The Cruel Boss Won't Let Me Go

Nikolai was in a very bad mood when he left the construction site. He returned to his office at Green Leaf Construction considering how he should deal with the Rimbaldi brothers.

He thought of calling Alexi but didn't want to be questioned about Merri. I hope the little girl can live peacefully and Alexi forgets about her. He should be surrounded by beautiful actresses vying for his attention while in London

 Merri was also thinking about Nikolai and planning to go to his office. She was in the kitchen of her small apartment baking pastry to give him.

 Myles walked into the kitchen, "Sis, what are you making? Smells delicious." He opened the oven and had a puzzled expression, "What are those?"

 "Baklava."

 "Huh?"

 "A flaky pastry with honey and nuts. I made some for a friend of mine and for you."

 He sat at the kitchen table. "I haven't seen you bake in awhile." 

 "Well, I had some time this morning."

 "Looks good, will it be ready soon? I have to get to school."

 She picked up a pot holder and reached into the oven. "Done."

 Merri set the pan on the counter and said, "Do you want me to pack a few or eat here."

 "I will take, what is the name again?" He picked one up, "Hot..hot."

 Merri poured him a glass of milk. "Baklava."

 He took a bite, after he swallowed his eyes lit up, "Tasty." He gulped down the glass of milk as Merri packed the pastries for him.

 "I am going to practice after class so I won't be home until about eight o'clock. I made some pasta with sauce and a salad, just heat up the pasta for about three minutes in the microwave."

 "Okay." He grabbed his backpack and headed for the door.

 Merri watched her younger brother leave, he is getting so tall. 

 She went to the bedroom and looked in the closet trying to decide what to wear. After holding several dresses up to the mirror she decided on a light peach colored knit dress. The color complimented her fair skin and the style accentuated her thin waist. Merri matched the soft dress with a pair of off white leather boots. 

 Once she was dressed, she brushed her long blonde hair and pulled half of it up with a white jade hairpin. After she applied lip gloss she was satisfied and put on a pair of simple gold loop earrings. 

 She picked up the bag with Nikolai's coat then went to the kitchen. Merri happily placed the Baklava into a container, I wonder if he will like the pastry? 

 With a big grin she put on her white cashmere coat and a gray knitted scarf and left the apartment.

 In Nikolai's office he was smoking a cigarette, should I let Alexi know or handle the situation myself?

 He took a gun out of the drawer and tapped the barrel on the desk while considering his options.. He set the gun down on the desk then called the construction site. "Get me the architect."

 Laura Davis was grinning when the man who answered the phone said, "The Boss wants to talk to you."

 She took a sip of water then picked up the phone on her desk. Her voice was soft, "CEO Rushkin, you wanted to speak to me?"

 "Did you check if the pipes will work?"

 "Unfortunately the size won't work. According to my calculations in order to have adequate flow through the pipes they must meet the original specifications."

 "I see." After he got the relevant information, Nikolai hung up. Laura Davis stared at the phone. That's it? The man treasures words like gold!"

 She stood up and grabbed her coat. "I am leaving for the day."

 The man looked up from his desk, why is the annoying bitch telling me? He nodded and continued to eat his lunch.

 Nikolai crushed the cigarette in the ashtray then leaned back in his office chair and closed his eyes. For the second night in a row he had insomnia. He didn't sleep well at all, tossing and turning thinking about Merri and Alexi. 

Considering the sabotage and the Ribaldi brothers he thought, I will give those brothers a couple days. I want to see if they have any more tricks up their sleeves. If they cause any more problems then I will deal with them.

 Suddenly the door of his office opened and a heavy set man entered followed by Merri.

 The man's voice sounded gravelly, "Boss, this woman wants to see you."

 Nikolai nervously shoved the gun he was holding into the desk drawer cursing the fat man. Idiot! Fat ass, you are supposed to knock for fuck's sake! Luckily, because he was so fat Merri's view was blocked.

