NOLAN’s POV “You’re marrying her, and that’s final!” my father declared, rising from his chair with an air of authority that filled the room. I stood slowly, taking deliberate steps toward the door. “You don’t get to decide how I live my life. I’ll do whatever the hell I want!” I shot back, pausing at the door frame to meet his gaze before walking away.As I headed to my car, my mind raced with the weight of his words. Marry a girl I didn’t even know in two months? Who the hell did he think he was, dictating how screwed up my life should be?On my way out, I caught sight of my mother standing by the doorway. The worry etched across her face was unmistakable, but I managed a faint smile before stepping out into the evening air.Growing up, I had always been the most gentle of my siblings. Ruthless, yet gentle. I’d poured my focus into the family business, knowing my father would one day hand it over to me. The mafia world was twisted and chaotic, but it perfectly fits my type of chao
ANASTASIA’S POV “I can’t believe my dad is setting me up with someone I’ve never met just because he thinks I need a man’s help to run the family business I’ve been preparing for my entire life,” I ranted to my best friend, Athena, pacing back and forth in the room. Athena and I have been friends since we were kids. We both grew up in the same environment filled with rich and snobby people. Athena wasn’t the prim and proper lady you would expect in this kind of environment. That’s why I couldn’t even stay mad when she said, “It might not be as bad as you think. Who knows? He could be handsome and sexy as hell. Win-win.”“Ugh, you’re missing the point, Athena!” I snapped, throwing my hands up. “I don’t need a man’s help to run this business. I’ve been training for this my whole life!” I paused, the memory of earlier that day flashing through my mind. My father had barged into a meeting I was leading with our shareholders and pulled me aside. I thought he wanted to discuss new strat
ANASTASIA’S POV “Let’s get this party started, bitches!” Athena hollered as we strutted into the club. Classic Athena—the life of the party and unapologetically bold. She thrived on attention, and tonight was no exception. Women were her playground, though she dabbled with men whenever the mood struck.We headed straight to our usual spot in the VIP section at Club Hera. It wasn’t my top choice of venues, but the exclusivity made up for it. Plus, the men here were yummy.“Our usual drinks,” I instructed the waiter as he approached. From across the room, I caught sight of the club manager and gave him a small wave. He nodded in acknowledgment. “Gosh the girls here are looking way too sexy, I want them all!” Athena said, her eyes flitting eagerly across the room from woman to woman.I chuckled. “Go easy on yourself, young lady. You can’t have them all.” “Watch me,” she replied with a wink, already scouting her prey.The waiter returned with our drinks, and I could feel myself settlin
NOLAN’S POVWalking into the house I saw my mother and her assistants preparing for dinner tonight. It all felt surreal. The reason why parents were going to such lengths for this arrangement was absurd. I shook my head as I caught a glimpse of my mother, orchestrating everything with her usual precision. She was a perfectionist through and through.“Hello, Mother,” I said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her foreheadShe looked up with her beautiful smile. “My love, I take it you’re in a better mood than yesterday?” she asked with a playful wiggle of her brows, her teasing making me chuckle. It amazed me how she and Father worked as a pair. They are polar opposites. Mother was gentle and fun, while Father was strict and stoic, except when he was around her. Their dynamic was enviable in many ways.“Not exactly. Seeing you prepare for this dinner makes it painfully real that there’s no way out of this for me,” I said, sinking into the chair next to her.Her expression softened as she re
ANASTASIA’S POVDriving into my parents’ estate, I found my father and his assistant outside, waiting on Mother, as usual. Her delays were as predictable as they were frustrating, and Father’s expression was a blend of annoyance and resignation.“Anastasia, finally,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Your mother will be out shortly. Are you ready?”I nodded, smoothing the soft fabric of my dress. “I’m ready,” I said as I leaned against the hood of my sports car. Minutes later, Mother emerged from the house, her assistant trailing behind. She walked past me, her heels clicking on the stone pavement, without so much as a glance in my direction. She slid into the car, and I entered mine. I waited as my parents' car and their security detail led the way, and then we were off to the Russo estate.The ride was silent except for the soft hum from the engine of my car. The weight of the night’s expectations pressed heavily on my shoulders. As much as I’d prepared myself for this moment, the r
NOLAN’S POVThe private elevator leading to my office building hummed softly as it took me to the executive floor. The polished steel doors slid open as we arrived. The pristine expanse of the executive floor came into view. The quiet buzz of the city below was almost entirely muted which gave the office space an air of detachment from the chaos of the world outside.Walking toward my office, I spotted Dimitri leaning against Rebecca’s desk. He was mid-conversation, undoubtedly trying to charm her again. Rebecca’s polite smile failed to mask her discomfort, but Dimitri didn’t seem to care. “Good afternoon, sir,” Rebecca greeted me, her voice a bit too cheerful as she glanced in my direction, she looked glad someone finally saved her from Dimitri. “Afternoon,” I replied, my eyes narrowing slightly as I glanced at Dimitri.“Well, well, look who’s here,” Dimitri said, falling into step with me as I headed for my office. “How’s the future husband-to-be this fine morning? Already practic
