The Locksmith by Linda Calvey (reading in the dark .TXT) 📕

potentially Europe. If we could gain a partnership with him, we’d be set.’

Ruby dipped her head in acknowledgement.

She could sense Archie’s excitement.

Here were new possibilities, new challenges, new dangers. Almost reluctantly, she had to acknowledge that the thought thrilled her.

CHAPTER 43

The day of the meeting, Ruby pulled on a Chanel suit and matching pearl necklace. She wore her hair back in an artfully messy chignon, finishing her look with a spray of Chanel No. 5.

Stepping into a sky-high pair of Manolo stilettos, Ruby stood and looked at the finished result. She’d researched Russian protocols in doing business, and formal dress was expected. So, did she look business-like? Yes. Did she look focused? For sure. Did she look dangerous? Definitely. The glint in her eye told her what she already knew. She looked like a woman to be reckoned with.

Vladimir was escorted through the villa by two guards. He walked with an air of royalty, stopping to admire a drawing by Picasso, which Archie had recently acquired through Ruby’s dodgy art dealer, Marcus.

Ruby took her chance and sidled up to him.

‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ she said, close behind him.

He turned swiftly, and she saw a brief look of desire before he shut down his reactions.

‘Exquisite, dear lady, much like yourself,’ the wealthy drug baron replied.

He took her hand and placed a kiss gently on top of her fingers. It was strangely intimate, and Ruby shivered, despite herself. He appeared to know exactly who she was. He’d done his research, which both impressed and alarmed Ruby.

This was someone to watch.

Vladimir Ivanov was handsome. His high Slavic cheekbones, dark hair streaked with silver and tanned skin complemented a natural charm that seemed to ooze from him.

He stepped in beside her as she walked him to the office where the meeting would take place, slightly too close for such casual acquaintance, yet Ruby found she didn’t mind. His conversation was mild, he chatted as they walked, his arms in hers as if they were the greatest of friends – or lovers.

Ruby was relieved to see Archie and Lloyd already inside the room. Archie was wearing a white linen shirt, unbuttoned at the neck showing his tanned skin, with slacks and slip-on whiskey-coloured Italian leather shoes. Lloyd favoured suits and was wearing his signature cut, a bespoke mid-blue Westwood. Vladimir’s eyes swept around the room, taking in every detail.

The men shook each other’s hands then it was down to business.

‘Tell me, Mr Ivanov, what exactly are you proposing?’ Ruby opened the conversation, straight to the point. They’d agreed the night before that Ruby would make the opening salvo with the Russian. They thought it might knock him off balance.

The Russian looked momentarily confused. He turned to Lloyd and said baldly, ‘I don’t usually deal with women . . .’

Archie smiled as Lloyd looked to him. ‘You do now. You deal with my wife or there’s no deal.’

There was a pause as this information was digested.

‘Perhaps it is my confusion with the English language,’ Vladimir murmured. ‘Naturally I’d be delighted to listen to your wife.’ His smile was almost convincing.

He looked over at Ruby and said, ‘My apologies. How can I have been so ungracious. It will be my pleasure to negotiate with such beauty.’

Ruby didn’t dignify that with a response. She carried on, ‘It seems to me, and forgive me if I’m wrong, Mr Ivanov, but we can help each other. I understand supply has been a bit of an issue.

‘We know there’s been a big bust. And a couple of shipments have been light.’

The Russian smiled. ‘You are very well informed, and yes you are right. There have been problems. Supply not being what it should be.’

‘We’ve had similar problems. At the moment, I believe they play us against each other. If we can strike a deal, work together, we would leave this other party with no room to manoeuver. Together we would be the single biggest player in Europe. No one would dare deal with anyone else. It looks to us like a partnership would be mutually beneficial,’ Ruby said smoothly.

Vladimir looked at her frankly, sizing her up and evidently liking what he saw. He smiled and shifted in his seat, adjusting his designer suit and leaning towards her.

‘This is true. It would be “beneficial”, as you say, if we could secure our supply chains.’

‘So, let’s talk numbers, Mr Ivanov.’ Ruby smiled.

‘Call me Vladimir, please. Let us not devolve into numbers just yet. We must get to know each other first. To help our negotiations, I have brought a small gift for you, a sample of the product here to prove to you that it is the best on the market.’

Vladimir handed Archie a small decorative box. Archie inspected it. He looked up at Ruby and nodded.

‘Your gift is appreciated, thank you. We have prepared the same for you,’ she said. At Ruby’s nod Archie handed Vladimir a beautifully carved box filled with white powder.

‘Thank you. Shall we resume this conversation in two days’ time? You will be guests on my yacht, Grace, which is moored nearby. We will get to know each other. It will be my pleasure to entertain you.’

Ruby knew that Russian business people rarely made a decision on the spot, preferring to think things through before committing. Therefore, she smiled her agreement as she got up to pour champagne into cut crystal glasses.

‘To the future,’ she said, raising her glass at Vladimir.

He echoed her gesture. ‘To the future,’ he said. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but his eyes seemed to shine as he locked his gaze with hers.

The yacht was a huge gleaming white vessel moored in the fashionable harbour town. It was the largest of the boats, with a sleek long body and the Russian flag flying on top. Ruby had been in constant contact with Vladimir and his people over the past two days, but still she wasn’t sure the deal had been done.

Ruby was the first to step aboard. There was a pool