Her Russian Hero (International Romance Series) (21 page)

Damn, he’d plotted the whole
scene. Why? What was he planning to do with the picture?

“I asked her to sing for you,
Cecile. It was my daughter’s favorite song, an old Russian melody. The title is
‘For your blue eyes’. You do favor blue eyes, don’t you?”

Cecile hated him with all her
heart. The snake was trying to hurt her innermost feelings, to make her jealous
of his dead daughter, Sergei’s wife. She could have bet a month’s salary the
sleazy jerk was enjoying himself and playing with her emotions.

Whatever his intentions were, she
wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset. She clapped her hands
when the song ended and pushed her chair to stand up.

His eyes focused on her. “If
you’ve finished your dinner, we can leave. I am traveling tomorrow and need to
do my packing.”

She insisted on paying for her
meal and he let her. At the door, he bowed and grabbed her hand. “Think about
my offer,” he murmured in her ear. “It can benefit both of us. I’ll be back in
a couple of weeks. I’m sure we will see each other again,” he said with a
frosty tone.

 * * * * *

Cecile found the van waiting for
her in the next block. She slid in the backseat next to John and Paul, a
burning sensation gnawing at her stomach. The stress had exacerbated her ulcer.
They looked at her anxiously. “He didn’t give me the permit.”

She summarized the evening
without mentioning the bribe issue. It was too grave to divulge in front of
Tania. “No permit. Hmm. He tricked you.” John raked his frizzy hair then
barked. “I’ll call Roussov. I’ll tell him what I think of him. He can’t make
fun of a U.S. envoy.”

“Forget it. Roussov specified he
was leaving town for some time.”

All through her friends’ display
of emotions, Cecile remained calm. “It wasn’t like him to give me the permit,
after withholding it for a few days, just because I’d asked for it.”

Somehow, she was not surprised.
She was expecting a dirty blow from him but it seemed less deadly than she’d
anticipated. The permit, or lack of, she could deal with, if only Roussov
stayed away from Sergei. She was also concerned about his request for a bribe
but wouldn’t talk about it now.

Tania dropped them in front of
the hotel. Cecile tugged at John’s sleeve. “I need to talk to you.”

They sat next to each other on
the old sofa in the lobby. John shook his head. “He’s a jerk, all right. But
you didn’t have to worry so much. You even had a song dedicated to you.”

“Oh John, how could you be so
blind? What about the picture?”

He just waved his hand. “I think
you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. So what if he put his arms around
you for a picture? I often do that with a pretty woman. It’s a compliment. Come
on, Cecile. Loosen up a bit.”

Cecile didn’t bother pulling him
out of his blithe naïveté. She had been quite credulous in accepting Roussov’s
invitation and she wondered what harm would come out of it. If Sergei ever
heard of the dinner and picture, she knew for a fact he’d resent her for
dealing with his enemy.

“John, there’s more. I couldn’t
talk in front of the others. Roussov offered to sign the permit and transport
the whole shipment to the lab.”

The Contract Director visibly
stiffened. “And what was his price?”

“Five hundred thousand dollars.”

His brows furrowed. “And you said
no without hesitation?”

“Of course, what a question. But
I led him into a discussion. We have it all recorded here.” Cecile patted her
purse. “I need to hear the tape. What are we going to do with it? Confront,
Roussov?”

“Absolutely not. Attacking the
Director of National Security is way too complicated and dangerous. He’s not
the only corrupt man in the government. Cecile, we don’t need to attract
problems to our delegation. What if he was setting a trap for you? It’s often
done, you know. Do us a big favor. Keep your tape tucked in a safe place and
keep your mouth shut about this whole episode.”

John was right. What if Roussov
was setting a trap for her? He could well take the money and accuse her of
trying to bribe him. Just before leaving the restaurant, Roussov had dropped
his amiable mask and recovered his chilly manner. Had he achieved his goal
whatever it was?

A pulse throbbed at her temples,
announcing a migraine headache that would keep her awake, lonely and depressed,
examining anxious thoughts and terrifying conjectures. God, she couldn’t stand
to go to her room yet.

She could have been in Sergei’s
arms, right now.

