Chapter 2 - Anoushka
I step out of the elevator once it opens on the top floor. A few sheets of paper fall over, and I try to balance on my six-inch high heels while scooping down to collect them, but my tight skirt threatens to ride up. Just then, Maximus runs over and stops me.
“I got it,” he says sweetly, lifting up the papers and handing them to me.
“Thank you! My savior!” I tell him breezily.
Maximus, Boris’s chief financial accountant, blushes as he nods. I begin walking over to Boris’s office to drop off the due diligence papers for our latest non-profit funding activities, and to my surprise, Maximus walks by my side.
“So, how have you been?” he asks. “I haven’t seen you around much.”
“Oh, you know how it is, with a new baby in the family and everything,” I explain. I’ve been so busy with our newest niece, and Lev’s just been so busy that I decided I should be there for Pippa as much as I can.
“Well,” he gushes. “It’s good to see you back. Maybe we can catch up for that coffee soon?”
“Sounds good,” I nod, as I step into the foyer outside Boris’s office. “But you’re buying this time!” I shout over my shoulder.
“Done!” he shouts back.
I smile and shake my head in amusement. Maximus is the closest thing I have to a friend in this office, always giving me the latest gossip, helping out when I’m running behind on tasks, and otherwise.
I walk closer to the door. Boris’s office is unmanned, his secretary away, probably on a coffee break or something. But just as I’m about to open the door, I hear loud, heated accusations being flown around.
I pause, my hand on the handle, listening in even though I probably shouldn’t. But heck, I can’t help myself!
"You've gone too far this time, Nikolai!" Boris shouts.
Ah, so Nikolai is the cause of this commotion. Of course. I roll my eyes, wondering what he’s gone and done this time. While I haven’t seen him since that one time when he kidnapped Pippa and me from Lenny’s hideout, only to deliver us to safety with my brothers, I’ve heard enough from my brothers to know he’s always causing some trouble or the other with this farce of a joint venture he’s proposed.
I hear someone slam a fist on a table, and then Lev’s voice comes through. "This joint venture was supposed to be a partnership, not a dictatorship. You're crossing the line by coming in here and demanding such an unfathomable arrangement."
Damien, usually the calmer one, chimes in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, but don't you see, Brothers? Nikolai thinks he's above the rules. He believes he can do and get whatever and whoever he pleases."
“She’s not a thing I demand, like a commodity you’re making her out to be. I don’t want to get her,” Nikolai bellows.
She? Okay. What the hell is going on in there?
While previously, I lingered at the doorway, torn between the desire to intervene and the knowledge that getting involved could make matters worse, now the argument is clearly one I’m curious to know more about. Without a second thought, I barge right in.
I watch as all eyes turn to me, the words instantly disappearing from the room. Nikolai leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. The tension in the room is palpable, and I can't help but feel a sense of unease. My previous encounter with Nikolai at Lenny's warehouse has left me wary of his intentions since, in our world, no one does a favor from the goodness of their heart, and seeing him here, in the midst of this heated argument, only heightens my concern.
"Anoushka!" Boris barks at me, clearly agitated. "Stay out of this."
"Out of what?" I ask, my eyes darting between my siblings and the imposing figure of Nikolai sitting opposite them.
"Anoushka, you don't understand," Damien tries to explain, his usual stoic demeanor crumbling under the weight of his frustration. "This isn't about business anymore. It's personal."
"Personal?" I repeat, my gaze flickering to Nikolai. His eyes are dark and unreadable, offering no clues as to what might be going on behind that impassive expression.
“Anoushka, just leave,” Lev says, walking over to me. He grabs my shoulders to guide me out, but I fight against it, standing in place. The longer I stand, the more my heart races.
The air crackles with tension, heavy and suffocating, as I watch Nikolai's chest rise and fall in measured breaths. His posture is relaxed, his expression a mask of cool indifference that sharply contrasts the fury etched across my brothers' faces.
"Anoushka should stay," Nikolai finally says, his voice calm and smooth like silk. "And she should know that I have only acted in our mutual best interest, making decisions necessary to ensure the success of our families and ventures."
"Best interest?" Boris spits out, incredulous. "You think what you propose is in our best interest when the only person I see benefitting is you?"
"You have enemies everywhere, Boris," Nikolai replies, holding his ground. "Perhaps it is time for you to value stronger alliances."
"Listen to him, Brothers," I interject, trying to keep my voice level despite the storm of emotions brewing within me. Memories from Lenny's warehouse flash through my mind—how I feared for my life. Nikolai doesn’t lie. There are enemies within our ranks, and outside. I almost lost my life to a trusted employee. There could be more danger coming our way. "Maybe Nikolai has a point. We need to find a way to work together, not tear each other apart."
