LOGIN
I sigh while walking to my car, feeling exhausted after a long day of work. The stress of a new project is already hitting me and I haven't even started the assignment yet. The lack of sleep and the absence of my best friend are silently taking a toll on me.
I had an entire presentation to get ready, plus all the scheduling calls and emails I had to send out by the end of the week. On top of everything else, there were stacks of files I needed to read over and organize.
I start my car, ready to pull out of the parking lot, when I get a call.
“What, Caro?” I picked it up and placed it on the speaker.
“I fucked up,” she sniffles
“No, you stupid bitch” I scoff, shaking my head, shutting down the whole crybaby thing she did.
“I don’t care how fucking heartbroken you are right now because I told you to stop doubting your girl. You don’t listen to me, and you get your heart broken, again, and you guys break up, again, for what? The 7th time already?”
“9th,” she mumbles, and her voice cracked
“I told you, caro, I fucking told you, but no, you just enjoy making your relationship toxic, and if I had known this was the reason you have been moping around and calling in sick for work, I would have whooped your ass.”
“Now i know if i keep on saying it continuously it will start to become an anthem to you but this is the last time i will advice you on this, give your girl a chance, sophia is a wonderful soul, honestly speaking i wonder how she accepts you back after all the shit you put her through, don’t let your past relationships define your present one”
I take a deep breath, I wanna drown this bitch sometimes, and I seriously question why out of everyone in this damn world, she turned out to be my best friend. At least I was never the cause of all the toxic exes I had, but she is the cause, the real threat, and I know she loves Sophia too much, but she is one stubborn woman.
“You’re supposed to comfort me,” she sniffles, and I could hear the annoyance in her tone
“I comforted you the first four times, I ain't doing shit this time because your ass is too stubborn to understand when to back down and give your girl a listening ear and not go all hulk on her when you don’t know the full truth if what you saw on her phone means she cheating on you or not. Don’t even dare act surprised about how I have a clue about what happened because it is always the same damn reason.” I sighed deeply. I’m too tired for this whole conversation.
“Get your ass up, get in the damn shower, and get dressed because i got hella work to do this week and i’m trying to get some relieve from the whole stress i’ve been put through without you, I don’t wanna hear anything about what happened because i swear on my Nonna’s grave i’m going to throw you out the damn window, I’ll be damn if i come home and your there crying and eating chocolate that i fucking kept” i don’t give her time to say anything before hanging up.
I need a new best friend. We need to make this a trio with someone else who will listen to my advice and hold me back when I’m trying to stab Caro. The truth was I love Caro too damn much I can’t fathom a life without even with how strong-headed she is
The drive wasn’t long, pulling into my parking stall, walking to the elevator and pressing the button to the 16th floor.
When I got out, I started to walk to my apartment. I grabbed my keys, unlocked the door, and headed straight inside. The shower was running, and there was chocolate and a wine glass on the kitchen island.
I wanna break that shit on her head, maybe she might lose the brain cells that support her stubbornness
I walk to my room and walk straight to my closet, rummaging around for a good outfit, looking at all the dresses I had bought just last week, but knowing that with all the work stacking up, only one of them would be worn this month.
I settled on a red dress that stops just above my knees and paired it with some black stilettos. I quickly pull on my outfit and shoes before walking to my mirror and fixing my lipstick.
Always be ready to go to a club by just changing your outfit.
I smile at myself in the mirror, then spray some perfume on myself before grabbing a short black strapless dress that I threw on my bed earlier and a pair of heels.
“CUT THE SHOWER, UNLESS YOU'RE PLANNING ON STAYING IN THERE ALL NIGHT!
HURRY UP AND GET THE HELL OUT!” I yell, waking up out of my room, down the hall and throwing the bathroom door open
Caro turns and looks at me with a blank expression. “ I don't even want to go out,” she states
“ I don't care,” I say in a sarcastically happy voice
“ Put that on, put some makeup on to cover them puffy ass eyes, and hurry the fuck up, kk?” I nod my head with a sarcastic smile that matches my sarcastic, happy tone
Walking out after shoving the shoes and dress in her hands and shutting the door, walking to the kitchen, I put the wine back into its designated cabinet and started to eat the chocolate on the counter before it melts, while waiting for Caro.
Entering the club, the music was loud, you could almost taste the lingering smell of sweat and liquor, and you could feel the sexual tension in the room. Not fastening anything, though, that would just be weird.
Caro groaned as I pulled her towards the bar; she wanted to turn into a little hermit and hide in her shell, in the dark, wrapped in blankets, diving into junk food and sad romantic movies. I mean, I'm down for that, but I'm just trying to make her have fun here, then later we can be all sad and full of tears if she wants
“ Six shots,” I say to the bartender after waving him over
He nodded slightly, looking at my cleavage, and I gave him an irritated look because I'm not planning on going down that level for fun.
