temper earlier was all about. All I can say in my defence is that I did what I thought was right at the time. I have attached a recording of my meeting at Retinski with the other board members. Also attached are all the emails that passed between us. I also need to advise you that I changed the password on your computer. It took me about ten seconds to figure it out, so it wasn't terribly secure. It's now Tania2013

I appreciate you have had a tough time, but I'd like to respectfully remind you that I buried my mother yesterday. I've not had a great time either, so I kind of expected a little understanding.

I was advised of your will and contingency plans by Ms Pearson. I would like you to change that please. I have come to realise that I cannot live in your world. I'm sorry.

I would like to resign the directorships too. I think a clean break is better for me. I have never been so terrified as I was in the Retinski offices, knowing your colleagues wanted me out of the way. I may have misjudged them, and it's a 'Russian' thing, but it's way too brutal for me.

I'm sorry to let you down, but I just can't do this.

Elle

I pressed send, and closed my laptop, before making myself a sandwich, and switching on the telly. I watched the news coverage about Ivan's 'courageous' escape, and glugged down a large glass of wine, while wondering why I was so shit at relationships.

By half nine, my eyelids were growing heavy, so I turned off the telly, and washed up my glass. I checked my emails, to find one from Ivan that simply said 'fine'. I dragged myself to bed, and lay in the darkness, sobbing like a baby. All the stress, emotion, and anxiety of the past couple of days poured out in a fit of uncontrollable tears, soaking my pillow. Eventually, I fell into an exhausted sleep

I slept in until nearly half seven the next morning, probably due to my lack of sleep the night before. I dragged myself out of bed, and made a coffee, before looking out over the river, and contemplating the day ahead. I decided to head over to the West End, and spend a self indulgent day mooching around the shops. With nobody demanding to know where I was, or what I was doing, I thought I'd better enjoy my new found liberation.

I showered and dressed, debating whether or not to leave my phone behind, in case I was tracked. I decided against it. I felt safer having it, and if Ivan started stalking me, I'd stop him through legal means.

It felt great to hop on the tube, and travel anonymously. I started off with Oxford street, looking in the shops I'd never dream of going into with either Ivan or Oscar. I found a couple of cute little tops in Zara, and a funky pair of shoes in Russell and Bromley. I scoured Topshop for casual clothes, and picked up a couple of bargains. I bought a pair of skinny jeans in Miss Selfridge, and even braved Abercrombie and Fitch to pick up a hoodie and a couple of vest tops.