3. Warrior

August 2026,

Scars Bay, USA

Katerina

"Mr Leadfield is here, Ms Van Acker," my secretary said through the telephone.

"Let him in, Penny," I told her and braced myself for the worst. Leadfield walked into my office and I looked at him expectantly.

"Please tell me you have good news."

"I'm afraid not, Ms Van Acker," he informed me and placed the file on my desk. "My team and I went through the contract several times. It is airtight."

I had expected it. I had gone through it several times myself and couldn't find any loopholes. I thought that an experienced team of professional lawyers might find something I missed. Apparently not.

"I don't understand how this happened, Ms. Van Acker. We couldn't have missed it while we vetted the contract," he said. "I daresay that they somehow tricked us."

"I know. But we have no proof." I knew we were tricked. I just couldn't figure out how. "Thank you for your services, Mr Leadfield. I will call for you if I need you."

He nodded. "Of course. It was my pleasure, Ms Van Acker," he said and then took his leave.

I stood up from my seat and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window. My office had one of the best views of the city. On one side, I could see the ocean and on the other side, I could faintly see the hills that bordered the edge of the city. And when I looked down, I could see the bustling city streets. I usually felt like I was at the top of the world every time I stood here.

But right now, I couldn't help but feel lonely. No one knew what kind of position I was stuck in and I couldn't even tell anybody. For a moment, I fancied myself as Rapunzel. Stuck in a tall tower and fated to watch the world pass by from the little window of her bedroom. Except, I didn't have a kidnapper-turned-mother to keep me locked up. The villain of my life was a blasted contract. And the only way out was to get shackled.

"Katerina." I heard Mother's voice.

I prepared myself for battle, put on a brave face and turned around. It was not just Mother. It was Pepper, the wedding planner, and a man holding two briefcases. She made sure that I would have no choice but to entertain her. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I know that you have told me and Pepper to take care of all the wedding preparations. But we thought that a bride should at least choose her own wedding ring!" She snapped her fingers and a man placed two briefcases on my desk and opened them. In it, lay dozens and dozens of rings with diamonds the size of my tooth.

"I'm sure that whatever you pick would be perfect." And blinding.

"These are all the rings I have shortlisted, darling. I simply could not pick one. I thought I should give you the opportunity to take part in your wedding preparation," she said with her signature 'I'm such an angel' smile.

I had no interest in choosing the handcuff that I would have to wear for at least the next three years.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness but I am busy." It was important to be polite to her when we had company. Pepper was a famous wedding planner who was infamous for gossiping and spilling family secrets. The only reason he was so sought-after was that no one planned a party better than he did. If I happened to talk back to her in front of him, I would immediately be attacked by Mother's crocodile tears.

"Surely, you are not too busy for your mother. And weren't you just looking out of the window when I came in? You seem quite free this afternoon." This time, her smile was marinated with condescension.

My mother was a master manipulator, a compulsive liar, and Dad's second wife. Even after their divorce, she refused to drop the last name because she loved the power and admiration that came with it. And all her life, that was all she cared about. Well, money too, but according to what I had heard, she had been paid a fairly handsome amount during the divorce settlement. So she was not desperate for it. Yet.

She had walked out on me and my brothers about ten years ago when I was sixteen because she had turned forty and was having a mid-life crisis. It had been a little tough but I was better off without her. After spending five years in Europe trying to 'find herself', she chose Alya's memorial to come back into our lives. Her dark presence at the memorial felt like a premonition that nothing good was going to happen in my life ever again. Mother kept going in and out of our lives but the dark fate that had befallen me was constant. After my best friend passed away, things had only gone downhill for me.

Mother came back into our lives last year and said that this time, she had changed and was here to stay. She has since been trying to get in the entire family's good graces but has failed spectacularly. Sometimes, like when she volunteered to take care of the wedding preparations, it felt like she really had changed and had become a better mother. But every time I had a conversation with her, I was reminded that she was not the kind of person who changed.

When she came back, I had a nagging suspicion that she had some hidden motive. But so far, apart from minor setbacks, she had done nothing to prove that I was right. I suppose it was only a matter of time.

"Of course not." I forced a smile on my face. Telling myself to calm down and just get it over with, I took a seat in my chair. I scanned all the rings and found one that was elegant, simple and had a normal-sized diamond.

When I reached for it, both Mother's and Pepper's expressions changed. They clearly liked this ring the least. Perfect.

I picked it up. "Oh, mother. I absolutely love this ring!" I said with a smile. "I cannot imagine getting married without it. What do you think?" I extended my arm and showed it to her.

