Chapter Forty-Two
Aliannah’s new position at The Museum of Antiques now allowed her to work from home, sourcing new pieces for the museum. Mr Wright had been reluctant to lose her bright face and sparkling personality from the main floor, but he relented given everything she had been through and the media circus. It kept Aliannah safe and prevented any bad press about the museum. She set up her work laptop in the shade of the roof terrace and began her new duty of hunting artefacts. She had a list of contacts to get through and current leads to chase up.
By the time she was able to sign off for the day, it was mid-afternoon. She was mentally exhausted. Not everyone was pleasant on the phone, and some were just straight rude. She had successfully booked the loan of three items for the August exhibit. She chalked it up to a good day. She packed up her work laptop and put it on the shelf in the lounge room.
Aliannah swung by the kitchen to grab a glass of lemonade and headed to her dressing room. What does one wear to meet the in-laws? Ivan had told her it was a very fancy, exclusive restaurant; only society's elite dined there. She was so nervous; what if she didn’t fit in? What if his parents didn’t like her? She took a few deep breaths and grounded herself. She chose a lemon yellow dress that didn’t show too much cleavage, but it had a slit up the thigh to keep it interesting, and she kept her hair and makeup simple. The last thing she wanted was to appear to be trying ‘too hard’.
She was about to put on her heels when Ivan knelt before her. He lifted her leg, placed a kiss on her thigh, and slid her shoe onto her foot. He did the same for the other shoe. Aliannah squirmed where she stood. Ivan stood with darkened eyes; Aliannah knew he would much rather go do something else than this dinner.
“If only we didn’t have somewhere to be darling….” He winked at her. She blushed.
The drive to the restaurant was long; traffic was like a car park. Aliannah became fidgety again as her nerves began to skyrocket. She had come to the realisation that Ivan’s father was not just her future father-in-law but he is also one of the current Pakhans in the Russian Mafia. She swallowed hard. Her brain ran a deep spiral of what-if scenarios and ridiculous would-never-really-happen scenarios. Ivan's tutting broke her out of her trance. He shifted uneasily in his seat.
“Traffic is a complete disaster in the city… I don’t know why my father insists on going to Gelso even if this traffic moves, we will barely make it on time… Lorenzo! Do you know what the hold-up is?” Ivan lowered the partition.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but it is just traffic. There is no workaround route. I have already checked. We just have to sit tight, unfortunately.” Lorenzo glanced nervously in the rearview mirror as he spoke. Ivan just shook his head and raised the partition back up.
“What is Gelso they will clear it for him. He prefers private dining for security reasons. Open-plan restaurants leave too much at risk.” Ivan ran his hand along his jaw with impatience.
The traffic eventually let up, and they finally pulled up to Gelso we are delighted to see you.” His mother stood up, and Ivan kissed her on both cheeks before nodding to Igor.
“This is Aliannah, my fiancée. Aliannah, these are my parents – Nikolai and Katerina Kozlov.” Ivan stepped aside.
“Oh my, your beauty supersedes your photographs.” Katerina pulled Aliannah close to her and kissed her on both cheeks. Nikolai looked her up and down before taking his seat. Ivan held out the seat next to his mother for Aliannah to take before taking his own beside her.
The meal was a simple spaghetti carbonara dish. On the drive over, Ivan had already explained that his father had a simple palate. He did not really enjoy fancy dining. Katerina filled the air with small talk, asking Aliannah about where she grew up, her family, and how she met Ivan. Aliannah happily answered all of her questions. She began to feel at ease. Ivan placed a hand on her thigh under the table and rubbed gently. Aliannah looked at him and smiled.
“So, have you set a date yet?” Katerina smiled.
“We are going to speak to our venue tomorrow to confirm, it should be early September, hopefully,” Aliannah dabbed her mouth with her napkin as she finished her meal.
Nikolai slammed his fists on the table, causing everyone to jump and his men to reach for their weapons. Ivan waved a hand to put them at ease and stop them from arming.