ANASTASIA’S POV"Yes, Athena, I’m in my office. You can come by," I replied, signing off on a stack of documents on my desk. "Just ensure you’re here before 4 PM—I have business to attend to after that.""Oh, I’ll be there in an hour. Don’t miss me too much," Athena said cheerfully on the other end of the line.I chuckled dryly. "You wish."As I set the phone back on the desk, my secretary walked in, balancing yet another stack of files in her arms. I sighed inwardly. Managing a family furniture business as a front for our real operations was both a blessing and a curse. The endless paperwork tied to both businesses? Definitely a curse."They just never end, do they?" I said sarcastically, glancing at Ruth as she placed the files neatly on my desk. She gave me a polite smile, one I imagined she had reserved for all my complaints."You have a meeting at 2 o’clock, and you need to be at the other warehouse by 4," she said, her voice calm and professional as she ticked items off her iPa
NOLAN’S POVThe private elevator leading to my office building hummed softly as it took me to the executive floor. The polished steel doors slid open as we arrived. The pristine expanse of the executive floor came into view. The quiet buzz of the city below was almost entirely muted which gave the office space an air of detachment from the chaos of the world outside.Walking toward my office, I spotted Dimitri leaning against Rebecca’s desk. He was mid-conversation, undoubtedly trying to charm her again. Rebecca’s polite smile failed to mask her discomfort, but Dimitri didn’t seem to care. “Good afternoon, sir,” Rebecca greeted me, her voice a bit too cheerful as she glanced in my direction, she looked glad someone finally saved her from Dimitri. “Afternoon,” I replied, my eyes narrowing slightly as I glanced at Dimitri.“Well, well, look who’s here,” Dimitri said, falling into step with me as I headed for my office. “How’s the future husband-to-be this fine morning? Already practic
ANASTASIA’S POVDriving into my parents’ estate, I found my father and his assistant outside, waiting on Mother, as usual. Her delays were as predictable as they were frustrating, and Father’s expression was a blend of annoyance and resignation.“Anastasia, finally,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Your mother will be out shortly. Are you ready?”I nodded, smoothing the soft fabric of my dress. “I’m ready,” I said as I leaned against the hood of my sports car. Minutes later, Mother emerged from the house, her assistant trailing behind. She walked past me, her heels clicking on the stone pavement, without so much as a glance in my direction. She slid into the car, and I entered mine. I waited as my parents' car and their security detail led the way, and then we were off to the Russo estate.The ride was silent except for the soft hum from the engine of my car. The weight of the night’s expectations pressed heavily on my shoulders. As much as I’d prepared myself for this moment, the r
NOLAN’S POVWalking into the house I saw my mother and her assistants preparing for dinner tonight. It all felt surreal. The reason why parents were going to such lengths for this arrangement was absurd. I shook my head as I caught a glimpse of my mother, orchestrating everything with her usual precision. She was a perfectionist through and through.“Hello, Mother,” I said, leaning in to plant a kiss on her foreheadShe looked up with her beautiful smile. “My love, I take it you’re in a better mood than yesterday?” she asked with a playful wiggle of her brows, her teasing making me chuckle. It amazed me how she and Father worked as a pair. They are polar opposites. Mother was gentle and fun, while Father was strict and stoic, except when he was around her. Their dynamic was enviable in many ways.“Not exactly. Seeing you prepare for this dinner makes it painfully real that there’s no way out of this for me,” I said, sinking into the chair next to her.Her expression softened as she re
ANASTASIA’S POV “Let’s get this party started, bitches!” Athena hollered as we strutted into the club. Classic Athena—the life of the party and unapologetically bold. She thrived on attention, and tonight was no exception. Women were her playground, though she dabbled with men whenever the mood struck.We headed straight to our usual spot in the VIP section at Club Hera. It wasn’t my top choice of venues, but the exclusivity made up for it. Plus, the men here were yummy.“Our usual drinks,” I instructed the waiter as he approached. From across the room, I caught sight of the club manager and gave him a small wave. He nodded in acknowledgment. “Gosh the girls here are looking way too sexy, I want them all!” Athena said, her eyes flitting eagerly across the room from woman to woman.I chuckled. “Go easy on yourself, young lady. You can’t have them all.” “Watch me,” she replied with a wink, already scouting her prey.The waiter returned with our drinks, and I could feel myself settlin
ANASTASIA’S POV “I can’t believe my dad is setting me up with someone I’ve never met just because he thinks I need a man’s help to run the family business I’ve been preparing for my entire life,” I ranted to my best friend, Athena, pacing back and forth in the room. Athena and I have been friends since we were kids. We both grew up in the same environment filled with rich and snobby people. Athena wasn’t the prim and proper lady you would expect in this kind of environment. That’s why I couldn’t even stay mad when she said, “It might not be as bad as you think. Who knows? He could be handsome and sexy as hell. Win-win.”“Ugh, you’re missing the point, Athena!” I snapped, throwing my hands up. “I don’t need a man’s help to run this business. I’ve been training for this my whole life!” I paused, the memory of earlier that day flashing through my mind. My father had barged into a meeting I was leading with our shareholders and pulled me aside. I thought he wanted to discuss new strat
NOLAN’s POV “You’re marrying her, and that’s final!” my father declared, rising from his chair with an air of authority that filled the room. I stood slowly, taking deliberate steps toward the door. “You don’t get to decide how I live my life. I’ll do whatever the hell I want!” I shot back, pausing at the door frame to meet his gaze before walking away.As I headed to my car, my mind raced with the weight of his words. Marry a girl I didn’t even know in two months? Who the hell did he think he was, dictating how screwed up my life should be?On my way out, I caught sight of my mother standing by the doorway. The worry etched across her face was unmistakable, but I managed a faint smile before stepping out into the evening air.Growing up, I had always been the most gentle of my siblings. Ruthless, yet gentle. I’d poured my focus into the family business, knowing my father would one day hand it over to me. The mafia world was twisted and chaotic, but it perfectly fits my type of chao