She squinted as if she couldn't even see it. "Isn't the diamond a little too small, darling? I can barely see it. I suppose I picked it by mista--"

"Nonsense. You make no mistakes. Your motherly instincts told you exactly what I would love. You picked a perfectly simple ring for me. This is all you." I knew she craved Pepper's approval because having it meant that you would be invited to all the who's who parties and events. I felt immense, sadistic pleasure in looking like a good daughter and putting down Mother's choices in front of Pepper. Simple was one of his least favourite words.

Her smile turned a bit unsure and she looked at Pepper for his approval. He was looking at me with tears in his eyes. "Oh, you poor child. I suppose growing up with just men has made you a... minimalist." Minimalistic was another word that Pepper disliked. Mother turned embarrassed. Maybe Pepper didn't her either and that made me like him more. "You should have it if that's what you love, dear."

"Oh, I do. I really do." I couldn't care less.

"This, right here, is why I love what I do. Giving people their dream wedding and bringing families closer." He joined his hands and looked at me with a smile. "It doesn't matter what your wedding ring looks like, dear. Just the fact that you are happy is important."

"Thank you so much for your help, Pepper. I'm so happy I could choose a ring that both my mother and I love." I didn't remember the last time I was actually happy.

"I- I don't particularly love it, I suppo-" Mother had once been on the cover of some magazine that had interviewed the wives of businessmen. For some reason, out of CEOs, founders, directors, doctors, and several such accomplished women, they had picked mother, a trophy wife, to be on their cover page. She told them how difficult it was to take care of a household and raise three children. She had clearly forgotten about the army of nannies and house staff who didn't let her raise a finger. But the interviewers were impressed and also mentioned in the article that she had an impeccable sense of fashion. That put her at the top of the hierarchy in her little friend group. It lasted until she got divorced and they started looking down at her in pity. Her social standing had taken more of a hit after Dad remarried. To the woman who was his personal assistant ever since he started working, and Alya's mother nonetheless. The gossip was that they had an affair behind her back. Knowing Dad, it could definitely be true.

Now, if Pepper told anyone about this so-called disaster, Mother's reputation as a 'fashion leader' and 'trendsetter' in her circle would be ruined too. Which was why she was flailing to salvage her choices. And I was having fun watching her try.

"Oh, hush, El," Pepper fanned his face, trying to dry out his tears so that they didn't ruin his makeup. "I might have to change the centrepieces and the lighting to make this thing look bigger and like a proper wedding ring. But at least one good thing came out of your mistake. Katerina loves it." He definitely didn't like her.

With a snap of his finger, the other man took the ring, shut the briefcases, and took them off my table.

"We don't want to keep you from your work any longer, honey, I know that you must be very busy. We have several appointments lined up and we don't want to be late either. Have a great day ahead!" Pepper said and I stood up to give him a hug.

Over his shoulder, I saw Mother give me an 'I know what you did and you would pay for it soon' look. I simply smiled. Bring it on. I doubt things could get worse than this.

Once they left, I released a breath of relief. Conversations with Mother about the wedding drained the life out of me. But I straightened my shoulders and tipped my chin up.

I am Katerina Van Acker.

As long as I kept it together, I could take on the world.

I picked up my purse and headed out.

As I walked out of the office building, people paused or slowed down to stare at me. I could feel their eyes on me. Being the only daughter of Benjamin Van Acker and the sister of his perfect son Konstantin demanded a kind of perfection from me that sometimes felt like too much pressure. A pressure that, for some reason, my other brother William hadn’t cared about most of his life. He only recently matured and got his shit together, thanks to Kon. All his life, all Will had ever cared about was living his life to the fullest. 

I used to be quite like him. No, I thought, I was worse than him. Sneaking out, underage drinking, going to clubs, dancing on top of bars, one-night stands, and going to and betting on illegal fights was once an everyday part of my life. Alya accompanied me sometimes but she was too focused on her future to be distracted by my wild ways.

A future that was stolen away from her. A future that she didn't get to experience. All because of me.

After Alyanna, nothing interested me anymore. If it wasn't for me, if I had done things differently, and made different choices, she would have been alive.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted a drink.

I wanted Ajax.

Life was so fucking unfair.

But I felt too empty to care or do anything at all. I got in my car and contemplated what to do next. Go home and eat a tub of ice cream while I battled with the desperate need to have a drink or go back to my office and work for a while longer.

I ended up doing neither. Despite my better judgment, I ended up on the opposite side of the city.

