Chapter Twenty - Dimitri

Coming to L.A., like New York, is always a refreshing change, but nothing beats the Windy City. Chicago’s where the Utkins first belong to forging their legacy, and I’m here to do my part and continue it on.

L.A. has a different energy to the hustle, bustle, and grit of Chicago. It’s more laid-back, everyone is looking to “make it,” and networking is the name of the game. There’s plenty of young people wanting to rush it and make it big in Hollywood, and there’s others in position looking to take advantage of this. There’s the haves and the have-nots, but I’m not here for any of it. Only to sit down and meet with my friend Anatoly and discuss good business. I might be a shark, but if we’ve worked together and things are working well, then they will remain well.

Anatoly and I have been in business together for years. He knows I’m Bratva, and I’ve seen the prospectus for his energy company, and it has excellent returns, but not only for this year, but other years as well. If this energy company has a stake in Raven’s Peak, it will give our already substantial returns a boost. There is enough lithium to expand with Petrov Energy, and given Anatoly’s work in the tech space and Silicon Valley, this could work better than expected.

Viktor is with me as we take the ride over to Thompson and Associates, and I mull over the details. The deal does require extra advice, and Anatoly is smart at seeking the assistance of a law firm.

Business is business and in terms of documents being signed I, too, require one. “This should go well, eh? We can head out to Rival, that fancy new L.A. restaurant I heard about. What do you think?” I tell him, feeling relaxed and hopeful about what Anatoly has to offer.

Viktor drops his shades down on his face, giving me a nod. “Yes. I think that’s a good idea. Then we get some drinks.” He shakes his hips with a grin. “Then we go to the club, then we get some ass. Yeah, sounds good to me, Boss.”

I haven’t cheated on Cara, but I’ve harbored temptations in my mind since Ava warped it with her own deceitful betrayal, and the fact I’m numb inside about her isn’t helping either.

“I’ll think about it. Let’s see how this pans out,” I tell him as we enter the building. I don’t party as much as I used to, and that was before Ava, but even less after her, opting to sweat out my anger, hurt, and disappointment in the gym and kickboxing, but there’s a place none of it can fill, and I can live with it.

“Okay. It will be good to see Anatoly again.”

“Yeah, it will be.”

As the elevator ascends, we head to reception, directed to Boardroom A, but when I open the door, the trapdoor of pain opens, all of its demons flying out. One of them is in front of me, her voluptuous curves contained in a silk champagne-colored camisole and a tweed A-line skirt. Ava Knight has resurfaced, and I don’t like it one bit. I mask my surprise, stepping inside the room as she greets me coldly.

“Good morning Mr. Utkin. I was unaware you were bringing an associate with you, a business partner as well?” she adds smoothly, her full berry mouth just as tempting as ever.

“Yes, this is Viktor Brennov, he is my associate and will be joining me today. I let my eyes burn a hole in her as Anatoly stands up to greet us both with a hug and handshake, but her eyes don’t reciprocate. She avoids my gaze completely as Viktor leans over when we sit down.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Of course I am,” I hiss in a low voice out of earshot from Anatoly. He might not have met Ava, but she was floating around at the same Chicago events at the time she lived there. Acid burns in my gut as all the questions I want answered brim on the surface.

Where do you live now? Here?

Who is occupying your bed?

Why did you betray me when I cared for you so deeply?

“Just before we get started, I wanted to advise I’m filling in for my associate Andy White as he’s been involved in a terrible accident. I will be offering legal counsel to Anatoly Petrov in his absence.” Ava nods at Viktor who nods back, but doesn’t pay attention to me.

First mistake Ava. And one of the many you’ve already made. The meeting starts as Anatoly explains what his energy company can do with Raven’s Peak’s resources. It’s the most ironic thing in the world for Ava to be in attendance as the deal is directly related to her inheritance. The same one she signed over to me.

I watch as she navigates the details of the deal with precision, circling and highlighting possible pitfalls and legalities to watch out for as it pertains to consumers and the use of lithium. I hate admitting to myself that she’s good. Really good, and if we were together still, I would want her on my team, but she lost that privilege when she decided to fuck me over.

“Let’s take a break and resume in ten minutes or so. I think we’ve worked through the most important parts of the contract for today, which is what Mr. Petrov wanted to clarify, but we will need to work on Section C ii and iii as those terms aren’t clear-cut, Mr. Utkin.”

Cricking my neck, my skin crawls as she addresses me in a cavalier tone as if we’re meeting for the first time. She shares her body freely with another man and then stares at me as if I’m nothing. “We can address them after the break, thanks. Anatoly, all good so far?” I return, my cold eyes burrowing into the side of her head.

“Yes. I’m pleased with how everything is going so far. This is feeling good.” Anatoly smiles at us, and I plaster on a smile, but inside I want to do serious damage to Ava Knight. The anger I stored in a suitcase has popped open and it’s ready to deliver painful consequences to her.

Who the fuck do you think I am, Ms. Knight?

Ava stays in the boardroom as I step outside the room and head to the bathroom with Viktor close by. “You didn’t know she was going to be here today, did you?”

“No. Did you?” I hiss, careful so Anatoly doesn’t hear, but he elected to stay in the boardroom with Ava.

“No, but it wouldn’t make a difference. I’ve got what I wanted—Raven’s Peak. She can go fuck herself if she thinks she’s going to ignore me for the entire meeting.”

I take my piss as Viktor claps me on the back saying nothing as he enters the stall, and by the time we reenter the boardroom, the rage inside me has somersaulted to astronomical heights.

We tee up the terms and conditions as I wait for Ava to acknowledge me and show some sign of remorse for betraying me, but all she does is her job, and after four years she doesn’t look worse, she looks hotter than ever. Her hair is longer, glossier, and the L.A. sun is agreeing with her in every way possible.

Fuck you, Ava Knight. “I think we just need to make some adjustments when it comes to the tiered percentages, and that’s up to Anatoly what those percentages will be, based on the performance metrics he’s using for the quarter,” Ava sums up at the end of the meeting and Anatoly nods in agreement.

“Yes. Give me a week on that, and I can turn around the projected numbers for the future and get them back to you.”

“Alright. I’m comfortable with those numbers as well. I’m happy to see what you come up with, Anatoly.” I hold the same professional, casual tone as Ava, but only for the sake of the meeting, but when it’s over, it’s going to be a different ballgame.

“Great. Then if everything else is in order, and neither of you has any further questions, I’ll draw up the final details for the next meeting and have them sent across to you in preparation.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Ava. You’ve done well,” Anatoly praises, but I want to tell him not to congratulate whores, but I keep my dark thoughts to myself.

We aren’t done, Ava. I told you what would happen if I ever saw you again.