Katya
New emotions rushed through me when I woke up, I felt happy, and excited.
But all that came to a halt the moment I reached for the dark prince who had woken these feelings in me, and found the bed cold and empty.
My eyes snapped open, and I took in the empty luxurious bedroom, expecting him to appear any minute smelling fresh from the shower.
But instead, what my eyes registered was the giant wall clock which announced that it was eight o'clock in the morning.
Shit! It's my wedding day!
I dashed out of bed and pulled the duvet with me, my heart racing in fear as I picked my lingerie and dress littered on the floors.
Wearing them quickly, I cursed when I saw my reflection in the giant mirror of the bathroom, the evidence of last night bringing a blush to my cheeks.
The delicate skin of my neck was red with hickeys, and my cheeks scuffed with the rough stubbles of his chiseled jaw, when he had kissed me thoroughly before going down on me...
I forced my thoughts away from the magic of his delicious touch and quickly searched the drawer. Minutes later, I had written a short note with a heart and left it on the nightstand.
It was a strong gut in my feelings that told me that this was the one, and I knew he would save me from this forced marriage.
He had probably stepped out to get us breakfast, and I regretted that I wouldn't be able to stay to enjoy it. With one last look at the room which had opened my heart to possibilities, I stepped into the hallway.
Something was wrong.
It was more crowded this morning, and strange men in suits who looked dangerous in an off-putting manner stared at me with disgust.
I lowered my face to the floors and managed to make it past the elevator, but as soon as the doors slid open, I came face to face with my father's head of security, looking pissed and uglier than he always did.
"You fucking slut, you tried to run away?"
Before I could open my mouth, a large hand had smacked my face and rough hands grabbed hold of me, pulling me out of the vicinity of the casino and forcing me into the black van I recognized so well.
It was the same van that my mum and I had been forced into when she dared run away with me. I hadn't seen her for days after that, and later, she had worn a bandage for weeks.
Fear chilled me to the bones, stars dancing in my eyes from the impact of that slap. When I realized myself, the van was pulling into the mansion where I had felt like a prisoner, and other luxurious cars were parked in the lot.
I was dragged out of the car, my cheeks still hurting terribly and muscles sore for another pleasurable reason. The front door opened and my dad's furious face came into view, his mighty frame towering over me and chilling me to the bones.
And as soon as he was in a heating distance, he lifted my face, examined me carefully, and slapped me.
"A whore, like your mother. Fucking disgrace. If you have sullied any part of your body and reduced the value of the amount Boris is willing to pay on your head, I will sell you to the slave market, do you understand?"
It hurt like a bitch, so so much, but I nodded, my teeth trembling in fear. Where is mother? Had he beaten her for not keeping an eye on me?
He tightened his hold on my jaw, his ice blue eyes flaring,
"Shouldn't have fucking married an American woman. Whores, all of them. Go upstairs and dress up for the wedding, and if you try anything, I will cut off your legs for sneaking out last night."
He pushed me after he had spoken, and I fell on the floors, the sands digging harshly into my reddened face as though to mock me.
His security forced me upwards and pushed me towards the back doors, my tears falling quietly against the marble stairs.
My mother was the first person I saw when I entered my room, her swollen eyes and split lips staring back at me. Guilt slammed into me for causing this for her, and I wrapped my hands around her small frame, sobbing quietly against her warmth.
"It's... It's okay, dress up, okay? I...I'll do your makeup."
Sadness and fear enveloped me with each layer of makeup my mother put on my face. And when I wore the dress, panic attack threatened to grip hold of me.
Ferrara... Ferrara...
I chanted the name in a whisper, each memory of him calming me down, filling my empty heart with hope.
But soon, my face was covered in a long lace veil, and I was walking down our spacious mansion which felt like a prison, my fingers trembling as I held the bouquet.
Each step would bring me closer to being Don Boris' wife, and no doubt, the old man would use me as a slave and force me to perform disgusting acts with him. I wouldn't be able to attend college or fulfill my dream of becoming a dancer...
I shivered in fear.
