absolutely stunning and she was, well, just herself. Bland, plain and absolute boring.
However, his eyes wandered across her features like a caress, as if he was trying to memorize every detail. He took his time, no sign of shyness. Once more she admired his self-assuredness. She, on the other hand, was getting warmer and warmer under his inquiring eyes. Embarrassed, she noticed that she was blushing like a thirteen-year-old.
“Let’s make a deal.”
She blinked surprised.
“I’ll tell you about me and you’ll tell me something about yourself. ”
“You know, I’m here to interview you, not the other way around.”
“And how annoying would it be if you’d have to fly back empty-handed.” He leaned back and sipped his coffee while looking at her with a smug smile.
Was he blackmailing her?
“But there’s nothing to know about me.”
“The easier your part of our deal should be.” He put his cup down and leaned into her. “Though I strongly doubt that.” Too bad he didn’t clarify if he doubted her part to tell him more about herself would be easy or that there was nothing to tell about herself.
She internally groaned. What would Renée do in her place? She couldn’t possible fly back without an interview. Not after she’d swiped the tickets and exchanged them for First Class seats.
“You first,” she said quietly and leaned back. A small smile crossed his face.
“Childhood in Saint Petersburg, adolescence in Paris and London, various private schools–the usual.”
The usual? Maybe for him. “And what are you doing when you’re not knocking down millions of dollars?”
He shook his head. “Tit for tat. It’s your turn.”
Ally took a deep breath. She was new to this game, but she could gamble as well. Either way, she wouldn’t let him mock her.
“Childhood in Washington D.C. When I was six, my uncle and I moved to Seattle. No private school, high school instead. The usual when you’re normal.” Ha, take that!
The corner of his mouth twitched briefly, then he composed himself. “And what about your parents?”
“What about yours?“ she retorted. He smiled in response and she was glad that she was already sitting. His smile was made for crumbling hearts and driving girls insane.
Suddenly he became serious as if somebody had switched off the lights. “Until recently, my dad lived in Paris. My mother died when I was little. I have no memory of her.”
She was such an idiot! She had known about his mother, how could she be so dumb? “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry.” He massaged his temples. “That was long ago.”
“And why is your father no longer in Paris?” She threw another glance at her notes to avoid another blunder. Oops, too late.
Sergej Iwanow had been living in the French capital for almost twenty years. There wasn’t much known about him. He was co-owner of RosUkrEnergo , a commercial enterprise specializing in natural gas with a dubious background that had made him filthy rich over night. His activities before founding this enterprise had been not only dubious, but downright questionable. Sergej’s name was over and over mentioned in connection with weapon transports and organized crime. Nobody in their right mind would dig deeper, especially not a seventeen year old greenhorn.
“I think it’s my turn,” Viktor said grimly looking more like a pirate than before.
Ally hid her insecurity behind the Latte glass. She hadn’t expected the interview to be so difficult. But normally, she hadn’t swallowed her tongue, acting as if she were a bloody beginner. Even worse, one that hadn’t done her homework.
She took another deep breath and, to her amazement, relaxed. When she looked up she saw Viktor piercing her with his eyes. But not like he despised her for her stupidity. His look was strangely soft. “Why do you live with your uncle?” he tenderly asked.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t her uncle, but he probably didn’t care about the
However, his eyes wandered across her features like a caress, as if he was trying to memorize every detail. He took his time, no sign of shyness. Once more she admired his self-assuredness. She, on the other hand, was getting warmer and warmer under his inquiring eyes. Embarrassed, she noticed that she was blushing like a thirteen-year-old.
“Let’s make a deal.”
She blinked surprised.
“I’ll tell you about me and you’ll tell me something about yourself. ”
“You know, I’m here to interview you, not the other way around.”
“And how annoying would it be if you’d have to fly back empty-handed.” He leaned back and sipped his coffee while looking at her with a smug smile.
Was he blackmailing her?
“But there’s nothing to know about me.”
“The easier your part of our deal should be.” He put his cup down and leaned into her. “Though I strongly doubt that.” Too bad he didn’t clarify if he doubted her part to tell him more about herself would be easy or that there was nothing to tell about herself.
She internally groaned. What would Renée do in her place? She couldn’t possible fly back without an interview. Not after she’d swiped the tickets and exchanged them for First Class seats.
“You first,” she said quietly and leaned back. A small smile crossed his face.
“Childhood in Saint Petersburg, adolescence in Paris and London, various private schools–the usual.”
The usual? Maybe for him. “And what are you doing when you’re not knocking down millions of dollars?”
He shook his head. “Tit for tat. It’s your turn.”
Ally took a deep breath. She was new to this game, but she could gamble as well. Either way, she wouldn’t let him mock her.
“Childhood in Washington D.C. When I was six, my uncle and I moved to Seattle. No private school, high school instead. The usual when you’re normal.” Ha, take that!
The corner of his mouth twitched briefly, then he composed himself. “And what about your parents?”
“What about yours?“ she retorted. He smiled in response and she was glad that she was already sitting. His smile was made for crumbling hearts and driving girls insane.
Suddenly he became serious as if somebody had switched off the lights. “Until recently, my dad lived in Paris. My mother died when I was little. I have no memory of her.”
She was such an idiot! She had known about his mother, how could she be so dumb? “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry.” He massaged his temples. “That was long ago.”
“And why is your father no longer in Paris?” She threw another glance at her notes to avoid another blunder. Oops, too late.
Sergej Iwanow had been living in the French capital for almost twenty years. There wasn’t much known about him. He was co-owner of RosUkrEnergo , a commercial enterprise specializing in natural gas with a dubious background that had made him filthy rich over night. His activities before founding this enterprise had been not only dubious, but downright questionable. Sergej’s name was over and over mentioned in connection with weapon transports and organized crime. Nobody in their right mind would dig deeper, especially not a seventeen year old greenhorn.
“I think it’s my turn,” Viktor said grimly looking more like a pirate than before.
Ally hid her insecurity behind the Latte glass. She hadn’t expected the interview to be so difficult. But normally, she hadn’t swallowed her tongue, acting as if she were a bloody beginner. Even worse, one that hadn’t done her homework.
She took another deep breath and, to her amazement, relaxed. When she looked up she saw Viktor piercing her with his eyes. But not like he despised her for her stupidity. His look was strangely soft. “Why do you live with your uncle?” he tenderly asked.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t her uncle, but he probably didn’t care about the
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