At exactly 7p.m., Nico's entourage rolled into the mansion, commanding attention the moment they arrived. Each sleek SUV came to a halt and parked a few meters away from the water fountain.
The doors were pulled open, Nico and his team alighting from the cars. He had a smug look on his face as he adjusted his crisp black tuxedo, brushing away imaginary dirt off it.
Aleksei and his wife approached him quickly. "Good to see you here." Aleksei extended his hand for a handshake.
"Likewise." He slipped his hands into his pockets.
Embarrassed, he withdrew his hand. "Please follow us." He led the way. Nico signalled to his men to remain put except two of them that followed him.
"Nice house you've got." He commended.
"You can say that again. The best built in Russia so far!" Aleksei boasted.
"And it belonged to your father?" Nico asked, playing with one of the lilies in the path.
"He was a great man." Yolanda said quickly. Aleksei hated having conversations about his late father.
Nico simply hummed.
After a brief walk, they finally got to the garden. The garden was bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights strung between the trees, their warm luminescence flickering like tiny stars. Lanterns lined the stone path, casting dancing shadows over the neatly trimmed hedges and blooming flowers.
The air was perfumed with the scent of jasmine and roses, mingling with the subtle aroma of freshly cooked dishes wafting from the table.
A long wooden table stood at the center, adorned with crisp white linens, crystal glasses catching the light, and polished silverware reflecting the twinkling lights above.
Candles flickered in delicate holders, their flames trembling in the gentle evening breeze. Plates were artfully arranged, each dish a vibrant display of colors and textures.
"Where is she?" The question was unexpected.
Nika was supposed to be with them when he arrived, to welcome him. "Late hair appointment." The lie came out quickly. "I'll go fetch her." She smiled nervously as she excused herself.
Yolanda walked back to the house as fast as her feet could carry her. She charged into Nika's room, almost breaking the door down.
"What were you thinking?" She fumed.
Nika was oddly calm. She didn't flinch when her door was thrown open with her very angry-looking mother walking in.
"He's here already. I need you to get your ass down..."
"I know." She hissed.
"Don't you dare give me that attitude!" Her mother pointed her finger at her. "Get your ass up!" She hauled Nika out of the bed.
"I'm sick and tired of telling you how to do shit! You're a grown up, you better start behaving like one." She pushed her forward.
"Let me go! I can walk on my own." Nika shrugged out of her mother's tight grip. She hissed, running her hands over her hair.
"You better don't fuck this up!" Yolanda warned.
"Or what?" Nika shot back.
"You know what?" Her mother closed the distance between them. "I'm done with you. If he comes up here, he's going to drag your ass to hell."
With that, she spun on her heels and left. Her heels clicking hard against the polished marble floors. Nika heaved a sigh of relief. She rubbed her chest soothingly to calm herself down.
She only had a few seconds before her father will have the guards drag her into the garden. She won't give any of them the benefit of it.
After taking a few deep breaths, she treaded the stairs with caution, holding onto the rails like it was her last hope. Nika stood at backyard door contemplating on whether to run or play along.
Her heart hammered against her chest and hot tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She could see her father giving a few of the guards instructions.
They will come looking for her.
Her brain quickly searched for a way out. She will hide in the flower bushes, no one will find her there. She sprinted forward, looking sideways to make sure nobody saw her.
She settled in between the flowers, her small figure blending in perfectly. The guards walked past her and stormed into the house to find her. A small smile crept up on her lips.
"Get up." A deep, baritone voice ordered.
He stepped into view like he already knew she was there—tall and composed, dressed in a black tuxedo that hugged his frame like it was tailored just for him. His dark hair was neatly styled, a few strands falling effortlessly into place, and his sharp jawline only made his expression more unreadable.
His eyes found hers instantly, cold and observant, as if nothing ever escaped his notice.
Nika's face went pale like she had seen a ghost. Instinctively, she scuffled back. She opened her mouth to say something but the words wouldn't come out.
How did he find me?
"I don't like to repeat myself." His tone had an underlying edge that screamed danger. He brought a cigarette from his breastpocket and lit it with a lighter.
"Stay back." Nika fired at him.
"What is your plan?" His question threw her off guard.
"What do you mean?" Her brows furrowed. He squatted, reaching almost the same height with her.
"Perhaps, if I didn't find you..." He held out the cigarette, breathing out the smoke directly to her face. She coughed, turning her face away from him.
"What would you have done? Run away?" He ridiculed her. He had a smug smile on his face. "I'm not going anywhere with you." She shot back.
"You don't know who I am." Nico cupped her face with one hand, his thumb drawing small circles on her chin.
Nika's body went still.
"Get up." He stood up and held out a hand for her. She hesitated for a while before placing her small manicured hand in his as she pulled herself up.
He let go of her hand quickly like it was burning him. He threw her one last glance as he spun on his heels and walked back to the garden smoothly, his hands folded in his pockets.
Nika followed him, trying to catch up with his pace. The moment she walked into the garden, she was met with the disappointed faces of her parents.
She rubbed her sweaty palms on her dress nervously.
"You're late." Her father spoke first.
Avoiding eye contact with him, she pulled one of the chairs back and sat down. Nico was seated on the other end of the table, his eyes focused on her. He watched her intensively like he was conducting a research.
"Sit here." He tapped on the chair beside him. Her eyes widened. She wanted to say something but her father's burning gaze drilled into her head.
"Sure." She muttered as she got up from her seat reluctantly, pushing the seat forward. After taking a corner to the other side of the table, she sat beside him, shifting her seat away from him a little.
"Hmm..." Her father cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "This night didn't start off as expected." He glanced at Nika.
"Nicholas, you're welcome to this family!" Aleksei smiled.
Nico had an indifferent look on his face. He threw his head back and spread his legs out, his knees brushing Nika's thighs. She adjusted on her seat, a bit uncomfortable.
"Before we eat, I'd like to raise a toast." He raised a glass of champagne to the air. Nika felt her chest tighten a bit. She dreaded what came next.
"To family..." He looked at his wife. "To our daughter..." He raised his glass to Nika. She looked down at the table, avoiding eye contact.
"And to a new alliance." He raised the final toast to Nico. Nico raised his glass forward a bit.
"Cheers!" Aleksei smiled. He clinked his glass against Nico's glass, before taking a seat. "Shall we?" He spread out his palms. The maids at the sides stepped forward and began to help in dishing out the food.
Everyone began to eat silently, each focusing on their plate. Nika didn't touch her plate. She held the cutlery, twisting them at different angles.
"Is anything wrong with the food?" Nico asked and everyone stared at her.
"Umm.." She cleared her throat. "I don't feel hungry." A tight lipped smile formed on her face.
"Eat." He insisted.
Nika rolled her eyes. Why does he think he can tell her what to do? This guy really has some nerves.
"I don't like that attitude." He dropped his fork down loudly. Everywhere went quiet. The tension hanging in the atmosphere was thick.
"I don't know, you tell me. What's your deal, huh?" Nika turned on her seat to face him.
"Any word?" He pretended like he didn't hear her. He dared her to repeat what she said. Her father gave her a hard look but she ignored it and continued pressing him.
"You heard me right."
Nico's patience was hanging on a thin line. His feet tapped on the ground steadily. His right hand brushed the gun on his waistband. She was tempting him.
"Nika..." Her father warned.
"I can't do this!" She dropped her cutlery on the table in an attempt to leave. A firm grip on her lean arms pulled her back to her seat.
"You're not going anywhere." He said firmly.
"Leave me alone!!" She tried to wriggle out of his hold.
"Try me." He pressed the gun to her waist.