~ ANASTATIA ~
Even when I heard him calling my name with his dark voice. I didn't stop. When I hear him growl. I refused to stop. When he storms after me. I didn't. But I had no choice but to stop as I entered the elevator, willing it to start moving. And luck was not on my side as Damien storms through the slowly closing door of the elevator, huffing and panting. I know his ego was bruised. Afterall, I just refused him in front of his orgy mates so yeah. “Why didn't you wait?” He asks panting. “Just leave me alone Damien. I already have a bad day. Don't add to it please.” “Ana–” “Hey,” I interrupt him, holding my palm upwards. “You don't have to act like a dick all the time. Your dickiness had already worsened since that time at your family house. I'm ti–” However, he interrupts me by pushing me flush against his chest. I gasp as my forehead meets his hard chest, my heart thumping in my chest. He pulls my hair painfully as he tilts my head upwards before his lips slams to mine and I'm gasping for air as he steals my breath away when he sucks on my lip, moving from the lower one to the upper one and again. I thrash in his hold, my books scattering to the floor of the elevator as Damien presses my jaw firmly but not painfully as he slips his tongue into my mouth, searching for mine. And then, he sucks my tongue, hard. Painful. So painful that I can feel pleasure pooling in my lower belly. His kiss was punishing. But I'm enjoying it. I snake my hand to his neck, trying to kiss him back but he pulls away, increasing my anger. “I have the right to act like a dick after what your parents did to us.” He grits out, his lips glistening from the kiss. Then, he turns and storms out of the elevator. Anger clouds my senses as I hurriedly pack my scattered books and run after him, calling his name but he didn't stop as he slams the door to my face. I scan my finger and I push the door open before shutting it loudly. “The fuck you mean Damien?! I thought we were past this stage!” I shout, dumping my books and my tote on the sofa. He turns to me, jaw clenched. “I thought both families had said sorry to each other and now we just have to endure our miserable lives together until we get divorced or die!” And I almost bit my tongue after saying that word. That damn word echoes in my psyche—a curse that won’t fuck off. Sorry. Sorry?! Sorry’s just a word to try to get out of something, to dodge trouble if you’ve been caught out. Sorry’s a five-letter disgrace that shouldn’t even need to be used. It should be abolished from the fucking dictionary. Sorry won't heal anything! I gulp as he takes slow steps towards me but I stand my ground. A Zhukov doesn't cower. I can still remember father punching those words into me in the ring. We don't cower unless it's in a place to submit. “Sorry?” He growls in my face, his hot breath fanning my face. If I should just stand on my tippy toes, my lips will meet his. I gulp again. Spill. And he did. “Sorry?” He asks again. “What would you do if you were in my shoes. When you realise that the woman you are expected to spend the rest of your fucking life with has the face of the monster who'd haunted your childhood nightmares?” I still. Time stills too. Mother. She still haunts me even after her death. “What would you do when your brain induced you to forget every bit of it and now that you can finally remember, your…” He inhales deeply, teeth clenched as he takes a step back and punches the air, his muscles flexing. He inhales again. “You are not at fault though…” He says in a whisper while I stand, staring at nothing like a statue, the fire burning within me already doused with invisible water. “I was just angry at the fact it could still haunt me even after growing up. But my Capos and Vittorio didn't feel the same though… that's why they wanted to…” “Is that why you didn't reject the marriage?” I ask, my voice coming off so low that I could barely hear myself. “Huh?” “Is that why you didn't reject the marriage so you could get back at me for what my mother did?” He turns to me. “I didn't remember at that time and stop asking ridiculous questions as if I had a choice.” I say nothing as I pack my books and sidestep him. We didn't get to chose the war. We were dragged into it, kicking and screaming. And that night, I returned to the couch. Back to square one.•The next day• ~ DAMIEN ~I instinctively check my Rolex.It's 4:30 pm. Anastasia should be on her way by now.I lean back into the couch, my eyes on my laptop's screen, waiting for the red bars to tip off so I can enter the market.Suddenly, I can feel my phone vibrating. I groaned, knowing I'd forgotten to put it on silent after Vittorio told me he would get back to me.I lean forward and slip it towards me with a groan. My mouth parts as I see the name of the caller.It's Yumi.Yumi Nakahara, the first twin of the shadow sisters.I let it ring for a few more seconds before I pick it up and lean into the couch.“Hi Dami, Are you around?”I raise an eyebrow in confusion. “I'm around, what?”“Well, I realised I won't be free tomorrow for the meeting so I'd rescheduled it to today. I'm about to take the elevator right now.” “Huh? Yumi, wait—”But the line goes dead.Who the hell visits someone's house without informing them prior to the date?And yes, I'd spoken with the shadow siste
