THREE

NIKOLAI'S POV:

The morning sun filtered through the tall glass window of the dining room, casting golden streaks across the long mahogany table.

I sat at the head, as always, a cup of black coffee in front of me, steam curling up in thin tendrils. Across from me, she sat. Katie.

I don't know why I kept calling her Katie. Her name is Kate.

My jaw tenses the moment my eyes flickered in her direction. She wore a cream colored satin robe, that looked exactly like mine, or maybe it is mine. I don't know.

Her hair tucked behind her ears, eyes lowered respectfully. She hadn't spoken a word since we woke up. Not that I expected her to.

I kind of enjoyed the silence. Anytime she opens her mouth, I am reminded of how I was played a fool by the Valdez family.

I'm still surprised on how I didn't see that coming. I mean Rhea had a sketchy personality right from the beginning. And the family were up to no good.

But I didn't think they could actually pull something like this off.

Katie. She looked too much like Rhea. Even though they are half siblings. They both took their Dad's genes. Or maybe they fidnt exactly look the same.

Maybe, it was just the wedding dress, the veil, her scent, the lies still poisoning the air.

I took a deliberate sip of my coffee, savoring the bitter heat, and turned my attention to Della as she entered the dining room with a soft smile on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Voss." she greeted, her voice motherly and warm. She carried a silver tray and placed a dish of eggs, toasts, and grilled tomatoes before me.

Then she glanced at Kate, gave her a small nod, and set a similar plate in front of her.

"Thank you, Della." I murmured. "Looks good,"

"I added the basil you like so much," she said with a wink.

I smiled faintly. Della had raised me after Mother and Father got involved in a car crash and passed away. She was the only woman in my life who I tolerated and who knows the fuck extent of my temper and loved me in spite of it all.

She turned to Kate. "Will you have some orange juice, dear?"

Katie blinked and nodded. "Yes, Della. Thank you."

Her voice was soft. Deliberate. It didn't sound like Rhea's. But during the wedding, during the time we were saying our vows, she hsd managed to sound exactly like Rhea.

I returned to my breakfast, without acknowledging her, I cut my toast, dipped it into the yolk of the semi boiled egg, and ate in silence. Occasionally speaking with Della about the schedule for the day.

About the new Italian wine shipment, and an art collector who was trying to reach me about a private exhibition.

Not once did I look at the woman sitting across from me.

Kate's presence was like a cold draft, unwelcome, but hard to ignore. I hadn't forgotten the moment I lifted the veil and saw her face.

The recognition hit few seconds later. The fury. The betrayal. The nauseating realization that I'd been played real hard.

It all felt like some kind of sick game. I had never noticed Kate as part of the Valdez family up until yesterday. She was an illegitimate daughter of Mr. Valdez, who's mother has died due to cancer.

I had done a research about her last night.

I needed to know every single thing about the woman I had married into my home. So stupid of her to give up her entire life like that in a blink of a eye.

Giving her life up for a future she had no single idea of. Pathetic.

And I had married her.

Yet, for the sake of appearances, I kissed her. Made my own personal promise to gee and said nothing. Letting the world believe I'd married the woman I loved.

Deceived the entire media. Made up fake stories on why I did what I did.

But I hadn't married the woman I loved. I loved Rhea, I also found out that she was cheating on me with some dude named Liam, and had eloped with him early yesterday morning.

I had married her sister instead.

And for that, she would pay. Slowly. And quietly.

The love I had for Rhea vanished immediately, and turned into sour hatred. The whole Valdez family were my number one enemy.

I stood up abruptly from the table, grabbing my briefcase. "I'll be at the office till late. Call me only if there's an emergency. And by emergency, Kate is excluded."

Della nodded slowly. Kate stared wildly at me but remained silent.

Good.

I know I was being petty for a grown ass man my age, but things needed to be done.

I took the Rolls Royce of yesterday and my driver drove me to the office.

Traffic was mercifully light. My driver manuvered through the city with efficiency while I revised documents on my tablet.

Once I reached Voss Industries, my mood soured immediately. My assistant, Jeremy, was waiting at the elevator with a grim expression.

I knew there was a problem. I hate problems coming to me once I step foot into the building.

"There's a situation, Sir." he said, handing me a folder. "Our Milan deal is falling through. The investors pulled out at the very last minute. They're cutting the change in marital status and trust instability."

"Trust instability?" I ground out.

"They think you rushed into marriage for the PR. That you like being the media's favorite puppet. Or worse, that you were deceived."

I clenched my first as I stepped into the elevator.

The meeting room was already filled with board members murmuring amongst themselves. I strode in and the room fell silent. I slammed the folder on the table.

"I don't pay anyone one of you to gossip about my personal life." I said coldly. "If any of you think my marriage will affect my ability to run this empire, feel free to submit your resignation by the end of the day."

Silence.

