Chapter 4 - Sophia
As he pulled me through the large double glass doors, I dreaded being locked up again.
I still had no idea why he had kidnapped me and forced me to marry him.
Who was the handsome stranger? This Kolya?
As if that meant anything to me. He scares me, but there was also something soothing about his presence.
He kept insisting I know him and that I have to fix what I have done. But I don’t know what he’s talking about. I didn’t know how to prove it either, without knowing what he thought I did. This was a mess.
I was surprised when he turned away from the stairs and pulled me with him into a huge dining room. Two guards stood by the entrance and nodded as we passed them. Entering through the two large black oak doors, my mouth dropped open.
Staring at the room, I was amazed and taken by the décor.
This room was nothing like the parts of the house I’ve seen.
It felt like I had stepped into a fairytale, and in the center of the room sat a large oval black oak table.
The surface was polished to a deep obsidian shine.
I was sure that I would be able to see my face in it.
Twelve chairs surrounded it. Each adorned with a silver, fluffy cushion. With the light from the window and chandelier casting perfection, they looked like they belonged in a royal castle. My feet felt glued to the floor as I moved forward slowly, entranced by the quiet elegance.
Glancing up at the chandelier made from black wrought-iron, I studied the delicate arms curving, holding candle-shaped globes.
The globes poured out a soft silver glow.
It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The faint, flickering shadows it cast danced against the white walls.
Looking down at the white marble floor, I felt my breath catch from the cold emptiness it gave off.
This room couldn’t have been used many times.
It felt lifeless even in its amazing beauty.
One entire wall is made of floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the soft natural light to spill into the room.
Beyond the glass lies a breathtaking garden.
Lush, vibrant green flows seamlessly with full rainbow colors.
It feels almost out of place in such a sterile home.
But what catches my eye isn’t the beauty. It’s the tall gate. Barely visible at the far end of the garden, but it’s there. I narrow my eyes, trying to see it better, trying to gauge its height. I’m not sure I’d make it, but I was going to try.
“Sit,” he huffed over my shoulder as he pulled out a chair.
Without a word, I sat down watching him as he moved to the other end of the table. He had barely sat down when a door to the right opened. Two young women came strolling out.
They wore matching white dresses and beige aprons. Each was carrying a tray. They moved with elegance to his side of the table. The first one placed a covered plate before him before coming to me and placing one down before me as well.
The second woman was carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses on her tray. She placed the tray on the table. She took a glass from the tray, placing it next to his plate. She held the bottle towards him and only opened it once she received a nod. She poured his glass half before coming my way.
I sat in awe as they moved around the table and headed back out the door. Who was this man? I watched him quietly as he removed the cover from his plate. The food looked fresh, crisp, and delicious. I quickly removed the silver cover from mine as well.
As the aroma filled the air around me, I fluttered my eyes. A delicate, mouthwatering scent filled my nostrils. Looking down at my plate, I could feel the water building up in my mouth as my taste buds came to life.
Noticing the array of cutlery on both sides of my plate made me uneasy. I had no idea what most of them were used for. Glancing at him, I waited for him to pick up his knife and fork before picking up mine.
I kept quiet as I observed him while he ate. His posture was upright. His elbows didn’t even touch the table as he ate. The way he held his knife and fork complemented his look even more. He appeared elite, almost like royalty. I wondered where the impeccable table manners came from.
He looked at me as he took another bite. I was glad when he didn’t say anything. Lowering my gaze, I started eating as well. I didn’t want to talk to him and wasn’t about to give him something to start a conversation with.
Keeping an eye on him, I noticed he was wearing a Richard Mille watch. I wasn’t sure about the price, but I knew it was expensive. He must have a lot of money if he can afford things like that and live in this mansion.
I nearly choked on the food in my mouth as he broke the silence. “Are you a fussy eater, fussy about certain foods?” His question was slightly odd, seeing that he had been feeding me for a while now. But the way he asked made me feel insulted, as I had never rejected anything he gave me.
Looking up, I was slightly unsure what to say. Why would he ask such a random question? Before I could formulate a reply, he spoke again. “Sorry, I meant to ask if you have any allergies I should be aware of. My words came out wrong.”
Still a bit shocked, I merely shook my head. This man was different from the brute who kidnapped me. He seemed genuinely concerned. Cold but gentler.
“Glad to hear that,” he added. “Then I do not have to ask the staff to change anything or be wary of certain items when preparing meals.”
The word slipped out of my mouth as I turned my head slightly sideways. “Staff?” It sounded more like a question than a declaration.
“Yes, my staff. You know what that word means, don’t you?” His tone dripped with sarcasm as he spoke.
Rolling my eyes, I replied a bit too eagerly. “Yes, I do know the meaning of the word.”
“Good,” he replied, grinning. “So, why then the uncertainty in your tone when you said the word just now?” He pushed his plate forward, placed his elbows on the table, and leaned in.
“Are the women your workers?” I asked, sounding surprised.
“Who else would they be?” he questioned. His tone was light and filled with amusement.
Feeling slightly annoyed, I replied in a softer tone. “From a delivery company, or something. How should I know? I don’t know much about you.”
He laughed as he pushed his hands through his hair and leaned back in his chair. “Oh, honey,” he managed to say between breaths. “You still have so much to learn.”
“Well, if you must know. I graduated with full honors. I am smart and don’t see how you could teach me anything,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. Glaring at him, I folded my arms across my chest.
