Why

why does this exist

can I blame tumblr culture

 

 

The first time he saw her was at a function sponsored by RVGR. He walked around the fringes of the gathering, as was appropriate for Mr. Baras’s head of security to do, watching the corporate bigwigs chattering to each other, negotiating alliances and deals. Some of the wives were clustered around the hors d’ouevres, and the younger people had mostly gravitated to the bar and the dance floor, gyrating to the sort of throbbing bass-heavy music that always gave him a headache, but…

He almost missed her at first, standing in a group of older men in an elegantly simple grey dress, and yet she was clearly not there to be decorative. Her young face was fixed with cool but rapt attention on the other people in her group, and not as a protegé, but as a full participant. She looked rather familiar, and seeing where she stood in the group, she was probably the daughter of Anotin Volkov of Kuatech, the Russian information giant based out of London. The competitors of RVGR, but of course they’d be here tonight. He’d probably seen her in a magazine. A few young men hovered near her, more interested in her than the discussion she was part of; she paid them no attention.

She clearly was supposed to be there, so he turned his attention away from her to continue his sweep. Yet he couldn’t help looking back at her a few minutes later, she was so striking, and found that now she was staring in his direction. When their eyes met, she raised an elegant eyebrow, and he felt his neck grow uncomfortably warm. She wasn’t supposed to look at him. He was security; background; invisible.

The group she had been part of split up, and oh God, she was coming over to him, still completely ignoring her admirers. Why?

“That was disappointing,” she said conversationally to him as she reached speaking distance, as if they were old friends, though he’d never spoken to her in his life. “He didn’t take the deal.” She shrugged as if it were unimportant. “He’ll regret that.”

“What can I do for you, Miss Volkova?” he asked politely. She was even more striking up close; actually, she was incredibly beautiful. Her skin was tanned, but her hair was such a pale platinum blonde it was almost white. And now he could see her eyes, they were unusually light as well, a bright amber that was almost gold, sparkling under the shadow of a heavy smoky eye. She was somewhat short, and dainty-looking in build, and yet her self-assurance spoke to a great deal of inner strength.

“You could start with your name,” she said, saucily. Oh God, she was – why was she flirting with security? Shouldn’t she be…

“Should you not be associating with your peers?” he asked gently, gesturing over at the refreshments and the horrid dance floor.

She snorted rudely, looking in that direction with disdain. “Dull as dishwater, all of them. No interest in their future, only their possessions and petty dramas, half-intelligent slobs. I wouldn’t kick one or two of them out of my bed, but first they’d have to get there and I highly doubt they’re capable of it.” She looked back towards him. “You’re much more interesting. And good-looking. Name, please.”

He found himself flushing at the blunt compliment, but he’d be a fool to disobey such a direct order, even if it didn’t come from Mr. Baras. “Malavai Quinn, head of security for RVGR.”

She gave him a look of approval. “Good man. An unusual name. You seem very diligent.”

He said nothing. He didn’t want to encourage her. He wasn’t supposed to be talking to her.

She stared at him for a while, then looked out at the floor of businessmen. “Ah, Papa’s found another one.” She gave him a little smirk. “I’m sure we’ll speak again, Mr. Quinn.”

“Miss Volkova.” He bowed.

 

Wikipedia filled him later in on what he didn’t already know. Akuliina Volkova. Daughter of Anotin Volkov, CEO of Kuatech. Heiress to millions. A board member of Kuatech and developer of her own system within the company – not to mention a line of cosmetics, because why not. A lot of speeding tickets, but no crashes; apparently she owned a golden Porsche. Trilingual in Russian, English, and Italian; her favourite drinks were Italian white wines and chai tea. Constantly changing boyfriends, and he wondered how worried he should be that she’d even approached him. She was very beautiful and very commanding, his ideal type of woman, even if she was rather young for him, and she could be very distracting if he let her.

RVGR and Kuatech were direct competitors. It wasn’t like he would see her everywhere.

And then he began to see her everywhere.

