The announcement

Chapter 1

Ariel

The sound of the annoying alarm on my bedside jolted me up from my sleep and I hissed loudly, letting out a string of cusses while I found my way out of the bed groggily.

My eyes darted to the huge clock on the wall and a gasp elicited my lips. I had a baking class to attend and the only thing I could do was sleep like a log of wood?

Father would so have my head if he realized that I was lazing around by this time of the morning when I was supposed to be up and about. So I rushed to the bathroom to do some cleaning and then I joined my mother in the kitchen.

"Good morning, mama," I kissed her cheeks, throwing my arms around her.

She squinted her eyes with a questioning look, stirring a cup of steaming coffee she just made with the coffee maker.

"You seem excited this morning, can you share the reason for your excitement?" She smiled and put the coffee on a saucer and handed it over to me.

With a big grin on my face, I said, "No, mama. Or maybe I'll tell you when I'm back from my baking class," I giggled.

Her smile turned into a wry one and I rolled my eyes, moving away from her. She had always been against my intentions to bake for reasons unknown to me but thankfully, I had the support of my father.

"Look, honey..." Her eyes blared with wariness as if she had some truth to reveal.

Well, I didn't want to hear any of it. I was already running late.

"See you later, mama. Bye."

I blew a kiss at her and headed for my father's study where I'd formed a habit of going to every morning, serving him a cup of strong black coffee while enjoying a few hours of chitchat with him.

It was during one of those days that I relayed my intentions to learn to bake professionally and in his usual loving manner, he supported me.

Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to speak at length this morning, I sighed. I reached for the doorknob, turning it downwards and the door creaked open.

I barreled into his office—no, into a solid rock that smelled more like a human and the hot coffee splashed on him. The glass cup slipped from my hands and shattered on the ground, the shards flying about in different directions.

My heart raced and I palmed my lips in horror.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry," I gasped, lifting my face to peer at his face and blood drained from my body.

He wore a dark plastic mask that only revealed his dark orbs but kept the rest of his face concealed. My eyes did a scan on his black outfit made up of a well-tailored suit and a pair of black boots that did nothing to hide how huge and intimidating he was.

Dressing formally wasn't for a man like him.

Suddenly, my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to know who this man on a black mask, emitting a scary aura that was strong enough to make anyone do his bidding was, and why he was coming out from my father's study by some minutes around 8'o o'clock.

"You're too clumsy for someone about to become a wife," His husky voice tore through my reverie and I frowned.

What the hell was he rambling on about? A wife? I wasn't ready to become one yet.

"Well, I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't expect that my father would be having a visitor this morning. It's quite unusual..." I explained.

He was having none of it as he grabbed my arms and held it so tight it was almost painful.

A scowl formed on my face and I glared hard at him, hoping that he would see how angry I was and let me go. Sadly, he didn't care about my discomfort and none of the guards stationed at the door post cared about my situation.

"Let me go!" I roared with my shrill voice, struggling hard to get out of his grip.

He did eventually and straightened his jacket then walked away without another word.

I tried to hold down my breathing which had become erratic, inhaling deeply to stop myself from screaming. Then I stormed into my father's study, fuming and raging at the assault that just took place outside.

Why would I be treated like that because of a silly mistake I made?

But something felt off the moment I entered and found my father standing in front of his bookshelf; his rear facing me with his hands behind him.

However, I shook the weird feeling aside.

"Dad, who was that ill-mannered man that exited your office?" I whined, crossing over to where he stood while baring my arms which had turned red to him. "Look at what he did to my flawless skin. Aren't you going to do anything to that man?"

"My hands are tied, Ariel," He said after a moment of silence, his voice brimming with resignation.

My eyes flitted around in confusion and I held his hand. He rarely called me by my name apart from when I offended him, but then he'd be sitting behind his desk and scolding me softly.

He'd never sounded so distant and tired like this.

Trepidation grew rapidly in my chest while waiting for an explanation but none came.

"What do you mean, Dad? Your hands can't be tied. Aren't you ruthless Capo of the Famiglia? Surely, you can pass an order and that scary-looking man would be locked up in our cell,"

He chuckled rather darkly, shaking his head and training his gaze on me. "It would be erroneous to lock up your soon-to-be husband in our cell, don't you think?"

My legs staggered backward and my heart thumped hard against my chest. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach and a loud wheezing sound in my ears.

And then I felt my body being lifted onto his soft furry couch which I used to enjoy sitting on, but right now, it felt so uncomfortable.

"I'm here, baby," He croaked, blowing some air on my face until the fainting spell disappeared and I felt better.

Then the reason for my panic attack flooded my mind again and my heart squeezed painfully.

"I... I don't understand what you all are talking about, Daddy. Just before I came here, mama said she had something to tell me but I ignored her and ran all the way here to give your coffee when I ran into that man who scolded me for bumping into her while hinting how he wouldn't want his wife to be clumsy all the time. Now you're saying that he's going to be my husband. How is that even possible?" I was close to tears.

He lowered his lashes, something he rarely did as my father was one man who never cowered in front of anyone or any situation, no matter how scary it was.

But here he was, avoiding my gaze.

"Please, father..." I trailed off, my throat tightening.

He swallowed and cleared his throat then stared at me. "That man you bumped into is the Capo Dei Capi of the Russian Bratva and he is to be your husband in three days. The engagement will take place tomorrow so get ready to go shopping for a dress with your mother. You have to look extremely beautiful for him," He announced.

My gaze lowered to his lips which were moving but I couldn't make out anything he was saying.

The only thing that rang in my head was the dreaded word 'Husband'. It was at that point that everything began to make sense; the constant business trips that made him absent from the house for days and the long calls even at dinner.

I sprang to my feet, my eyes glistening with tears.

"No, Father, I can't get married and even if I'm interested in becoming a wife, it will never be to that man." I protested as shivers ran down my spine.

I couldn't imagine getting married to the malevolent, unfeeling and callous Capo who had no single emotions. His evil reputation preceded him and word had once gone around that he crushed a woman's skull with his bare hands when he was fifteen because she attempted to steal from him.

If he could do that to a woman when he was much younger then what would be my fate?

"You have no choice here, Doll,"

I scoffed and sank onto the chair. "You really want to give me out to a man on my eighteenth birthday, Father? What happened to getting married at twenty-one?"

"That is my decision to make and right now I'm telling you nicely that you have no other choice but to get married to that man. His name is Dmitri Mikhailov so get used to calling him that!" He thundered, walked to his desk and picked up his car keys and stormed off.