I knew all this would happen eventually. Kate had created a mess for me and I had to fix it before it becomes even worse.

I took a deep breath, loosening my time. "Now, we will fix the Milan situation. Re-negotiate. Bring in alternative financiers. We can't afford delays."

"Mr. Voss, concerning the Valdez situation, since you married the illegitimate daughter, we don't have any percentage or shares in their company like they do in ours like the contract stated." One of the board members stated.

"Focus on the Milan's situation. I've got the Valdez situation under control already. Things are being sorted out." I said. I had already thought of that last night. I'll use Kate to get back everything I lost to them.

It doesn't have to be immediately, but I'll get everything that they owed me when the time is due.

For the next six hours, I was buried in strategy meetings, damage control calls, and crisis management. But I was in my element. This was my world. My control.

I have never lost a contract of any sort, and I don't plan on losing the Milan contract either.

The company was my bargaining chip, and everything it laid its hands on, turned to hold. Or rather, to millions of dollars.

The world knows this, so does the Milan group. They'll come back eventually. And the stakes will be higher this time, they need me more than I need them.

Other companies were jealous of Voss Industries success, After I took over the company at age eighteen, the company sky rocketed to being among the top ten most ambitious and influencial company, making a whole lot of money.

By the time I left the office, the sky was turning deep orange, and I felt the familiar tightness of exhaustion around my temples.

I got into my car, and the driver drove back home.

The estate looked peaceful as we pulled up. I had decided against staying up in the office late eventually. The fountains glistened in the sunset, birds danced among the trimmed hedged.

Then I saw her.

Katie was kneeling by the garden beds, hands in glove, soil on her dress. She looked completely at ease, digging small holes, planting roses with careful precision.

For a moment, I just stared.

It surprised me.

Most of the women I knew wouldn't trade manicures for mud, Rhea included.

Looks like the background check I had done on her wasn't deep enough. I made a mental note to dig deeper on everything about Kate.

But then the memory came back, her face under that veil, her sister's name that came out of her mouth before she said the word "I do."

I turned away.

Inside the house, Della met Mr with a smile on her face.

"Welcome back home, Niko."

"What's for dinner?" I asked.

"Roast lamb with mint sauce. Your favorite."

I nodded. "Sounds perfect and delicious."

"Kate helped out. Who knew she was a perfect cook too. She knows her way round the kitchen. With her around, you certainly don't need us."

I scoffed, there she goes playing wife again.

As I walked past the staircase, I heard the distance laughter of the house staff, the hum of warm domestic life. I was surrounded by comfort. Stability. Home.

But it didn't feel just right. Something was missing.

I made my way up to my room, unbuttoned my shirt slowly, and let it fall to the floor, and sluggishly got into the bathroom.

The water in the shower came on strong and hot. I stood under it for a long time, letting the stream burn away the tension and stress on my shoulders.

But no matter how long I stayed there, no matter how clean I made myself feel, no matter how much I tried to scrub.

I couldn't wash away the lies.

I had married the wrong woman.

And somehow, she was still here. My head was itching to start a revenge plan for her and her family.

Rhea and I loved each other, or that what I thought. But our marriage was on a contract too, to join alliance between the two great companies and make It one of the best.

For marrying Katie instead, I gained little to nothing from them, but they gained a lot from me, from my company.

With Rhea, I would have had fifty-seven percent shares of the Valdez enterprise, there more than half of a hundred percent. But with Katie, I get only fifteen percent shares.

I had lost forty-two percent, and I planned on getting that, even if it's the last thing that I do.

They have a share of fifty-seven percent of my shares now. They could take everything from under me if they could. But I won't let that happen.

I dried myself up and wore a comfortable shirt and some short.

I went straight to the dining hall, I was starving and haven't had anything to munch on since morning.

The dining table was already set, Kate sat at the far end, and Della sat on the side.

I took a seat beside Della, grabbed a spoon and started eating. The food tasted like pure heaven. Tasted a little different from the usual way Dell had always cooked it.

Looks like Katie knows her way in the kitchen, Della was right.

But I'm never going to admit that. Never.

I slowed down when I saw that all eyes were focused on me. "What?" I questioned.

"You need to slow down, Niko. The food isn't running away, and if you keep on eating that fast, you're going to choke." Della said, chuckling.

I stared at my plate and discovered that my plate was almost empty and theirs was still half full.

Della passed a plass of orange juice to me, I took it and gulped it all down.

"Is the food that good?" Della asked, smiling at me.

"It's alright, I guess." I said shrugging off. Kate scoffed and continued eating from her plate, did she expect me to raise her or something?

She seems to forget that ere both mutual enemies, and I despised her with everything in me.

"If you say so then." Della said.

The table fell silent again. Everyone kept their eyes on their plate. Della added more roasted lamb and mint sauce into my plate, even though I didn't ask.

She knew. She has always known.

Only she understands me.