Chapter 2

Actually, sitting under a table and eavesdropping on other people's conversations is not among a secretary's direct duties, and I never used to have that habit. So when it happened the first time, I could not have imagined I would witness a secret conversation.

I happened to be in the special room on the boss's orders, the room where all the junior directors (and Sezam had a full eight of them on staff, counting the regional ones) archived important documents, and where only the company's top people and their secretaries had access. Buried in papers by the far cabinet, I was trying to find the contract for one completed construction project that Voronov urgently needed… when suddenly I heard someone enter the room in a rush and slam the door.

Honest to God, I would not have looked up and would have kept calmly sorting through papers in the bottom drawer of the far cabinet, if I had not suddenly heard languid sighs behind me and… well, sounds. Unusual, considering where I was. And altogether indecent!

You know the kind. When someone is passionately embracing someone else and wants something.

I froze in embarrassment, afraid to breathe. I had never heard anything like that within company walls before, and I got flustered. The sounds grew louder, moans and smacking kisses followed, and no better idea occurred to me than to dart under the table and hide there.

Just in time, because the moment I managed to hide, a skirt hit the floor three feet away from me, four legs appeared, and the oohs and aahs began! "You're so passionate, my big tomcat! Yes, I want you! Oooh!" Slap, slap, slap…

Oh, God!

I opened my eyes wide, staring at the floor. I could not believe this was really happening.

I had not had a man in a hundred years, and now this! I was absolutely not prepared for such a hot little office affair. My cheeks flamed, my breathing quickened, and just as I was about to figure out how to stoically endure this intimate outrage… they were already done.

What?!

Seriously? And that was… it?!

Disappointment flashed before my mind's eye and twisted its gloomy little face.

No, of course I had not been standing there with a stopwatch, and I am no expert on office romances and spontaneous sex… But for crying out loud, even rabbits last longer than that!

I could not help covering my mouth with my palm and snorting when I heard the satisfied moans. Fake moans, I should admit. The partner was clearly overacting.

What a pair of performers! Honestly, if people are willing to get intimate for something that dubious, I feel sorry for them. It means there is nothing worthwhile in their lives. And certainly no love! Because… well, that didn't even look like sex. No, really. How could anyone trade the people they love and their family for that?

Apparently, unlike me, little Nelly saw nothing embarrassing in this kind of arrangement.

The familiar skirt rose from the floor and slid up over a pair of long, stockinged legs. I heard the sound of a zipper fastening, the click of a belt, and perked up when I realized the pair was about to sneak away. Which meant I would not have to sit under the table for long.

But I was wrong. The rustling stopped, both of them went still, and then the intimate sighs were replaced by a quiet businesslike conversation:

"Bunny, you're dragging this out. We can't wait any longer. If the old man recovers and comes back, I'll lose my chance to get my hands on Sezam for good. Do you understand that? Only one thing can finish him off for sure. Voronov's death."

"I know, darling, but you're demanding results too fast. I need time!"

"Darling, you usually get men revved up in seconds. So what is happening now? You should have dragged him off somewhere and softened him up by now! He should be lying at your feet! Are you sure you're trying hard enough?"

"Believe me, Kitty, I'm trying, but he's made of stone! Papers, contracts, sites. All you hear from him is work! What if he isn't into women at all? Have you thought about that?"

What?! Voronov was gay? My mouth opened and froze in the shape of a capital O. Well, damn! You would never guess it at first glance!

"Nelly, don't be an idiot! I caught him with girls at Granddad's dacha when we were young. He was fooling around just fine! He's plenty into women! Right now he supposedly has a girlfriend with serious money. Our Andryusha does not look at just anyone. But you, Bunny, are not just anyone, are you? No one compares to you, so prove it!"

"But I can't exactly take him by force, Kitty… And besides, that redheaded secretary of his is always hanging around him. What an unbearable woman. I can't stand her! She sticks her nose everywhere!"

Who, me? Pff! As if! If a certain someone were not exploiting me in the most shameless way possible, I would not even think of bothering!

"She's in Andrey's reception area from morning till night! The moment your grandfather was gone, she started trying to climb into the new boss's bed. She never takes her eyes off him, so she won't miss her chance…"

Hey! What kind of fairy tale is this?

My mouth snapped shut and even tightened with indignation. The top of my head nearly hit the underside of the tabletop. What nonsense was she spouting?!

"Sex-starved cat!"

Hard to argue with that… But it was none of their business!

"Easy, little Nelly! Leave the redhead to me. I'll deal with her. As soon as Sezam passes into my hands, I'll throw that shameless little flirt out on the street immediately! You and only you will be the woman in charge here! My little Rosebud… Smack. Smack… I'll buy you everything! Anything you want!"

Ugh! How disgusting they both were! And how could Matvey Ivanovich ever have a grandson like that? I wanted to spit right in the scoundrel's face, I was so offended on behalf of my old boss!

Except how was I supposed to spit when my legs had already started going numb?

"Oh, Valera!"

"Only after you help me get rid of Voronov, though. For good! I have hated him since childhood! I'm giving you a few days, Bunny, and if you don't manage it, we move to plan B."

"What, run him over with a car? Like we wanted?"

"Poison him! Shoot him! Damn it! Anything, as long as he disappears forever! If we can't lure him out of town, we'll finish him off here!"

Oh, dear God, what was happening?! Help!

"And yes, my precious, understand one important thing…" Kupriyanov's vile little whisper sounded again. "If you suddenly get it into your head to betray me and stay with Andrey…"

"Valerochka, how could you! Never! I love you!"

"I won't forgive you! He will never marry you. He needs an heiress with millions. But I will. Is that clear?"

Smack, smack… and the pair disappeared. I, stunned by the conversation, stayed sitting under the table with my eyes wide open, processing what I had heard.

And when everything in my head settled onto its proper shelves and it became clear that the crime Kupriyanov and his lover were plotting was no joke at all… I immediately rushed to reception. For the first time ever, I flew into the boss's office without knocking and told him everything!

Everything! Except for the sex-starved cat part.

And he…