Chapter 26 - Tasha
“This has to work,” I huffed as I placed down the phone. It took us all day to come up with some kind of plan we felt would have the best results.
Vadik pulled me into his warm embrace as he replied. “It will.”
Sighing, I handed him the phone. With a cheeky smile, I spoke in a sensual tone. “Now it’s your turn.”
Vadik laughed as he took the phone from me. He dialed the number. Letting go of me, he started pacing up and down as it rang. This I had learned was one of his habits.
Leaning against the wall, I listened to his side of the conversation.
“Hi there, Iosif. I hope you are well. I have something to ask you.” Vadik rolled his eyes at me as he spoke.
Placing my hands over my mouth, I kept my laughter in. As I watched him listening to Iosif.
“I want you to sit down with the Dubow family. We think there might be a way to work out the differences. Do you think this is possible?” Vadik asked.
There must have been a pause as I could see Vadik’s frustration as he lightly tapped the phone against his head. This made me want to laugh even more. But I knew that if I did, it would be bad. Walking to the window, I inhaled deeply before turning back to him.
“I know all about that,” Vadik said. His tone had changed to a deeper but calmer one as he continued. “Isn’t that why this would be a better option?”
There was silence again as he listened once more. “Great then, I’ll set it up and send you the details,” Vadik said before hanging up the phone.
Pulling my back into his arms, he kissed me passionately. “See,” he boasted. “I told you it would all work out. They have agreed to a meeting.”
Hugging him tightly, I felt my feet lifting from the ground as he picked me up and turned in a circle. Making dinner turned out to be a lot more fun than expected. We worked together but also played around. It went so far that we ended up having a food fight.
The men offered to clean up the mess while I took a long soaking bath. The meeting would take place tomorrow and I had to get rid of the tension in my muscles. I had almost fallen asleep in the tub. By the time I got out, my fingers and toes were all wrinkled. I looked like someone in their eighties.
Vadik was still in the kitchen with his brothers as I popped my head around the door. “Good night, guys,” I said smiling at them.
“I’ll be right there,” Vadik replied as his brothers bid me a good night. I was so tired, my eyes closed instantly as my head hit the pillow. I heard Vadik coming in later and felt him pulling me closer as sleep came to collect me.
Opening my eyes, I rolled around patting his side of the bed. Vadik wasn’t there. As I sat up, the door opened, and he entered with a tray. Vadik placed it on the bedside table as he leaned in kissing my head.
“Good morning,” he said sitting down beside me.
Glancing at the tray, I saw he had brought my juice, coffee, and yoghurt just the way I liked it. “Good morning,” I replied reaching for the glass of juice. Once I had enough, he took it back to the kitchen while I got dressed.
I had just left the bedroom when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” I shouted heading for the door. Opening the door, I found my entire family standing there. Even Nadia and Mila had come along.
“Welcome everyone,” I said standing to the side as I waved them in. “Have a seat, the Chernykhs should be here promptly as well.”
Anton and Vadik glared at each other as Anton headed to the small lounge. “Do you think we should move them outside? The place looks kind smallish now.” Vadik whispered.
“No, I’m sure it will be fine,” I replied kissing his cheek. Entering the lounge, I looked at my family. It wasn’t necessary to bring everyone I thought. But I knew that they were doing it to show numbers. “Coffee, tea, juice, or water anyone?” I asked as they settled down.
My heart felt like it was filling my throat trying to choke me. So many things depended on the outcome of this meeting. Before anyone could reply, there was another knock at the door. “That must be them,” I said leaving the room.
Vadik joined me as I opened the door. There stood Iosif, Avgust and two of the other siblings I haven’t met. “Welcome,” I said feeling my words bubbling in my throat. “My brothers are already here. Come through.”
The four men glanced at each other, then Iosif nodded at Vadik before they entered. Walking ahead of them, it felt like their eyes were burning holes into my back. Entering the lounge, I stepped to the side allowing them to pass. My family were all seated on the far end and the only open chairs were at the door.
I waited for them to sit before offering something to drink again. The atmosphere in the room was so thick, I was sure that I would be able to cut through it. No one spoke, they just sat glaring at each other.
“Right then,” Vadik said walking past me to the middle of the room. “Let’s begin then, okay?”