Placing them in front of me, Caro sits on the stool, looking around, all bored. The bartender goes to say something when he is saved over from the opposite side of the bar, walking away, sighing. Thank God
I shoot down three without a break, shit, this stuff tastes like trash, I need to manage for Caro, but I'm not a fan of alcohol, especially not this type. I turn towards Caro, holding one towards her.
“ But I wanna go home,” she whined
“ One shot, the faster you get drunk with me, is the faster we get on the dance floor and the faster we get you a taxi to take you home, “ I say, glancing between her and the shot
Reluctantly, she shoots one down, and reaches for the second one, groaning when she looks at the third one, but then looking at me, she shoots it down, shaking her head at the strong taste.
I laugh, pulling her off to the dance floor. I could feel the alcohol affecting me immediately
I was letting loose, just moving with the beat, looking up to Caro, who was just standing there looking bored.
“Come on, dance with me,” I shout over the music. She shakes her head at me with a smile, moving to sway a little
“ I know you got more than that, or do I have to sing for you?” I say before I start to sing
“ Throw that ass in a circle, Throw that ass in a circle. Shake that ass girl shake, shake that ass girl shake it, pop it out, bitch pop it out, pop it out”
Her small smile turns into a grin as she watches me be weird, her body starts getting into it, and she just moves however she feels.
Aye, there you go,” I laugh, losing myself back into the music
Caro was so carefree when she wasn't worrying about her relationship. I lost myself on the dance floor too, losing all sense of time and I didn't know how long I was out there, but all I know is the whiskey kicked in hard. I was laughing for no reason with Caro as we stumbled back to the bar.
When we get there, I try to get on the bar stool and I completely miss it. Caro laughs with me as she pulls me up. This time getting on, I sit and start staring at the mirror wall in front of me, catching a reflection of a man on the second floor watching me from the VIP lounge, smirking as his eyes fixed on the back of my head. For some reason, I like the feeling of his eyes on me.
At least that's what it looked like.
“ I'm going to go, I have something really important to do,” she started to get off the chair
“ Please tell me you're not going to cause more problems with Sophia,” I groan, throwing my head back
“ No I'm feeling spontaneous and your right I have the best girl in the world and I'm acting like shit because of past experiences, I want to go fight back for my love and explain everything to her” her smile spread from ear to ear bust she shrugged as if no big deal, she wasn't kidding anyone.
“ Finally fuckingly” I pat her on the side of the head.
“ Bitch, after years of this bullshit, all I had to do was yell at you on the phone and drag you out of the house and get drunk and twerking. I should have thought of this shit earlier.”
She looks at me with an offended look until she just laughs and starts walking towards the exit, drinking the rest of the Cosmopolitan. I walk to the bathroom
I did my business, and there was no line. Everyone was walking out when I came around, a wall blocking the rest of the club from seeing the bathroom doors.
Washing my hands, I walked toward the door and opened it, walking out, but before I could get out, Mr. VIP man was walking around the corner towards me
I bit my lip at the sight of him.
His jawline was prominent, sharp and well defined, along with his high cheekbones, his eyebrows thick and looked naturally well shaped, his lips a nice shade of pink on his pale skin.
Like a fairytale romance novel kind of perfect.
I smirk as he stalks closer to me, my back pushing up against the wall as he leans down from what I would estimate a 6’4 height to my 5’3 height I had inherited from my mother, and stares into my eyes.
Glancing down at my lips and then back to my eyes a couple of times before I pulled him in, He didn't ask for permission past my lips, he just went for it.
And I loved when a man just took what he wanted, something about it just turned me on, personally. My hands wrapped around his neck and went to his hair, his hair was black and short, but just long enough to run your hands through and pull at.
I groan when he pulls my waist against his hard body, the bulge in his pants rubbing against my pelvic bone, a groan coming from him when I reach down with one hand to rub him. He pulls away, his hands moving from my waist to my thighs, and I moan, his bulge now rubbing against my genitals and his lips sucking and nipping at my neck.
I could feel more wet as he grinned into me, my body pinned against the wall, his mouth leaving hickeys and his hands groping and exploring every curve.
I smile and lightly moan, tilting my head back with my hands pulling at his hair, making him groan.
He stops and holds my thighs still, taking deep breaths with his eyes closed, as if he were trying to calm himself and relax. Placing me down so I was standing on my own two feet, his eyes opened and stayed focused on me.
“Let's go,” he spoke, his accent husky and deep, sending shivers down my spine
“I'm going to need more than a quick bathroom fuck from you, let's go to my hotel,” he held me and walked me out.
Something about him just gave this dangerous aura, but I'm too lost in whatever is happening between us now to care. Fuck the rules, let's see where this leads.