 When Nikolai saw Merri he was startled, why is the little angel here? 

 Merri smiled brightly, "I don't want to disturb your work but I brought your coat back."

 She walked towards his desk and Nikolai's heart was pounding. He was speechless. 

 Merri set down the coffee and the container of pastry. "I wanted to thank you. I didn't know what to do, so I brought you some pastry. I hope you like it."

 Flustered by Merri's sudden appearance, he saw the fat man still standing in the office staring at Merri. He calmed his nerves, " You can leave."

 Nikolai wasn't a talkative man and somewhat shy; he really didn't know what to say. 

 Merri could see he was surprised and felt maybe her unannounced arrival interrupted his work. "Well, I will go."

 He blurted out, "Stay... Ah..Thank you."

 Merri could see the tips of his ears were red and she thought he was cute. Maybe he likes me a little too. She fluttered her eyelashes and her sweet voice was tinged with a bit of coquettishness, "If you aren't busy." 

 "Not busy."

 Merri took off her coat and scarf, "I want to properly thank you by taking you to dinner. Since I was returning your coat I thought would bring a small snack."

 Nikolai opened the container and his eyes filled with a soft light, "Baklava."

 "I took a chance you might like this pastry."

 He took one out and Merri noticed his slender hand, he had long fingers, distinctive joints and small calluses on the pads of his index finger and thumb. Impulsively she asked, "Do you play the guitar?"

 "What?"

 "My friend plays the guitar and has calluses on his fingers." She noticed Nikolai's uncomfortable expression and chuckled, "I'm sorry I always notice people's hands. Yours are really beautiful."

 Nikolai smiled and lied, "I am learning." He was relieved because the calluses are from using a gun. 

 He took a bite of the warm Baklava and his eyes lit up. "The pastry is very delicious, what bakery did you get this from?" The texture was flaky, the pastry was sweet, not greasy. The taste reminded him of his mother. 

 "Well, I'm glad you like it. I have never made Baklava before."

 Stunned that Merri had made the Baklava his eyes flickered with an imperceptible flash of adoration, he stuttered, "You...you made this? For me?"

 She pushed the coffee over to him, "I wanted to thank you. If it weren't for you I might have died in the freezing cold from passing out on the sidewalk." She blushes, "You are my savior." 

 She tilted her head and brushed some loose hair behind her ear. "I didn't realize I drank that much. Normally, I am fine with a few beers and shots of tequila."

 He couldn't resist eating another piece of the pastry and drank the rich black coffee. His eyes reflected his complicated mood. He hasn't tasted Baklava since he left Russia and a warm feeling engulfed him. 

 Nikolai felt guilty because he was only doing what Alexi instructed him to do. If she knew the actual circumstances she would be disgusted and hate him. "Miss Winslow, you don't need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same."

 "You also paid my bill, I wanted to bring you the first installment but..well I feel I can be honest with you. I lost both my jobs. I played the piano at a Club and can no longer work there after a very disturbing incident."

 She took a sip from a bottle of water, " I gave a student piano lessons, her mother informed me today I was no longer needed because she discovered I worked at a Club. I tried to explain but people like Mrs. Shaw don't understand." She shrugged her thin shoulders, "They listen to gossip and believe rumors."

 He narrowed his eyes, the little angel leaving the Club was good but losing her job as a tutor seems unfair. He thought it was a ridiculous thing to suggest but he said, "I want to learn to play the piano, would you consider teaching me?"

 Merri's smile was breathtaking, " Wow! I would love to..." She stopped mid sentence and knitted her delicate eyebrows together. "But, I don't own a piano."

 He was shocked by his overwhelming desire to be close to Merri. Her body fragrance calmed the restlessness and rage inside of him... she made him feel warm and alive. She was like a bright light in an endless dark tunnel. 

 Nikolai gazed into her clear and beautiful eyes then effortlessly lied again. "Not a problem. I have a piano. I wanted to learn but I haven't had time to find a teacher. "