Bound To The Medvedi

Leni

I watched quietly as Elise paced around the room, I knew she was itching to say something out of pocket and truthfully I was scared but her repeated movement was driving me bunkers. "What is it, Elise?" My voice was low, already bracing for the insanity she'd been pacing into existence. She stopped mid-step, turning to face me with a determination that made my stomach recoil. "I want to work for Papa." My heart stuttered. One. Two. Three beats of silence stretch between us. "What?" It came out more breathless than I planned, barely audible. "I want to work for Papa," she repeated, louder this time. "I'm eighteen now. I'm smarter, faster, and probably more capable than his entire security team combined." I only blinked at her, her words sharp enough to leave me wounded. Can she even hear herself? Working for Papa isn't just any job; it's suicide. "Elise, he'll never approve this. You know that." "I know," her voice leveled, like she'd spent years rehearsing this moment. "That's why you're going to help me convince him." "I'm not." My response was immediate, and firm. "But you will." She leaned forward, a sly smile creeping to her face. "Think of it as my birthday gift." My jaw tightened. Her birthday. Of course. I glanced at the faint decorations peeking through the open doorway, and guilt crept in. She barely had a celebration, not like other girls her age. Not with parents like ours. But a gift like this? "I'll get you that Alienware laptop you've been begging for instead," I countered in a weak attempt at rejecting her insensible offer. "I don't want that, Leni. I want to work with Papa. I want to be closer to him. I want to know him like you do." Her words hit like a blow, a mix of envy and sadness wrapped in one. Elise's eyes glistened- with tears and with that hope she always carried, the kind that made me want to keep her far away from papa. "It's dangerous, Elise. Too dangerous." My throat tightened as a memory threatened to resurface, images of blood and his lifeless body I worked hard to suppress. "I can't lose you too." She closed the distance between us, her voice softening. "I know, Leni. I know. But I've done my research. I know what I'm getting into. I just..." She paused, her fingers clenching and unclenching at her sides. "I want them to notice me, Leni. I want him to notice me." I exhaled slowly, the fight in me long lost after hearing her last words. Her determination is a mirror of my own, and I hated it. I hated that she would eventually end up like me. My parents are vile, and into the most lewd business but they made sure we weren't a part of that world. A house behind the main mansion for birthdays and our own personal house in another city, brilliant isn't it? Not really, I think they forget the most important thing, parental love. I don't mind being away from them and living lavishly but Elise does, every now and then she brings them up. Now, was no different. "I'll try," I murmured finally, my voice hollow. "I'll try to convince him, but I can't promise you anything." The transformation was instant. Her face lit up, I wonder how long she's been thinking about this as she spun around the room. "Okay, let's go," Elise said, yanking me by the wrist, her grip firm and unrelenting. "Wait a minute." My voice trailed after her, but if she heard, she didn't show it. Her pace only quickened. "We can't," I hissed, forcing my feet to stay in place, but her persistence overshadowed my effor. "We can talk to him tomorrow before we leave. This is insane." "This is the only time," she shot back over her shoulder. "We talk to him now, or we don't talk to him at all. Your next birthday is in six months, I can't wait that long." She was right-terribly, infuriatingly right. "Fine, but slow down," I muttered, stumbling as she pulled me along. "I'll lose my balance if you keep dragging me like this." Elise led us to a narrow passage hidden behind a false panel in the garden wall, a shadowy corridor that snaked toward the main building. Papa called it the illusion wall, he named it after the illusion mirror in Harry Potter when we were an actual family. Even the guards didn't know about it. The air grew colder as we moved closer to the main building, and within minutes, we were stepping into its beauty. The marble floors glinted under dim lighting as we crept toward the office. My steps faltered as memories of the last time I was here came rushing. I hadn't stepped foot here since I was ten. Elise guided me through the main building and I was almost certain she'd never been to the main building before-something I'd definitely have to question her about later. "What if he has visitors?" I whispered, a last-ditch effort to convince her. Something about this felt wrong-off in a way I couldn't quite name. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat screaming at me to get out. "What if he's alone?" she countered. I bit back another protest. Papa might have loved us in some distant, twisted way, but disobedience was something he wouldn't tolerate. Especially not this. We have rules to follow; being in the main building was offense number one, offense number two will be walking into this room without his permission. My silence was all the encouragement Elise needed. She shoved me forward, enough to get me through the doorway while she stayed hidden. This girl will definitely be the reason why my head will be on a platter. The room stilled. Every eye turned to me. My stomach dropped. Shit. He has visitors. Every gaze in the room landed on me and it choked me, I was not a fan of attention, most especially this type of attention. Three men In well tailored suits stared at me, confusion glamouring their eyes, my parents' had a