Taking a seat, I waited in anticipation as Vadik started the discussions. “Now that we are all here, I want us to talk about the things that had taken place between the two families.”
Everyone directed their ferocious glares to him. I was so nervous I almost wet my pants as Iosif broke the silence. “I’m not sure what you want from us. I know my father always detested the Dubow family as they have done bad things. But their alliance with the Mozorov family was what set him off.”
Alexandre scoffed as he spat back at Iosif. “We have never done anything to your family! What does our alliance or business have to do with the likes of you? You attacked us with no reason or cause.”
Cursing in my head, I could already see them shooting at each other in this small room. Sweat ran like rivers down my face, back, and sides as the two sides started spouting at each other. Half of what was said couldn’t be heard and the rest I didn’t even understand.
All I could make out was that it started with our father and theirs. These brilliant men were long gone. I saw no reason for the continued feud. Standing up, I cleared my throat drawing everyone’s attention. “Look,” I started. “We need to put this to bed and find common ground. Our father and yours are both dead. I see no reason why we can’t just start over.”
The men looked at me half stunned. Their expressions went from anger to confusion within seconds. “You are right,” Alexandr said standing up. “We can put the past to bed and try to start over. Yet, we need to have some reassurances that this won’t flare up in the future.”
“Okay,” Iosif added as he also stood up. “Let’s have a look at how it can be done.”
Flopping down in the chair, I breathed out relieved that we were getting somewhere. I listened for a while as they argued about ways to form some kind of peace agreement. Pavel and Makari sat in the furthest corner in silence. They looked like two schoolboys waiting for the headmaster to leave.
Glancing at Nadia, I could see her discomfort with the situation. Nodding my head to the side, I indicated for her to follow as I stood up. “Sorry for interrupting,” I said loudly. As everyone turned to me, I wished I hadn’t done that. But it was too late. “I just wanted to say that I will be leaving to make some coffee.”
There was a murmuring through the room before the argument started up again. Nadia followed me to the kitchen. “Thank you for the distraction,” she said once we were alone.
“Yes, I was also getting a bit cramped listening to their reasons and arguments,” I replied as I got everything in place. One we returned, we offered everyone some coffee. This appeared to have them all sitting down calmer. I should have done it earlier; I thought smiling at Vadik.
There were a few moments of silence as everyone seemed to consider the situation. Iosif cleared his throat. Looking at Alexandr he spoke calmly. “As elder to elder, I suggest we make a union between the two families.”
Anton’s mouth dropped open as he jumped to his feet. He looked utterly insulted at the idea. Alexandr raised his voice even before he could get out a word. “I don’t know about that at this point. But I am not saying no, we can keep our options open. In the meantime, we do have a forced union binding us.”
Alexandr looked sternly at Vadik as Iosif responded. “Very well, we can delve into that if you like.”
All the attention turned to us. It made me uncomfortable. Shifting in my chair, I waited for Vadik to reply. “We will continue working for the Chernykhs. We have no issue calling an official alliance with the Dubows.”
The look on my brother’s face’s was enough to clear my mind. Standing up, I spoke out. “We love each other.” Taking Vadik’s hand, I pulled him up to stand with me. “Therefore, I see no reason we cannot continue our lives together.”
Alexandr walked closer holding out his hand to Vadik who shook it confidently. With that the alliance was official. Smiling, we sat back down. I felt sure that the rest would fall into place.
Iosif placed his cup down as he rose. “Well, I think we should think about all that has happened and meet again at a later date,” he said grinning at Vadik and me. “We would like to put things away and will work on a resolution.”
Alexandr walked up to him shaking his hand before responding. “I think that is a good idea. We will do the same. For now, let’s shake on a peace treaty.”
We watched with joy as the two men shook hands. Squeezing Vadik’s hand, I felt relieved that it all worked out. We got up with everyone and saw them out. Once they had all left, I leaned against the door breathing out deeply as I felt the strain leaving my body.
Vadik pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. We went out the back and sat on the steps watching the sun setting. Leaning against his arm, he whispered as he kissed my head. “I want to do this with you for as long as I draw breath.”
Placing my hand on his thigh, I squeezed softly. “Yes, this is nice,” I replied. I loved being so close to him, feeling safe with him, and comfortable.