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23. Business Trip
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The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 24. Hotel Arrangements
After six hours of having to sit across from him in his private jet and being forced to watch him take notes and give orders to the guards who came along with us, we finally arrived. This whole trip is starting to feel like a drag and I’m starting to realize that what he wants is to bore me to death. I haven’t even attended to him in the way that he expects me to and I’m already sick of him. Arriving at the hotel takes about thirty minutes. We’re sitting next to each other in the back of the car and he’s smoking with the windows down. I’m tired and hungry because I refused to eat anything on the plane, and I want nothing more than to sleep what has already been a terrible day. Only, I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. I still feel like he’s planning something. Once the driver parks the car in front of the hotel, we get out. He speaks to the woman behind the counter while I stay a safe distance away, holding my luggage. After checking in, we go up to our rooms. The security g
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 25. Having Fun
Of course, I don't have a choice in the matter, like everything else.I'm forced to tag along with Igor to this inauguration that I don't want to go to. My energy is on the ground and what I need is sleep, but it seems like he has other plans. He wants to overwork me, perhaps until I beg him to stop.That's too bad because I won't. I'll do no such thing.I've come this far, so I can go further. I can do this to prove a point and besides, I'm not that sleep-deprived. I can hold out longer. Much longer, actually. If proving him wrong and disappointing him is the end result, then I'm happy.We're in the car together and he's smoking a cigarette. He's dressed more casually than I've ever seen him—there is a plain black shirt beneath his blazer, and it's unbuttoned. It shows that he's wearing a golden chain with a cross. His hair isn't brushed back the way it usually is. It's more shaggy and...casual.I'm in a short black dress and strappy heels. It's the only appropriate dress I brought a
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 26. Rescuer
"Take him outside," he commands coldly, his eyes on the man his guards just pushed to the guard like nothing.This has sobered me up but now I feel nausea rolling in my stomach and filling my mouth with this awful taste. When his guards carry him away, his head lolling to the side, Igor finally looks at me.I was dreading this moment and now I know why. I seem to see blame in his eyes, which is completely unacceptable because all I was trying to do was have fun. That man had no right to put his hands on me, the same way Igor has no right to blame me for this."We're leaving," he says before turning on his heel.I stand with my back against the wall. A few feet away from me, the couple who were kissing have stopped and are now looking at me. I glance at them before pushing myself against the wall and walking lazily toward...I don't even know where I'm going.When I step back into the main area, I see Franco. He walks toward me with wide eyes and puts his hands together. "I'm so sorry.
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 27. Invitation to Dinner
I thought I wouldn't have to see Igor for the rest of the night but it seems I was proved wrong. He just never disappoints. He comes into the room fully dressed, which makes me wonder if he has a separate hotel room and simply did that to torture me. I wouldn't put it past him. I don't sit up in bed when I see him. "If you're up for it, we can have dinner together," he begins, which takes me off-guard completely. "I believe there is much we can discuss before we return to New York." "I don't think there's anything we can talk about," I say, not missing a beat. "And I'm not up for to but thank you for asking." Igor narrows his eyes at me and then adds, "I only asked to be courteous. If anything, this is further evidence that you're the one making things more complicated than they have to be. Be downstairs in thirty minutes or you'll be carried there. And in case you were wondering, no, not by me." I grit my teeth as I watch him walk out. I don't think there is anyone in the world
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 28. Taunting
We're back in New York and I have to say that I'm beyond relieved. Too much happened in LA and frankly, I can't say that I made any good memories there. Being harassed in the club by some stranger and then having to deal with Igor ruined everything for me, and since that was all that happened, I think it's safe to say that the trip was terrible. Igor has me dropped off at the apartment before he goes to work. He doesn't mention my job so I assume I don't have to go in today. I wouldn't have either, not with the jet lag that's killing me. What I need is sleep. Hubert greets me at the door. He sends me up to the room with a hot bowl of soup and I'm beyond grateful. He is the best person in this place and I'm glad I have him on my side. I sleep for a few hours and wake up just in time for dinner, but what I don't expect is the penthouse being this full with people. Hubert is standing by the stairs and immediately climbs the few steps to meet me. I ask, "What's going on?" "It's Leo's
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 29. Kindness
I wish I could find it in me to get out of bed and go to work like I did last time. He didn't give any order for me to go there today. Frankly, I'm starting to think that he gave up on the idea as soon as Boris whisked me away that day. He only took me to LA because he knew Boris wouldn't be there. What I want is to maintain what I started, which is proving to him that he doesn't have all that control over me. Today, however, I'm just not up for it. I don't want to do anything apart from lying in bed and thinking about life. The good news is that Leo has moved out. It seems Igor was serious about him getting out. According to Hubert, this happens at least once a year so he doesn't believe it's anything permanent, but to me it comes as a shocker because I know why he left. Did Igor really kick him out because of what he said to me? It was a tasteless joke but I don't think it warranted such a drastic reaction. Either way, I won't be seeing much of him and it's a relief. Being aroun
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 30. Decent Conversation
I’m still in the same tragic mood when we get back to the apartment. I’ve gotten a hold of my emotions but this isn’t something that I’m easily going to get over. I start to go up the room but I hear Igor say, “Clara, a minute please.”I pause and then turn my head and see him standing by his office’s door. His expression is unreadable so I don’t know what he wants from me. I have no choice but to obey and he steps aside to let me enter. He then closes the door and moves around me to get behind his desk. I get a whiff of tobacco and his musky perfume. He sits down, his icy eyes still on my face, and says, “I’m aware of what happened at the café.”I wonder who told him but I’m not concerned. I had no control over what happened. I can’t decide who I come across. Igor arches a brow. “You’re not going to say anything?”“What can I say?” I ask dryly. “Do you want me to confirm it? I did see her at the coffee shop. What about it?”I’m genuinely confused. I don’t know what he wants from
The Ruthless Mafia’s Contracted Bride 31. Different
We’re on the way to the mountains and I can barely believe that I’ve tagged along. There are times when I seriously doubt my decision. It’s clear that they’ve been doing this for a long time as a family and I feel like I have no place here. It’s hard for me to join in on their conversations and most of the time, I don’t want to. However, every time I look out the window and take in the scenery, I realize I’m glad I’ve come. We’ve only ever been to a trip like this once, and I was much younger at the time. Dad just never had time and my mother didn’t like such trips. I remember her complaining the whole time and I guess he decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. I never forgot it, though, and now I’m reminded of that trip. Although it’ll be painfully awkward with the Makárovs, I’ll endure it. There’s no driver today; it’s just the four of us. Igor is on the wheel, Ivan is on the passenger’s seat, and Anastasia is seated beside me. She hasn’t said a word to me since we got in the car a
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