I Want To Be Close To The Little Angel

 Nikolai continues to lie, "My doctor suggested learning a musical instrument to relieve stress." 

 He clenched his fists under the desk and stared at the beautiful pure girl sitting across from him. Her amber eyes sparkled and her innocent smile was bewitching. I want to be close to this little angel...I want...

 He has never been treated with such sincerity and it was intoxicating. It made him forget he was a ruthless and cold blooded killer. Fuck it! To be near the little angel I will risk the consequences. Alexi won't be back for a couple weeks. I will think of something and discontinue the lessons before he returns.

 Merri can barely contain her excitement,"Really?" I could make the money I need and be with my crush! Thank you Mrs. Shaw for being a narrowminded petty woman!

 "Yes."

 "When would you like me to start?"

 "Tomorrow night." I need to buy a piano and have it delivered.

 "Sure!" Oh my God! I get to spend time with my crush! We will need to sit on the piano bench together and I will get to touch his eautiful hands!

 Nikoai's's heart was beating erratically thinking about spending time with Merri. He gazed at her beautiful face in a daze. 

The harmonious atmosphere disappeared when the fat man barged in with Laura Davis.

 "Boss, she brought the specs you wanted."

 Nikolai glared at the intruders and his face was black. "Have Miss Davis wait in the outer office."

 Merri turned to look at the two people at the door and didn't see the murderous gleam in Nikolais eyes. The woman is beautiful, I wonder who she is?

Merri shyly smiles at Nikolai, " I should go."

 He wanted to ask her to stay but reluctantly replied, "Wait a moment." He wrote down the address to his apartment and cell phone number then handed her the slip of paper. "Is seven o'clock convenient?"

 "Yes."

 " If you need to call me, my private number is on the paper."

 He stood up and walked around the desk to help Merri put on her coat. He had a gentle expression, "Thank you again for the Baklava. It reminded me of my home in Russia."

 Merri turned too fast to look at him and fell into his embrace hitting her nose on his hard chest. She whimpered in pain and he reflexively lifted her chin to look at her nose with his arm wrapped around her tiny waist. He suddenly realized the ambiguous position they were in and quickly let her go. 

 She rubbed her nose and chuckled, "I'm sorry..haha.. that was clumsy of me."

 He saw the tip of her nose was red. "I have ointment, wait a minute."

 "I'm fine."

 He held her hand and walked to the couch. "Sit."

 Laura Davis was getting impatient and after the fat man left she cracked the door. She was fuming watching Merri and Nikolai as he gently applied the ointment.

 When Merri left the office Laura was inwardly cursing her as a vixen. She smiled as Merri walked by but the woman's cold eyes sent a shiver down Merri's spine.

 Merri knew the reason for the hateful look and the corner of her mouth twitched. It looks like I am not the only woman who likes Mr. Rushkin. 

 Nikolai watched Merri leave then walked back to his desk. Staring at the half empty box of pastries he was in a daze. Deep in thought he didn't notice Laura Davis entering his office unannounced until the perfume she was wearing wafted in his direction. He was pissed the light fragrance left behind by Merri was overshadowed by the disgusting woman's heavy scent.

 Looking up with a displeased expression he sounded annoyed, "Didn't I tell you to wait in the outer office?" 

 Laura Davis blinked a few times not expecting his reaction, her voice was soft, " The woman who left your office told me to come in."

Trying to distract him she glanced at the pastries and exclaimed, "Oh...I love Baklava, can I ask which bakery made them? They look delicious." 

 She was used to being spoiled and reached to take one without asking. Before her hand reached the box Nikolai closed the top and protectively moved it behind the computer on the desk.

 Nikolai didn't believe with Merri's personality she would say such a thing. He was very irritated the woman's presumptuous attitude. He wanted her to kick her out of the office but needed the information. "Did you bring the inventory list?"

 "I did. It appears that the pipes are not the only materials that are wrong."

 The phone rang and Nikolai tensed his muscles when he saw the caller. What does Alexi want? 

 He told Laura, "Leave the list and your notes if I have any questions I will email you."

 Laura looked like she swallowed a fly, "I can wait outside." 

