Undercover Heart

Chapter2

As I was about to flip the page, I heard a voice behind me. “What are you doing sneaky around? “ Alexei asked in his deep masculine voice.

I quickly dropped the file back on the table and turned to meet his gaze. His upper body was naked, he had just a towel around his waist, his hair was still wet from his shower and the smell of his shampoo mixed with his bathing soap filled the room.

As I stared at him, every cell in my body was pushing me to give in to the lust that was playing in my head. Alexei came closer to where I was standing as he walked towards me, I took a step backwards till I got close to the table behind me.

“I just asked you what you were doing here. Sneaking around” he asked, his voice calm and soft.

“Hmmm…….”I cleared my throat and continued. “Nothing, my father asked me to get you”

“Hmmm,” he said leaning in, his face just an inch from mine. I could feel his breath which made my whole body heat with sensation. “ I see, so what were you doing going through my stuff?”

His eyes were still fixed on my face, I was already feeling uneasy. He leaned in again as if he was going to kiss me, and I landed him a slap on his face.

“How dare you? What do you think you were about to do uh?” I asked.

Alexei stood up straight, collected the file from the table and turned towards the door. “When you are done, you can leave,” he said and left me in his room.

I gulped, a heat sensation rolling from my head to my toes. I have never been this embarrassed in my whole life. “What was that for Zee, gosh I overreacted. I shouldn't have slapped him if he was reaching for the file and not my lips.” I muttered to myself.

***************

“You sent for me,” Alexei said, as he got to Igor’s office.

“Oh yes I did,” Igor said as he took a slow sip from his drink. “You said there was something you wanted to tell me, I'm listening.”

Alexei cleared his throat and continued. “ There is a new opportunity I want us to take, something that could expand our reach beyond Newland City.”

Igor raised an eyebrow, showing interest in whatever Alexei was about to say but staying guarded. “Go on.”

“Digital currency,” Alexei said simply. “As you know the world is shifting towards digital currencies. We’ve already seen how it can be used for money laundering, but we have not utilized its full potential.”

Igor still stared at Alexei, but his expression didn't change, but Alexei could tell he had his attention. “And what do you propose we do?

“As you know we have been running our usual business, drugs, arms, trafficking and moving money through offshore accounts. But digital currency can offer something different from the usual, something more.”

“And what could that be?”

“Complete anonymity,” Antonio said, his voice calm.

“Hmm, I like where this is headed,” Igor replied, nodding in admiration.

“It would give us instant transactions and no more middlemen to track. If we start accepting our payment through digital currency, we can expand our supply and customer base globally without leaving a digital footprint”

Igor's fingers were tapping thoughtfully as he leaned back in his chair allowing Antonio’s idea to settle in. “And what makes you think this is more secure than what we are doing? The authorities are catching on to this digital currency. It's no longer Wild West.”

Alexei smiled, this was exactly where he needed to go on and explain more. “ that's where the genius lies, boss. Instead of using it just like everyone else, we could create our own. A private coin, only to be used by our organization and trusted allies. We can control the supply, the transactions, everything. It then becomes our untraceable currency.

Igor’s eyes darkened, and for the first time, Alexei saw a flicker of genuine interest. “A private coin?

“Yes boss, we will build a network of trusted partners and use the coin for everything, purchasing our goods, paying our men and even handling external business transactions. And then one can trace it back to us because it doesn't exist in the regular financial system. But it's just ours.”

Igor looked at him for a long moment silent, giving the idea a deep thought. Alexei could feel the air tense, the wrong word could cost him his head. But he knew how to work with Igor.

After a long moment of silence, finally, Igor smiled. “Interesting Alexei, very good. But things like this require trust. We would need a team of experts, people we can trust that are loyal.”

“I have already been in contact with a trusted group in Moscow. They are cyber specialists at the top of their field, and of course, they are completely off the grid. They will set everything needed up and they will answer only to us. They are clean.”

“And what do you get out of this?”Igor asked, taking a sip from his whiskey, his eyes were still on him.

“Only to serve you boss and for the betterment of this empire. If we pull this off we won't just be the kings, we will control an entire black market economy untouchable by law enforcement.”

Igor leaned forward, staring straight into Alexei’s eyes. The faint scent of expensive cigars and vodka hung in the air between them. “Alexei, if this falls……..if it does.”

“It won't boss, I have been doing my research.” Alexei cut in, his voice firm. “I will make sure of it.”

For the next few minutes, there was silence, the tension between them was thick. And then Igor sat back with a grin, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“You have got brain and guts, Alexei,” he said, raising his glass in a mock toast. “And I like that. But remember Alexei, ideas are worthless without results, I expect you to deliver. No excuses. No failures.”

“You won't be disappointed.”

Igor leaned back in his chair, satisfied for now, Alexei took a slow breath he didn't realize he had been holding for long as he exited Igor’s office.