~ ANASTATIA ~I'm really going to die.I don't even get to talk to Isabella after ignoring her calls for days just because of being stressed.I'm going to die.I never got to apologize to Damien for what mother did nor did I get to fuck–Then, with brutal force, I feel something tugging me backwards before I meet the hard ground, eliciting a wince from me as pain shoots through my skull due to the impact. I feel someone shaking me wildly as if I weigh nothing, their body shielding my face from the rain which continues to beat down on other part of me except for my face.“Ana!”I blink in daze before his figure comes into focus.“Are you crazy?!” He screams, his eyes darting to the direction the truck had disappeared to. Maybe I am.Then, he picks me up and I can't even refuse.I almost lost my life. Again.His hand tightens around my thighs as he lifts me up, his other hand supporting my back. I can't feel my arms as I place my head against his chest, listening to his erratic heartbe
~ DAMIEN ~Fuck.I unbutton my shirt in a hurry, holding her gaze, watching as her chest heaves up on down with her hands pinned above her head.“Let go off me.” She pants, eyes dazed and her pouty swollen lips glistening causing my cock to throb in my pants.I didn't.I pull my shirt with force, buttons popping and flying everywhere before I lean down again and claim her lips. I suck her lips hard as I release her hands and start fiddling with her gown without breaking the kiss.Then, I draw her up a little and tug the gown off, leaving her in strapless bra and boyshorts. She's… breathtaking.“I want to kiss you everywhere.” I say, my voice coming out hoarse.“Please do.” I start by tugging her bra off. Her boyshorts follows. Then my pants, and my boxer, leaving us naked.My eyes rakes over her perky firm tits with hard pink nipples. I lean down and start with her neck. I squeeze her left breast as my mouth meets her right nipple and I bite it before sucking it.She gasps, squirmin
~ ANASTASIA ~ The first time I saw him, I was eight years old. He was the boy who'd made my life a misery, the one who'd taken pleasure in my pain. If there's anything like hate from afar, it would be me to him. But I think I should try to say that to my under-satisfied libido and clenched thighs. I shake my head, shaking the thoughts off as I rub my thighs together one last time. I have a boy-fucking-friend and lusting for that fucker shouldn't be part of the plan. He's not just my neighbour. He's the enemy. My enemy, and my family's enemy. Damien fucking Vincenzo is a bastard hiding behind a body that looks to be sculpted by the gods themselves. And if I should get the chance, I will carve his skin, inch by every bloody inch and feed his eyes to the Vultures for everything he made me go through at Crescent high. And again. I have a boyfriend. My sinfully hot neighbor who's walking around butt naked in a fucking glass penthouse without curtains shouldn't be a distraction rig
~ ANASTASIA ~ I was crying in my sleep. And when I woke up, my face was filled with dried tears and my nose was blocked. Good. Just how I wanted my weekend to start. I unplug my phone. The whole scene with Hector and Alexander better be a nightmare. But when I scroll through my call logs, I discovered it's one hell of a reality. I groan, crawling out of the bed. If this goes on, I might just end up a lonely Billionaire. But I still need to confirm from Hector. Like, who knows, the bitch might be lying or something. I enter the bathroom and stand before the mirror. Stormy gray eyes and chestnut brown hair stares back at me. And ‘a mess’ will be a fucking understatement to describe the current me. Like, my hair looks like a bird's nest and my eyes are all puffy and red as if I just walked straight out of a horror movie. I turn on the faucet, allowing the cool water to drop onto my hand before splashing some on my face. After brushing my teeth, I move back to my room and gr
~ ANASTASIA ~ And all the memory comes rushing in again. He's probably here to pick up the remains of my shattered soul. The door was opened for him and he strolls towards us. I inhale, barely regaining my composure after hiding my shaky hands behind me. All the nerves in me are screaming for me to run. The enemy is here, and for what reason if not to cause destruction. And before I can stop myself, I find myself saying. “Well well, look what the trash truck spit out.” Then, I grab Isabella in panic and start to run towards the entrance of the restaurant. Vincenzo won't hurt a Zhukov in public. He… won't… But I'm not even halfway towards the entrance of the restaurant when a warm hand grabs my shoulder and I try to wiggle free with my grip tightening on Isabella's wrist who's spotting the same reaction as me. “Chill, will you?” It's Claud's voice. I turn to him and he winces, probably seeing the confusion and question mark on my face. “Chill?” I ask, assessing him as if
