Basil Belleの小説

LeniI hate Dusan.I watched him, his smile had a mask of easy charm as he mingled with the other men in the room, their laughter a sharp contrast to the coldness that had settled in my heart. I was trapped in the mindset of a group of vile women, they all gave me snarky looks, they pointed at me too while laughing. I tried to mingle with the few women who didn't say anything or even notice me.“Hi, I am Leni.” I introduced myself as sweetly as I could."Who are you?" a lady asked, her voice laced with a condescending sweetness. Her eyes, narrowed and held a gleam of nasty amusement."Oh, I'm with Dusan Nikolac." My voice was steady, but inside, the anger in I was brewing.What was it with these people? They saw us walk in together, I wasn't the only woman here so why was I the center of attraction?"That wasn't my question, who are you to him?" The emphasis on "to" was a deliberate scorn, a challenge to my place in Dusan's life.I met her gaze, her smile was a fake mockery of warmth.

Leni’s Pov As I walked into the building, a smile crept onto my face. Dusan had taken care of everything on my list, including securing me a job here in St. Petersburg at one of the city's most prestigious law firms. “Welcome, Mrs. Nikolic,” the beautiful receptionist at the front desk greeted me. I turned, slightly surprised. Nikolic? Right, that's his surname. It would take some getting used to. “Oh, please call me Leni,” I said, offering her a warm smile. I'm far too young to be addressed as 'Mrs.' Her expression seemed to tighten slightly. “Your husband made it clear that we are not to call you by your first name, I'm sorry.” A strange sensation fluttered in my stomach at the word 'husband'. Dusan certainly knew how to make me feel like I belonged here. “Well, he's not here now, so please, Leni will do,” I insisted, maintaining my smile. “Okay, Mrs. Leni.” I could work with that. The poor girl looked terrified at the idea of using my first name. “And what's your

LeniThe morning light, sharp and insistent, pierced the thin blinds, a rude awakening. I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow, but the persistent rumbling in my stomach wouldn't be ignored.Damn it.I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, to avoid facing Dusan, especially after the unsettling events of the previous night. My face flushed at the memory of his words, his request for patience, and the inexplicable desire he ignited within me.Remember, Leni, I reminded myself, this marriage is fake. Can I even call it that? Dusan Nikolic is a dangerous man, and you shouldn't be feeling this way. Yet, there was an incredible pull in the danger surrounding him, an emotion that fueled my decision to pursue law as my profession.My stomach growled again, an annoying memo of how hungry I was, and I reluctantly left my bed. The house in St. Petersburg was immense, outdoing my parents' home in Florence. I wandered through a several passges, searching for the kitchen as my stomach cont

Leni"We need to marry. Now." Dusan's words weren't a request, they were a command, delivered with a chilling urgency that made my blood run cold. I stared at him, confused at his words. I understand that it was part of the plan, I just didn't expect it to happen so suddenly. "Marry?" I repeated, the word left a bitter taste in my mouth."Why so sudden?""Your life is in danger," he stated, his gaze unwavering. He moved towards me, calmly in the empty room, his presence both comforting and exciting. "They know about you now. About your real connection to your father.""And marriage changes that?" I asked, my voice laced with mistrust."It makes it clear you're under my protection," he explained, his tone firm. "It's a shield, Leni. I am the only one you have right now."I looked away, weighing the reality of my situation. I was trapped, caught between two worlds, neither of which felt safe."This is insane," I muttered, shaking my head. "I can't just… marry you."He stepped closer,

LeniI stared at my phone, dreading the call. Papa’s reaction was exactly what I expected: furious, then confused. He had no idea how they’d gotten to me, which was less than reassuring.Hanging up, I felt a wave of disorientation. My life had turned upside down in a matter of hours. Trading office boredom for this chaos was… not an upgrade.It was insane how much my life had changed in less than twenty-four hours. Last week, my biggest worry was getting along with my coworkers at work.“What are you thinking about, zheltofiol?” Dusan’s voice broke through my thoughts as he placed a bowl of soup in front of me. His eyes searched mine, amd I could see a bit of worry in it.“What happened to the men who tried to attack me?” I asked, avoiding his gaze as I took a cautious sip of the soup.“Are you sure you want to know, zheltofiol?” His voice was low, almost teasing. “I wouldn’t want you to lose your appetite.”“Why do you care so much? Why do you keep trying to get involved with me?”Hi

Leni. My head throbbed like someone was pounding it with a hammer. I didn’t even bother opening my eyes—every part of my body ached, as if I’d been crushed under a freight train. The pain was sharp, unforgiving, making it hard to breathe.Bits and pieces of the last hour flooded back in disjointed flashes. I was driving home... Then the realization hit me—I was being followed.Wait. Home?My eyes flew open, and panic surged through me. This wasn’t home. The unfamiliar room was dimly lit, the air smelled sterile, and everything around me was unsettlingly quiet. My heart pounded. Where the hell am I?I glanced down, realizing my wrists weren’t tied. Relief washed over me for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by fear. I had to leave. Now.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my body screaming in protest. The floor felt cold beneath my bare feet as I tried to stand. My vision blurred, and the next thing I knew, the room tilted violently.Strong arms caught me just before