Russian Mafia Tsar [18+]

Chapter 4 - Defiance

Weaving through New York after work traffic, Mia wasn't listening to what Ari was telling her. She was staring out the window and thinking about the mysterious Russian man she just met.

So it must have been him sending her the unsolicited texts. How did he get her number? She had a hunch that there were many things he could do that she had no idea about.

His eyes, why did she feel like she saw them before?

Undeniably, he was very physically attractive. His tall stature perfectly complemented his fair complexion and darker hair. His eyes bore into hers and her body and he missed nothing. She decided she would handle this deal like any other and any thoughts of having his body on hers would have to be locked away.

She was a great salesperson and she knew her business and her work, she would not jeopardize her career for some random man she just met and get involved with him.

The broker's evening was just like any other. Many flashy real estate agents all trying to out do each other and show their wealth and how well connected they were. They all pulled up to the valet in their Porches and Ferraris. Mia hated the ridiculous and empty display of money. She longed for deep conversations, something with meaning, not who serviced what client and what building they just sold out.

She picked up a glass of wine and followed Ari. She knew most people there and politely and fakely said hello to everyone she met. She engaged in meaningless small talk and moved through the crowd. Ari knew absolutely everyone but he was not here for them, he was here for work and to be with her. He grabbed her hand and held it with his fingers intertwining with hers.

Mia did not like or want that. She untangled her hand from his to shake someone else's and kept her arm crossed for the rest of the time.

After about an hour of mix and mingle, the builder's presentation started and Mia grabbed a seat but suddenly, Ari was nowhere to be found. Strange, she thought, he brought her here and he was excited to get the details. For about 5 minutes, she kept scanning the room but could not locate him so she sent him a quick text,

"Did you drown in the mountains of heur d'oeuvres? lol"

She kept checking her phone but got no response. This was unlike Ari, even when talking on the phone, he religiously checked his texts to make sure he didn't miss anything.

"Mia...thank you for meeting me today. I want to see places tomorrow. I have to leave for business trip the day after. It's possible? K."

The text pierced her body like a knife. A jolt of excitement and fear ran through her and her palms immediately broke out in nervous sweat.

Damn, this guy is hard to keep up with.

Deciding not to respond right away, Mia put her phone away and tried to focus on the presentation. She only checked to see if Ari responded but he did not.

The evening finished and Mia walked around the room a few times to find Ari, she called him twice  but it just rang until voicemail picked up.

She thought it was strange but didn't think anything bad, maybe his family called, maybe he took a meeting with a high net worth client he bumped into. She was relieved he didn't get a chance to hit on her again and decided she would catch up with him tomorrow and climbed into a cab to go home.

The next morning, Ari was not in the office and she asked Mark to follow up, she said she lost him last night and couldn't get in touch. She didn't know his family so had no one to check in with about him. She left it at that, thinking his sudden disappearance was odd but didn't think anything sinister of it.