Chapter Eight

~ALEKSEI POV~

I shoved the pen toward her, my patience running out.

Violet looked from the pen to me, her hand flipping through the document with a bored expression that made my blood boil.

"I want one condition," she said finally

I lean back on the arm chair beside the bed, obviously she would want something mundane, "say it." I replied calmly “A bigger closet?, A vacation to throw your tantrums? Name it and it’s done.” I said

She looked at me like I was spitting dumb words.

"I want to be kept informed and in agreement with every future decision involving my father's business," she said, giving a smug look. "You might have my twenty percent, but I sure as hell want to know how my brother takes care of the business, I’m not letting Marco run it to the ground.”she continued

I let out a short, dry laugh. "Are you joking?” She is bold I will give her that.

“ Do you really think a woman is going to dictate terms to the Carmene family? Your brother gifted those shares to me for a reason, Violet! Because he knows how the mafia world works” I said coldly

"Marco is stupid.” she spat, her voice rising as she stepped closer to me "He did that to spite me, I didn't work so hard to earn that share to watch you all play with it like a toy.” She said

"You're a joke," I said standing up from the arm chair and closing the little distance left. “ You think because your father allows you to run little errands in his office you can now deal with the business?”

She stepped closer so much that the distance between us was uncomfortable.

“Either I stay in the room where the decisions are made, or there is no fucking deal." She said as a matter of fact.

For a moment, I just stared at her, then added like an afterthought

"I also want twenty-five percent of your personal shares in the Carmene Empire"

The air in the room turned to ice.

“ You’re either very brave or stupid.” I said calmly “ Because you don’t even understand what you’re asking for.” I stepped back.

“ I understand perfectly,deal or no deal Aleksei?” She said without blinking

She held the pen over the document smiling now as if I would end this terms on what she wanted.

"What do you even know about this life? My family already treated you as royalty by bringing you into this house, and you think you can demand a share from my legacy?" I said my eyes red with rage.

“ Royalty?”She laughed so loudly.

She looks so beautiful when she is bratty and unyielding and it disgusted me how much I want to pin her to the wall and force her to yield to me, to be submissive.

"In the Carmene family, wives stay out of the business!" I said, my voice controlled.

"Then find yourself a different wife," she said, tossing the pen onto the bed. "This deal is non-negotiable, you can go out there and tell your papa that you can’t handle the Greco girl.” She said turning to the bed.

"Bloody Mary, I should just kill you right now and end this farce!" I took a step towards her but she just stood there daring me.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“ Stay right there!” I said to her.

“ Like there is a tiny hoe I can run into.” She said sitting on the bed.

Knock. knock…

"What!" I snapped

"Boss, your father sent for you," the guard's voice was urgent through the door.

“ Tell him, I’m busy with my wife.” I called out irritated by the distraction.

“ He said, You should come right now.”

I turned back to her, pointing a finger at her. "When I am back, we will deal with this once and for all.” I said stepping out of the room.

I slammed the door harder than necessary, I was so blinded with fury I punched the hallway wall, pain shot through my knuckles immediately but the pain wasn’t my problem.

This marriage wasn’t suppose to be complicated, If I had known I was marrying a wicked witch, I would have burned the marriage contract at the altar. No woman in the history of the Carmene line has ever asked their husbands for shares, all they wanted were shoes, trips, and charity galas and to protect their husbands when the need arose. And she wanted to babysit me? Because of a twenty percent gift?

I straightened my jacket and forced myself to breathe normally before walking into my father's office.

He was standing by the window when I entered, watching the city with a drink he was suppose to avoid on his hands.

"Father, you called," I said.

“The first time I met Violet," Nikolai said, "she was skeet shooting, and she didn't miss a single shot. Do you know why?"

“ Father, Did you call me here for a sports report? Or for a meeting because I’m not in a very pleasant mood." I said.

He finally turned to me slightly, “You are underestimating her.” Nikolai said

“ I am not! And father please, can we not talk about her.” I said

"I sent you the Greco financial files, Dmitri was finally able to hacked their system during the wedding.” He said taking a seat

“I saw the numbers, Marco is a better business man than we give him credit for. He has tripled their revenues for years now and he has successfully been dealing with the Irish for a long time now.” I said shifting to business mode.

Father laughed under his breathe, “ Marco Greco can never even triple the sales of a cheap ice cream store, let alone a multi-billion dollar revenue.” Nikolai said

“ Then who?” My brows wrinkled

“ She does.” Nikolai said.

“ she… Who is she?” I asked

Then I paused for a moment watching father stare at me like a dummy.

“ Violet.” He said finally “ She has been the one running the Greco business.”

I picked up papa’s laptop and scan through the files again, every major deals has the signature V.G on it. I do not like this.

“ I expected you to do a proper investigation on your own wife, son! Marco has only taken credit for every job she did, you just married the person out smarting you in business”

I froze, that dramatic brat can never have done that, she is…

“You can leave now, son, pay attention to your wife.” Father said interrupting my thought

I walked out of my father's office and went straight to my office. Violet Greco, that vengeful wife of mine cannot be the one running the Greco’s business, if she is then she has gone against every single thing I have ever believed.

Fuck!!!! I would have done a thorough investigation, so violet Greco has been the menace causing problems for all my businesses, I paced my office frustrated.

Damn it!

I pick up a folder from my desk and step out of my office.

~VIOLET POV~

The door slammed so hard the walls rattled.

I stood in the silence of that massive bedroom, still holding myself together by a threads, he must be fucking joking if he thinks I wouldn’t get what I want.

My legs felt weak, I had been standing for too long, thanks to that douche bag of a husband, I sat on the edge of the bed and let myself breathe, In and out slowly, Papa use to tell me that anger wasn't useful, unless it was directed and it becomes something I can use instead of it using me.

Right now, I'm still angry but I need to channel it to the right places. I will not be just a pretty wife, who he moves around when he wants.

I picked up my phone and dialled Antonio, my assistant and only trusted right hand man.

“ Good evening ma, congratulations on …” he started to say

“ Skip it” I interrupted, “I need full access to the carmene’s financial system, give me all their ledger details including offshore accounts.”

They was silence on the other end for a minute then he replied

“ Ma, their encryption is extremely advanced” Antonio said carefully. “if I'm caught….”

“ you won't.” I said as a matter of fact “ Because you are better than them.”

“Understood.” He said

“One more thing, Antonio.” I added before ending the call “Never question my instructions again, either you get it done or I replace you.” then I ended the call.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and a smile rose up the side of my lips. “ I am going to ruin you Aleksei Carmene.”