Chapter 10 - Benedikt

Even after all the conflicts and triumphs I experienced while working with my family, through the successful collaborations, debt collections, and deals I participated in over the years, nothing had me flying quite as high as that night.

I was never really a sentimental man. I learned not to be after understanding just how easily things and loved ones could be taken away from me at the drop of a hat, but something about having sex with Gemma made me feel like I could become exactly that.

Without a doubt, I had my fair share of partners before, but nobody could compare to her.

Something in me dreaded admitting that even to myself, but I couldn’t deny it.

The raw passion, fuelled by both mutual attraction and the argument we had, was just too good to pass up. Nothing held a candle to it.

While I wasn’t exactly ecstatic about anyone having that kind of pull over me, at the very least, it was the woman I decided to marry. That had to count for something.

Needless to say, it was incredible, and the rest of our weekend played out exactly like that. Between the kitchen counter, the sofa, the bed, and even the shower, we exhausted all our options until we physically couldn’t keep going.

It was exhilarating, and even the thought alone made it impossible for me to fight that faint smirk on my face.

There was no fighting passion like that, and regardless of the questionable state of our very new, very vulnerable relationship, it made me curious about what the future held. I wasn’t prepared to get my hopes up right away, but it was something, and it helped me feel less unsure about it all.

The city moved past us as the driver pulled us through the downtown core with the usual commuters up and starting their morning, just managing to break through the initial rush.

From beside me in the back seat, I could feel Gemma’s apprehension as it emanated from her body, dressed in a business casual pair of cream slacks and a white button-up blouse tucked into her high waistband.

I knew she was having second thoughts about the whole thing, given what I was asking of her, but I couldn’t let her lose that momentum. It was part of our agreement and a critical to rescuing the Levov name before it could reach a state of pure ruin.

A part of me wanted to absolve her of it and find a different way to maintain our reputation, but I didn’t see how that would be possible. She wrote that article, and so long as our name was attached to it, we'd immediately have all eyes on us and our operations. That was something I couldn’t take lightly.

Facing her, I let go of a discreet breath. “I’m sure you aren’t ecstatic about this plan, but this whole situation must be handled delicately, alright? If that article comes out with our name written all over it, we’ll be ruined.”

Gemma sighed, concern evident in her eyes, yet she allowed me to speak with a nod.

“When we get there, you’ll go to your desk and change Levov to Ivanov, framing the twins, and hand it in like nothing happened,” I explained, tone serious yet gentle enough.

There was a flash of worry in her features, sharper as the idea crossed her mind. “But my boss will notice. He read your name before, and he’ll wonder what happened.”

I thought about it for a moment before it hit me. “Just tell him you discovered their name during your research, and you have irrefutable evidence against the Ivanov twins. That way, your boss won’t suspect a thing, and you’ll be able to keep your internship.”

While she still seemed uncertain, Gemma at least looked grateful for that part as she averted her eyes. She wore the burden of responsibility on her shoulders, but even so, she nodded.

“Then, when everything is said and done, you clock out as normal and the driver will be there at five sharp to bring you back home. Sound good?”

Gemma’s eyes were brimming with anxiety. “This goes against everything I stand for as a journalist. I’m losing my integrity by manufacturing this.”

“I know,” I conceded, hoping it would help ease her mind. “But remember. The Ivanovs aren’t innocent. They are a crime family just the same, and you’d be appalled by some of the things they’ve done. One might argue some of their actions are worse than what we’ve done.”

As she glanced at me with a hint of doubt scribbled across her face, she murmured, “Sure, that might be true, but why do you want them framed for this? Why not pick another family?”

I snickered and leaned back in the seat as I scrubbed a hand over my mouth. “Sparing you the boring details, they’ve been encroaching on our territory lately, and despite our constant reminders, they insist on dealing on our turf. That might not make a lot of sense to someone on the outside, but it’s bad for business. Plus, they’re stepping on toes, and this is their reminder to not cross us.”

Many thoughts seemed to pass behind Gemma’s eyes then, likely her mind wrapping around a whole world she had been otherwise oblivious to before. And she sighed.

“I don’t know…they may have done some bad things too, but I’ll be accusing them of some pretty damning stuff.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it? We can’t be going around making half-assed threats and not following through with them. That’s also bad for business,” I returned, reminding her that my world operated on a completely different moral system.

While she had her journalistic integrity to guard and nurture, I had the weight of my family’s reputation and livelihood on my shoulders. It was far from simple, but publishing that redacted article would make a world of a difference for me.

With apprehension still visible in her eyes, I knew I had to drive the point home, regardless of how annoying it was to lay it on thick for her.

“It won’t be easy, but you have to think about what’s at stake,” I began, despite not wanting to guilt her. “If our name is tarnished and we have the authorities closing in on us, our entire operation could go down. And that wouldn’t involve just me and my siblings—it would stretch to my cousin Andrei’s branch, too. As a whole, we would go down, and either land ourselves in prison or dead. All of them on that side already have their wives and children, and every one of them would suffer the consequences. Not to mention, you would, too.”

I watched as that reality settled into her skin, and Gemma looked away with a sigh.

“For us to both be happy, you need to follow through with this. You will have your internship still, and the family will manage to float for a while longer. Once it’s done, everything will be fine.” I looked at her with more tenderness before, despite myself. “You’re a Levov now, and surely you wouldn’t betray me.”

“Alright,” she muttered, sitting somewhat awkwardly beside me as she mauled it over. “I’ll make sure it’s done. Just know that I’ll hate every moment of it.”

Feeling like I could take her word for it, I nodded. “Very well. Feel as you will about it, just as long as it’s done.”

While Gemma didn’t refute the fact that she was a Levov, and it was in fact in her best interest to help me maintain the integrity of our name, that slight dismay didn’t leave her.

As the SUV eventually pulled up to the street, I reached into my back pocket. “Oh, and don’t forget this.”

Retrieving the new phone I bought her over the weekend, I handed it to her. “Since I had to take your old phone for obvious reasons, take this. If you need anything, or if something goes wrong with the plan, contact me. My number is already in it, and I’m a call or text away.”

With at least a touch of reluctance, accompanied by the slightest softening of her eyes, Gemma nodded and took the phone.

“Okay, I guess I’m off then,” Gemma said as she slipped it into her bag. “I just want to get this over with.”

I nodded, maintaining my faith in her, despite being aware of the possible risks.

As she popped the door open and gave me one last look, I leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Good luck, and have a good day.”

Gemma bristled at the contact before she corrected herself and pulled a tight-lipped smile, slipping out and taking her things with her.

My heart dropped slightly at that, and while the domestic sentiment felt foreign leaving my lips, I did mean it, and I wanted us to at least follow the norms of a regular couple, even if we were far from it.

We remained for an extra moment as she closed the car door behind her and walked into the building, watching to make sure she got in fine.

I sighed the moment she disappeared inside, left feeling strange about it all.

A sense of guilt nagged at me, but I knew it had to be done. By any means necessary, I couldn’t let that article be published in connection with us, or I'd run the risk of bringing us all down.