The moment I got out of the car, I felt lots of eyes on me. But apart from me, a drunk man a couple of meters away from me who didn't even seem aware of my presence, and a portly guy walking on the footpath towards me, there was no one on the street.

"Sweet ride," the fat guy whistled as he walked towards me with a smile that was a mix of flirty and creepy. This tone reeked of an innuendo.

I ignored him and walked into the gym in front of me. The gym seemed to be in much better condition than I last remembered. Someone must have renovated the place.

"Hey." I felt a hand grasp my arm. Fuck no. "I said, sweet ri-" I whirled around and punched his nose.

"Don't fucking touch me, you perv," I spat, shook his hold off, and continued walking in. The few people who were working out looked surprised to see me, a woman who clearly didn't belong in this side of the town, punch a guy almost twice my size who looked like he was in a gang. In this area, it was a possibility. I didn't care.

I took the stairs to the basement and walked past the entrance door.

The ring in the centre had two fighters. They were either sparring or it was a friendly match. A few people had gathered around to watch while a few people were sitting on their seats, talking and watching the fight. I noticed drinks in their hands and looked around. I spotted a small bar in the corner. The last I remembered, this place didn't have one.

After the day I had, it felt tempting. I gulped. Control yourself, Kate. You are better than this.

I walked over to the opposite side of the room and took a seat on a U-shaped couch. I looked at the fight going on. Both of them seemed good fighters but I noticed one seemed more experienced and he was holding back.

The round torso of a man suddenly blocked my view. I looked up and met his eye. "Yes?"

He said something but I didn't hear it. My focus was on the man who just entered. The same man whom I had punched earlier. He seemed out for blood.

"Miss?" he asked.

"Yes?" I asked.

He seemed irritated that I hadn't listened to him earlier. "This ain't a place for people like you, lady. Get outta here if you know what's good."

I ignored him.

The fat guy I had punched was headed straight towards my table. His nose was red and it seemed like it was bleeding a bit. And his entire face was turning red in anger. If we lived in a cartoon world, steam would be coming out of his nose and ears. "You!"

A hand appeared on his shoulder. "Is there a problem, here?"

The guy turned around. "Yes, boss. This lady right here fucking punched me for no reason."

The guy moved and I caught a glimpse of the man standing behind him. He spotted me too and I saw his eyes lit up with recognition before they widened a bit.

"Hello, Caleb."

I had first met Caleb outside a club. He had tried to steal my purse so I had socked him in the eye and almost knocked him out. After a good look at him, I realized that he didn't look very old. I later found out he was almost my age. Fifteen. He begged me to not report him to the police. He said that he was stealing because his asshole of a father had beat up his little sister and he needed money to take her to the doctor. I didn't entirely believe him so I followed him to the pigeonhole he called home to see if he was lying. Everything he said turned out to be true. His deadbeat father had passed out on the couch. He reeked of cigarettes and cheap beer. His little sister who was ten years old had one eye swollen shut, a broken finger, and hand-shaped bruises on her arm.

He refused to report his father because he was afraid that him and his sister would be put in the system and they would get separated. I didn't like it but I understood his point of view. I simply had a few of my dad's security team come over and have a word with his dad while little Zoe was getting treated at the hospital. They made sure that he understood that abusing his children would not be in his best interest. I helped Caleb get a part-time job at this very gym and secured a seat for him and Zoe at Van Acker Academy. In return, he introduced me to the world of underground fighting. We became fast friends after that.

But after I went to the other side of the country for college and went off the deep end after Alya's death, Caleb and I lost contact. When I came back to my senses, I learned that life had taken a dark turn for him too. His father lost it one day and ended up killing his little sister. Caleb took his father's life the same night. He joined a gang soon after.

"You must have done something wrong, Smith. Now get the fuck out of here."

"But boss, she-" One glare from Caleb and the fat man shut up and got out of there.

"She's good, Dennis," he told the man who had blocked my view earlier. He nodded and left too.

Caleb pinned me with a sharp look. "What are you doing here, Kate?"

I offered him a one-shouldered shrug. I didn't know what I was doing here either.

He sighed and took a seat beside me. For a while, both of us sat silently and watched the fight in front of us. I couldn't help but notice how much older he looked. He looked taller, muscular, and edgy. He was a full-grown man now. This was the first time I had seen him in a suit. He used to say he felt stuffy in one but that had clearly changed. I saw a bit of a tattoo hiding under the collar of his shirt. His eyes looked cold and analytical. Life had made him into the ruthless Gang leader he was today.