worry etched expression, fear masked underneath their face and a subtle anger simmered through them. My throat tightened, but there was no going back. Not now. I squared my shoulders and cleared my throat, forcing my voice to remain steady. "My apologies, Mr. Moretti." I dipped into a small curtsy, the tension in the air pressing against my back. "Good evening, everyone. I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting." Mama's hand flew to her pearl necklace in a bid to keep herself calm. Her lips stretched into a smile, but the strain showed in the corners of her eyes. "Good evening, Mrs. Greta," I added, turning to her. "You look absolutely stunning tonight. Special occasion?" Mama's smile softened, genuine warmth slipping through her façade. "Oh, Leni, you flatter me. Whatever brings you here?" The glare from Papa was sharp enough to leave me bleeding. His silence screamed what his words couldn't: Leave. Now. I straightened, my gaze flitting across the room. "I was passing by and thought to discuss some legal matters with your husband," I said, the lie slipping easily from my lips. "But I see he's occupied. I'll wait outside the study." As I glanced around, my eyes caught on a man seated near the far end of the table. His gray and slightly green eyes locked on mine, unreadable but definitely not unwavering, and I felt a strange tug in my chest. His jawline looked like it had been carved with preciseness, sharp and captivating. He's definitely the inspiration for mewing in boys on social media. I swallowed hard, clearing my throat again to dispel the spell he seemed to radiate "My apologies once more," I murmured. Before I could retreat, Mama stepped forward, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. "I will keep you company while you wait, my dear." She looped her arm through mine, her grip gentle but firm, guiding me out of the room before I could protest. My mother was a known slut. That was the only way to prove herself to my father; she seduces or sometimes sleeps with other men into doing business with papa and papa rewards her with different jewelres or shopping sprees. We walked in silence toward the patio, the soft click of Mama's heels the only sound. Her head remained bowed, her eyes avoiding mine, but the tension radiated off her like heat from a fire. I remember when Papa first introduced the birthday rule, mama had been completely against it, she threw a fit. It took him three years after making that decision to finally allow us to visit again. "What have you done, you fool?" Her voice trembled, and when her gaze finally met mine, it was glassy with unshed tears. My stomach sank. "Elise-she needed something from him," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I had to come here." Her breath hitched as her expression hardened. "What could she possibly need that's worth breaking the rules?" I paused, the words sticking in my throat. "I'm sorry, ma'am," I said quickly, correcting myself in case someone was eavesdropping nearby. "That's between the three of us." The slap came fast, sharp, and familiar. My cheek burned under her palm, and I pressed my lips together to keep the sting from showing. This wasn't the first time Mama let her emotions overshadow her thoughts, but it didn't hurt any less. "Once again, I'm sorry for disrupting the meeting." My voice remained steady as I stepped away, masking the ache on my skin. I walked back toward the main hall, my head high. I refused to let anyone see my pain. Where was Elise? I hadn't seen her since we left the office, and the knot in my stomach tightened. "Dusan. Hopefully, we'll finalize the deal soon," Papa's voice boomed as he escorted the visitors out of the study. The man from before-Dusan-turned his head, his gaze landing on me again. This time, it lingered, his gray eyes taunting me. A playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but it didn't soothe the unease growing in my chest. Papa's firm grip closed around my elbow, his tone low and sharp. "Ah, Leni, I'm glad you're here. Remember how you mentioned being single? Well, Dusan, here is has come to me asking for your hand." My hand? My pulse quickened as his words sank in. "What do you mean by my hand? " I echoed, keeping my voice calm despite the alarm ringing in my head. "Yes," Papa said, his laugh deep and unsettling. "Dusan is an integral part of our newest busines. He's taken a liking to you, and apparently, he has put out a really fascinating condition. He wants to form an alliance between Belyye Medvedi and Fantasma by getting married to you." What was happening? Since when had Papa thought it was a good idea to involve me-his child-in his business? "But I'm your legal representative, sir," I replied evenly, though my hands clenched at my sides. "I don't think it is ideal for you to sign me up forarranged marriages, Mr. Moretti. I might be single, but I'm definitely not lonely." "Dear," Papa said, grinning as he gestured toward Dusan. "You are a daughter to me and I wouldn't agree with Dusan's arrangement if he wasn't a good match, don't you think?" Dusan's sharp gaze didn't waver. "Do you have a problem with my proposal, Miss Leni?" he asked, his tone teasing yet laced with challenge. I met his stare head-on, refusing to back down. "Who wouldn't have a problem with being practically forced into a loveless marriage?" His chest shook with laughter, rich and melodic, catching me off guard. My heart stumbled, and I hated how the sound made my breath hitch. It wasn't just the laugh-it was the way he laughed because of me. "I'm sorry Dusan but I won't be getting married to you," I called after him, my voice steady but my heart racing. His chuckle echoed faintly as he disappeared through the door.