"Anoushka," Damien growls, narrowing his eyes at me, "you know nothing about this situation."
"Then help me understand," I plead, locking eyes with each of my siblings, silently begging them to see reason. "We're all on the same side here, aren't we?"
"Are we?" Lev questions bitterly, glaring at Nikolai. "You know nothing of what he asks,” Lev looks right at me now, shaking his head furiously.
The room falls silent for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air. I glance at my brothers, seeing the skepticism etched on their faces. They don't trust him, and I can't blame them. The truth is that when Nikolai took Pippa and me from Lenny’s, he had us kidnapped. We were blindfolded and handcuffed. I feared for my life. Not once, during the drive to god knows where, did he care to tell us we were safe. He let us think we were in danger from the unknown and allowed me to gasp in panic for what felt like hours before he left us at the side of the road with a note and a small whisper that my brothers were on their way.
He toyed with us, with me. Almost like he enjoyed it,
Why? Whatever for?
While his ultimate act was one of decent intention, the way he did it had me unnerved.
But now, here we are at a precipice of the unknown, and for whatever reason, my brothers did start an alliance with him. For what it’s worth, he is our partner in crime.
I clear my throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Perhaps we should take a step back and discuss this calmly," I suggest, trying to diffuse the tension. "Getting worked up will only make matters worse."
Boris turns to me, his eyes blazing with anger. "You don't understand, Anoushka. Nikolai is trying to take advantage of us. We can't let him get away with it."
I take a deep breath, knowing that I need to tread carefully. "I understand your concerns, Boris, but we need to approach this rationally. Throwing accusations around won't solve anything."
Nikolai leans back in his chair, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "I appreciate your attempt at diplomacy, Anoushka, but I fear your brothers are too blinded by their emotions to see reason."
My brothers erupt in a chorus of protests, their voices overlapping as they argue against Nikolai's statement. I hold up my hand, silencing them. "Enough," I say firmly. "Let's hear what Nikolai has to say."
Nikolai flips his dark blonde hair off his forehead and glances over at me, his brown eyes sweeping across my face before lingering down my figure and arching back up again. It’s like he’s seeing me for the first time, and I shift my weight between both legs, suddenly feeling weak from the way his gaze bores into me. “So, you want to hear what I have to say?” he tilts his head, almost whispering at me. He then licks his bottom lip like he wants a taste of what he sees. I feel shocked, the blood rushing to my cheeks.
“Don’t you dare look at her that way!” Lev roars, leaving my side to lunge toward Nikolai. He grabs Nikolai by his collar, glowering at him.
I rush over, holding Lev’s hand. “Lev,” I look into his eyes, bending over to get his attention. “Stop.”
Lev takes a few deep breaths, finally calming down enough to let Nikolai go with a rough push. The chair swivels back, but Nikolai remains unperturbed.
Nikolai faces me and nods. "Thank you, Anoushka."
He turns his attention back to my brothers. "As I mentioned before, I have no intention of ruining your family. In fact, I possess knowledge that could have already destroyed you, but I chose not to act on it."
The room falls silent, a sense of unease settling over us. I feel a chill run down my spine as I wonder what secrets Nikolai could possibly know about our family.
Boris leans forward, his eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about, Nikolai?"
Nikolai's smirk widens. "Let's just say that I have information about certain… activities that your family has been involved in. Activities that could bring down the entire Zolotov empire if they were to come to light. Before I learned Lenny betrayed you, I had him in my pocket, and he told me things you probably don’t want anyone to know.”
I feel my heart sink as realization dawns on me. He knows about all our illegal dealings that Lenny overlooked, the ones we've worked so hard to keep hidden from the authorities and our rivals.
Damien slams his fist on the table, causing me to jump. "You're bluffing," he accuses, his voice trembling with rage.
Nikolai shakes his head, his expression serious. "I assure you, I am not. I know about your shipping routes, your private islands, where you store your cash, and in which underground bunkers with geographic locations. I have evidence that could destroy you, but I have chosen not to use it. As I said, my goal is not to ruin you but to forge a stronger alliance between our families."
I sit in a chair, my mind reeling from this revelation. What does Nikolai want from us? And how far is he willing to go to get it?
As the weight of Nikolai's words sinks in, I find myself grappling with the gravity of the situation. My mind races, trying to find a way out of this predicament, but the options seem limited. I glance at my brothers, their faces a mix of anger, frustration, and helplessness. It's clear that we're all aware of the precarious position we're in.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to say. "What exactly do you want, Nikolai?" I ask, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.
Nikolai's gaze locks with mine, his eyes intense and unwavering. "I want you, Anoushka. I want you to be my wife."
