Behind the Boardroom Door

By Vittoria Orlova

Kristina Belinsky is a young, ambitious woman in corporate America. When she is unexpectedly laid off from her job, she faces many of the hard truths that women face in business. Incensed by it all, she takes matters into her hands only to discover when you play with fire you get burnt.

Sick and tired of always falling for bad boys, she resists her attraction to a wealthy and powerful CEO. But when disaster strikes, Kristina finds she is unable to resist him any longer. The couple embarks on a passionate, adventurous, and lascivious relationship -- a life filled with all the trappings of success.

With dogged determination for independence, Kristina rises through the ranks of management. Her aspirations come to a sudden halt when a corporate restructure leaves her reporting to a new manager – a woman who will do anything to sabotage Kristina’s career.

Much to her dismay, she also discovers that CEOs aren’t always what they appear to be, that lovers don’t always tell the truth, and that money and power can corrupt the people you trust the most.

Ultimately, with Kristina’s determination she can finally lift her golden scepter to smash the glass ceiling that has held so many corporate women back.

Passionate, emotional, and spellbinding, Behind the Boardroom Door is a tale that will shock you, make your blood boil, and maybe even leave you examining your desires for love, lust, and power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vittoria Orlova
• Release date: Mar 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994220332

Vittoria Orlova

After spending 25 years working for global corporations, Vittoria Orlova had an idea. She was compelled to write about the journey that many women experience over their careers - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Vittoria is not scared about taking risks and pushing boundaries – indeed that’s where her stories really come to life.Follow Kristina Belinsky as she faces all the hard truths of women in business in the passionate, emotional and spellbinding Boardroom Trilogy. The series will make you laugh, make you blood boil and maybe even leave you examining your own desires for love, lust, and power.Orlova is currently at work on her sequel - Boardroom Battlefields.

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Behind the Boardroom Door

Vittoria Orlova

Published by Vittoria Orlova at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Vittoria Orlova and TLF Pty. Ltd

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writers imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Three

Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Six

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Seventy

About the Author

Chapter One

Somebody once told Kristina Belinsky that people's lives are changed behind boardroom doors. Convinced that her boss was finally going to recognize her blood, sweat, and tears, she waited anxiously for his arrival.

Peering out the floor-to-ceiling window of the boardroom, she inhaled a bracing breath. Her heart was beating quickly, adrenaline pumping through her veins. From the forty-second floor, she could see down the corridor of Market Street in the busy financial district of San Francisco. She was always invigorated by the hum of the city. It was this pace that made her feel alive.

The reflection in the window showed an immaculately dressed woman in a black pinstriped suit. A woman who was always in control, undaunted, and single-minded. A woman who thrived under pressure, sought out new opportunities, and was never afraid to put her hand up to learn something new, even it meant taking a risk.

Kristina had paid her dues, and she knew she deserved a promotion. After all, she had an excellent working relationship with her boss at the prestigious law firm Quantus & Co. and with her expertise, they had seen an exponential growth in revenue due to a rapid expansion in their global footprint. In the three years since she'd been hired as the digital marketing director, she had practically single-handedly implemented a new national marketing strategy. She had a colleague who liked to claim the success as his own, but Kristina knew the truth.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the thought of what was to come. Kristina ran her hands over the few wrinkles that had pressed into her wool pencil skirt. She adjusted her white pearl necklace so as not to obscure the beauty mark on her décolletage. The sharpness of her blonde bangs contrasted with her soft French twist, yet somehow worked in harmony.

She was pleased with what she saw. At twenty-eight, her natural beauty was complemented by her obsession with healthy living. Her mantra for life--you only get out what you put in--was evident in her gut-busting personal training sessions, which she attended three mornings a week at 5:00 a.m. But her commitment to overachieve in everything showed mostly in her work ethic.

Kristina had witnessed the tremendous sacrifices her family and friends had made to build their careers, so she knew the effort required to claw her way up the corporate ladder. Some of her female colleagues had warned her about the invisible forces that stop women from rising to the top in corporations, but she just dismissed these as fiction. It would be different for her. With dedication, loyalty, and commitment, she would be fast-tracked to the top ranks of corporate America.

In her first year at the firm, she had often found herself alone in the quiet offices well after dark. One night she heard the faint sound of fireworks. She looked out the window to see colorful sparkles light up the sky. Only then was she reminded that it was New Year's Eve. She did not wince or whine. She knew where she needed to be to fulfill her resolution.

