The invitation

AUTHOR
~•~
"Why, hello! Elina." Sarah Holloway spoke up, her broadest smile plastered on her model-like face. As she spoke, she moved closer to the woman, while ignoring her husband's death stare.
Sarah noticed how Elina stared at her as though she were a ghost, someone who had just risen from the dead.
When she stood in front of the tall and curvy woman, she stretched her hand to her, requesting a friendly handshake.
But, there was nothing friendly about Sarah's intentions for the woman. She knew that Elina wanted her husband, Elina had always wanted her husband. Three years had come and gone, so if Ivan was still hers - which he had to be, considering the fact that they were both still married - he would be hers forever. Until of course, her mission was fulfilled.
Elina stared down at the hand, before taking it in hers. Sarah gripped hold of the woman's hand, sending her a deadly smile that screamed "run for your life."
But, Elina would not deter. She had only backed down for Sarah when she realized that Ivan was in love with her, now that it was obvious Ivan was far from in love, she had her chance.
And the slender woman would not be the reason she missed it.
"What are you doing here, Sarah? You are not supposed to be here." Ivan's voice filled the room.
The two women stole their hands back and turned to the man they wanted the most - each for their reasons.
Sarah chuckled lightly before cat-walking to her husband, covering whatever distance that existed between the both of them.
She flashed him a smile and held up a lunch pack to his face.
Ivan frowned at the object before his frown was directed to her.
"What is the meaning of this?" He asked.
Sarah touched his chest gently, she felt him flinch beneath her hold.
"I am just taking care of my husband, as I ought to."
"Do you need me to call security, Ivan?" Elina's voice stole their attention and Sarah turned to her.
By God, she would have driven her heels into the woman's eyes if she would not be arrested before she had a chance to do what she had returned for.
"Ivan doesn't need security, Elina." Sarah spat out. She tried to be friendly, she tried, but something about this woman pushed her beyond her limits.
"I believe he does. I mean, it's obvious he doesn't want you here."
Sarah turned away from the woman and fixed her eyes on Ivan.
"Honey, would you stand here and watch this woman insult me?" Her voice was shaky with anger. Sarah was never one to show emotions, this woman would not make things any different.
Ivan's scowl deepened as he stared down at her.
"Go home, Sarah. Take care of Tina…"
"And Tommy." She cut in.
"But, I cannot go just yet. I heard that Trofin would be around today. I would like to reintroduce myself. The last time I met him was at our wedding and I…"
She was cut short when Ivan grabbed her wrist and stormed out of the room with her. He walked down the corridor of his office, all eyes fixed on them. Most of the workers' jaws dropped.
Everyone knew about the disappearance of his wife and Ivan wished to keep it that way.
He threw her towards the wall, beside the elevator doors. Sarah held on to the wall to stop her head from banging against the brick.
"You should never show your face here again, Sarah. You should never show your face anywhere close to me."
Sarah looked at him, one short stare before she broke into a series of hysterical laughter.
"You have some nerve speaking to me, Ivan. So, this is what you do? One woman at home and another at work. Really?"
Ivan's nose twitched in anger.
"What I do is none of your business, Sarah."
"Oh, but it is. I am your wife, Ivan. And I would be damned if…"
The elevator doors hissed, before parting open.
Ivan turned and found the man, Vladimir Trofin, in the middle of two bodyguards. O'Bryan stood behind them, clutching a briefcase with shaking fingers.
Sarah saw her husband lean into her before he whispered into her right ear.
"You would stay here and you would keep your goddamn mouth shut or I would kill you. And I, I am not playing, Sarah. I would kill you."
Sarah was never one to be easily shaken, but something about her husband's voice told her he was not bluffing this time. She stayed still, glued to the wall, while Ivan matched towards the man.
~•~
IVAN
~•~
"Good morning, mister Trofin!" I called out, masking my anger behind a charming smile as I stood in front of the man.
Vladimir Trofin was a tall man, fairly six feet and one inch, some inches below me.
The light above him reflected on his bald head and his yellow set of teeth was on full display as he smiled at me.
He took my hand in his and pulled me in for a big hug. I fought hard to stop myself from flinching when he tapped me on my back continuously.
"Ivan my boy! Been so long since I saw you! How are you?!" His thick Russian accent almost covered whatever remained of his English as he spoke.
I led him away from Sarah, towards my boardroom. Elina was standing in front of the glass door of the boardroom when we got there. I saw Trofin wink at her, to which she flashed him a bright smile.
"Please, have a seat, sir." I tried to usher him to a seat, but he seemed more interested in standing and speaking to me.
"Oh! Do not worry, my boy. I have a flight to catch to Napa in the next ten minutes. I only came to give you these." He gestured to the man behind him.
I watched in silence as I was handed two golden cards.
"I would be eighty years on this planet on Sunday and I would be hosting a big party in Napa. I know that it is only two days from now, but your presence would mean a lot to me. Bring along a beautiful woman, I would love to see beautiful women around me that day." He spoke.
I took the card with a grateful smile.
"Of course, sir. I would not miss it for the world."
He laughed heartily, placing his hand on his round stomach.
"Of course, I know you wouldn't."
With that, he turned away from me. He stood in front of Elina and she leaned in to hug him. The man engulfed her in his embrace and she placed a small kiss on his fairly wrinkled cheeks.
I saw him stiffen in delight. Elina pulled out of the embrace, her forced smile still plastered on her face.
We both watched him walk out of the boardroom and head toward the elevator.
Elina walked to me after he had disappeared.
"A party in Napa, huh?"
I took a careful look at the platinum card in my hands. Exclusive and sealed, it was obvious it would be a grand event.
Vladimir Trofin was a rich European, whose wealth and chain of companies spread out all over the world. He was a multi-billionaire in every sense of the word.
"So it seems."
"Don't you think I should be your plus one?"
I looked down at her, shook my head, and tapped her right shoulder.
"No, Elina. I do not think that is a good idea."
"But, Ivan…"
I was out of the room before she could complete her statement. And Elina knew better than to follow me.