Artan's picture.

~

Artan has a smirk plastered on his face as he approaches our direction. He's holding a glass of liquor in one hand and a cigar on his other hand. He then handed them to Lena as he nears us.

"Ah Volkov, my brother!"

The three shook hands and embraced each other while I stood frozen, still in complete and utter surprise. I'm silently praying that this is just a bad dream.

"Artan, this is my wife Belle." Said Nikolai while wrapping his arm around my back and then clipping his fingers on my waist.

When Artan offered his hand, theres an awkward pause as everybody await for my response.

As much as would want to scream and slap him many times on his face, I chose to extend my hand to him just to end the dead air lingering around.

Artan slowly kissed the back of my hand and said, "You are beautiful Mrs. Volkov."

I removed my hand from his and clutched it back to Nikolai's arm.

"Why have I not been invited to your wedding Volkov?" Asked Artan. He gazes at Nikolai but he quickly went back looking at me.

"I could not wait any longer brother. Could you blame me?" Nikolai replied.

"Never brother, never. If I were in your shoes I would not let a second past without making her my Mrs. Artan Bogdani."

Shit. I swear my hand is itching to plant a slap on Artan's face right now. I am already struggling to hold it together. How could he manipulate this whole situation is unbelievable!

"I'm starting to think youre trying to snatch my wife right under my nose Artan." I dont know if Nikolai is being playful or serious but the tension slowly building up in the room is undeniable.

"Haha! I might be. Can you blame me as well brother?" Said Artan.

Thank goodness somebody cleared his throat. It's Dardan. And he just appeared from nowhere.

"Boss, the race is about to start."

~

After the first race, the people in the room went back to their seats right next to the windows. I'm in the middle of Nikolai and Alexei on the sofa while Artan is sitting right across us. Im resting my back on Nikolai's side, he wraps his arm around my back while his hand rested on my abdomen. Nikolai, Alexei and Artan are talking and drinking scotch. Me on the other hand is texting and bugging Amy even if I know she's busy working.

Dardan offered my boys cigar from a wooden box with a slide opening. Nikolai looked at me first like he is asking permission from me to smoke.

"It's okay baby." I said to Nikolai while placing my hand over his thigh. He just lets out a smile in response.

My future husband has been hitting the right spots in my heart these past few hours. He really is trying to make it up to me after everything that we have been through.

"Ah so the Russian Mafia has a new boss now." Artan buts in.

"Yes, and her name is Mrs. Mary Arabella Volkov." Answered Nikolai like a proud daddy. A smile slowly formed on my face. He is soooooo getting it tonight.

"Her name really sounds frightening. Boss Mary Arabella." Said Alexei, teasing me.

I smack him on his shoulder and whispered to his ear. "I have a gun Alexei, remember? So behave or Im gonna have to shoot."

"You are so amusing princess." Alexei chuckled and then pinches my chin.

While Alexei is being playful, tickling and teasing me, my phone vibrated. It's a text message from Artan.

"

Oh my god. I think I'm running out of breath. I quickly deleted his message.

When I glanced at him, he is talking to Nikolai like nothing happened. Like he just did not send me one of the most disturbing message I have ever received in my entire life.

Ugh! When will this night end?

~

As another drag race is going on. Nikolai, Alexei and Artan are standing near the glass window drinking and smoking, they seem to be talking about something. The other men and women in the room are also standing some are sitting next to the window watching the race.

I on the other hand chose to remain seated on the sofa. Yuri and Boris are standing near Nikolai and Alexei while Alexei's men are standing next to me.

Finally, after several agonizing minutes, Amy replied to my messages.

Amy's right. I am going to tell Nikolai later. Im just so scared of how Nikolai and Alexei would react to this, knowing for a fact that they have been friends for a long time. But this has to stop or else Artan will keep on manipulating the whole situation. I am pretty sure he planned all these. I then remember the note Artan sent me. Oh god. Artan is indeed scary. I also cringe at the fact that I might actually have a hard time easing down Nikolai and Alexei again.

