HER VENGEANCE, HIS OBSESSION

Chapter 16

Zakhar's POV

The second Maya's eyes landed on Richard, I knew this meeting was going to be a f*****g disaster.

She stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Richard, on the other hand, didn't even bother hiding where his attention was.

I had noticed him staring the moment we entered the room.

I didn't like it.

Not one bit.

This was exactly why I told her to dress appropriately, but she went ahead and dressed like a goddamn hooker.

Everyone in the business world knew what Richard was like. There had been several news reports accusing him of assaulting or attempting to assault his female employees, but he always managed to get away scot-free.

Despite the scandals, he was a top-notch businessman and exceptionally good at what he did. That was why I needed this business deal.

But it seemed like Maya was about to f**k it all up for me.

“Maya,” I called.

“This is Mr. Richard Anderson.”

“I heard you the first time,” she grumbled.

Richard chuckled.

“Well, aren't you going to introduce us properly?”

His eyes shifted toward Maya again.

I didn't miss it. Judging by the way she openly glared at him, neither did she.

“There's no need,” I said coldly. “You know why we're here.”

His smile faded slightly.

Maya looked between us, the corner of her mouth tugging upward.

I shot her a warning look.

She only raised an eyebrow.

That look alone told me she had no intention of listening.

Of course.

I turned my attention back to Richard.

“Let's discuss the expected profits.”

Maya flipped through the pages in her file.

“I'll take it from here.”

She walked to the front of the room, stopping beside the whiteboard.

Richard's seat was closer to her than I would have preferred.

Too close for comfort.

Close enough that even without standing, he could reach out and touch her.

I narrowed my eyes.

He better not try anything funny.

The presentation was going well until I noticed Maya breathing heavily, crumpling the papers in her hands as she seethed with anger.

That's when I saw it—his hand on her thigh.

He was touching her—my viper.

Anger blazed through me, but I forced myself to remain calm.

He gave her thigh a squeeze, and I was up before I knew it.

That was the last f*****g straw. f**k the deal. f**k the contract, and f**k Richard.

How dare he touch what was mine.

I'm going to f*****g kill him.

I was about to move toward Richard, but Maya beat me to it. She threw the papers onto the floor, turned around, and punched him square in the face.

“How dare you f*****g touch me with those stupid hands.”

I sat back in my chair, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Seems like she's got it under control.

The entire room had gone silent.

Everyone in there was staring at Maya in complete shock.

Even Richard looked stunned, one hand hovering near his face as he stared at her in disbelief.

“Oh s**t,” one of my employees muttered.

Another immediately pushed his chair back.

“Someone should stop her.”

Two of them started moving toward Maya.

I pulled out my phone and glanced at the screen.

“Don't.”

They stopped and stared at Richard getting pummeled by Maya, then looked back at me.

“But sir—”

“Leave. All of you.”

They all exchanged uncertain looks before moving toward the door.

“If I hear a word of what happened here from any of you, there will be consequences. Whatever happens here stays here. Is that clear?” I warned, my face still fixed on my phone. My voice was enough to make my meaning clear.

“Yes, sir,” they all echoed before nervously shuffling out.

The door closed behind them.

Silence settled over the room, except for Richard's occasional groans.

I finally lowered my phone and looked up.

Richard was still seated, staring at Maya with rage in his eyes.

Maya, on the other hand, was fuming.

I walked over to them.

“Maya.”

She didn't even look at me.

She kept throwing punches at him, over and over again.

“Malenkaya gadyuka.”

Shit. She was going to kill him.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her back before she could go at him again.

“That's enough,” I commanded, pulling her to face me.

“Let me go,” she growled, her eyes promising me pain.

She tried to pull her arm free, twisting around to face me.

“Let. Me. The. f**k. Go. Zakhar,” she hissed.

“No.”

She stared at me, breathing heavily.

“He deserves it.”

“I know,” I said.

She stared at me in disbelief.

“Let me handle it.”

“Like f**k you are.” Her eyes narrowed.

Richard suddenly spoke up.

“Do you know who I am?” he demanded, glaring between us. “I can have your company shut down and that f*****g lunatic arrested with just one phone call.”

“Who are you calling a lunatic?” Maya asked angrily, trying to jerk her arm away from me, but I held on tight.

“Leave. I'll handle it, Malenkaya gadyuka.”

She looked at me for a moment before replying, “Fine. You better not f**k it up.”

I loosened my grip on her, and she pulled her arm free, rubbed it, and turned toward the door.

She paused for a moment before turning back, then she ran toward Richard and drove her knee straight for his d**k.

He groaned as he landed face-first on the floor.

“Never threaten me. Ever,” she said.

She turned around and started walking back toward me.

When she reached me, she stopped right in front of me.

“Oops,” she shrugged casually.

Then she stepped around me and continued toward the door.

I stared at her, the corner of my mouth tugging upward as she walked out, the door closing behind her.

I turned my attention to Richard and took in his appearance, noticing his disheveled clothes, bloodied face, and furious, pained expression as he tried to get up.

He struggled for a moment before managing to steady himself.

His eyes met mine.

“You're going to regret this,” he spat.

I raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”

He straightened his jacket, trying to regain whatever dignity he had left.

“You have no idea who you're dealing with.”

A humorless smile tugged at my lips.

“Actually, Richard, I think I know exactly who I'm dealing with, so cut the bullshit.”

His expression hardened.

“You just lost a very important business deal, and I'll make sure no one ever does business with you.” He smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

I chuckled darkly.

“That's not going to happen. You're going to sign the contract and make us business partners.”

He laughed. “You’re funny, boy.”

“If you don't, then I'll gladly show the press a recording of you harassing my assistant.”

That made him stop.

“What video?”

“You honestly think I don't keep cameras all over my own office?” I chuckled.

“Ha. The cameras are also going to see that psycho hitting me,” he said smugly.

“No, they won't. I can have footage edited to make it look like you started everything. And let's be honest, if Maya testified against you in court, they'd believe her. She's the victim, and you already have a reputation. You'd spend the rest of your life behind bars,” I calmly stated.

He looked like his soul had left his body.

“B-bring the document. I was just kidding,” he said with a nervous laugh.

I walked over to the table, picked up the contract, and placed it in front of Richard.

“Sign it.”

He glanced at the document before reaching for the pen.

His hand was still slightly unsteady as he flipped through the pages.

He stopped at the signature page and hesitated.

I stared at him.

“I don't have all day, neither does prison.”

He swallowed hard, then signed his name.

I took the contract back and quickly checked the signature.

I smirked.

The deal was secured.

I closed the folder and picked it up from the table.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Richard,” I said dryly.

Richard didn't respond.

He simply stared at me, his jaw clenched.

“Oh, and Richard, if I ever see you touch or so much as look at what's mine again, I'll have you killed. Now, leave my f*****g building.”