VIKTOR

You know those moments when you're not in any way idle but you have a million other places you'd rather be and a million other things you'd rather be doing? Yeah, that's me right now.

I'd really rather be anywhere but the house of New York's mafia boss. Edward Reynolds.

It's not like I have a choice, it's for the family and nothing else. All this wouldn't be happening if the Pakhan–my father–were not sick. But alas, it is what it is. It doesn't mean I have to be happy about it, I would've refused but I don't have that liberty.

Doesn't mean I can't make my supposed ‘bride to be’ refuse the proposal. I've known for weeks now about the arrangement but the look on her face today at the gathering proved to me that she doesn't know yet. This will be fun.

I've been watching–stalking –Stella for a while now. I wanted to know what it was about her that piqued my father's interest.

. Could it be her personality or is it solely business?.

I will not deny that she is beautiful, but she is not my type. I don't do spoiled princesses.

Currently, she's walking into the dining hall in a red dress that moulds into her skin and brings out her curves. Why did she have to wear red?…my favourite colour. Well, she's late, didn't her father teach her to never be late to things like this?. Right. She doesn't know what this is yet.

I don't miss the way her eyes widen when they land on me, I like that look on people's faces when they see me. Who is he? Is he a part of the mafia?. Keeping a low profile has been quite fruitful since no one knows that I am the heir to the Russian bratva.

She stops near her father.

“You're late” Edward says

“Apologies, I didn't mean to” she says in that voice that I have heard many times in school. She's not in any way subtle.

“Sit”, her father says, and she places her hand on the chair to pull it out.

“Viktor, why don't you pull out the chair for her?” My cousin Niko says and grins at me. I narrow my eyes at him.

“I think she can do that by herself”, I say, making Mr. Reynolds stare at me.

“Come on, Vik, be a gentleman”, Niko says, and I glare at him, and he flashes me his stupid smirk.

“Fine”

I begrudgingly pull out the chair for her and she sits down facing me with a glare. What? You expected me to be a doting husband?.

“Please, dig in” Edward says.

Her scent hits me and I pause in my tracks. Wow. It's not an expensive cologne, it's just her. Lilies, like mom.

I chance a glance at her and she doesn't even acknowledge my presence, probably pissed about me being an asshole. Good. We shouldn't be friends, it makes my job easier.

When we finished eating, which I didn't actually do. The household, Marina, comes to clean the table. Yes, I looked into everything, including the name and background of the househelp.

“Compliments to the chef” Niko says wiping his mouth

“Thank you, " she says, smiling at him.

“Mr. Reynolds, the Pakhan says to extend his greetings and apologies for not being able to make it”, I say, not bothering to sound convincing.

“Oh, I understand, make sure to send my regards as well”.

I nod and remain quiet, I look around the house and admire the whole interior and all the paintings on the wall– that could cost fortunes and have most definitely been acquired at bidding wars. I must say, he has good taste.

My eyes meet a pair of emerald ones, and I hold her stare; the wariness in her eyes is as clear as day. Good, she should be wary of me. She fidgets a little and I smirk a little and school my expression. The princess does not like being studied, I'll keep that tiny piece of information for later.

Her father engages us–me specifically– in a conversation, and I don't bother indulging him. I know he's only looking for information to hold over our heads. The fool, Niko, answers all his questions and occasionally smiles at Stella, who returns his smiles. That guy would fuck anything in a skirt.

“Can we move on to the main reason why we are here?” I say, facing my supposed future father-in-law.

“Of course, right this way” he says and heads to the entrance of the dining hall.

His brother stood first, followed by Niko and me. Stella is still seated with a puzzled expression on her face. Her uncle–Dan– gestures at her“You too Stella”

“Oh, okay”, she says and we all walk out of the dining hall. She walks with her uncle in the front leaving me and Niko in the back following them. I can't help watching the way her slender waist sways with every step. I'm not ogling her or anything.

“Nice ass” Niko whispers close to my ear.

“Shut up” I say

“Come on, you can't deny that you have been drooling the whole evening”

“I wasn't drooling, I was inspecting the enemy”

“Liar!” He whisper yells.

“Shut your stupid mouth and focus”, I say to him, and focus more on where we are going and what I am here to do.

Edward leads us into an office that could be used as a conference hall.

“Please, sit”, Dan says, gesturing to the seats that surround a table in the middle of the office.

After sitting down, Edward pulls out a drawer under the table and brings out a file. He closes the drawer, opens the file, and presents two documents.

“Here”, he passes the first document to Dan, who gives it to Stella. Stella looks around first, and her eyes meet mine. I don't glare or give her an expression.

Edward passes the second document to Niko, who gives it to me. I open it to read it. I've already read the one my father gave to me last week when he dropped the news of the engagement as if it were an everyday occurrence. But I'll cross-check this one just in case.

Yup, everything is the way it was discussed.

I purposefully made some demands that I thought would make him change his mind and not marry his daughter to an asshole like me, he didn't even pretend to be suprised by those overbearing demands. Some father he is.

Stella opens the document and her eyes widen. Bingo.

Now I'm sure she'll definitely refuse to marry me