Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Nikita
I leaned back in my chair, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse. The shimmering skyline of New York was a constant reminder of the world I ruled, both legitimate and otherwise. But lately, there was something else gnawing at my mind, an unexpected itch I couldn't quite shake off—her.
Lily Donovan. The woman from the bar.
Her image had been etched into my mind since that night—her ocean blue eyes, calm one moment, hinting at something wild the next, that thick raven hair, glossy and inviting, and her sexy body temptingly shrouded in elegance.
Lily was alluring, mysterious, a sculpture of perfection that I wanted to shatter just to see what really lurked beneath. There was more to what she was letting on, so much more.
And that excited me.
I'd met countless women, but none left this lingering... presence. Without saying a word, she seemed to beckon me.
"This idea is fucking ridiculous."
Mikhail's gruff voice snapped me out of my thoughts. My second-in-command sat across from me, a permanent scowl etched onto his face. He was never one to sugarcoat his opinions, and right now, he was making it clear that he hated the direction of our conversation.
"Polishing your image with a wife? Come on, Nikita. You don't need that," Mikhail continued, running a hand over his graying beard. "If we're expanding into legitimate business, we can do it the same way we've always done it. Force and fear."
"Mikhail's right," Yuri chimed in, lounging lazily against the couch. He always had that casual, carefree demeanor, but I knew better. Behind his playful smirk and constant sarcasm was a man who could kill with efficiency. "Why complicate things with a woman? Besides, isn't this more your brother's style?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. He didn't flinch, but the smirk faded. "This isn't about complicating things," I said, my voice calm but firm. "We're stepping into a different world now. You know how the game works here—appearances matter. If we're going to solidify ties with partners who don't want to see blood on their money, we need to show them stability."
"Stability?" Mikhail let out a low growl. "They want control. They want someone they can manipulate. You think a wife is going to change that?"
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us, the tension palpable in the room. Mikhail had been with me for years. He was loyal, brutal, and brilliant in many ways. But he didn't see the whole picture here. This wasn't just about control or power. It was about strategy, playing the game smarter, not harder.
"Lily Donovan will," I said, breaking the silence.
Both Mikhail and Yuri looked at me, their eyes narrowing in confusion.
"The woman from the bar?" Yuri asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The schoolteacher?"
I nodded.
Yuri chuckled, shaking his head. "Let me guess, this is where you tell us you've found the one? Is that what this is about? Nikita Volkov, getting sentimental!"
I shot him a cold glare, and the amusement died instantly in his eyes.
"This isn't about sentimentality," I said, my voice dropping dangerously low. "She's different. She's not from our world, but she can hold her own. That night, there was something..."
I trailed off, remembering the way her eyes had flickered with hesitation. She had a plan, and whatever it was, I knew it wasn't harmless. But that didn't matter now. I could use that strength, her determination, for my own benefit. She wasn't like the women I'd encountered before—none of the simpering daughters of politicians or business moguls who threw themselves at me.
"What's the plan then?" Mikhail asked, crossing his arms over his chest, his voice slightly more measured now.
I tapped my fingers against the armrest of my chair. "Vadim will find her. I'll make her an offer—protection, wealth, power—everything she could ever want. In return, she becomes my wife. She plays the part, and in exchange, I give her a world she could never touch on her own."
"A business deal?" Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Cold, calculated, and transactional. Just how you like it."
"It's more than that." I locked eyes with him. "This will stabilize everything—my image, the business, our future."
Mikhail leaned forward, his gaze intense. "And what if she refuses? Or worse, what if she becomes a problem?"
"Then I deal with her." I didn't hesitate as I said it. It was the truth. In this world, there were no loose ends. If Lily became one, I'd cut her off. Simple as that.
A long silence followed, and I could see both men processing the decision. Mikhail wasn't happy about it, but he wasn't stupid, either. He knew when to trust my instincts.
"Fine," Mikhail said finally, leaning back in his chair. "But I hope this works. The last thing we need is a complication, especially with her."
Yuri smirked again, though it was more cautious this time. "I'll leave you to your... romantic pursuits, then."
I ignored his jab. "Vadim will reach out to her. We'll set up a dinner, something private, away from prying eyes."
Yuri gave a mocking salute as he stood, Mikhail following behind him. But before they left the room, I called out.
"And tell Vadim to be... persuasive."
After Mikhail and Yuri left, I sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the decision settling over me. It wasn't just about stabilizing the business, though that was the reason I had given them. It was about her. Lily Donovan had lodged herself into my mind, and that was dangerous.
I didn't let women get under my skin, ever. But she had.
I stood, moving toward the window. The city stretched out beneath me, glittering like a sea of lights, cold and impersonal. Just like the empire I had built.
Vadim would handle it. He always did. The man was efficient and, more importantly, knew how to make people understand when there wasn't a choice. And for Lily, there wouldn't be one.
The next day, Vadim did what he was instructed to and informed me about what happened. He found Lily at her school, a quiet place on the Upper East Side. The schoolyard was filled with children, their laughter ringing out as they ran around under the watchful eyes of teachers. But Vadim didn't care about the scene. He had one mission.
Lily spotted him as he approached. I imagined the way her eyes would have narrowed, the cautious tension that would have filled her as she recognized the type of man who walked toward her with a purpose. Vadim was intimidating in his quietness—lethal but controlled. He stopped just before her, speaking in that low, steady voice of his.
"Miss Donovan," he greeted her, his tone polite but firm. "Mr. Volkov requests your presence at a private dinner. Tomorrow night."