 "No need. "

 Turning on her heels she reluctanly left his office. Once in the outer room she stomped her heels, The nerve! Rushing me out like I was bothering him! Who does he think he is! If I didn't see him at the Charity Ball and take a liking to him then ask father to design the building complex....hmmpf...he couldn't even get in the door to see my father without my help! Absolutely not!

 Nkolai picked up the phone and Alexi tapped his fingers on the table, "I want you to find out the connection between the timid little mouse and Karl Wu."

 "What? Miss Winslow knows the guy who joined the Special Investigation team?"

 "Vladi told me they were to his restaurant last night, guests of Ren Harmon . Unfortunately, there was a malfunction with the audio system and he had no more information. I am not going to blame you this time but I told you to monitor her movements."

 Nikolai had an ominous feeling, did Vladi say I was having dinner with him? I knew she was there?

 "Alexi, I was at the restaurant with Vladi. I did see Miss Winslow but I didn't know she was with Karl Wu."

He decided he should be honest in case Alexi already knew the situation. "It was a coincidence, I was smoking a cigarette in the garden and she walked by with a woman. She recognized me as the man who brought her to the hospital so she approached me. She said she was at the restaurant with the woman and her brother. They never mentioned Karl Wu. You told me to keep a discreet distance so I didn't investigate further."

 "Vlad said Karl Wu and the little mouse seemed quite close. Maybe we could use her." I was considering having her locked up in the mansion to play with... but now...

 Nikolai was relieved when he heard the sound of women's voices in the background. Maybe he will lose interest in the girl soon. 

 "I know I can trust you, so I want you to get close to the little mouse. I need you to keep an eye on her and her relationship with that bastard. Your identity as CEO of Green Leaf is clean, get the stupid fool to introduce him to you Find a way to plant a bug in the Special Investigation team's office."

 Nikolai glanced at the box of pastry then decided not to mention Merri stopped by the office today. "If that is your order. How should I do that?"

 "You figure it out. Keep me updated. This negotiations here in London are tedious and moving along slowly. Could take a week or more so I won't be returning to the city until then."

Nikolai decided to tell Alexi about the sabotage. "The Rimbaldi brothers are fucking with the construction site. Right now there have been minor incidents but the situation could escalate. How do you want me to handle it?"

 "Meet with them and try to settle the situation. If they don't make things right you know what to do."

 Alexi pulled a beautiful young actress onto his lap and hung up the phone.

 Nikolai had a faint smile, he heard a woman's seductive moans as the phone was hung up. Surrounded by all those beauties willing to crawl into his bed Alexi will forget about Miss Winslow before long. 

 Now that Nikolai had the go ahead, he was excited. After he impulsively asked Merri to give him piano lessons he immediately regretted it. Now the piano lessons are the perfect way to do what Alexi said, 'get close to her'.

 In a good mood, Nikolai called a store to purchase a piano. After speaking to the salesman for a few minutes he arranged for it to be delivered in the morning to his apartment. He also bought a guitar. His heart was racing thinking about spending time with Merri tomorrow night. She is the first woman who made him forget his identity, even if it is a short lived dream I am going to savor every minute with the little angel.

 Merri was on campus headed for the music room when Blair Pennington stopped her. "Where are you going?"

 "What is it to you?"

 "I reserved the practice room for the afternoon."

 " Didn't you brag that you have a fabulous piano at your house? Why would you bother to use the school's piano."

 They were the only two people in the empty hallway so with a a malicious smile Blair Pennington taunted, "To bully you of course."

 Merri shook her head, "Don't you get tired of this weird grudge you have with me."

Merri stared at the shimmering large diamond ring on Blair's finger. "You have everything you want, why are you so petty?"

 "Why? Because I hate you of course. I hate everything about you. I won't be happy until you are stuck so deep in mud that you can't stand up."

Merri has been dealing with Blair's bullying for years and is tired of it. "Well, sorry to disappoint you that will never happen. I am beautiful, talented and one day will shine on the world's stage."

 Blair's face was crimson red from the rage in her heart. Before Merri could react she fiercely slapped her face, "Bitch!"