BARAC'S POV:
"Thank you, Lara." I smiled at the secretary as she opened the door for me to.
"How do—"
"Come in." Agnes' voice interrupted. My heart tugged, freezing me in place as I heard it. I closed my eyes and exhaled before walking in.
My eyes scanned the room before they trailed to her. I still couldn't believe it—Agnes Kushner, my dark past. Hearing her voice for the first time on the phone felt so...
"You're beautiful," I muttered with a smile.
She laughed softly and looked at the secretary. "You seem to know Lara already."
I smiled and looked at Lara. Of course I would. Lara Croft—the woman that stood so loyal to Agnes throughout everything.
"I assume you know why you're here." She added, standing up. "Have a seat." She pointed to the chairs in the middle of the room.
I looked at her for a while, bowed slightly, and walked to the chair. The thought of the surprise on Father's and Elena's faces made me chuckle to myself.
She looked at me as she sat down and reached for the file on the table. "I'm quite busy, so I'll go straight to the point."
I leaned against the chair and laughed softly. It was funny—the defiance and hatred I'd have whenever I looked at her face. Knowing it was all stupid now felt strange.
"What's so funny?" She glared at me. She waved the papers and leaned forward. "You owe my company over a hundred thousand dollars."
I nodded and leaned forward. "Is it already up to that?" I asked in a joking manner.
She glared at me for a second before tossing the papers to me. "When do I get my money back?"
"Never thought I owed such a beautiful lady," I mused, picking the papers that'd fallen to the floor.
"Those rough, sweaty guys sure got a great boss." I raised my head and stretched my hand with the arranged papers.
"Does your father know that you do this kind of work?" I asked with a smirk, my eyes sweeping the room.
"This is one legal-looking company," I added, drawing out the word legal.
"Mr. Fyodor," Lara cut in with a fierce tone. "Respect yourself. You're here as—"
"A debtor," I interrupted, looking at her. "I know that, Miss Lara." I smiled and turned to Agnes. "I'm sorry about my rude behavior, Miss Kushner."
She exhaled and leaned against her chair. "How do you intend to pay me back, Mr. Fyodor?"
"I'll ask my father for—"
"Your father?" She interrupted. "I'm sure he's been hit with the Bitcoin move, so I don't think you should depend on him, as he'll have debts to..." She paused and stared at me for a second. "My sources—"
"I don't care if you know," I interjected, shaking my head. We locked eyes silently for a few seconds.
This—the fact that she contacted me when everything was going to shit for my family—was the reason why I suspected her of having a hand in my family's downfall and hated her in my past life.
"You're awfully calm," she said, glancing at Lara.
"Well," I chuckled, "you can't tell a naked man to take out something from his pocket."
"And you're the naked man?" She laughed softly.
I nodded with a smile.
"At least the naked man is alive and has his body to work," she mused, scanning me.
"Ugh." I wrapped my hand around my chest, shifting backward. "You... you want me to pay with my body?" I said in a low tone.
"Well..." I mused, looking at Lara. "I can't say no to—"
"That's not what I meant," Agnes interrupted in a firm tone. They looked at each other before she spoke. "What can you offer for the payment? There's no collateral to your name and your family—"
"I'll do anything," I answered. "Just ask it and I'll do it."
She scoffed and looked at Lara before turning to me. "You might regret that."
I smiled and placed the papers on the table. "The loan and interests... I'll do anything to clear it since I don't have the money to."
We locked eyes for a few seconds before she stood up.
"What if I said to marry me?"
"Oh?" I mused in an excited tone. "The shaman must've been right to say my charm was transcendent."
"I'm not joking." She glared at me. "A contract. It's awkward to just bring it up now, but I can't let the opportunity go."
Well... I looked at Lara. The past life was very different from today—I'd tried to dodge her and she'd bundled me to her office the next day with two hefty men and made me sign the marriage with lots of threats.
I stood up and bowed. "It'll be my honor," I paused, "to wipe off my debt."
She looked at me suspiciously for a while and exhaled. "Be at the front of Saint Luke's Cathedral tomorrow by eight."
"As you wish." I curtsied. "Wife."
"I'll see you out, Mr. Fyodor." Lara cut in and stretched her hand toward the door.
"You'll get the contract tomorrow," Agnes said as she walked toward her desk. "And..." She turned, "It's confidential. Don't fuck with me."
"As you wish." I laughed softly and turned to leave. This time... my fist clenched as I walked out. I'm going to treat you right.
_____
AGNES' POV:
"He's suspicious." Lara said as she closed the door behind her.
I dropped the file I held and looked at her. "He's the right candidate."
"You should find another person, Ags..." She shook her head, "He's different from what we thought. That smells dangerous."
She was right. The fact that he'd even accepted to come immediately we called made me surprised after hearing the kind of man he was.
But I needed him— a family that's gone bankrupt, debt to keep him on a leash and promises to control him.
I'll tame him.
"He just doesn't know how the world works." I smiled, looking at her as she walked towards me.
"What if he was sent by one of your brothers?" She asked, "I don't want you to get into any danger for—"
"I won't." I grabbed her waist and brought her closer to myself.
We locked eyes for a second as I brought my face to her body.
"I promise." I kissed her stomach and looked at her with a smile.
Barac Fyodor... I'll surely tame you.