"Do you still fight?" I asked.

"Only as a hobby," he replied. "I kind of run things around here now."

"Being a gang leader keeping you too busy?"

"How did you know?" He didn't look surprised that I knew about it.

"I am Katerina Van Acker," I replied and his lips tugged up in a slight smile. Something told me that he didn't smile often anymore.

"Of course. To what do I owe this pleasure?" he glanced at me. Gone was the boy with hope in his eyes for a better tomorrow. Gone was the guy who had a bright future. In front of me was a man who was cold, calculating, and dangerous.

"I ..." For a moment I considered telling him about the dilemma I had gotten myself into. But I doubted that his way of settling things was what I wanted.

"Did Ajax finally come begging for your forgiveness?" he suddenly asked, his eyes on the engagement ring on my finger.

"It's not him," I said and covered the ring.

"You don't like your husband-to-be. Why?" How did he even know?

"I've gotten quite good at reading body language. Now tell me who is that unlucky bastard."

"On the contrary, he thinks he is extremely lucky to marry me." I kindly let him know.

"Unlucky because you won't be marrying him. Give me a name and I will take care of it for you." He reached in his suit pocket, pulled out a handgun, and casually placed it on the table as if he didn't just imply that he would kill my soon-to-be-husband if I wanted it.

I kept staring at the gun in front of me. The sweet guy I once knew would've never even touched a gun, let alone use it on a human.

"This was not the future I wanted for you." Had I been there for Caleb, he wouldn't have gone down this path. I didn't cause just one death. I killed two people.

"I know. Neither did I. But that is not how things turned out." His jaw clenched. "Are you being forced to marry someone? It won't be too hard for me to find out everything about your fiancé. Just say the word, Kate."

"No, Caleb. It's my mess, I need to clean it up myself," I replied. "If I'm not able to do it in time and have to marry him, do come to the wedding."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied.

"Why did you miss Alya's memorial?"

"I was there. You just didn't see me," he said and I gave him an unimpressed look. "My father had died not too long ago. I thought it would be best to stay out of sight for a while." So the police were looking for him and he couldn't make an appearance without getting caught. "But it is all cleared now. Attending your wedding should not be a problem."

"Good to know."

"Are you..." he cleared his throat. "How are you doing?"

"Good," I gave him the answer everyone wants to hear when they ask that question.

"Now tell me the truth."

"I ...I," I felt overwhelmed all of a sudden. No one had asked this question and meant it. After Alya and rehab, I felt like I was a burden. My family and Ajax just took care of me because they had no other choice. They just wanted me to go back to being who I used to be when Alya was still alive and when I wasn't dealing with addiction. They kept asking how I felt but they didn't care about how I was really doing. They just kept asking it until they got the answers they wanted. And once they did, they seemed quite eager to get back to their lives. No one wanted to deal with the broken, spoilt little girl. I figured out that if I did and said the right things, they would think that I'm not broken anymore. They would go back to their lives and stop trying to mend me. That way, I would stop being a burden to them. I was the only one who knew that I wasn't fixable. The shattered pieces of the old Katerina didn't fit anymore, no matter how hard everyone tried. I had changed. And no one seemed to understand or like it.

So I steeled myself. I became the person everyone wanted me to be. I put on a show and played the part so well that I had fooled the entire world. And the only one who had ever been able to see through my lies and bullshit was dead. Because of me.

I had felt cold and unfeeling for a long time. But right now, all of those emotions seemed to be bubbling up to the surface, demanding their due. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack.

"Kate?" Caleb's voice brought me back to the present.

I looked into his dark brown eyes. They tethered me to now and here. I felt like I would lose it if I didn't have someone help me hold it in.

"You look like you need a hug." The ice in his eyes thawed a little. They seemed a tad bit humane now. "There are a lot of people here. I cannot be your friend in front of them."

Of course. I blinked back my tears. What was I thinking?

"If you wish, we can go to my office, it's right there," he pointed somewhere behind me with his chin. "We can continue our conversation in there, away from prying eyes and ears."

I closed my eyes. Pull yourself together, Katerina. The only one you need is yourself. I steeled myself.

I took a deep breath and pushed down all my emotions, packed them in a box, and stored them in a deep, dark corner of my brain.

I straightened up my shoulders and wore my invisible armour. I could fight against the world if I need to.

I tipped my chin up. I am Katerina Van Acker.

I stood up. "Thank you for your time, Caleb, but I should get going. Have a nice day." With that, I left.

"Kate," I heard him call me once but I didn't stop or turn around and he didn't follow.