ALEXEI
Rage pulsed through my veins, fueled by Zoey's infuriating accusations. I barged into my office, the door slamming against the wall. The room felt too small to contain the tempest of emotions swirling within me.
Yaz, Viktor, and Ivan looked up from their seats, surprise and caution flickering in their eyes. They could sense the storm that accompanied me.
"What the hell happened?" Yaz asked, rising from his chair.
I ignored him, my gaze fixated on the massive space of my estate. The buildings stood tall and unyielding, much like the chaos within me.
"Boss, are you okay?" Viktor ventured cautiously.
I scoffed, the bitter taste of anger lingering on my tongue. "Okay? No, I'm not okay."
Yaz exchanged a glance with the others, unsure of how to navigate the brewing storm.
"What did she say to rile you up like this?" Ivan asked, breaking the tense silence.
"She accused me of orchestrating the car bombing
ZOEYThe past few days have been dull and boring. Alexei has been nowhere in sight since the day he choked me. Every attempt to escape was thwarted by an army of guards stationed everywhere, making freedom a wishful thinking.Even the thought of finding a phone to contact Emma proved futile.Boredom had settled in like a stubborn fog.Today, I hadn't seen or heard from Yelena either. The routine of bathing and changing into suitable clothes was the only break in the dull routine.As I stepped out of my room, two imposing guards awaited me—far less appealing than the ones I'd seen around the estate grounds. One had a menacing scar along his right eye, and the other wore a perpetual frown."Come with us," Scarface grunted."Where to?" I questioned."The boss wants to see you," he replied tersely.W
ALEXEIThe air was thick with tension as we stepped out of the salon. Zoey's anger radiated like heat waves, and I couldn't help but find her defiance both infuriating and intriguing. She had a spirit that refused to be tamed, and that was both exasperating and exhilarating."Welcome to the family, Zoey," I said, smirking at her obvious discomfort.She shot me a withering look. "Don't get too comfortable, Mr. Pushkin. This marriage changes nothing for me."I chuckled. "We'll see about that."As we made our way back to the estate, Zoey walked beside me with an air of defiance. I couldn't deny the thrill of having her by my side, even if it was against her will. This marriage was a strategic move, a way to bind her to me in a way she couldn't escape.Back at the estate, the news of our impromptu wedding had spread like wildfire. The guards and staff greeted us with a mix of surprise and curiosity, their whispers following us a
ZOEYAfter the so called celebratory feast, Alexei led me to his private wing in the estate. Though I was angry with him, that did not stop me from marveling at his part of the mansion.It was exquisitely beautiful and breathtaking.But as we entered the private quarters, my mind raced with thoughts of escape. This marriage was a nightmare, and I refused to accept it as my reality. Alexei seemed to revel in his victory, but I wasn't about to play the obedient wife.He gestured toward the opulent room. "This is our new living space. Get used to it."I scoffed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "I don't need your fancy rooms. And don't get too comfortable thinking you've won."He chuckled, infuriatingly amused by my defiance. "You're a feisty one. I like that."I shot him a glare. "This marriage is a joke. I won't be your puppet."He leaned in, his gaze intense. "You may not have chosen this, but
ZOEYThe morning light filtered through the curtains, and as I woke up, a throbbing pain reminded me of the previous night's chaos. Trying to sit up, the ache in my abdomen protested, and I winced. The aftermath of the bullet wound was making its presence known.As I shifted on the bed, I felt an unexpected weight on my hand. Confused, I glanced down and saw Zoey, asleep and holding onto my hand like it was some lifeline.It was a sight that threw me off guard—her face relaxed in sleep, a stark contrast to the confrontational woman I'd grown accustomed to.Deciding to let her sleep, I eased back onto the pillows and found myself just watching her. In the quiet of the morning, with the room bathed in a soft glow, Zoey looked different.The harsh lines that usually marked her expression were softened, and there was an unexpected serenity to her features.I couldn't help but think about how beautiful she looke
ZOEYThe next morning greeted me with an unusual sense of peace. The chaos that typically surrounded me seemed to have taken a backseat, and even spending a whole day with Alexei didn't ignite my usual anger.Surprisingly, I found myself opening up to him about my life with Emma. To my surprise, he listened with genuine sympathy. It wasn't a pity party; I could see a reflection of his own struggles in his eyes when I shared the story of my birth parents abandoning me.Behind the infuriating and annoying Don facade, there was a man battling his own demons.As I looked at the adjoining door, I wondered if he was right behind it. My perspective of him had shifted after our conversation.With a soft sigh, I tiptoed to the door, gently opening it, only to find his room empty. It was the same as the last time I'd been there.Sighing, I returned to my room, had a refreshing bath, and changed into a comfy b
ALEXEII stood in my office, glancing through the wide window that offered a view of the garden. Down below, Zoey and her friend, Emma, were engrossed in conversation. The sight of Zoey smiling and laughing brought an unexpected warmth to my chest.It was strange, considering my usual demeanor. I found solace in the moments when she seemed at ease, free from the burdens that constantly weighed her down. Her laughter, like a melody, echoed in my thoughts, creating a rare sense of peace.She looked different when she smiled, like a flower blooming amidst chaos. For a moment, I forgot about the ruthless world I navigated daily. It was just Zoey and her friend, sharing laughter and stories.I couldn't deny the magnetic pull she had on me. It wasn't just about the physical attraction; it was something deeper. Seeing her happy resonated with a part of me I had long kept buried. A part that craved moments of normalcy, moments of genuine happines
ZOEYThe weight of Alexei's admission lingered in the air as we stood in his office, a room that often felt like a fortress guarding his secrets. His vulnerability, though brief, left a lasting imprint on my perception of him. The layers of complexity beneath his stoic exterior intrigued me, challenging the preconceived notions I held.As he turned away, his reluctance to confront the possibility of change was palpable. The scars of his past, etched deep into his psyche, had become an integral part of his identity. Yet, a small part of me believed in the potential for transformation, the flicker of goodness that dared to reveal itself.I reached out, my fingers gently grazing his arm, an unspoken assurance that he wasn't alone in this internal struggle. "Alexei," I spoke softly, "you can choose to break free from the chains you've bound yourself with.""Enough, Zoey." His eyes, once guarded, now bore a mixture of defiance and contemplatio
ALEXEII stood in my office, the estate grounds unfolding beyond the window like a distant tapestry. Thoughts of Zoey danced in my mind, her presence a puzzle I couldn't figure out.She had a way of unsettling the carefully constructed walls around me, and I found myself struggling with unfamiliar emotions.Yaz's voice echoed from the doorway, pulling me from my thoughts. "Boss, you've got a meeting in half an hour."I nodded, my mind still lingering on Zoey. The relationship between us were shifting, an invisible thread connecting us in ways I hadn't anticipated.Love, or whatever it was, had a knack for complicating the straightforward path I had carved for myself.There was a vulnerability in her eyes that tugged at something deep within me. Love was a liability, a weakness I couldn't afford. Yet, the mere idea of it lingered, an uninvited guest in my thoughts.I strolled into the garage,