"I will be the VP of Marketing," she muttered under her breath as she slapped the desk.

The boardroom clock chimed five and pulled Kristina from her thoughts. Her boss would arrive soon. After all, his nickname was Punctual Paul.

Kristina considered which chair would be most suitable for such an important meeting. She wanted to sit next to Paul so she could plant a big kiss on his cheek when she heard the good news. She chose one near the door and turned the one next to her so he would gravitate toward it.

Paul Nash, a senior partner at the firm, was her strongest advocate, particularly when she needed support to get her ideas across the line with the board of directors. Kristina remembered a conversation she had with Paul soon after she started working at Quantus & Co. He'd told her that after the first interview he had recognized that she had the X factor. When she had asked Paul what characteristics made up the X factor, he had said, I just know it when I see it. He told her he'd been ready to hire her as soon as he shook her hand, but the HR manager had convinced him that he needed to follow the corporate recruitment process.

At the time, Kristina had been recovering from ending another destructive relationship. Her ex-boyfriend had systematically ripped apart her self-esteem and confidence with a year of emotional abuse and roller-coaster highs and lows. Paul had thrown her a much needed life vest.

And where was Paul? It was already ten minutes past five.

Looking around, Kristina smiled, almost giddy with delight to be in the room. Crafted exquisitely, the commanding boardroom table stood as strong as an ox in the center of the room.

With her fingers running over the high lacquer finish of the boardroom table, she noticed a small crack. Glancing down the length of the table, she realized that it was the imperfections that gave it character.

Kristina clicked her tongue. Why are we all expected to be so perfect all the time?

She was startled when she heard the click of the doorknob. And, as if a gust of wind had propelled it, the boardroom door swung open. Her moment had arrived.

Chapter Two

The hairs on the back of Kristina's neck stood up as Paul walked into the boardroom. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.

Nodding his head slightly, he smiled and asked, How has your day been? approaching the chair she had turned for him.

Very good. I'm so busy right now that the days fly by, she said.

Kristina looked at Paul, neck prickling, as she waited for him to speak. He was not classically handsome, but he had his own sense of style. Dressed in his dark Giorgio Armani suit, with his dark hair now speckled with grey, he seemed untouchable.

Paul sat down and faced Kristina. I'm sorry I haven't replied to all your e-mails. I've been in back-to-back meetings but thanks for meeting with me today.

She was a little miffed that she hadn't got much of Paul's time over the past few weeks, but he did sound genuinely sorry.

He pulled out the green manila folder that Kristina had left on his desk a few days earlier.

I had a chance to review your plans for the firm to embrace Twitter as a marketing tool, Paul said as he cleared his throat. What great potential.

Kristina relaxed. She had tried often to push the conservative firm into the twenty-first century. They had pushed back. She was delighted that Paul bought into her plan. She had so many more ideas, all of which she would explore when she got her new job as VP of Marketing.

Come on, Paul. Enough with the small talk. Just tell me about my promotion.

Paul cocked his head to the side as he drew a deep breath. As you know, we've both had to work hard to get our colleagues and the board to embrace the enormous changes that are going on in digital marketing.

Well, that's for sure, Kristina said, smirking at Paul.

Paul shifted his weight in the chair. I attribute much of the firm's increase in profitability to your focus on social media. I know that others in the firm really don't understand the benefits that social media offers. We owe you thanks for your tenacity and your strength to overcome obstacles. We have certainly come a long way, and your job was not for the faint of heart.

Kristina wondered why Paul was going on with so much small talk. She watched him shuffle papers and tried to catch his eye.

Why is he avoiding eye contact?

Paul froze and his breathing became shallow. In fact, the organization's success is exactly what I want to speak with you about today, he said without looking at her.

Kristina sat forward on the edge of the chair. She bit her upper lip.

Paul tipped his chin down and looked straight at Kristina. As you know, my meeting schedule has been really heavy. There have been some big things going on which I couldn't share for confidentiality reasons until now.

Kristina's ears pricked up.

The partners will announce soon that the firm will merge with Sterling Piper Lawyers, he added in his usual tempered tone.

Wow, Kristina sat back in her chair with a shocked sigh. The global law firm? This is huge news. I never suspected something like this would happen. Kristina smiled from ear to ear. When will the merger be finalized?

The goal is by the end of next quarter.

Excitement, joy, and terror collided in Kristina's mind. She squirmed in her chair.

Holy crap! Why do they always leave it to the last moment to announce huge organizational changes?