"

"

I feel like a lump in my throat is forming in my throat and slowly suffocating me.

"Princess...."

Alexei suddenly sits next to me, wraps his arm around my waist and looked me in the eyes.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing Alexei. I just need to talk to you and Nikolai later when we get home."

"If it's about you, you must tell me now princess."

I cant tell him now. I dont know how will he react if I tell him now."Later, Alexei...promise Ill tell you both later."

Alexei held my hand and kisses the bracelet he gave me. I can see from the corner of my eye that Lena and another woman in gown are looking at our direction. I swear that woman has some serious problem.

Nikolai then approached us and sits on my other side. He then kisses me on my lips. I feel like I'm turning crimson already. These two dont have qualms in showing their affection even if we are practically surrounded by their men and Artan's people.

"Are you okay baby?" Asked Nikolai while he held my other hand.

"Yes, Nikolai." I squeezed his hand. Lena and another girl looked at us like they are looking at some kind of a scandalous event.

"Uh, I need to go to the privy Nikolai."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Said Nikolai while whispering on my ear. I feel like chills are running through my body.

"No Nikolai, Ill be fine."

He then signals Boris to come with me. Yup its offical Boris is my pee buddy.

As I stood up and walk towards the door, I see Dardan approach my direction.

"Hello Mrs. Volkov, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Uh, nothing.. I'm just going to the privy."

"Oh, well let me show you the way."

"No its okay, we will just find our way."

"I insist Mrs. Volkov."

Dardan walked ahead of me and Boris. We went towards the door at the end of the hallway.

"To the right is the privy Mrs. Volkov." Said Dardan.

I gave Dardan a faint smile. How he manages to have a poker face despite knowing and most probably having a hand in all the madness of his boss is unbelievable.

Boris and Dardan waited for me outside the room. As I enter the room, only a dim light from a lamp on top of the small table right next to one of the leather chairs is on. I can see to the right a door perhaps the one Dardan is talking about.

As I enter the privy, there are two small lamps mounted on the wall to the right. They give out dim lighting in the elegantly designed comfort room. I then closed the door and approached the mirror near the small lamps.

I inspected myself in front of the mirror. I took a deep breath and then run my fingers through my hair.

I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest when all of a sudden, I see Artan's reflection appear from behind. Oh my god! Where did he come from? How did he went past Boris? Has he been here all along?

When I attempted to walk away he grabs me close to him. He wrapped his arm around just below my breasts while he is palming my mouth effectively immobilizing and shutting me up. I can feel from my butt that Artan is already having major hard on.

Artan then inhaled deep on my neck.

"I have been dreaming for this night to come. Hmmmmm..You are driving me mad."

I feel like my heart is beating a million times. Artan has completely lost it.

"Baby, I will never hurt you, please dont be scared of me." Artan whispered on my ear. I dont know why but I can see the look of sadness all over Artan's eyes.

"I am going to remove my hand from your soft lips. It's up to you if you scream for your dog outside but you must know that your Volkov and his men are surrounded by my people. I wont think twice in raining bullets on them. I would gladly wage a mob war for you baby. So I can take you home tonight after dealing with Volkov. It will be Me, You and Aria from then on."

Artan then slowly lets go of my mouth but he remained pinning me to his body with his other arm.

At the back of my mind, I know that Artan will do exactly what he said. This is him doing what he said in the note. Artan just doesnt play fair. He planned all of these to put me and Nikolai at his mercy. He used his friendship with Nikolai to deliver us right into his trap. Amy is right, Artan is scary. I feel so trapped and manipulated by him.

"Look at us. We are perfect for each other. My only regret is not finding you first." Said Artan as he looks at our reflection in the mirror.

"Artan, you have to stop all of these."