My heart was racing, tears rolling down my cheeks. I had gotten to our living room where different clans gathered to witness the marriage, and Boris was in the middle of the aisle, his protruding stomach, bald head and brown teeth staring back at me.
He was assessing me like a piece of meat, the stench of weed oozing all over the room.
I wanted to throw up.
Please, please, someone save me.
My feet and fingers were shaking, and my father gripped hold of me and tightened his palm around my wrist, squeezing till I gasped sharply in pain.
"Don't attempt to embarrass me, Boris has paid a lot to make you his wife and you will smile and serve him in every way, or I will stop you from seeing your mother."
More tears rolled down my cheeks, my fingers sweaty and cold at the same time. I nodded with trembling lips and forced my feet to reach the end of the room, where I stood facing Don Boris.
The middle aged man who was to be my husband pushed himself upwards and handed his weed over to one of his guards.
I tried not to focus on the ugly scar running down the corner of his eye where it seemed like his face had been split open, and the minister's words hovered in my ears like a background horror music.
"Do you, Katya Petrov, take this man..."
I shut my eyes, sweat and tears competing on which would drive me insane faster.
And just when I parted my lips, knowing that my words would be the end of my happiness, the doors opened.
Like everyone in the room, my eyes were drawn to the door, and my heart stopped beating, my brain ceasing to work.
Because walking into the room was none other than my mystery man, Ferrara, looking perfect to none in a suit, and surrounding him were tons of security officers carrying weapons.
Hope flashed like a beam of light in my cold dark deserted world.
Ferrara had come for me, to save me.
Everything about Ferrara was unmatched; his gait, handsome features and that dangerous aura around him. He looked so much different now, but I knew, that hard glint in his eyes was only because he was angry that I was being forced into marriage."What is the meaning of this shit? Who are you, young man? This is no place for petty theft!" My father said in a loud voice, stepping out from behind me to walk towards him.All the guards drew their weapons and pointed them at Ferrara, and my heart skipped a beat. I would stand between him and my father if they tried to shoot him.Except that Ferrara didn't look like he needed to be rescued in any way. He kept advancing towards my father, his steps calculated, his eyes dark and glinting like diamonds.Memories of last night flooded my thoughts."Oh I assure you, I already took what I wanted. Besides, you should have some room for a Castello in your little party, considering that you just killed my father?"A Castello, his father?It kicked
Ferrara De CastelloI enjoy games, taking my opponent by surprise, leading them on and striking when they don't expect it.And of all the games I have played, chess is my most favorite, the most manipulative of them all. But as much as I enjoy putting things and people in their place, missing pieces put me off as well."We couldn't find the Petrov girl, boss, it's like she vanished after the funeral." It was the same thing I had heard months afterwards, and I have the best damn resources and ways of making people talk. The consigliere had disappeared as well, and not even holding his beloved secret lover captive had made him appear in my sight. It seemed like the two of them had simply ceased to exist, and that picked at something in my head. Making plans ahead of time implied that I always covered grounds before my opponents, and now...A thick puff of smoke wafted in the air, leaving my lips in cloud and spreading."Boss, we succeeded in closing the case, although there is a rook
Ferrara Five Years After the Fire "...The youngest conglomerate chairman to successfully expand chains of businesses to four continents of the world, ladies and gentlemen, welcome the man of the hour, Mr. Ferrara De Castello!" Claps thundered as I stood from my seat and adjusted my custom made suit which fitted me to perfection, cameras flashing on my face, reporters capturing me from various angles. I had received various awards over the years, but tonight was like no other. Being recognized by Guinness Book of Records and Forbes as the youngest zillionaire was nothing compared to what this night meant to me. It was the final step to the four year plan I had set up years ago, I had become untouchable, like a god on earth. I wasn't just the fucking richest in the world, or the most influential and of course the most eligible bachelor, the words of the ladies, not mine, but I had set every project I started in motion. Hell, even my shit of a family understood what tonight mean