Kristina pictured her multicolored online calendar. It was jam-packed with meetings. Her mind raced systematically, thinking about all her current projects. She had already started to categorize their priority.

Paul was looking down. His shoulders had slumped, and his smile lines looked cavernous.

Kristina, there's another important thing we need to discuss.

What's that? She did not like his tone.

Paul tidied the folders and papers. So . . . with this merger, the marketing department will be consolidated. Sterling Piper has a large marketing department. The senior management team has decided that Michael Hart, your colleague in Asia, will become Senior VP of Marketing for the firm.

He cleared his throat again. As a result, your position has become redundant.

Kristina kept her body facing Paul, trying her best to ignore the tight feeling in her chest.

Is this a joke? There must be a video camera in here. They must be developing some kind of comedy video to show at the staff Christmas party.

Paul didn't look like he was joking. I'm so sorry. Your layoff was not my decision. This was the last thing I wanted to do.

Kristina's head grew light, her body shook. She tried to take long, slow breaths. She was scared to open her mouth for fear of what she might say.

She looked Paul straight in the eye. You aren't joking, are you?

Chapter Three

But, Paul, I don't understand. Kristina tried to stop her tears from welling up. I have been a stellar employee. I've taken hardly any sick leave. I've always received my performance bonus. And . . . and there's so much to do.

Paul stood up and walked over to the boardroom windows.

Look he said, this has nothing to do with your performance. It's not personal.

Kristina's body became as rigid as a plank. Her lungs turned to stone. She clenched her fists tight.

How dare he? This is so fucking personal.

She quickly stood up and placed her hands flat on the table.

Paul. Do you really think that jerk Michael Hart can do what I do? You know my specialization in digital marketing. I don't think he even knows how to log on to Facebook.

Kristina had worked with Michael when she first joined Quantus & Co. and immediately saw through his bravado. Thankfully, he was sent to the Asia Pacific office in Singapore and she blissfully worked without his input. Sure, she had to see him at the annual corporate conference, but she always managed to paint a friendly smile on her face. She nodded in agreement at the basic plans he shared, believing himself God's gift to the corporate world.

Jumping to her feet, Kristina huffed. Oh, I know what it is. I know why Michael got the job. It's not because of his performance or his knowledge, is it? It's because he's a man. Come on, Paul. Afraid to admit it?

Stop it, Kristina. I know this is a huge shock. But, please, settle down. It really was not my decision, Paul said in a full scowl.

Settle down? What the fuck!

She fixed her eyes on Paul. She had respected and trusted him.

Who do you think I am? she scoffed. Do you expect me to believe you had no part in this decision? I know those faceless men you speak of find comfort in hiding, but I expected more from you.

Kristina was surprised at her boldness. Her father had always taught her to keep cool and professional under pressure, but she could feel the fury building up inside like a volcano about to explode.

The ground opened beneath her feet. She saw her future swirling down the dark chasm that lay beneath her. She took a few deep breaths and sat down. With a deadpan look of perfectionist restraint, Paul walked back to his seat and lifted the folder off the table.

So . . . We need to discuss the details of your severance pay.

His words vibrated against her ears. She blinked several times, trying to conceal her hatred for being put in this situation.

Severance pay? Being laid off? This can't be happening.

Paul pulled a piece of paper from the folder on the table. He handed her a spreadsheet that HR had evidently prepared. There it was. A breakdown of her severance package. A piddly few weeks of pay.

She was numb. Paul's mouth moved like a ventriloquist's dummy. The words your security pass jarred Kristina into the present.

What?

I need you to hand over your security pass.

She threw Paul an indignant look. Oh, Jesus Christ! I'm suddenly a global security risk?

Look, I don't make the rules. This is not easy for me, either.

Holy shit, Paul. With a quick tug of her lanyard, it flew off her skirt and onto the table. There you go. Happy now?

Kristina quickly realized she needed to change her tactic. She was backing herself into a corner with nowhere to go.

So, do you think it would be possible for me to meet with some of the board members to share some of the plans that are in motion? she pleaded. Perhaps they don't understand how critical my strategy is to the organization's continued growth?

Sorry. The decision has been made.

Kristina had nowhere else to go. Grinning in the face of her displeasure, she got to her feet. She dug her long fingernails in the palms of her hands, trying to hold onto any dignity she had left.

No. Don't give this dickhead the satisfaction of seeing you cry.

With waves of sickness overwhelming her, she replayed the words her Russian father had repeated so often.

Don't ever burn your bridges. You never know when you will meet these people again.

