tell it hurt. She was nothing but skin and bone and she cringed under his hold.
“Of course not, Viktor,” she said, her voice a low monotone.
I studiously kept my gaze averted as Viktor leaned down to whisper something in Tania’s ear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her hands tremble slightly. After a moment, Viktor walked away.
“Are you all right?” I whispered, careful to keep working so it wouldn’t look like I was talking to her.
“Yes.”
“What was that about?”
But she didn’t reply. I didn’t push, but it was all I could think about. When she stood to leave, she gave me a significant look before walking out the door. I waited a moment, then left as well. Glancing down the hallway, I saw her enter a women’s restroom and I quickly followed. She was checking that all the stalls were empty when I entered.
“Tania, what’s going on?” I asked. “Why do you need my help?”
She didn’t answer until she’d checked the very last stall; then she hurried to me.
“I do not have much time,” she said. “He will get suspicious if I am gone too long. Here. Take this.” She pulled a sealed envelope from her purse and handed it to me. “I need you to give this to someone. Will you do that for me? I have no one else to ask and he won’t let me leave.”
Automatically, I took the envelope, noticing it had a name and address printed on the back. I stared at her in confusion. “Why? Who?” And those were just the questions I could put into words for this bizarre encounter.
“Niki. She is my sister. She lives in Chicago. Please. Just find her. Give this to her.”
I had no choice. “Of course. But, Tania—”
“Do not trust them,” she said. “Just do what they say. Cross them, and they will kill you, if you are lucky. I was not.” Her eyes held a sad resignation even as she warned me. With one last glance in the mirror, she exited the bathroom.
I had no idea what to do or what to think. This whole thing was getting weirder by the day. I glanced at the paper. And now I was supposed to find Tania’s sister and give some mysterious envelope to her? Resolving to discuss it with Parker after the meeting, I stuffed the envelope in my purse and went back to the conference room.
Business was finally concluded around six and I could tell Parker was tired as he packed up his things, issuing instructions to me for shipping containers back to the office and for deadlines to be set on his calendar. I took notes as he talked. I never had any questions because Parker and I worked together so well, I already knew his answers without having to ask. And if there was something I needed clarification on, he usually provided it automatically.
Finally, we were ready to go. I felt more normal now with Parker; the day of working as usual had gone a long way toward easing my nerves. I’d been Parker’s assistant a heck of a lot longer than I’d been his pretend-mistress, so the role was an easy one to fall back into.
“Can I tell you something?” I asked, moving to stand beside him as he put away his laptop.
“What is it?”
“It was something weird that happened,” I said. “Did you notice the girl, Tania?”
“Viktor’s girlfriend?” he asked, wrapping up the electrical cord.
“Yeah, her. Well, when she came in, she didn’t talk much, but when she did, she said we shouldn’t cross them, that they were dangerous, and that she’d get out if she could, but he wouldn’t let her.”
Parker paused for a moment, then resumed fastening the laptop bag. “That seems a bit odd,” he said.
My eyebrows lifted. “Ya think?” I said, my sarcasm thicker than it probably should have been, but it didn’t seem Parker was taking this seriously. He glanced at me, a warning in his eyes.
He shrugged. “So? Viktor is a dangerous guy from a dangerous country. But that’s not what this deal is about, and his relationship with his girlfriend is hardly our business.” Hefting the leather strap over his shoulder, he turned away, but I grabbed his arm.
“It wasn’t like that,” I insisted. “I don’t think she’s here of her own free will. She acted like she was a prisoner. Tell me that isn’t any of our business. She obviously needs help.” I almost told him about Tania’s request to find her