~ ANASTASIA ~ I watch as the little crowd floods out of the room and with a swallow, I stand up too. It's suffocating. I'm suffocating. I feel like I might die if I stay in this restaurant’s private booth for any minute longer. “Nastya.” Alexander calls and I stop, sensing his soft undertone. He stands up, motioning for me to come closer. “We need to talk.” I grit my teeth, holding myself back from an outburst, watching as Claud leads Isabella out of the room. But I sit down, too tired to cry or oppose him. He sits too, taking my hands in his. “I need to apologize for today” He says and I turn my attention to him, watching him as if he'd grown two heads. “Apologize? You mean for not telling me I was going to be a political bargaining chip?” He turns his gaze away from me and nods. I pull my hands away from his firm ones. “I'm not interested in marrying Damien, Alex.” “You don't have a say in this.” He says, his voice turning hard. I grit my teeth. “You don't get to tell me w
~ ANASTASIA ~ “Say ‘I do’.” Claud’s voice rings in my ears and I gulp. “Do you, Anastasia Zhukov, accept Damien Vicenzo as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?” “I…” I open my mouth, my eyes landing on the devilishly handsome man clad in a black suit before me. It's hard. I wonder how he said ‘I do’ so effortlessly and I gulped again. I can't subject Isabella to the gruesome fate of wedding him in my stead. “I do.” I say. The crowd erupts into cheers and my eyes dart to Alexander who's staring at me in satisfaction. I grit my teeth, glad that the veil is still covering my face. The ring bearer brings the ring and Damien steps closer to slip the golden ring with a ruby stone into my left ring finger. My hands shake as I take the second ring from the case. I hold my breath, slipping it into his extended finger as the
~ DAMIEN ~Fuck.I unbutton my shirt in a hurry, holding her gaze, watching as her chest heaves up on down with her hands pinned above her head.“Let go off me.” She pants, eyes dazed and her pouty swollen lips glistening causing my cock to throb in my pants.I didn't.I pull my shirt with force, buttons popping and flying everywhere before I lean down again and claim her lips. I suck her lips hard as I release her hands and start fiddling with her gown without breaking the kiss.Then, I draw her up a little and tug the gown off, leaving her in strapless bra and boyshorts. She's… breathtaking.“I want to kiss you everywhere.” I say, my voice coming out hoarse.“Please do.” I start by tugging her bra off. Her boyshorts follows. Then my pants, and my boxer, leaving us naked.My eyes rakes over her perky firm tits with hard pink nipples. I lean down and start with her neck. I squeeze her left breast as my mouth meets her right nipple and I bite it before sucking it.She gasps, squirmin
~ ANASTATIA ~I'm really going to die.I don't even get to talk to Isabella after ignoring her calls for days just because of being stressed.I'm going to die.I never got to apologize to Damien for what mother did nor did I get to fuck–Then, with brutal force, I feel something tugging me backwards before I meet the hard ground, eliciting a wince from me as pain shoots through my skull due to the impact. I feel someone shaking me wildly as if I weigh nothing, their body shielding my face from the rain which continues to beat down on other part of me except for my face.“Ana!”I blink in daze before his figure comes into focus.“Are you crazy?!” He screams, his eyes darting to the direction the truck had disappeared to. Maybe I am.Then, he picks me up and I can't even refuse.I almost lost my life. Again.His hand tightens around my thighs as he lifts me up, his other hand supporting my back. I can't feel my arms as I place my head against his chest, listening to his erratic heartbe
•The next day• ~ DAMIEN ~I instinctively check my Rolex.It's 4:30 pm. Anastasia should be on her way by now.I lean back into the couch, my eyes on my laptop's screen, waiting for the red bars to tip off so I can enter the market.Suddenly, I can feel my phone vibrating. I groaned, knowing I'd forgotten to put it on silent after Vittorio told me he would get back to me.I lean forward and slip it towards me with a groan. My mouth parts as I see the name of the caller.It's Yumi.Yumi Nakahara, the first twin of the shadow sisters.I let it ring for a few more seconds before I pick it up and lean into the couch.“Hi Dami, Are you around?”I raise an eyebrow in confusion. “I'm around, what?”“Well, I realised I won't be free tomorrow for the meeting so I'd rescheduled it to today. I'm about to take the elevator right now.” “Huh? Yumi, wait—”But the line goes dead.Who the hell visits someone's house without informing them prior to the date?And yes, I'd spoken with the shadow siste
~ ANASTATIA ~Even when I heard him calling my name with his dark voice.I didn't stop.When I hear him growl.I refused to stop.When he storms after me.I didn't.But I had no choice but to stop as I entered the elevator, willing it to start moving. And luck was not on my side as Damien storms through the slowly closing door of the elevator, huffing and panting.I know his ego was bruised. Afterall, I just refused him in front of his orgy mates so yeah.“Why didn't you wait?” He asks panting.“Just leave me alone Damien. I already have a bad day. Don't add to it please.” “Ana–”“Hey,” I interrupt him, holding my palm upwards. “You don't have to act like a dick all the time. Your dickiness had already worsened since that time at your family house. I'm ti–”However, he interrupts me by pushing me flush against his chest. I gasp as my forehead meets his hard chest, my heart thumping in my chest.He pulls my hair painfully as he tilts my head upwards before his lips slams to mine and I
