Page 26 of Arranged Marriage to the Brutal Bratva King
This is deliberate. He’s making a point.
I force myself to breathe normally, to keep my expression neutral, to treat this like any other client meeting.
Marcus launches into his presentation. Company history, client portfolio, case studies demonstrating our strategic approach to brand management and public perception. It’s polished, professional, exactly the kind of pitch that’s landed us major accounts before.
Dimitri doesn’t look at the slides. Doesn’t look at Marcus. He doesn’t even acknowledge anyone else in the room.
He watches me.
I feel it everywhere—the weight of his attention, the deliberate focus, the message underneath.I see you. I know you’re here. This isn’t over.
My pulse hammers against my ribs, but I keep my face blank. Take notes on my tablet that I won’t remember later. Nod when Marcus glances my way for confirmation on some strategic point.
I refuse to give Dimitri the reaction he’s clearly waiting for.
“Ms. Woods.” His voice stops me mid-sentence, and everyone turns to look at me. “You’ve been quiet. What’s your assessment of our brand position?”
The question is professional. The tone is anything but.
I meet his gaze directly. “Your brand position is strong in terms of market share and project completion rates. The challenge is perception management around community impact and displacement concerns. Recent media coverage has created associations that may not align with your strategic goals.”
Something flickers in his expression. Amusement, maybe. Or appreciation for the careful way I’ve just referenced the exposé without naming it.
“How would you address that?” he asks.
“Proactive community engagement. Transparent development processes. Strategic partnerships with local organizations to demonstrate investment in existing communities, not just replacement of them.” I keep my voice level, professional. “Essentially, change the narrative from displacement to enhancement.”
“Change the narrative,” he repeats slowly. “Interesting choice of words.”
“It’s what we do. We help clients tell their story in ways that resonate with target audiences.”
“Even when the story isn’t true?”
The room goes very quiet.
Marcus clears his throat. “Mr. Rudenko, I assure you our firm operates with complete integrity. We would never suggest misrepresenting you.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Dimitri’s gaze hasn’t left mine. “I’m asking Ms. Woods if she’s comfortable selling narratives that don’t match reality.”
I could back down. Should back down. This is my boss’s client, my job, my career on the line.
“Every brand has a gap between perception and reality,” I say instead. “Our job is to close that gap either by changing the perception or changing the reality. Preferably both.”
His mouth curves slightly. Not quite a smile. “Which would you recommend for us?”
“That depends on whether you’re willing to change the reality.”
Diana makes a sound that might be a suppressed laugh. Marcus looks like he’s having a heart attack. The Rudenko associates are stone-faced, giving nothing away.
Dimitri leans back in his chair, still watching me with that unnerving focus. “Noted.”
The meeting continues for another thirty minutes. Marcus recovers from my insubordination enough to present budget proposals and timeline estimates. One of Dimitri’s associates asks technical questions about deliverables and metrics. The conversation becomes almost normal.
Dimitri doesn’t stop watching me. Not when others are talking, not when attention shifts elsewhere, not even when his phone buzzes twice and he ignores it completely.
It feels deliberate.
Finally, Marcus winds down the presentation. “We’re confident we can provide the strategic support you need. Do you have any final questions?”