Chapter Four

Without notice, the heavy oak boardroom door swung open.

Like a perfectly timed scene from a Broadway play, Lisa Ryan, the HR Manager, walked into the room. She approached the table clutching a black leather portfolio. Her coarse red hair was brushed back from her temples, an expression of sullen distaste on her small, sharply defined face. She looked down at Kristina over the gold-rimmed glasses that rested on her nose. Her brown suit was not flattering on her short, wiry frame, and her black loafers made her look older than her years.

Kristina had never managed to build much rapport with Lisa. She got the sense that Lisa was in some way competitive and even jealous of the way she could build relationships with her colleagues and the senior management team.

She had seen this type of bitterness at other times. It never made sense why women spent so much time and energy gossiping about and betraying other female colleagues. If they would stop, it would give them more time to focus on building stronger relationships with their key stakeholders, which would help their careers. But instead, women were always trying to steer their careers between two painful routes: either struggling to defend themselves from the envy of their female colleagues or desperately grabbing for advantages that other women seemed to have. Knowing that she would be ostracized if she suggested to her friends that they stop circulating rumors about other women, she kept quiet.

Kristina observed that men never acted in this way. They stuck together through thick and thin, lining their pockets all the way to the bank.

That old boys' club has its advantages.

She knew that to others it looked like she had it all--beauty, intellect, and elegance--but Kristina never took advantage of these God-given qualities at work. She always dressed professionally, worked harder than many of her colleagues, and tried not to get in the way of others' ambitions.

Kristina stood up slowly, taking one step back from the boardroom table. At five foot nine, she towered over Lisa. All she could see was Lisa's pathetic expression, which she presumed was painted on to demonstrate how empathetic she was of her situation. Kristina huffed.

Fuck off. You would have pushed the final knife into my back, you bitch. Take that pitiful look off your face.

Holding that sorrowful expression, Lisa said, I am so sorry. These things are never easy for anybody. Have you got any questions about your severance package?

Kristina felt like running out of the room but, like the consummate professional, she retained her composure and said softly, No, I don't have any questions about the pay. I only have questions about this overall decision.

She squirmed as she realized that she would have to pack her things up from her desk.

Bitterly, she swallowed the tears back and refused to feel the anger that lay deep in her belly. Digging deep, she drew on her stoic Russian heritage. Hiding her fury behind her angelic face, she stood tall.

Nobody will see any chinks in my armour.

And, like a true corporate soldier, she walked out of the boardroom. As she stepped outside the door, Frank, the Head of Security, startled her.

Kristina turned and said, Lisa, it's okay. I can get my things from my desk myself.

I'm sorry. Frank and I will need to escort you.

Kristina stopped dead in her tracks. She swung around and looked directly into Lisa's eyes. You can't be serious. Even Frank? Do you need him to stop me from running off with all our client files?

Lisa frowned. Her cold face looked even more hostile than before. Kristina could tell by her expression that this was not open for discussion.

Oh, don't worry. I know. This is all just part of corporate policy, isn't it? Paul already told me this whole fucking thing is not personal.

Paul coughed. When Kristina looked back at him, she was reminded of a schoolboy who had been sent to stand in the naughty corner. She wondered how she ever respected this man.

Paul walked toward Kristina, never making direct eye contact with her. Reaching out, he gave her a final handshake. No words were exchanged.

Breaking his grip, she said, Well. I guess this is it. Thanks for all the good times. I hope Michael Hart meets all your expectations.

She took a deep breath and pulled her blazer in at the waist as she walked away from Paul. Lisa and Frank escorted her through the long corridors of the law firm with a fake smile plastered on her face.

Finally reaching her desk, she stood still for a moment.

How can I ever quantify how much this place has sucked out of me?

Frank put an empty cardboard box on her desk and asked Kristina to sort through her desk drawers. As she packed her personal belongings away, she thought about what she would tell her family and friends. Then the painful reality hit with excruciating force.

How will I make next month's mortgage payment? What about my credit card payments?

Bombarded by a wave of emotion, a sick feeling roiled in her stomach. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, chills crawling across every inch of her skin. She fought back the tears, stood up straight, and proceeded to pack up her things.

With Kristina's professional existence emptied into a small cardboard box, she took one last look at the place that had consumed her life, her very existence.

Lisa and Frank followed quickly behind the long walk toward the elevators. Hitting the elevator call button, she tapped her foot, impatient to get away. Every second seemed like an hour.

