"Mom," breaks from the lips of the unfortunate girl and then the door opens and the steps of numerous feet are heard. The girl cringes. She knows: it is they, those who torment her, those who deprived her of everything. The owner of her uncle and his retinue...
"No!" Elena jumped up with a sharp cry and began to swallow air with her mouth. Another nightmare, what the hell? They had just left her and now they were back again. The girl pushed the light strands of hair from her face and looked for a long time into the fireplace, which she always lit before going to bed, so as not to find herself in the darkness that reminded her of the past.
"For what?" this was the main question that had been tormenting her for 24 years,
which she had spent in a nightmare. John Flynn, her psychologist, advised her to find someone with whom she could share this, someone who had experienced something similar, but Elena did not want a relationship, did not want to share it. She wanted to forget everything,
wanted to start living without fear. But alas...
Anyway, it was time to go to work. She needed to find out what Eric and Edward had dug up, give instructions to strengthen Elliot and Mia's security, and find out from Gray why she had been kept in the dark about the attack on Elliot.
Suddenly, the silence of the apartment was broken by the sound of falling dishes and a scream:
Fuck.
Elena stood up abruptly and went to the kitchen. Leila Williams, a beautiful 25-year-old red-haired girl with green eyes, was in full control there. Leila acted as a maid, but she showed up quite rarely, since Lincoln herself loved to cook and bake. But if Leila showed up, she brought with her the best pizzas, rolls and sushi in the city, the smell of baking and disaster.
"Leila, how many times do I have to tell you to take one plate from the sink," the blonde waved her hand and the shards of the plate gathered back into a whole plate.
"Miss Lincoln, you're in a hurry. I wanted to pack you breakfast, otherwise you're living on coffee alone. You need to get better and find yourself a prince," Leila was a very responsible maid, but quite absent-minded.
"Leila," Elena said sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes, it's not my business, I know. But feeding you deliciously is mine," the maid smiled. "I brought you a new pizza and have already packed it. And now I'll make you some eggs.
Elena smiled and started helping Leila with making breakfast.
"You were screaming," Leila noted, pouring coffee.
"Nightmares," Elena waved her hand, breaking eggs into the frying pan. She wouldn't share this with anyone, with anyone.
After breakfast, Elena put on a black pantsuit,
put on some light makeup and headed to the garage. Deciding not to take any risks, she immediately got on her motorcycle and headed to work. It had gotten colder today, and it was drizzling,
which spurred the blonde on. She drove like crazy along the familiar highway and felt alive. The nightmare had cleared her head, she surrendered herself to the ride completely and didn't immediately notice the black SUV that had been following her from her house. But as soon as she noticed it, the girl stepped on the gas and rushed forward. The car was unfamiliar to her, and Lincoln's soul began to suspect. Was she being followed? Had the director of "Nobu" decided to track her?
As expected, the car picked up speed and did not lag behind her even a mile.
"Oh, so," Lincoln squeezed out 200 km/h and broke away from the car. Such a speed was beyond the power of an ordinary person, but not her.
After 40 minutes, Elena parked at her office and called Welch.
"Eric, I was followed from my house. We need video footage from the external video cameras at "Escala". Run the car's license plate and report everything to me. Also, set up surveillance on my family. Secret, can't sleep
Christian. Especially protect Mia, Grace, Anastasia and Phoebe. Did you dig up anything on "Nobu"?" Elena entered the office and immediately ran into Nixon.
He smiled at her, and it was clear from his whole appearance that he had found something good in the English market.
"Oh, there's a lot of interesting stuff there, Al. Blackmail and bribery and intimidation of the French... Interesting personalities on the board of the company,
very eccentric, especially the director. I'll send you the information by email,"
Eric was serious.
"Better in person, who knows what my competitors are capable of," Elena followed Nixon into the elevator.
"Do you think they could have hacked your email?" Welch's voice was frightened.
"Ed isn't the only one who's a pro. Considering what happened this morning, I can expect anything from them," Lincoln punched in the number of the top floor and hung up. The girl yawned and looked at Ed.
"A sleepless night?" Nixon looked at her sympathetically.
"A sleepless life," Elena joked.
Elena's POV
Once in my office, I sit down at the table and look expectantly at Nixon.
"Does the name Daphne Kruger mean anything to you?" Nixon asks, opening his laptop.
"Somewhat of a British business shark. Smart,
perceptive, doesn't like to play big. They trust reason, not feelings, has an excellent reputation, is not married," I answer and my eyes light up.
"And she also expressed a desire to work with us.
More precisely, with you. I contacted her yesterday evening, and we corresponded. In short, she has a personal score to settle with the director of "Nobu". He was married to her mother, Claire, and after her death, he threw his stepdaughter out on the street penniless. Fortunately, her godmother helped the girl, and she took over her mother's business, having uncovered some facts from her stepfather's life. Mostly financial fraud and involvement in the death
of Claire Kruger. So Daphne has had dealings with this jerk and wants to help us enter
the European market, Nixon turns his laptop towards me and I see
a pretty brunette, slightly older than me with piercing brown eyes.
She s pretty. I want to meet her in person. Can
you arrange a meeting for us in New York? We ll talk it over and then maybe I ll pay her
a return visit, I smile.
She s flying in for your mother s charity ball, Nixon takes my hand.
Does Daphne do charity work too? I m amazed.
Yes, her stepfather seduced her at 16, and the girl was his submissive for five years, Eric enters the office, and for some reason I
feel uneasy. It sounds so familiar