“You still need to learn about life, my dear, not from books. Life has so much to teach.” His tone was softer with only a hint of amusement now.
Slowly, I nodded, considering his words.
“Let me ask you this…,” he added. “What do you know about Bratva?”
“Birds of the same feather, a group of criminals working together,” I shot back, proud of myself. Lifting the glass before me, I sipped leisurely on the wine. Holding the glass up, I studied the light pink wine.
Wow, I thought to myself. I had never tasted anything quite like it before. I could get used to this. I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard him laughing. “Your constant laughing is very insulting,” I shot at him, feeling my anger building.
“You clearly know nothing about Bratva. Allow me to enlighten you,” he said, getting up. “Bratva is a brotherhood, a family thing. It’s not a gang like you insinuated.”
As he moved around the table toward me, he continued. “You do get Bratva groups that are extremely bad. But, generally, being Bratva is more than committing crimes. In fact, there are many people, places, and institutions that benefit. Even the government.”
“The government? Government facilities?” I asked, confused.
Kolya stopped, smirked at me, and turned around.
As he moved to his chair, he kept on speaking.
“Politicians, cops, even lawyers are getting involved. Not just with individual people who are part of Bratva, but even with some of the groups. We have long fingers, and people are….” He sat down and smiled at me. “They are predictable.”
I sat stunned as he took a deep breath before continuing. “Bratva groups own businesses. Many of those deals are with government institutes, and we always need lawyers and more. Everyone benefits this way.”
“Okay,” I replied hesitantly. I wasn’t sure where he was heading with all of this, but I now had questions.
“Sometimes lawyers step into things they don’t understand. This can cause issues. Their staff could be falsely accused or used for their own hidden agendas.” Kolya said, looking down at his hands.
“What does that have to do with anything? You’re veering off track.” I responded.
Looking up, our eyes met. Those green emeralds are pulling me in. He spoke in a flat tone as he continued. “Those lawsuits that I received were all in your name. I believe that someone above you is using you as a scapegoat. I believe you are a pawn for someone, and you are going to get burned.”
My mind went whirling as I soaked in his words. For a brief second, I was too stunned to reply. Shaking it off, I sat upright as I spoke. “You are surely not talking about Melody?”
Kolya slowly nodded in agreement.
My eyes narrowed as the confusion I felt turned into anger, and my brows furrowed. “No!” I shot at him sharply. “Melody is a kind, caring person. She has always been there for me. She supports me and looks out for me. I can’t believe she would do that.”
Getting up, I was ready to storm out. “Melody has assisted me in every way. She wouldn’t betray me like that!” I added as I turned to leave.
“Sit, let me show you,” Kolya added. His tone was demanding but soft.
Looking at him, I saw him nodding to one of his guards. The man walked over and placed it on the table before me. Slowly, I turned and took my seat. “What’s this?” I asked.
“Have a look, and if you can explain them, then I will believe you,” he said. “She has used your name on every single one of these lawsuits. This is what led me to you.”
Picking up the envelope, I swallowed the lump pushing up in my throat.
Opening it, I carefully pulled out the papers inside.
“She will not do such a thing to me,” I spat at him.
I could hear a slight quivering in my tone.
“We have been working together for years. I know her. You surely made all of this up to place blame on her. For what reason you have it in for her, I do not know. But I will find the truth.”
Looking at the first page, I felt my stomach turning. My signature was on the bottom of the lawsuit. “You made all of this up. You are a criminal!” I shot at him. My words tasted like poison. The more I read, the worse I felt.
Kolya banged his fist on the table, making me flinch. I scanned through the papers. There was a document I had not seen before. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it only confirmed that it was all fake. Glancing at him, I noticed his clenched jaw.
On the last page, I found something interesting, so I had to confirm, so I asked him outright. “You are part of a Bratva group? That’s why you spoke about them earlier?”
He looked at me as if I had just been carried in by a cat. Then his expression changed. The smile on his lips made me uncomfortable. “Oh, baby,” he said. His voice laced with sugar. “I’m the leader of said group.”
Chills ran down my spine. There was an influx of spit accumulating in my mouth. I swallowed with great difficulty. This was horrifying! Sirens screamed in my head as reality sank in. Placing the papers down, I pushed them aside. Picking up my fork, I took the last bite of food from my plate.
What were this man’s intentions with me? What if he killed me and dumped me in the woods? Will anyone ever find me? I must stop talking. From now on, I would keep my replies short, less informative. Anything I say, he can use it against me.
No, I thought as I turned my gaze to the world outside the window. I will buy time until I can find a way out of here.
“Did you enjoy the meal?” he suddenly asked, making me jump slightly.
My nerves were shot. His tone clearly indicated his annoyance with me. I kept my tone light as I responded. “Yes, thank you, it was nice.”
“Right then. I guess it’s time for bed,” he added as he got up. “You want me to show you up, or will one of the guards do?”
“I don’t care, it doesn’t matter to me,” I responded, trying to keep the fear from coming through my voice.
He signaled one of the guards, who stepped closer and took hold of my arm. “I can walk! You don’t have to drag me!” I shot at him, pulling my arm free.
He stepped back and waved his hand, showing me to leave the room. I strolled, taking in my surroundings as we headed up to the room I was locked in. I needed to find a way out. The better I got to know the place, the easier it would be, I convinced myself.
I had just entered the room when the door swung shut, and I heard the lock click into place. Lying down on the bed, I stared out at the night sky until I fell asleep.