Page 16 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
“At least I should know what I’m working with!” she argues desperately.
“That’s none of your concern.” I shake my head.
“Of course it is! You married me because of what they owe you, didn’t you?”
To this, I say nothing.
“I can’t believe you’re keeping me in the dark!” she protests.
“It’s not like your brothers didn’t,” I spit back, annoyed at how she’s looking at me like I’m the devil when her brothers have done the exact same thing.
“You have to tell me something!” she insists.
“I really don’t,” I shrug. “But I am keen to hear exactly what you’re negotiating here. I’m a good listener, give me a shot.”
I speak firmly, and her expression shifts from annoyance to an even more annoyed resignation. She knows she won’t getany information from me, and as for me, curiosity is literally itching at my skin.
“Well, I was thinking,” she explains. “I’ll stay married to you until you consider their debt repaid. Through me.”
“Through you?” I ask, trying not to hold back laughter. “You think marriage is what, like an hourly chore job?”
“I don’t know,” she hisses. “But I’m trying, aren’t I? I’ll do whatever it is you think I need to. I won’t argue. I won’t fight. I’ll take care of your house.”
“And cook and clean?” I ask, stifling a laugh.
“Sure.” She scribbles it down on the paper and chucks the pen away. “And cook and clean.”
“I was joking,” I add. “We have maids.”
“Okay. Whatever. I’ll be your wife until you consider the debt repaid. Would that work?”
The truth is, this is an absolutely absurd idea. She could be married to me for seven lifetimes, and it won’t be enough for what her brothers did to Nikandr and Lilibeth. But I can’t explain that to her and expect her to understand. Someday, I will have my revenge. Until then, I need her around for leverage against Tikhon, Andrei, and Alexey. As long as I agree to this, she’ll think she chose to remain by my side.
It’ll make this whole living under one roof thing a lot more peaceful. At least she won’t fight me every single day. This deal she proposes helps me stall her, keep her at peace, until I figure out what to do next.
“Fine,” I say, after careful consideration. “Deal.”
Relief and pride wash over her face, as though she can’t believe she possibly won. With excitement, she pushes the papertoward me to sign. I’m about to sign, chuckling when I notice what she’s written under terms and conditions.
“Arina Sokolov will not be compelled to sleep with Ilariy Letvin under obligation?” My eyes blast open in shock, and I look up at her mortified face, signing the spot under my name as I do.
“What?” she shrugs. “I wanted to make it clear!”
“You thought I would force you to sleep with me? Don’t flatter yourself!” I can’t help but argue, humiliated to think that she thinks so little of me.
She stands, grabs the paper, folds it, and tucks it into her jeans pocket. “I couldn’t be so sure, could I now? You kidnapped me and forced me to marry you. I don’t know what you’re capable of!”
She makes a good point, though I don’t say so.
She considers it a win and puts out her hand. I take it, and she gives it a tight squeeze. This woman, in a boardroom, would be a force to be reckoned with. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
As she removes her hand, she accidentally brushes her thumb over mine, and I feel a shiver shoot down my spine. She freezes, as though she felt it too, and turns on her heels and darts out of my office.
I watch her leave, leaning back in my chair, still processing what the hell just happened.
***
Later that evening, I receive a call from Agafon.