My heart pounds in my chest as Nikolai's words hang in the air, heavy with implication. Marry him? I think I heard wrong, and when I turn to face each of my brothers, I see the rage, anger, and sadness etched on their faces.
They knew this was what Nikolai wanted all along. That’s what the argument had been about! This is why they wanted me out of here. Boris's fists clench at his sides, and Damien's eyes dart from Nikolai to me, searching for some sign that this is all a twisted joke. Lev looks like he’s ready to kill the man here and now.
And the truth is, so am I. The idea of marrying this mysterious man, this man who has spied on us to learn our deepest, darkest secrets, is like a nightmare come to life. I know nothing about him, apart from the fact that he’s fond of playing games, of manipulating situations.
Perhaps even manipulating me.
I straighten my back, refusing to let fear dictate my actions. "And if I refuse?" I challenge, locking eyes with Nikolai.
His expression remains unreadable for a moment, and then a ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "You could refuse," he concedes, "but then this alliance will fail because your brothers don’t view me as an equal, and I’m done bending to their whims. Once the alliance fails, all those secrets I hold would be fair game. Do you really want to risk that?"
My brothers bristle with anger, ready to pounce on Nikolai, their protectiveness flaring up in defense of their sister.
“We would never allow this marriage!” Boris shouts.
“How dare you threaten us on our own turf while asking to marry our sister with that vile tongue?” Lev bellows.
Nikolai's gaze pierces through me, waiting for my response as he ignores my brothers. A marriage to Nikolai is not something I ever imagined, nor something I ever wanted. But as I look around the room at my brothers, a sense of duty washes over me. I must do whatever is needed to protect my family and our secrets. I know that this is not a choice made out of love or desire but rather a sacrifice for the sake of my family.
I push down the rising panic and meet Nikolai's gaze head-on. "Fine," I say, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "I'll do it."
What I don’t say is that I’m only marrying him because I have to. That the marriage would never be more than the wedding. We’d live together, strangers on the dock. This marriage would be one on paper and paper alone.
The room falls into stunned silence, broken only by the sound of my own heartbeat thundering in my ears. Nikolai's expression remains unreadable, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.
And then, chaos erupts. Boris rises from his seat, his voice filled with disbelief and anger. "Anoushka, you can't be serious! We can find another way!”
“Like hell, you’ll marry him!” Lev grabs my arm, forcing me to look at him.
“Over my dead body!” I hear Damien shout.
Nikolai's lips curve into a smile, a mixture of triumph and something else I can't quite decipher. He doesn’t say a word, making it clear that the ball is now in my court. I can already see his brain making calculations.
God forbid later I get to claim he forced me. He wants me to publicly declare how I insist on marrying him.
Fine. So be it. Anything to keep the Zolotovs safe.
I take a deep breath and turn to face my brothers, my resolve strengthening with each passing moment. "Boris, Damien, Lev," I begin, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "I already made my decision. You can discuss the wedding arrangements with Nikolai.”
Boris opens his mouth to protest. “You’re in no position to make such decisions, Anoushka!” he growls at me.
But I hold up a hand, silencing him. "Enough!" I shout, silencing my brother and drawing everyone’s attention back to me. "I may be the youngest, but I am not a child anymore. I can make my own decisions."
"Anoushka," Damien begins, his voice gentle but firm. "We know you're an adult, but—"
"Remember when you met Genevieve?" I cut him off, holding his gaze steadily. He hesitates, then nods slowly. "Damien, you did exactly what I’m doing today with Genevieve. Lev, you married Pippa after such chaos! And Boris? You sacrificed what you had to for Robin, the woman you loved. We all make sacrifices in our small way. Let me do what I must."
My brothers exchange uneasy glances, unable to argue with my words.
I look each of them in the eye, seeing the flickers of understanding and reluctance in their gazes. "I'm an adult now, capable of making my own choices. And I choose to do what's best for our family, even if it means entering into this arranged marriage with Nikolai Orlov."
I then turn to face my future husband. Nikolai's piercing gaze meets mine, and there's an intensity in his eyes that both unnerves and intrigues me.
"I must admit, I'm impressed by your courage, Anoushka," Nikolai says, his voice smooth as silk. "Not many would be willing to make such a sacrifice."
I lift my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family, even if it means marrying a man I barely know."
A flicker of amusement dances in Nikolai's eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitches. "I assure you, Anoushka, you'll come to know me very well in the days to come."
The implication in his words sends a flutter through my stomach, a mix of apprehension and something else I can't quite name. I swallow hard and turn on my heels, walking out of the room.
As I exit the room and close the door behind me, I finally allow myself a moment to breathe. I lean against the door, my eyes fluttering closed as I try to process the whirlwind of emotions coursing through me.
"What have I done?" I whisper to myself, my voice trembling.