Chapter 8 - THE PETROV NAME CHANGED
Five years after the poisoning, Petrov Logistics looked different.
Independent board.
External compliance.
Audited related-party transactions.
No cash businesses hidden inside legitimate subsidiaries.
No relatives receiving jobs simply because they were relatives.
Dmitri remained security director.
Professional.
Licensed.
Boring.
He loved becoming boring.
Alexei once told Maria:
“My grandfather would hate this company.”
She replied:
“Good sign.”
Mikhail was serving a substantial sentence after conviction on supported charges.
Alexei never visited.
Not from vengeance.
He said he did not know what relationship remained possible.
Irina rebuilt her life after serving consequences connected to her conduct.
She moved to another state.
Worked eventually in financial operations at a nonprofit after years outside executive leadership.
Dmitri spoke to her occasionally.
Family, but not absolution.
Maria respected that distinction.
Then something unexpected happened.
Alexei asked Maria to dinner.
Not staff dinner.
Not Sophie birthday.
Dinner.
She stared.
“Why?”
He looked almost offended.
“I believe people call it dating.”
“No.”
His face fell.
Maria smiled.
“Not yet.”
That startled him.
She explained.
“You were my employer.”
“You’re wealthy.”
“You’re powerful.”
“My daughter idolizes you.”
“If we do anything, I want enough distance that I can tell whether I actually like you.”
Alexei stared.
Then laughed.
“That may be the least flattering romantic speech I have ever received.”
“Good.”
They waited.
Almost a year.
Then coffee.
Then dinner.
Slow.
No mansion move-in.
No instant stepfather.
No gifts Sophie could not reasonably accept.
Maria insisted on paying sometimes.
Alexei hated that.
May you like
Growth continued.
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