~ ANASTATIA ~Fuck.I'd overslept.When I woke up, Damien was standing before the floor to ceiling mirror, adjusting his cufflinks. I throw the covers away and plant my feet to the ground, shooting his back a glare as I rearrange the pillow I'd arranged between us - talk about Damien's influence.“Why didn't you wake me up?” I ask with a huff.He glances at me over his shoulder, adjusting his cufflinks. “I don't remember getting a nanny job.” Okay, fuck you.I say nothing as I brush past him to the bathroom but not before checking my phone. I'm super duper late. The thought of Prof. Saunders unleashing hell on me makes me chuckle in self pity as I splash my face with water, trying to jolt myself fully awake.But that's it.It didn't work. Or, it worked but didn't really work like I'd wanted. That's one of the disadvantages of pulling an all nighter, now I need coffee to fully start my day.I glare at my reflection in the mirror, flossing my mouth as I pat my hair which looks like a b
~ ANASTATIA ~I don't wish anyone close to me to be involved in a teaching profession because the way I've cussed Prof. Saunders today needs to be checked. I force on another smile, waiting impatiently for the zoom meeting to end so I can go rest my hot head in a refrigerator or move to fucking Antarctica or something.Okay okay, that's an exaggeration.Heaven finally hears my voice when she gives her closing speech which I wasn't even really listening to. My ears perk up, watching as her lips move, her glasses resting as the bridge of her nose.“Meet me in my office tomorrow, Zhukov. I can't cover everything online.”Liar.But I nod, forcing on a smile as she cuts the call. “You abso-fucking-lutely can gosh!” I scream, pushing my Mac away and throwing the pillows everywhere. Looks like my mafia princess privilege got nothing on the old woman. But well, if she focuses on giving me too many online classes without me physically attending her class, it will bring me to the spotlight, o
~ DAMIEN ~I should be tired of Anastatia’ antics. But I'm not only tired. I'm so fucking annoyed.She said I'd done something wrong to her at high school and Vittorio even confirmed it but I can't remember shit. The accident fucked me up real good.Maybe this is the universe's way of getting back at me afterall, Karma is a bitch.I move away from the door and turn back to the lounge area while pulling my jacket. Then, I fold it and pick up my phone, after placing the folded jacket on the couch, dialing Vittorio's phone.“Hey man. So–”“What's the big deal about? How did he get to the rooftop without anyone seeing him?” I ask, going straight to the point as I move to sit on one of the white couches, legs crossed.“Sweet talking. Trust Enzo for always having a sweet mouth. And the cameras were bad too.”Someone must have tampered with it.I sigh, my anger increasing. “He was on the rooftop.”“Doing what?” Vittorio asks, confusion evident in his voice.“He almost pushed Anastatia to de
~ DAMIEN ~Why am I angry?To be honest, I don't know the reason.Was it because Enzo managed to escape the dungeon right under Vittorio's fucking nose?I said that boy is useless. He thinks with his muscles instead of his head.Or was it because he dared hurt what's mine?Or, both…“Is he…” I stop myself from asking if he's dead. Knowing Dimitra, she would have killed him.So, I just fix my gaze on the hot angry stuff standing before me in the gown I'd specially picked for her and holy hell, heaven knows how bad I want to rip off her cloth and finish what we started that night.Her anger turns me on.But I push my feelings aside and step closer to her. I grab her hands which she'd yanked away“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice coming out breathy.Her eyes flickers to my lips, speechless for a while before her countenance changed back to anger. She yanks her hand away again and folds it across her chest.“Of course I am.”“So sorry about that.” I say to her and turn to Dimitra. “And you,
~ ANASTASIA ~“Anastasia Zhukov?” The unfamiliar man asks and I shrug casually but warily. I turn fully to him, leaning against the edge.“Yes. That's me? Do I know you?”He steps away from where I believe he was hiding and I assess him. Black shirt. Black pants. Loafers. Bald. Big. Scary. I can't get his eyes colour but he looks… bland at most.And almost scary.Probably one of the Casa Vicenzo member. But for him to be here at this time, he must be a core one.He chuckles as if sensing me assessing him and he steps forward until he's standing just a few feet away from me.“Such an interesting little thing.” He says with a chuckle.I said nothing, the gears in my head turning while I try to think. I can smell trouble.“Do you perhaps know me?” He finally asks after a long wave of silence that feels like eternity.I stylishly move away from him, watching as he leans against the low wall of the rooftop which reached just a little above his waist.“No I don't. You don't have a type of