On a sudden impulse, she spun toward
John. “Are you going to sleep right away? I feel like going to the hotel casino
for a drink and some gambling? Care to join me?”

With a beaming smile, he clapped
her shoulder. “Now you’re talking like a normal gal. Of course, I’ll join you.
We need to unwind. We’ll deal with our problems tomorrow.”

Cecile played the slot machines
and blackjack while sipping a cold refreshing beer. She concentrated on the
games and tried to block any thoughts of Sergei, his awful father-in-law, the
contract and her miserable, unhappy life. She bet high and won big. John sat
beside her and encouraged her with buoyant enthusiasm. Her luck kept escalating
and the rubles accumulated in front of her. By three in the morning, holding a
big bag of money, she hooked her arm in John’s and they staggered to the
escalator.

“What’re you…going t’do with this
fo-fortune?” he stuttered, his tongue heavy.

“I’ll distribute it to the poor
old ladies sitting on the sidewalk covered with snow at the entrance of the
bazaar. I saw them trying to sell boiled eggs or a few bags of spices, freezing
and drinking vodka to warm up.”

“You’re a good woman, Cecile.”

“No, I’m a stupid one. Today I
acted like a stupid one.” She stomped her foot on the floor and pursed her
lips. She felt dizzy from lack of sleep, alcohol and heartache.

“I don’t agree. Tonight for the
first time you acted like one of the boys, Cecile. That’s progress. Maybe one
day you’ll finally act like a pretty woman should.”

“I did, John, I did. And that’s
my problem,” she wailed.

“What do you mean?”

They had reached the door of her
room. In spite of the fog inhibiting her mental faculties, she realized she’d
said too much but John had drunk enough to forget most of their talk by
tomorrow.

“Good night, John.” She wrapped
her arms around his neck and kissed him on both cheeks.

“If only you could act like that
every night.” He returned her kiss and she giggled.

In her room she started sobbing.

Chapter Seventeen

Cecile met her group for
breakfast and discussion. The restaurant had become a comfortable conference
room. Paul Miller, the last one to arrive peered at Cecile through a deep
scowl. “What’s wrong with you, boss? You look like a ghost.”

John scoffed. “Lack of sleep.
Cecile and I gambled and drank until the wee hours. She cleaned up the casino.”

Jeffrey and Paul opened huge eyes
and looked at each other.

The lab manager hitched his chin
toward her. “Are you talking about this lady?”

“Our boss? Gambling and
drinking?” Paul exclaimed, his eyes rounding.

Their expressions were so comical
that in spite of the headache hammering against her skull, Cecile couldn’t
suppress a smile. “So, once in a lifetime isn’t a crime. And John, as usual you
talk too much.”

Jeffrey nodded, “Yeah and in your
case, Cecile, it’s about time for you to loosen up, if you ask me.” John didn’t
bother to answer while Paul studied her with a level look. She was sure he
would rehash the subject later on, in a private conversation.

As he did yesterday, Nicolai
joined them and ordered a cup of coffee. “Did you get the permit?” he asked
going straight to his point of interest.

“No permit, my friend. He
wouldn’t give it to Cecile,” Paul explained without a smile.

Such a controlled fury radiated
from the colonel. He banged both fists on the table. They looked at him not
daring to talk.

“Cecile, you risked upsetting
Sergei for nothing.” Nicolai pushed his chair with a screech. “I am going to
see Fedorin. As Major General, he can refer to the Minister of Defense and arrange
to have the instruments released.”

Cecile slapped the table. “No,
you won’t, not without my approval. I’m the Program Manager of this project.”

Jeffrey gasped. “What’s the
matter, Cecile? We need the equipment to refurbish the lab. If we can’t get it,
let the general do it.”

“I will not throw Sergei into a
useless confrontation with the man who hates him. We’re here to install a lab,
not to stir up more trouble.”

John raised a hand. “I have a
solution. I’ll talk to our ambassador. He’ll intercede with the Minister of
Environment.”

“I won’t accept any interference
by high-ranking personalities. The last thing I need is for those male
chauvinists to claim that poor Dr. Lornier has not been able to handle the
project.”

She narrowed her eyes on each
one, daring them to contradict her.