“This is nonsense, boy! You cannot marry her!” Nikolai shouted. He continued his rant in Russian, and Ivan and Katerina answered back in Russian. Igor just sat there sipping his wine, watching the scene unfold, shaking his head, laughing silently.
“HEY!” Aliannah’s sudden shout stunned the table into silence. She looked around the table before locking eyes with Nikolai.
“If you are going to talk about me, at least have the respect to do so in English.” Aliannah breathed heavily as the adrenaline coursed through her veins. Katerina’s jaw dropped. No one had ever dared to speak to her husband that way before.
“Who do you think you are, stupid girl? Do you even know who you are talking to?” Nikolai spoke with venom in his voice as he stood up.
“Yes, I do. Nikolai Kozlov, a Pakhan in the Russian mafia,” Aliannah said as she, too, stood up. Nikolai glared at Ivan, but Aliannah spoke before he could.
“Don’t look at him. WE are speaking, and I know who and what you are thanks to Viktor last year, I am sure you were briefed on that situation. So Nikolai, if you are going to speak about me, have the decency to do so in English. If you have a problem with me, say it now.” Aliannah gestured towards Nikolai to speak and then gripped the table. She was shaking. She could not believe she had just spoken to him that way. She was certain the only way she would leave this room would be in a body bag. Nikolai scoffed.
“You stupid girl, no wonder Viktor reeled you in—all talk. My son is next in line to become Pakhan. He needs to marry another Pakhan’s daughter to secure alliances, not some common American trash. Son, you need to silence her, or her mouth will get you killed,” he spat.
“Father, it was her mouth that kept her alive; it was her mouth that kept me alive. It was her mouth that distracted Viktor long enough for me to put a bullet through his head.” Ivan stood and put his arm around Aliannah’s back.
“Nikolai, please…” Katerina tried to sway her husband.
“Either you accept her as my wife, or you don’t come to the wedding. She is one of us now whether you like it or not, Father.” Ivan looked to Igor, who had rounded the table to stand on the other side of Aliannah.
“I was there that day, Father, Ivan speaks true. We would both be dead if not for Aliannah.” Igor placed his hand on her shoulder for a moment. Aliannah and Igor exchanged a nod before he let go.
“Enough! How dare the three of you disrespect me at my own fucking table! Leave! NOW!” Nikolai roared, causing Aliannah and Katerina to jump.
The men guided Aliannah out of the room. Mateo took the lead in front, with Igor and Oliver at the back and Ivan by her side. Aliannah was rattled, but at the same time, she had never felt safer than being surrounded by these men. They heard Nikolai roaring in Russian as they crossed the main floor to the exit. Aliannah felt sorry for Katerina, who had to stay and listen to that. Lorenzo held the SUV door open as the three of them climbed in the back.
“Well, that was a complete shit show,” Aliannah threw her head back and sighed.
“Seemed normal for Father, if I’m honest,” Igor shrugged.
“He will calm down; he was testing you. You stood up to him very well. I am so proud darling,” Ivan kissed the back of her hand.
“What… what do you mean?” She was so confused.
“You have just proven to our father that you are not a weak woman. He is more likely to accept you now he has seen some of your strength.” Igor smiled.
Aliannah didn’t know what to make of their way of life. It was chaotic, that was for sure. Right now, she needed a drink. She could not wait to get home and relax. She sent a text to Michelle to come over.
“YOU DID WHAT!” Michelle’s jaw hit the floor ten times over as Aliannah recounted the dinner fiasco while they sat out on the roof terrace sipping white wine. Aliannah nodded.
“Yep…. I don’t know what came over me, but I am done with the disrespect. I am human, not some pawn chip to be evaluated and traded off, and if he is to be my father-in-law… well, let’s say I will gift him a dart board at Christmas with my face on it so he can take out his rage that way,” Aliannah laughed as she clinked glasses with Michelle.
“Here. Here!” Michelle was still visibly in shock at the turn of events this evening.
“This will make the rehearsal dinner all the more interesting,” Michelle wiggled her brows with mischief. Aliannah rolled her eyes.