"What do you mean he's coming for me?" Nika argued, her voice sharper than she intended.
"I don't like to repeat myself. Get yourself ready. You're moving in with him." Her father said and left her room.
The door slammed shut behind him, and for a moment, the world went completely still.
Nika didn't move.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest, like it was trying to break free. The words echoed in her head, over and over again, refusing to settle.
Her room door had already been broken down that morning. She could still feel the rough grip of her father's hand dragging her out of bed like she was nothing.
And now this.
Like her day couldn't get any worse.
A sleek black SUV pulled up at exactly 10am.
Nika stood by the porch, arms wrapped tightly around herself, staring at the car like it was a nightmare. The tinted windows reflected her own image but in her mind she could see him clearly—watching her, that same smug, unreadable look on his face.
The driver stepped out and approached her. "Good morning ma'am. Are you ready?"
Nika let out a humourless laugh, lowering her gaze. "I didn't pack anything. We're good to go." Her eyes drifted back to the mansion.
It looked bigger than usual. Colder.
Or maybe it was just the way everything felt distant and unfamiliar now. Like she didn't belong here anymore.
Four years. And so much had changed.
She had a degree now. A future she thought she could control. Plans that didn't include getting engaged to a complete stranger for a transaction.
Her parents had grown distant, then hostile.
Her chest tightened. She never imagined things would turn out like this. This might be the last time she ever stood here.
No hugs.
No goodbyes.
Just silence.
"Fuck you!!" She snapped, her voice cutting through the still air. Her eyes flickered to the windows. She knew they were watching. They were just too ashamed.
Too ashamed to face her.
"Cowards." She muttered, her voice quieter now. Squaring her shoulders, she walked to the car without looking back. She got into the car and the driver closed the door.
The ride out of the mansion was silent. She didn't ask him where they were headed to. The driver occasionally stole glances at her through the rearview mirror but she ignored him, her face pressed to the glass.
She tried to distract herself by reading random posters and billboards on the street. "I can make a stop if you need something,"the driver suggested, breaking the heavy silence.
Nika turned her face away from the window. "No thanks, I'm good." She said dismissively. He simply nodded. She would check her phone for messages and texts but there were none.
Maybe everybody was just too busy with their own lives...
In less than thirty minutes, the car rolled into a privately owned airstrip—a secluded private terminal hidden from the public.
The jet looked unreal—smooth, glossy, and impossibly luxurious, like it belonged to a world she was never meant to step into. It was black in colour and it had his family insignia branded on it. It was written in Italian she couldn't translate.
She was kind of impressed he owned something like this. The car came to a stop a few miles away from the jet. The driver got down and opened her door.
"Where are we going?" She finally asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Italy."
Her stomach dropped slightly.
Italy? Was he an Italian? She'd never been there before. It was a bit exciting and challenging at the same time. She had a lot of things she'd have to adapt to.
New language, new food, new culture...
It was overwhelming.
"Wow." She muttered as she got down from the car. The driver walked her to the jet where a few other guards were lined up by the entrance.
"Welcome ma'am!" They all bowed to her.
She faked a small smile as she climbed up the stairs and got in. After settling in, the pilot began to take off. Nika looked out the window as the plane moved down the runway.
Once again she was leaving Russia. But this time it was for good.
Left with nothing to do and no one to keep company, she leaned back on her seat and closed her eyes to rest.
The flight was short and in less than three hours, the light of Milan appeared beneath the jet. The jet landed smoothly into the private terminal.
Nika stirred awake after one of the men tapped her. She yawned and stretched a bit before looking out the window. There was a car waiting for her already.
As the doors of the jet slid open, there was a man waiting for her. At first glance, he resembled Nico. Same stance, same build and almost the same height as him. He had shades on, so she couldn't make out his face clearly.
The only difference was the playful smile on his face as he stretched his hand out for her. Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his as she came down the stairs.
"Theodore, but you can call me Theo." A small smirk tugged at his lips.
"I think you already know me." She smiled at him.
He walked her to the car and opened the door for her. He behaved like a gentleman. Nika was intrigued. How could he be so gentle and welcoming without even knowing her?
Once they were settled in, the driver rolled out of the terminal. Nika leaned towards the window to admire the city—anything to relieve herself from the unnerving silence.
"You've never been to Italy before?" He sounded amused. Embarrassed, she pulled away from the window. "Was it obvious?" She asked, a little embarrassed.
"You'll love this place. We have the best restaurants." He looked at her. "And Nico owns most of them." Her fingers tightened slightly on her bag. He didn't miss her reaction at the mention of his name.
She seemed uncomfortable.
"Are you okay?" He placed a hand lightly on her shoulders.
"Yeah, I just got distracted." She lied quickly. It just dawned on her that she wasn't here for fun or tourism. He might have her locked up at his mercy.The thought made her stomach twist.
"Are you his PA?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"Are you his assistant? That's why he sent you, right?" She looked at him, waiting for a reply.
"Quite the opposite." He said leaning forward slightly. "I'm his brother." He watched her reaction carefully.
"That explains it," she said, forcing a small smile. That only made things worse.
The rest of the ride fell into silence. The car stopped at a black fence after a few minutes. The gates rolled open automatically and the car drove in.
The mansion was beyond Nika's imagination. This was an entire fortress. Her chest tightened slightly. There were several buildings in the property with a large fountain at the centre. The car parked in front of the main house.
"I hope you're impressed." Theo said.
"It's more than I expected." She said with a faint smile. They both alighted from the car and entered the house. Inside the house was even more impressive.
It had a dark interior—white furniture, black polished vases, and imported grey curtains. The carpets were soft and plush. The lighting low, yet somehow perfect.
"Nico isn't here right now, but he'll let you know when he needs you." Theo pulled off his shades and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"I would have loved to show you around but I'm quite exhausted. We'll do that some other time, okay?"
"Yeah, sure thing." She looked around, holding her handbag tightly. This place was huge. Heavily guarded. She might never make it out of here. The thought sat heavily in her chest.
"Rosa, please show her her room." He ordered as he retired upstairs.
"Ma'am, please follow me." A short lady with round cheeks and a slick bun appeared. Nika followed her. They took an elevator to the second floor where she'd be staying.
She stopped at a large double door and brought out a key from her pocket. She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.
Nika's mouth parted in shock. The room was extremely large with more than enough space. A queen–size bed, large vanity mirrors, ceiling-to-floor windows and a balcony all for herself.
"We didn't know your style so we tried our best. If you don't like it, we can have it changed." Rosa said.
Nika sat on the edge of the bed, running her hands over the soft sheets. "I think I'm good." She bent over and pulled off her heels.
"Okay. If you need anything, please ring the bell on your bedside table and I'll be at your service." She bowed and left.
This was it. This was her new home. She took in a deep breath as she stretched herself out on the bed. For the first time in a few days, she had a moment of quiet peace.