-Mikhael-

Viktor is still around. Boris doesn’t like this. Honestly, neither do I. There is something fishy about him. I mean, they are all mafia. But Viktor seems extra shady. I’m not jealous. She’s still a person. She doesn’t need more people stabbing her in the back. Getting Viktor out of the picture might not be so easy.

I didn’t know how deep he rooted himself in our businesses. (More like her businesses. I have no part in any of them.) I didn’t find this out until we took that trip to Russia.

It was Boris who sounded the alarm.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked in the hotel restaurant. He didn’t speak at first. Instead, Boris slid a big folder across to me.

“What is this?” I asked. I took the folder and opened it. I read over the papers at first. I raised my eyebrow.

“I don’t get it. What am I looking at?” I asked.

“Keep reading,” Boris said. I went back to reading the page. A familiar name caught my eye.

“Viktor?” I asked. I went up one line.

“What is this?” I asked. I looked up.

“How long have they been doing this?” I asked.

“About a month,” Boris said. I blinked.

“Before the wedding?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We had to clean out the rats.”

“Well… yeah. But after that.”

“You were on your honeymoon. Plus, it all kept piling up. We had to deal with the big fire first. We didn’t catch these deals until too late.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m so sorry.”

I didn’t know what to say. She did this behind my back? Part of me would’ve been fine if she cheated on me with Viktor. Ha.  “Cheating”. But isn’t this what I wanted? Them together and me being free?

I frowned and puffed up my cheeks. When did this become difficult?

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I waited for Valentina in the room. I sat on the bed with papers in hand. I didn’t even know what I was going to say.

-Valentina-

I came back to my room. That meeting went great. I felt like the queen of the world. We were going to meet up again tomorrow to go over the finer details. I just wanted to go to bed after a nice long bath. I made it back to my room.

“I’m back,” I said. I noticed the disappointed look on Mikhael’s face.

“What?” I asked. I saw the folder in his lap.

“Where did you get that?” I asked.

“How could you?” he asked in a low voice. Mikhael glared at me.

“The wine business. Why him?” he said.

“You won’t do business with me,” I said. “I don’t have anyone else.”

“But why him?”

“I can trust Viktor.”

“What about your men?”

“Sure. But Viktor gets me.”

“Don’t you get it?”

“No.”

I breathed in as I held back a scream. I knew this would happen. Yes, I am married to this guy. But it’s only on paper. I do not love him. This is just another business deal. If I could marry Viktor, I would. I have to stay married to Mikhael because that’s what Daddy wanted.

He didn’t stay I couldn’t get divorced.

“What do you want from me?” I asked. “I’m trying to keep everything together.”

“But with your ex?” Mikhael asked. “Look at this!” He pulled out papers and spread them on his lap.

“The wine business. When did you and him decide to open a nightclub? And a fight club?!” he asked.

“That one was his idea,” I said.

“Valentina!”

“Hey, he helps me, I help him.”

“That’s not the point.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Are you jealous?”

“Jealous?! No!” He cleared his throat. “We don’t trust him.”

I raised an eyebrow. “We?”

Mikhael covered his mouth. Oh, I see it. Boris put him up to this. I put my hands on my hips.

“Oh really?” I asked. “Well tell the boys that I will be fine. Thank you!” I stamped my foot and marched to the bathroom.

----------

-Mikhael-

She doesn’t get it. Viktor got his hooks into her. This was worse than we thought. I was going to have to get Boris to help me on this. I rubbed the bridge of my nose. Why does everything keep piling up on me?