During the last two days she had
concocted a backup plan to use in the eventuality Roussov would not give her
the damned permit. Now was the time to execute it. She let her friends vent
their angry feelings and turned toward Nicolai. “I’m going to the airport.”

“What?” they said in chorus.

The colonel shrugged with
disgust. “Without the permit, you can’t do a thing. They won’t give you the
equipment.”

“I’m not setting a foot in this
airport, except to go back home,” John protested. “It’s just a waste of time.”

“You don’t have to come. Stay
here and relax. I’ll ask Tania to keep you company or take you shopping.” She
switched her gaze to her assistants and said with a tone that didn’t brook
discussion. “Paul and Jeffrey, you’re coming with me and you too, Nicolai.”

She pushed out her chair and
waved goodbye to John. The three others followed as she walked out of the
restaurant. “I’ll see you in ten minutes on the sidewalk. Dress in warm
clothes. Nicolai, I hope you came with your own car?” He nodded and she sighed
with relief.

Wearing heavy coats and hats,
they waited for her outside the hotel. “Are you going to explain your plan? The
colonel is not used to obeying your directives blindly as we do,” Paul said
with some impatience.

Her jaws tightened with tension
and she answered in a dry voice. “I will but not right now.” She spun toward
Nicolai. “If you don’t mind we’ll go to your apartment now. Do me a favor.
Change into civilian clothes, preferably something casual. Then take us to a
faraway garage or a mechanic where we can rent a big truck without attracting
attention.”

They looked at her as if she’d
lost her mind. Her lips curled with bitterness. “I need you to trust me. My
plan is daring but will succeed if we proceed with speed and care.”

The colonel opened the doors of
his car and slid in the driver’s seat. They settled in and he drove to his
building. Silence hovered as they waited for him while he went inside. When he
reappeared in a
chapka
and a long wool coat over faded navy pants, he
resembled the thousands of citizens strolling around him. He
navigated
his old Volvo out of the city and into the countryside. They crossed a little
village and stopped in front of a shabby barn. An old guy with long beard and
ragged clothes came toward them. Nicolai talked to him.

“This man owns two old trucks. He
doesn’t know me but my father used his vehicles to move things in his business.
We can rent them for the day. We need to pay right away.”

Cecile handed him a bag of rubles
without uttering a word. The colonel gave his instructions. “I’ll drive one and
Jeffrey the other. Paul, can you follow in my car? Cecile will ride with you.
Now are you going to tell me your plan?”

“Not yet. Let’s go.”

Cecile sighed with relief when
they arrived at the airport without problems and parked out of sight behind the
customs building.

The colonel led them to the
entrance. Cecile grasped his hand and squeezed it nervously. “Nicolai, go and
check if there’s a different clerk. The one who was here last time said he
would be
out ’til the end of the week
. Just check. Don’t talk to him. Oh
God, I hope he hasn’t changed his mind.”

Nicolai came back. “New guy,” he
said.

She exhaled with relief. “Good.”

“What next?”

 “You and I are going to his
office. Jeffrey and Paul, wait for us here.” She gave her
chapka
to Paul
and wrapped a scarf around her head to look like one of the humble women she’d
seen in the streets of Minsk.

“You’ll tell him you received
some agricultural machines for your farm and you need to withdraw them.”

Their heads jerked and their
gasps echoed.

“Are you crazy?”

“You can’t do that.”

“They’ll arrest us.”

“It’s our only chance to get the
equipment. Roussov has put no restriction on this type of machines. The clerk
has never heard of a gas chromatograph in his life. A big agricultural machine
would sound familiar and useful to him. And remember, the other guy said that
his substitute hated to waste his time.”

Paul broke into a large grin. “If
it works, I’ll publish the story.”

“Shush. Wait for us and say the
prayer your mother taught you when you were small.” Cecile swallowed hard.
“Nicolai, I won’t open my mouth. Tell him I’m your wife. I’ll just hang on your
arm.”

He pulled her against him. “I
will play the loving husband. But if you tell Sergei, he will kill me.”

A chuckle escaped her while she
fidgeted.

They entered the office. Nicolai
talked to the man and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, kissed her
cheek and addressed her in Russian. “Don’t go too far, Nicolai,” she mumbled
between her teeth, smiled back and cuddled against him.