KatyaHe found me.I returned my phone to the sink and sucked in a deep breath, knowing that my time in the jacuzzi was over. Just as I didn't have the luxury of letting my imagination go wild like it had done over the years.It was time to face the music. Ferrara De Castello would be here any minute.My body was rinsed and wrapped in a white bathrobe, my hair which was the length of my waist, wet and shimmering with the flecks of silver in the ginger red color. As I pulled it to the side, I studied my reflection in the mirror. Sharp high cheekbones, full lips, long pointed nose and almond shaped hue honey brown eyes framed on a small delicate face with porcelain doll skin. The people who had met me said I looked like a goddess, perfection itself.But I was far from being perfect; I had sunk low and gotten my hands dirty to achieve the dream that had kept me awake for the past five years,Ruining Ferrara De Castello, the father of my son.Just on cue, the doorbell went off, and I pu
I bit into my cheeks, quickly forcing my hand away. "Is that a threat, Ferrara?" When I thought that my heart couldn't explode more already, he tilted my chin, the feeling of his skin on mine delicious and dangerous, forcing me to look into his eyes.And in that low whisper of huskiness and sweet addiction, he said, "You are a smart, beautiful woman, Amore, I am sure it can't be a threat to you since you wouldn't dare make the mistake of keeping my son away from me, right?" Minutes after he released his hand and even when he stood, his palms in his pockets, I still felt like I had just been burned, and my eyes felt misty as bumps washed through my skin. When I finally lifted my face and stared at him, he was regarding me with his gaze impassive again, "I will let you get some rest. Clearly, with the way you are reacting to my touch, we will be repeating that night if I don't leave now."My eye blinked severally, my ears assured that this shameless arrogance had simply been an error
Ferrara"We can just ignore it, Boss, and proceed with the meeting you have as planned. Going to court yourself will draw unnecessary attention to the case." My consigliere was right, it was quite a reasonable suggestion. But all thoughts of rationality had fled last night when I learnt that Katya suddenly reappeared again, and the fact that I had a son...I adjusted the dark blue custom made suede blazers which laid emphasis on my broad shoulders, lean waist and a height that made me tower over many people who were considered tall. Carlos reached out and arranged the turtle neck beneath it properly, removing a particle from my jet black hair which had been swept back and styled with a gel. "Reschedule the meeting, and get the chauffer ready. Contact Matteo." Carlos' blue eyes seemed a bit dull, evidence of the little sleep we had all gotten since being hit by the news of Katya's return. He stood for a moment in his black suit, about to say something, but seemed to have changed hi
Katya"Wha...what? What do you mean my son isn't with you anymore?"My voice was quavering, my shades removed and on the floor, where it had slipped and fallen a few seconds ago the moment Kyrian said those ominous words. My most trusted and efficient bodyguard had a pensive look on his face, those popping veins doing nothing to calm me down. My fingers were trembling in a matter of seconds, and I felt all blood drained from my skin.My son, my little man..."Our team is checking the CCTV on the streets to know the direction they took, this was done by... Mr. Castello's security."Shit. I should have known he wasn't just going to walk away after what I had just cost him without pulling some stunt. My entire body clamped together, my blood spiralling with boiling hot anger.Memories of those nights I had cried myself to sleep flooded my mind, as well as the pain of childbirth which I had almost thought would kill me. I had had no one by my side apart from paid employees, and finally,
Katya"Mommy! Over here!" The sight of my son waving his small hands as he signalled to me, was enough to melt the raging stone in my chest.But as soon as I approached the table and caught sight of Ferrara with that smug expression in his eyes, my heart hardened again. He had dared to kidnap Christopher and bring him all the way here without my consent?What if something had happened on the way?"My little boy, are you okay?" I inquired as soon as I got to the table and pulled him into my arms, and he nodded, his eyes radiating warmth."Yes, mommy. Daddy said you would be joining us soon, and he was right. I like daddy's house, let's live here. He said we can all stay here with him. How nice!"What the fuck? Nice?I smiled as much as the burning emotion in my heart would let me, and patted his hair softly, my eyes hardening the moment they met with Ferrara's across the table.He had discarded the jacket and rolled the sleeves of his dark turtle-neck, languidly sipping at a drink whi