 

Direct competitors RVGR and Kuatech might be, but they still engaged in business talks frequently, and with her new personal interest in… one of RVGR’s assets, it was no great feat to convince her father to appoint her Kuatech’s chief diplomat with RVGR. Oh, she did her homework, negotiated ruthlessly with Mr. Baras or his representative, advanced her father’s interests to the very best of her ability. It wasn’t easy; Mr. Baras was very powerful, maybe even more powerful than her father, and clever, if irritatingly bombastic and somewhat inclined to think her less than she was, even if he tried to hide it.

But it was all worth it when she caught sight of tall, pale, and handsome in the hallway. And she was leaving her meeting and had nothing scheduled immediately, so she could take her time with him – if he didn’t find an excuse to slip away. He was a shy one.

“Captain!” she called, and watched him stiffen as he turned to her with alarm in those intelligent dark blue eyes. She laughed airily. “It’s incredible what Google will turn up, isn’t it? Former Captain in the British army, wasn’t it? Served in Afghanistan, decorated for bravery, singlehandedly rescued one Major Ovech and his men from a surprise attack, and tracked down a spy within your division. And finally, departed due to a personality conflict with your general?”

“What can I do for you, Miss Volkova?” he asked, but the tension was still there in his shoulders, his arms.

“How much of it is true?” She gave him an innocently curious look.

“…Technically it is all true.”

“You don’t wish to brag, do you? And now you’re head of security here. How do you like the change?”

He took a moment to answer, clearly very confused by her persistence. “It certainly pays better, ma’am. I do miss aspects of the army, and that I had to leave as soon as I did, but I don’t regret the move.”

“Mr. Baras takes care of his employees, doesn’t he?”

He nodded gravely. “I owe him much. Miss Volkova, I’m afraid I don’t have time to chat.”

She affected a forlorn sigh, but gave him a smirk through it anyway. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Quinn.” Almost a given, considering how she was low-key stalking him.

He bowed rather awkwardly and stood aside to let her continue down the hall towards the elevators.

 

Another day, another party, Akuliina thought as she disembarked from her car, heels tapping decisively on the pavement. Shareholders to lean on, alliances to make, dates to set up. Among which, she hoped to see Quinn again. Business first, then pleasure.

She did catch sight of him over the course of the evening, but he seemed determined to avoid her. He was on to her, was he? She liked a challenge. She was a hunter and he was her prey. Although, if he capitulated and allowed her to speak with him, that wouldn’t abate her pursuit in the slightest.

It took half the night, but eventually she cornered him in a less-populated part of the ballroom – a proper ballroom, this was a properly classy event. “Quinn.”

“Miss Volkova.” To her mild surprise, he stopped looking for an escape route and stepped toward her. He took her hand and raised it to his lips – his firm, full lips – like a gentleman.

She smiled at him approvingly, eyes sparkling like the wine she held in her other hand. “So you’ve finally decided to stop running, have you?”

“You’re very persistent, Miss Volkova. I must only ask, are you sure you wish to continue this association? I assure you, I’m very boring, truly.”

He was interested in her as she was in him, she could tell. “I’m quite certain you’re incorrect.”

“I’m not in any way connected with your company.”

“That fact has nothing to do with anything, Captain.”

“Please don’t call me Captain. It’s not proper; I’m retired.”

“As a nickname, though, it suits you fine.”

He was frowning slightly, uncomfortable, and she was enjoying it. “Miss Volkova, it’s not right. Someone of your stature spending time with me is sure to invite scrutiny and gossip.”

She chuckled at him. “Scandalous. Come now, Quinn. I bark and I bite, but I’m not looking for trouble for you.” When he still looked unconvinced, she added, with as much genuine feeling as she’d ever showed to anyone: “I like you. At least speak with me.”

He bowed his head, but there was a slight smile on his lips. “Very well. I’ll bow to your wishes.”

She grinned at him, possibly far too excited about this. Easy there, girl. Don’t give away too much. “Fabulous. If things get too dull here, I’m at least assured of good company.” She offered her hand again. “I’ll be back, undoubtedly. Carry on.”

He kissed her hand again. Who did that these days? Malavai Quinn, apparently. She loved it. “Take care, Miss Volkova.”