The rooftop terrace was open tonight, the cold, clean air a sharp contrast to the warmth inside the fortress. We stood side-by-side at the railing, looking out over the silent sprawl of the city that now, thanks to the Alliance, moved to our rhythm.Vladimir had a glass of vodka, untouched. I held my wine, feeling the cool glass against my palm. The stillness of the night invited reflection, and tonight, we needed to talk about the shadows that still lingered.“The reports from Viktor on the Balkan stabilization are satisfactory,” Vladimir commented, breaking the silence. “The new transportation hub is functioning at 98% capacity. The local leaders are compliant. Your decision to liquidate Anatoly’s junction was the final necessary surgical action.”“It felt cold,” I admitted, leaning my back against the stone railing. “I didn’t feel guilt, Volkov, which is what scares me. I just felt… correct. Like solving a complex financial equation. I dissolved a problem for the greater stability
The air in the small, circular meeting room was thick, heavy with years of simmering resentment. We were in the neutral zone of the compound, a purpose-built room with white walls, steel finishes, and no windows—a space designed for cold, rational decisions, not emotional outbursts.I sat at the head of the table next to Vladimir, who was utterly still, observing. The conflict itself was tedious: Anatoly, the Capo of the southern border regions, was locked in a bitter, costly dispute with Sergei, the Capo of the central transportation corridor. They were fighting over the control of a minor rail junction that had, historically, served as the primary bottleneck for illegal goods moving north.For weeks, their petty war had resulted in delayed shipments, unnecessary violence, and, most importantly to me, the introduction of instability into the new legal logistics network we had just spent months building. They were prioritizing tradition over the future.Anatoly, a heavy-set man with a
The rooftop terrace was encased in specialized, heated glass, offering a stunning, silent view of the snow-dusted city lights sprawling beneath the Russian night sky. It was late, almost midnight, and the house was utterly quiet. We were wrapped in thick blankets, sharing a single glass of rare, complex Italian wine.I traced the rim of the glass with my finger, feeling the deep, settled contentment that had become the normal background noise of my life. The fear was gone, replaced by the profound weight of my position: wife to Vladimir, mother to Ivan and Giovanni, and the financial backbone of an empire.“Viktor’s system for categorizing Giovanni’s favorite stuffed animals by 'predictive loyalty metrics' is causing a crisis downstairs,” I noted idly, leaning my head on Vladimir’s shoulder. “Mamma says he is confusing the nanny. I told her to just smile and nod at Viktor’s charts, because he looks genuinely happy for the first time in his life.”Vladimir chuckled, a low, rumbling sou
The Solarium was always the brightest room. It was built with enormous, reinforced glass panels that let the sun stream in, turning the plush, pale carpet into a giant, warm play mat. For the past hour, the space had been dedicated entirely to the serious, demanding business of infancy.Ivan and Giovanni were engaged in a low-speed, highly focused crawl race toward a collection of soft, non-lethal blocks. Mamma, Chiara, was sitting with me on the floor, gently supervising while attempting to teach me the proper technique for folding a fitted sheet—a task that, frankly, felt more difficult than negotiating a merger with the Russians.“Look at Ivan,” Mamma sighed, leaning back against the sofa. “He is methodical. He assesses the block stack, he calculates the distance, and he moves. He is all Volkov precision.”“He is also currently trying to eat his own foot, Mamma,” I pointed out, pulling a piece of fluff from Ivan’s mouth. “And Giovanni just body-slammed the sofa leg because he got b
The Financial Command Center was meticulously organized, silent save for the hum of the servers. It was designed to feel like a chamber of absolute truth, where numbers could not lie.I stood with Vladimir at the head of the conference table, waiting. He was relaxed, a silent monument of power, but his presence was a clear signal: this meeting was not about negotiation; it was about acceptance.The doors opened, and the three brothers—Ivan (the older triplet), Alexander, and their younger brother—entered. They were dressed in functional suits, their faces sharp, efficient, and accustomed to danger. They were Vladimir’s instruments of action, the ones who turned a strategic decision into brutal reality. But lately, they had been forced to turn my complex financial plans into legal reality, which was proving to be a challenge to their mindset.“Take your seats,” Vladimir commanded, his voice deep and final.The Triplets sat down, their movements perfectly synchronized, radiating the di
The compound’s library was my favorite place to work. It was quiet, smelled faintly of old paper, and had the best view of the internal courtyard where Ivan and Giovanni took their afternoon strolls with their nanny, escorted by a rotating team of four armed guards. Balance.I was finalizing a presentation on the legal holding structures we had just established when I noticed Viktor. He was sitting at a side desk, not monitoring the firewalls or reviewing patrol schedules, but looking at a massive, complicated flowchart. It wasn't my flowchart, or Vladimir’s. It was entirely new.I watched him for a solid five minutes. He wasn't tense. He wasn't staring through the walls. He was… focused. Completely absorbed in a thick, leather-bound notebook next to the screen. His usual uniform of perfect, tailored black was pristine, but for the first time, I noticed a tiny, almost imperceptible furrow in his brow that seemed less about global threat assessment and more about mild confusion.“Vikto







