Fair Trade

It was just a word ‘Hello’ but it was the first time Sei had seen a man speak in Russian with such a bright expression.

“I knew it would be you.”

“It will take a while for the bed to be moved up. Probably… about 30 minutes? I think this much time would be enough for us to properly catch up.”

What catching up?!

Sitting with his legs crossed, Yuri tapped the seat next to him. Glancing over at the tightly closed hospital room door, Sei took off her hat and wig at once and walked towards him, her voluminous dark hair cascading down her shoulders. At the sight of her, Yuri’s face lit up with a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sei had only taken off her wig, but she felt like she was standing naked in front of the man.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“I keep all my promises. Now you have to keep your promise with me.”

Sei’s heart was pounding for no reason. It probably was because of the raunchy dream she had last night. If it wasn’t for that dream, she probably wouldn’t have been so embarrassed.

As she approached, she stood between Yuri’s legs. Then, with his elbows propped on his knees, Yuri raised his head with a relaxed expression.

“How have you been?”

“Great. All thanks to you.”

“Well, for me… Every day felt like a year as I kept thinking of you. In a word… Should I say that I haven’t been doing all that well?”

She let out a wry smile at his perfectly calm and collected way of speaking.

“Aren’t you looking too neat for someone who’s not doing well?”

“I’m always like this.”

“So… Are you here to complain? That you haven’t been doing well because of me?”

At her blunt words, Yuri took Sei’s hand and lightly bit her slender fingers, and then pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

“No. Actually, I brought you a gift. Let’s go to your house. You can help me satisfy my hunger. We can even do it in the car, but the tint there is not as thick as I’d like it to be.”

What gift?

Her gaze shifted to a shopping bag beside her. He didn’t have to give her anything. She had neither expected anything from him nor wished for anything.

Sei’s heart dropped out of her chest as a quick memory raced across her thoughts, and she blinked her large eyes.

“The day I put La Peregrina around your neck, I’m going to relish this place. Got it?”

No way!

La Peregrina was the most famous pearl in the world. It wasn’t something that could easily fall into the hands of a mafia member. It was not just some jewel but a genuine treasure.

Sei’s mouth became parched as if she were in the middle of a desert. Her throat also felt itchy as if a dry cough were about to escape. He pressed his cheek against the back of her unresponsive hand and smiled as he cocked his head.

“You must have already guessed what it is, right? Well, if you’re okay with outdoor sex, then we can…”

No way!

Startled by the sound heard from outside, she covered Yuri’s mouth. Beads of sweat dripped down her spine. Then while smiling, Yuri got up from his seat and handed the shopping bag to her.

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“Don’t be so scared. It was just a joke. I’m pretty protective of what’s mine. Anyway, I’ll see you at your house. You can open your gift first. Don’t be too surprised.”

Having said that, Yuri lightly kissed her lips and left the hospital room.

She was extremely confused by all the things that happened so suddenly.

How are you going to get into my home? No, wait, am I worrying unnecessarily…?

Sei immediately recalled who he was.

Her mother’s bed had arrived at this time. Her mother, who had opened her eyes briefly while being transported, gave a feeble smile when she saw Sei.

Sei approached and held her skinny hands tightly. She felt like bursting into tears for no apparent reason at all.

Her mother smiled like a child when she stroked her rough skin and asked, “Did you sleep well… Mom?”

* * *

The door of the old hydraulic elevator opened. Yuri’s eyes coldly raked his surroundings as he took a step forward.

How many people live in this narrow apartment?

He arrived in front of Sei’s residence after walking down the dark corridor. He counted how many cameras were installed around the front door. Her vigilance was clearly expressed by the vast number of cameras.

That wasn’t the only thing. In the event that the door was forced open, there was also a small gadget attached to the keyhole that would capture a picture of the visitor’s face and send it to her.

“As expected, what an interesting woman!”

With the key he grabbed from his pocket, Yuri confidently opened the door and entered.

The house was deafeningly quiet. Sei’s scent wafted through the doorway. He took his ringing cell phone from his pocket while fidgeting with her muffler on the door hanger.

“What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter?! There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and our CEO has disappeared off somewhere. Do you still want to ask what’s the matter? Where are you? Did you meet up with that woman?”

There was a hint of anticipation in Kirill’s voice.

“I just came in.”

He strode inside the house that was covered with rough gray carpets.

Yuri began by exploring around her cute house, moving cushions and opening drawers, in search of more information about her. However, the more he looked around, the stranger he felt, and the more upset he became.

“But why… doesn’t she have a gun?”

Kirill clicked his tongue over the receiver with a baffled tone.

“If you’re at that woman’s house, just do the work you’ve been told to. She doesn’t have to have a gun, you know? By the way, I have sent you the contract from Big Lux by email so please check it. They’re trying to silently pass the company after that oil spill accident in the East Indies. It’s a great opportunity to buy it 40% cheaper than the market price so quickly approve it and send it.”

“I don’t have time to read it, so recite it to me.”

“God! You’re so lazy.”

Although it was hard to believe, Kirill was also Petrov’s legal representative and contract agent. While hearing the terms of the contract that Kirill recited, Yuri calmly looked around the house.