LOGINAlina PovThe silence after that was deafening. I rested my head on the wooden door while my senses came back to me. My heart was racing so fast I felt light-headed. When my eyes caught sight of the mess below, I realized what I just did. On the phone, and with Mikhail no less. My hands flew to my face. The embarrassment was hitting me in waves.I could hear his voice from the phone calling after me.“Alina answer me.”My face burned. “I…I, bye.” I cut the call immediately. I can never face him again. Living with my parents might not be so bad after all, I thought. But when an image of Harris popped into my mind, I shuddered at the thought.What is wrong with me?I slowly got on my feet and walked towards the sink, turning on the faucet. I couldn’t look at my reflection in the mirror at first, as if my reflection might accuse me. When I finally did, it startled me at first. My flushed cheeks, glassy eyes and swollen lips from continuous biting which did nothing to mute my voice by the
Mikhail PovAfter doing that stupid test for my father I waltz back into the office and dropped the heavy bag filled with money on his table and threw a blood stained contract before him. He didn’t ask me anything about it. No doubt he was already filled in before I walked through his doors. He nodded to an assistant and he took the bag and walked away. I stared at my old man waiting for him to say something. He glanced at my bandaged hand before regarding me.“There is an important meeting tomorrow by 10am sharp. Be there and I’ll fill you in on our current projects.” That was all he said and all I was going to get from him. As expected.I turned around and walked away.“Oh and Cын?...” he called out and it surprised me so much I turned around. The first time he ever called me that was the day I captured some asshole that was threatening him and brought it to him like a present. He didn’t want me to know about it but I was nosy anyways and eager to get his approval. Cын (syn) it mean
Alina PovThe house was too quiet for a morning. It was always like that but today felt intentional. The curtains in the dining room were half-drawn, letting a polite amount of sunlight to flatter and reflect off the porcelain plates and golden silverware.I sat at the end of the dining table and rested my hands on my lap. A maid served a plate in front of me; scrambled eggs, sliced avocadoes, and toasted bread, beautifully arranged. My parents sat across from me. They were already half-way through their breakfast while I spaced out for ten minutes. I glanced at them.Mom moved so elegantly with a perfect posture and controlled movements as she ate. Dad was looking straight at me but wasn’t saying anything. He stopped only to take a couple of bites out of his food before resuming his original stance.I swallowed and decided to break this silence.“Am I really not allowed to leave the house?” I asked quietly. I didn’t mean to sound so small but I was finding it hard to find the confide
Igor Volkov.A little older than the last time I saw him, but still retained the same predator stare and smile. His gaze slid over my form, the way a butcher inspects a cut of meat. I could practically hear what he was thinking.A flicker of a memory flashed before my eyes. Eleven year-old me trying not to cry as my body ached all over from my judo teacher beating the hell outta me. My father and Igor were in the room watching. My teacher doesn’t hold back when my father was around, I think he ordered it.I remember the stupid grin Igor had when I was beaten down and tried to get up. That was my first moment of despising him.“Look at how much you’ve grown” Igor smirked.I shook my head. “And look how much you haven’t.”A few of Igor’s men share glances, unsure of what to do but Igor just laughed out.“Still got that sharp mouth.”I rolled my eyes, already irritated. “Let’s get this over with, where is the money?” Igor’s expression shifted from playful to serious. He reached into his
The environment was dead silent as I parked my car outside the Andreev Tower, like the city was still asleep. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard- 7:21 a.m. early, just how my father liked it. That thought alone made me roll my eyes as I stepped out.The guards at the entrance stiffened at my presence. I gave them a single glace before walking past them. The elevator ride to the top was quiet except for the hum of the cables. I entered his office and found it empty. Of course it was.Dimitri is a man of ritual. If he says to be here at eight, he will walk through those doors exactly at eight. Everything about him was precision.I walked to the massive oak desk that ruled the room. The chair was turned towards the window, like an emperor’s throne facing his empire. I poured myself a glass of whiskey from his decanter on the side table and relaxed into his seat.The alcohol burned its way down and I sighed when I felt it hit home. I had thirty-five minutes to remember why I was here
Mikhail PovThe tires screeched on the pavement floor as I cut across the private drive through and stopped directly in front of the Andreev Tower. As I killed the engine, a uniformed security man stepped forward and tapped against my tinted glass with a knuckle.I slowly lowered the window and tugged the sunglasses from my face. Recognition flashed across his face instantly and he froze up. I took one glance at him, he wasn’t a familiar face but then again all staffs are required to memorize my face as long as they are employed here.He swallowed and stepped back without a word. I tossed the glasses unto the dashboard and shoved the door open. “Take care of her.” I tossed my keys to the nervous man which he barely caught without tripping over himself.The place hadn’t changed, even though I haven’t set foot here in years. The receptionist breath caught audibly when she saw me. I didn’t slow down, I knew the way. I’ve walked these halls for most of my life.I bypassed the elevator att
Now we’ve been left alone.The music from the ongoing opera was like a low hum in the distance. Mikhail doesn’t speak right away, he simply stood there staring at the closed door. It takes him a few seconds before he finally turns fully towards me.His gaze made me look away instantly. My hands tig
Mikhail PovHer breath came in ragged waves. I watched her chest rise and fall as if she had run for miles. She couldn’t keep her gaze on me and kept darting her eyes everywhere except for mine. I could feel the warmth of her body even through my suit as I hovered over her.I didn’t move, instead,
My heart skipped a beat and my eyes darted between the two men. I don’t know why but I felt extremely nervous for him. This didn’t feel like a normal race.Mikhail crossed his arms and stared at the man with a bored expression.“And who the hell are you supposed to be?”The man smiled and jerked hi
Alina Pov I hate this. I hate everything about this party. I don’t know a single soul in this room, and they were all here for me, or rather, the version of me my father wanted them to see. I was still locked in my room until this morning, when the key turned the lock I thought maybe, just maybe h