They stood in an uncomfortable silence until Lisa said, Good luck with your next career move. I know it won't take you long to find the next role.

Stupid fucking bitch. I bet she says that to everybody.

The elevator chimed. The doors opened and, balancing the box in her hand, Kristina stepped forward with purpose. Nothing was going to get in her way. She was getting out of there as fast as she could. Turning, she thumped the button that closed the door several times with her fist.

I'm going to show you all what I'm made of. Who the fuck do you think you are? Just you wait, she whispered as the elevator made its descent.

She leaned back against the mirror and lifted her face to the heavens, closing her eyes, but this did little to stop her tears from squeezing through her eyes. When she lifted her head, they fell into the cardboard box in her hands. Wiping her tears from her cheeks with one hand, she looked down at all the brightly colored sticky notes that she had removed from her workspace wall. Her sister, Annalisa, had written messages of inspiration on them with colored markers. Being a psychologist, she knew the toll that corporate life took on people's lives, and she'd hoped that Kristina would find some comfort in these on her bad days at work. These messages of inspiration and love were now running into a sea of color due to the tears that fell upon them.

The elevator hit the ground floor with a screech. The doors whooshed open and as she walked out, she realized that this would be the last time she would take this familiar route to work. Stepping out of the glass exit door, she exhaled. Three years of her life, which was mainly filled with long hours, pressure, and personal sacrifice, disappeared as quickly as her breath that fogged the cool night air.

And like a true Russian, Kristina stood upright and walked forward, knowing that she would eventually forgive. But she would never forget.

Chapter Five

The next morning, Kristina woke to the distant sound of a boiling kettle.

Gingerly, she rolled onto her back and buried her head in her arms. Opening one eye, she stared at the photo in the pearl-encrusted picture frame on her bedside table. Only twenty-four hours ago she was a woman who had it all. She had a job that was the envy of her friends with a salary that she was sure would never be matched and she'd been on the fast track to a promotion.

The photo had been snapped only a few weeks earlier. Kristina was smiling and laughing with her sister, Annalisa, at a recent visit to their favorite restaurant.

Well, what a mirage that was, she scoffed loudly.

She wondered how the happy smiling woman in the photo could disappear as quickly as a snap of the fingers. No longer was she a woman who brimmed with confidence, positivity, and joy. Now she lay in her bed with bloodshot eyes, which were so sore and swollen that she could hardly see out of them. Feeling like she had just stepped out of the ring from a round with Muhammad Ali, she lay still, trying to make sense of what had happened. Looking down at her hands, which rested on her chest, she noticed her fingernails. Once manicured and polished, they were now chipped and ragged from constant picking during her meeting with Paul. Her long blonde hair was twisted in a hair band and piled up on top of her head in a large knot.

She could vaguely hear the sound of Good Morning America emanating from the living room. Rubbing her eyes, she wished that the world would just go away. But that was only a pipe dream. She knew all too well that news travels quickly in a Russian family. No secret was ever left untold, and she was sure that her bad news would spread like wildfire. That would usually be very annoying, but this time she was relieved that her mother had told Annalisa her bad news. She had been so happy to hear the familiar knock on her door the night earlier and to see Annalisa standing there with a good bottle of red wine, a bucket of Ben and Jerry's salted caramel ice cream, and a huge box of Godiva chocolates.

Oh, thank goodness for Annalisa, Kristina sighed, lying under the covers.

She could only imagine how her boyfriend, Jack, would have handled the situation. Thank goodness he was away at a conference for a week.

He was quite likely to have slapped her on the back saying, Come on. Everything will be okay. Look, I have a couple of tickets to the baseball game tonight. After the game, we can grab a pizza, and before you know it, things will start to look brighter.

Abruptly, she pulled the pillow over her head. She tried to ignore the room and everything else in her life, including Jack. Everything she saw reminded her of the happy life she'd once had, the life that had been so cruelly taken away from her.

Shutting her eyes, she hoped to drift back to the beautiful oblivion of sleep. As much as she tried, she kept replaying events from the day before, her thoughts repeating like a broken record.

Maybe I should have forced my way in to see a board member?

I shouldn't have accepted such a small payout.

If I had worked longer hours, I know I would have gotten the job.

Indulging the demons in her mind was dangerous and unproductive, but somehow they seemed to distract her from the facts. She had lost her job. Her trusted friend and colleague had treated her with all the warmth of a block of ice. She'd been humiliated by being escorted through the office. The life she knew so well was dead.

How could