"I can give anything you want baby. What do you want, tell me? Do you want more diamonds? Mansions? Tell me. I can give everything and anything you want."

"Im in love with Nikolai, Artan. I dont need your diamonds or mansions, I only want Nikolai!"

"Youre just saying that now. Give me a chance and I will make you my queen. I am going to worship you everyday until the day I die."

Oh my god. I just stood frozen on my position as Artan makes known his intentions.

"Let go of me Artan." I feel like my knees are getting weak.

Artan then turns me to face him and carries me to sit on a platform near the sink. He then spreads my legs and plants deep kisses on my neck while running his hand on my thigh.

I tried with all my strength to push him away but Artan is just too strong.

"Baby I want you." Artan's voice is already hoarse.

"Artan! Stop!"

Artan continues fondling me. His breathing is already getting deeper. His beard is touching my skin intensely as he kisses my neck. He then cupped my left breast with his hand while his other arm is wrapped around my back, pinning me tight to him.

"Artan! Please! Please stop doing this to me." I am already pleading to Artan.

When Artan heard me plead, he slowly halted. He burried his face on my neck while his arms are wrap around my waist. He then looked me in the eyes intently and cups my face.

"Grant me one kiss and I will let go, for now."

I did not answer Artan.

He then slowly plants a kiss on my lips while still holding me tight. I can again smell Artan's distinct scent, a mixture of scotch, cigar and a hint of his icy perfume. Oh god, Nikolai is right, this man is obssessed with me.

I then looked away and remove myself from the kiss.

Artan looks down as he slowly lets go of me. I then stepped down to reach the floor and turned my back on Artan to look at myself in the mirror and pull myself together.

He again embraced me from the back. He looks at our reflection on the mirror.

"Artan..." I looked at his reflection in the mirror. I can see in his eyes this deep longingness and sadness. I dont know why but I suddenly feel bad for Artan.

Artan loosens his grip on me so I quickly removed myself from him and exited the room. As I approach the door, I looked at Dardan as I went past him. The look of guilt is planted all over his face for leading me straight to his boss' trap.

"Let's go Boris."

I cant go back to Nikolai and Alexei like this. So I decided to go outside to breathe some air. We took the elevator to the ground floor. I quickly walk towards the entrance and went to the open air where our cars are parked.

"What happened Madamme? Are you alright?" Oh god. Do I look so shaken up that even Boris himself talked to me?

"Yes Boris I just need some air that's all." I then quickly saw that he dialled his phone.

I placed my hand on top of his phone. "No! Dont Boris Im okay. Really."

I then turned my back on Boris. I breathed in and out. The cool breeze is touching my face and blowing my hair to the side. I clasp my arms with my hands while intertwined in front of me. A lot of things are running in my mind right now. Do I still tell Nikolai about Artan? I know for a fact that my future husband will not let this one pass if he knows the whole truth about what Artan did. And Artan himself was adamant that he is willing to wage a mob war against Nikolai, just because of me. Oh my god, I am so confused. I feel like my eyes are being pinched.

As I turn around to face the building, my senses took an overdrive when all of a sudden I saw some of the men at the entrance run inside while slinging their guns. Two of the men approached our direction and pointed their guns to Boris. Boris was about to pull the gun from his back but it was too late. The other man took the gun from him.

Oh my god! What is happening? The two men just ignored me, they did not even attempt to lay a hand on me.

"Go Madamme." Said Boris while two guns are still pointed towards him. The men in black suits pointing guns at him looked all too serious. "Madamme! Look at me, you have to go now. Go!" Said Boris sternly.

I gathered all the strength I have left and ran back inside. Artan's men are just looking at me as I approach the elevator.

My hands are aleady shaking. I can never forgive myself if anything happens to my Nikolai, Alexei and his men. I know that I am the reason why this is happening.

My heart is beating a million times as I approach the room on the third floor. As I entered the room, my eyes widened at the horrifying sight in front of me.