Staying with him...

She did everything. Every possible thing a person could think of to impress someone they like. Maybe more than a sane person.

When she was 13 , her uncle introduced him to her. She was mesmerized by the lifestyle he followed. Being born a poor and a sixth girl to the family added more to her pains.

Catalina's whole life was based on impressing others. First it was her parents. But who could possibly make them love her. No one and they never did.

From getting good grades to never getting into a relationship she did everything they could have been happy about. But their thoughts were fixated on her "weak genitals ".

As a kid she would think, was it really so good to be born as a male rather than a female? But she never thought that her brother, yes they finally had him, as the eighth kid was any better than them.

Even she would secretly think that her mom was stronger than her weak father who would use alcohol to lash out his anger.

At school, wearing her eldest sister's uniform didn't help either. Even milk was a bigger thing or luxury for them. Her parents never cared about the expenses while trying for the male child and obviously the girls had to bear it all.

There was a time when she was only nine, her brain was filled with so much of toxicity that she would pray each night to be waken up as a boy. But that never happened.

So, she decided to adapt to male acquired traits. When her uncle adopted her, like her other sisters were taken by different relatives after her father had a stroke she knew she needed to be like him in order to survive.

Her uncle worked for some notorious man. He had cars, guns and drugs. Everyone feared him. She wanted people to bow down at her.

The first when she put her feet in the mansion filled with wanted goons, she didn't feel a bit of fear in her heart. Instead she was excited.

The master talked politely to her uncle, Joe glancing at her smiling.

He gifted her everything. She never had. He called her his lucky charm. For the first time, she was the only girl in a gang of 200 men.

Well, she wasn't a part of the gang back then. Master never wanted her to join all this. He sent her to school. One of the finest in the whole country. Provided her home tuitions. She did so little but still he would be impressed. If she got a B, that was a reason to throw a party. Even a C or D was. He never scolded her. Always putting a smiling face towards her.

His demeanor, attitude and fear was well known to everyone. As a kid, he was her superhero. But as a teenager he was her first crush or love .

BEEP* BEEP*

The alarm clock rang making her come out of the dreamland. A smile was spread on her lips, because of the memories of her beautiful teenage years but it vanished when she saw Mazov sitting on a chair staring her. He was already dressed in a blue suit.

" Were you dreaming of me? " He asked her sarcastically.

" What.. what are you doing here? And how? " She was surprised and shocked. A mixture of many emotions.

" Well, I came to say good morning and I have the keys to every room in my house. " Mazov made a funny face watching her shocked reaction.

" So? There are some etiquettes, Pakhan. You just can't storm into someone's room while they are sleeping. " Her voice harsh with anger.

" Ahh. See who's giving me advice? The one who started it . " Catalina rolled her eyes and shook her head.

" Yeah. I know. And I am sorry. " She replied.

" There's something really suspicious about you, kitty. " Her breath hitched in her throat.

" One time you declare that you are one of my crazy follower and worship me and the other second you talk so repulsively to me. What's your deal, huh? " He raised his brows at her.

For a second, Catalina kept numb. She bit her lower lip in anticipation.

" Pakhan, the truth is I like you in a professional way. Nothing sexual intended. I know you have thousands of girls throwing themselves at you. So you are right to make assumptions about every female. But believe me, I have no intention like that. I want to be your partner. Not a mistress. " She stopped speaking as Mazov rose up from the chair to sit beside her on the bed.

" Catalina, I am amazed by you. I have never seen a woman like you before. One thing I , Mazov, or your Pakhan can promise is that you are safe with me. I would never touch you without your consent. I hate ra*e Or harassment. You have my words. " He touched her hand but it didn't mean anything other than making a promise by physical touch.

" Thank you, Pakhan. I believe you. " She smiled at him as he began going out of the room. He turned around to look at her.

" But it doesn't mean that you will escape my flirting OCD. So bear with it. " He walked out of her room, lightly closing it behind.

Catalina realised a minute later that she was blushing hard at his words. His impact was visible on her face.

No. She needed to be more professional. It was a test. A test of her loyalty. Any man meant nothing to her.

Especially this man, he was full of sins. But then why he radiated a warmth instead of the coldness she felt in her soul?

If she was staying with him, then it meant she was supposed to be on high alert all the time.

He could do anything, could come anywhere at any time as per his convenience. He wasn't someone to be friends with, he didn't have a history or any past. He just became the Pakhan out of nowhere.

Catalina went to the window and opened the curtains. She saw him again. Going out with his guards. Before sitting in the car, he looked back at her straight into her eyes. For a second she thought if he had eyes on the back of his head too. He threw her a flying kiss and she closed the curtains at him.

But her heart beat was fast again and she hated it every single time.