Her frown was immediate. "Excuse me?"
"Mr. Volkov doesn't repeat himself," Vadim replied without missing a beat. "It would be in your best interest to accept the invitation."
Lily's eyes hardened. "And if I don't?"
Vadim leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that only she could hear. "That would be... unfortunate."
That evening, I waited for her in one of the private dining rooms at an exclusive restaurant downtown. I had the room cleared out—just the two of us. No interruptions, no distractions. I wanted her focused.
The restaurant itself was upscale, dimly lit with sleek, modern decor—everything designed to scream power and influence. The setting wasn't for her benefit. It was to remind her of what was at stake, what she was stepping into.
She was late. Not by much but enough that I knew it was deliberate. I didn't mind. She was trying to make a point.
The soft click of her heels on the marble floor announced her approach when she finally arrived. She took her time, each footstep seemingly mirroring a stubborn resignation, then eventually glided into the room. As I expected, she met my eyes with a hard annoyance, no doubt ruffled by the way I gave her no choice but to come.
She wasn't dressed to impress—not in the way most women would be in this setting. But there was something about the simplicity of her sapphire dress that was more striking. It ran down her lovely figure to whisper against the floor, yet covered any hint of cleavage. It gave me that feeling again, that uncovering her would be more than rewarding.
"You're late," I said, not bothering to hide my amusement.
"I didn't realize this was a job interview," she shot back, her voice cool.
I gestured to the chair across from me. "Have a seat."
She didn't move at first, but then, with a measured calm, she walked over to the table. Her posture was straight, her gaze steady as she slipped into the chair and settled with her chin raised. She wasn't here to cower, and that only intrigued me more.
I let the silence between us stretch. The air became thick with her irritation, and I watched as her posture grew rigid. Her hands rested on the table, fingers shifting every now and then, betraying the calm she worked so hard to project. I admired that about her. Most women would have already broken under the weight of being in my presence, but not her.
I leaned back in my chair, my gaze unwavering as I studied her. "You understand why you're here, don't you?" I asked, my voice steady, authoritative.
Lily didn't speak, but her eyes shut heavily, like she was biting back a reply. I could see her processing the situation, weighing her options, though she must have known there was only one outcome.
"Your thug, Vadim, explained enough," she said finally, her voice calm but edged with displeasure. She was trying to send me a message about the kind of woman she was. But that only amused me.
"Good," I replied, keeping my voice low, measured. "But let me make something clear."
I reached out, letting my fingers brush against the soft skin of her arm. It was a light touch, but I felt her body stiffen, saw her pulse quickening in her neck. She didn't pull away, but I could sense her inner struggle, the way her nerves betrayed her even as she tried to hold her composure.
"This marriage," I continued, leaning in slightly, my voice dropping to a near whisper, "it may seem like a business transaction. Cold. Calculated. And that's exactly what it is."
When her eyes locked onto mine, a delicious thrill rippled through me. For the first time, she looked wary, almost afraid of what I would say next.
"You will play the part of my wife," I instructed her firmly. "In public, you'll be perfect. You'll stand by my side, say the right things, and act the way I need you to. You'll be the image of stability that I need to project for business." I paused, watching her reaction closely, noting the way her lips tightened slightly. She was absorbing everything, and from how her eyes danced, I could tell her mind was racing.
"But at home," I continued, leaning even closer, "stay out of my way. Don't interfere in my life. I don't need you to play the doting wife when we're alone. Follow my rules, do as I say, and in return, you'll get everything you want—money, protection, security."
I reached for her chin then, gripping it lightly but firmly, forcing her to meet my gaze. Her eyes widened slightly at the contact, but she didn't pull away. I could feel the heat in her skin, see the conflict in her eyes. She wasn't weak, and that intrigued me. But I needed her to understand what she was agreeing to.
"You will do as I say," I repeated. "Play the part perfectly. But make no mistake. This isn't a real marriage. This is an arrangement. You follow my lead, and we won't have any problems."
Her lips parted slightly, and I could see the hesitation on the tip of her tongue. I leaned in closer, my grip on her chin tightening just enough to send a clear message. "Do you understand?"
For a long moment, Lily didn't respond. Her breath hitched slightly, her eyes flickering with something—fear, uncertainty, and perhaps something more. Something darker. I was offering her the world, not something anyone could easily turn down.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she gave a small, hesitant nod.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice quiet but clear.
"Yes, what?" I prompted seriously, my eyes roaming her plump lips.
Lily clenched her jaw and shot me a hard look. But with just a raise of my eyebrows, she swallowed her pride and gave me the answer I wanted to hear.
"Yes, I understand," she spat out.
I released her chin, leaning back with a sense of satisfaction. She had agreed, as I knew she would. And now she would be mine.
Lily's body language remained rigid, her eyes filling with hatred for me by the second, but there was also acceptance. Reluctant, perhaps, but acceptance nonetheless.
"The wedding will take place in a few days," I said, shooting off the words like I was addressing my staff at home. "You'll be ready. No delays, no second thoughts."
Lily's eyes flashed, but she didn't argue. She swallowed, her eyes never leaving mine, still processing what that meant, what she was walking into.
"When you step into my world, there's no turning back," I warned. "Be prepared." I raised my hand in the air, signaling a waiter to come over. "I'll have everything arranged, so don't disappoint me."
When Lily didn't look like she'd say anything else, her eyes finally dropping to her lap as the gravity of the situation settled over her, I nodded to myself, unable to fight the grin spreading across my lips.
I always get my way.
"Now, let's eat."