The Russian Billionaire

“Why is the painting so important to your clients?”

She leans forward, her eyes glittering with emotion. “That’s none of your business. Your job is simple. All you have to do is to switch the painting and then nothing more will be asked of you.”

“Isn’t there another way?”

“No, there is no other way. Try to see it from their point of view. If you had not taken this job, then another girl would have been picked and the painting would have been switched by now. You’ve ruined the perfect set up. Something that took many, many months and hundreds of thousands of dollars to arrange.”

“I know I messed up, and I’m really, really sorry, but I just can’t do it. The only thing I can do is slowly pay back all the money that your clients have spent and they will just have to find another way to get the painting they want.”

She sighs. “I don’t think you get it. You cannot walk away from a job like this just because you decide that you like riding the mark’s dick. Once you’re in you’re in… or there will be consequences to pay.”

“Consequences?” I whisper.

“Yes, consequences. These people have no limits. If you cross them they will come for your family. I hope you understand Raine what I mean when I say that. Your mother… or even your sick little sister.”

I freeze with fear. My mind is unable to assimilate the knowledge that they know everything about me and my family.

“They won’t stop until you do what they want you to. Do you really want to risk your family for a stupid painting or for a man you mean nothing to?”

I swallow hard. I can almost feel all the little bones in Maddy’s thin body pressing into my flesh.

“This is the skull at your banquet that cannot be denied,” Catherine says.

I stare down at the table surface. At that moment a waitress appears on my right. “What can I get you?” she asks.

I look up at her. She has bright red hair, tattoos on her neck, and a nose ring. I shake my head. “Nothing, thank you. I’m leaving.”

She nods and flounces away.

I turn back to Catherine. “All right, I’ll do it.”

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “When can you do it?”

“I’ll try to do it tomorrow.”

“Good. Call me after you have done it.”

I nod.

“You can go now.”

I stand like a robot and walk out of the café. I feel as if I am in a daze. My dream has just turned into a horrific nightmare.

Raine

I walk aimlessly for a long time. Sometimes people tut at me. I seem to be in their way. They are in a rush to get somewhere. My mother texts me to know where I am. I tell her not to worry. Everything is fine. I will be along soon.

I walk until it suddenly becomes clear in my head. And I know exactly what to do about it as well.

Maddy is in bed and my mother is back by the time I arrive home. As I close the front door, she walks out of the kitchen while wiping her hands on a towel.

“What’s going on?” she asks, a worried frown on her face.

“Come and sit down, Mom.” She sits on the old sofa and I join her. And I’m about to tell her when I suddenly remember the phone in my pocket, all the phones in our house. We are literally surrounded by listening devices.

“Wait. Can we take a walk outside and I’ll tell you everything then?”

“Walk? Why? I just got home after a very long day at work, Raine. I’m exhausted. Can you tell me here?”

“No, Mom. I’m sorry, but this is important.”

She stands and walks towards her coat. Shrugging into it, she says, “Come on then.”

“Mom, have you got your cell phone on you?”

“Yes, it’s in my coat.”

I walk towards her, putting my forefinger over my lips to warn her not to speak, I take the phone out of her coat and leave it on the table together with mine.

Then we walk out of the apartment. As soon as we reach the street, she turns towards me. “What on earth is going on?”

“Mom, I think I’m in trouble. I think I’ve accidentally got mixed up with some very bad people.”

My mother pales, her hand rushes to her mouth. “What’s happening, Raine?”

“You know that painting that I was supposed to switch because it has sentimental value to someone. I don’t think that’s true. I think I was desperate for money, I deliberately fooled myself. I let myself believe such an obvious lie. Who would go to all the trouble they went to just to get back a valueless painting? I think that painting has a listening device in it. I think someone is trying to bring Konstantin down.”