The Verdict. (Chapt.1)

(Alessia’s POV)

The scent of polished wood and old books filled the courtroom yet beneath this aroma lay something denser which suffocated the air.

A suffocating silence filled the air, encircling my throat like a tightening noose that squeezed tighter with every second.

My fists clenched at the plaintiff's table where my nails dug painfully into my palms. My entire body was rigid like a tightly wound coil ready to snap. This was it. Three years of relentless pursuit and sleepless nights spent combing through evidence while reliving my sister’s death over and over again.

The judge who was an elderly man with deeply etched experience lines on his face adjusted his glasses and looked down at the papers before him. Time stretched into an agonizing crawl where every second struck my chest with the force of a warning bell.

He spoke then.

“After reviewing all the evidence submitted,the court finds insufficient proof to support the allegations against the defendant,Mr.Nikolai Volkov. Therefore, the charges are dismissed. Case closed.”

The gavel struck the wood with a piercing crack that sent echoes through the courtroom and fractured the air between us.

No.

The word screamed through my head but my lips refused to move. A frigid numbness seized my body while my soul seemed torn away to decay upon the courtroom floor.

A murmur spread through the room—whispers the shuffle of movement the rustle of papers being gathered. The relentless roar of injustice battered my mind with a deafening drumbeat that pounded against my skull.

My movements became deliberate as I turned while my eyes fixed upon him.

Nikolai Volkov.

He sat there with his usual calm demeanor while wearing a navy-blue suit that clung to him like an extra layer of skin. His posture remained relaxed as though he had never feared this verdict and had known all along that he would walk away untouched. The bastard didn’t even look surprised.

He smiled.

His lips stretched into a deliberate arc that mocked and taunted me while seeming to perceive the rage winding within my core. He appeared to take pleasure in the experience.

My nails penetrated further into my palms.

I propelled myself from the chair with abrupt motions while my heels struck the marble surface creating sharp clicks as I advanced toward him in a stormy manner. As his handshake with the lawyer concluded I stepped into his path to obstruct his movement.

“You think this is over?” My voice emerged as a venomous whisper intertwined with sharp edges and barely controlled fury.

Nikolai elevated a shadowy brow while his emerald-green eyes descended to lock with mine. His height advantage measured at least six inches over me yet I stood my ground refusing to feel intimidated.

He mused while tucking his hands into his pockets I don’t think. “I know. ”

I experienced an overwhelming desire to physically remove his maddeningly smug expression through a slap. My body shook in anger while blood boiled beneath my skin.

"You killed her," I spat. “You ended my sister's life and now you believe you can simply leave without consequence? ”

The look on his face remained the same. His smirk deepened. “Alessia your vision remains obscured by sorrow. And obsession. ”

My body became rigid while my heart rate surged into a relentless pounding. “This isn’t obsession. It is justice. ”

His head tilted ever so slightly while he pondered my words before leaning in to let his breath faintly brush my cheek. My senses became overwhelmed by the sharp intoxicating scent of expensive cologne.

“Justice? ” he murmured. “Or revenge? ”

I swallowed hard forcing myself not to react. I struggled to conceal from him how his nearness disturbed me in ways I detested acknowledging.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Volkov," I hissed stepping back. “Yet be aware of this—I have not reached my conclusion. You shall experience my vengeance through financial retribution. ”

His smirk remained but his eyes darkened something unreadable flickering behind them. “A word of advice?”. “Stop whatever you are doing or you will be at the receiving end.”

Before I managed to respond he turned away and walked past me leaving behind an intangible presence that lingered as an unshakable trail.

My phone buzzed which jolted me from my reverie. I pulled it from my bag without hesitation and answered without checking the caller ID.

“What? ”

“Alessia.” The voice of  Daniel,  my CFO whose urgent tone caused a spine-chilling reaction. “We have an issue.”

My fingers pinched the bridge of my nod e. What type of issue? ”

“A financial one. The rate of sales decline is  rapid. The governing body experiences uncontrolled distress. A strategic plan becomes essential at this very moment. ”

Of course.

"I'll be there soon"  I muttered before disconnecting the call.

I took a deep breath to find balance yet the universe appeared determined to destroy me today.

My phone rang again just as I was about to leave.

Upon seeing the name displayed on the screen my stomach performed an unnatural twist.

Arturo De Luca.

My father.

My jaw tightened as I weighed the option of ignoring it yet I understood his persistence would not cease until I responded.

I prepared myself mentally before swiping the screen to answer the call. “What is it that you want? ”

His voice emerged smooth yet layered with a deceptive warmth which caused my skin to crawl.

A short silence ensued before he eventually uttered the words “We need to meet. ”

I scoffed. Not interested. ”

“It’s important Alessia.” His vocal expression became inflexibly rigid. “About the company. About your mother. ”

The fibers of my heart twisted into a tight knot.

My breath escaped in drawn-out increments. Where? ”

“The house. An hou”

Before I had the chance to present my argument the call terminated abruptly.

My eyes fixated on the phone screen while my thoughts whirled into chaos. First  the judicial proceedings. Then the company. Now my father?

The day evolved into a total catastrophe beyond all expectations.

If Arturo De Luca believed he could use his manipulative tactics to draw me into his schemes, I’ll be more than happy to burst his bubble.