At an executive mini hall at Arisom hotel, there sat Natasha and Dmitry on a side of the executive table whilst Mr. Jucef and Pavel sat on the other end of the table.
Natasha was yet to understand the purpose of this impromptu meeting. She was supposed to be in the Laboratory, but unexpectedly received a call from Yuri that untilmately brought her here. She didn’t however have good feelings about this since Pavel and Mr. Jucef are here.
“My son and Natasha once had a fake relationship,” Mr. Jucef started. “But I was unaware. I went ahead to announce it and then my friends and enemies took it up. To them, it’s not fake. It’s too late to go back and tell them that my son had lied to me.”
Dmitry remained quiet but Natasha flared up, “why is it too late?”
Mr. Jucef took his eyes that was heavily set on Dmitry and moved it to Natasha who had just spoken, he smiled, “oh my daughter… What a sweet voice you have.”
Natasha was unmoved by such compliments and maintained a rigid face. “I lead the most powerful gang in my city. I also have the biggest company in my city and our influence had spread all over the continent. Pavel here will be my heir, he will take over all my legal business and of course, the illegal ones.” The man smiled.
“But that position won’t be given to him unless he’s firstly married. It’s too late for him to pick any random woman, the only woman he can marry is you, my dear daughter. Your face had been ingrained in the hearts of our friends and enemies.”
Natasha wasn’t having the man’s words so she spoke, “I don’t care if my face had been ingrained in the face of the entire world. My question is, why is it too late for your son to pick another woman, what if I’m dead, won’t he moved on? And secondly, what’s your main purpose of being here cause personally, I have a lot to do.”
“Easy, my daughter,” Mr. Jucef said. “We work with codes and honor in my city. You may not understand our culture but whoever had been declared as a wife can not be changed anymore unless she dies. And talking of death, I will not let any harms come your way.”
“Why don’t you state your request, my daughter and I’ll see to it. So long as you marry my son, afterall, you are single and my son is single too.” Mr. Jucef said.
“Perhaps, your son didn’t report to you about my response. Pavel and I had this conversation earlier. A man that slapped me publicly and was ready to rip off my clothes in public is definitely not a man any reasonable woman will like to end up with. A woman beater? An abuser? A bully?” Natasha paused.
She continued, “I didn’t even know he had been hiding his true character for so long. I thought he was a perfect gentleman. I remembered the first day I met him, he looked cool and reserved, one would never have known he had such traits.”
Pavel wanted to speak but Mr. Jucef beat him to it. “That’s not who my son is, he must have acted that way at the court cause he was triggered. You know we have all been traumatized somehow. If you let him explain himself, you will sympathize with him.”
“He doesn’t have to explain himself. He can do that to the woman he will marry. As for me, I’m not and will never marry Pavel. I’ll never even be friends with him again so dead whatever culture is making you insist I marry him cause that’s just so ridiculous.”
“He’s a grown ass adult and he’s carrying his daddy along like some teenager.” Natasha hurled.
Mr. Jucef exhaled. The atmosphere became more tense than it already is. “I’ve not received this level of insult in my life.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you, I’m only stating fact.”
“Well, Pavel had independently lived his life for more than a decade. I only interfered into this matter cause my reputation is on the line too. He didn’t even want me to interfere.” Mr. Jucef said. “Anyways, we do not need to stress this any longer.”
Mr. Jucef continued, “taking you forcefully to Crying Sun and making you marry my son by force is easy. You won’t be the first stubborn woman our clan will be dealing with. Infact, many of them, after being forcefully brought over, will keep trying to run away even after delivering heirs for us.” Mr. Jucef laughed.
“But we couldn’t do that to you cause you are under the protection of Dmitry,” Mr. Jucef said. “Which is my we are here.” Jucef returned his face to Dmitry, “Son, I need you to withdraw your protection over this woman.”
Natasha turned her face to Dmitry, but as usual, his expression was unreadable, one couldn’t tell what he was thinking or what he will utter.
“Son, you know a full fledge blown war will start if you refuse to withdraw your protection. Many people will get hurt! And when I mean many people, I’m talking about people that means a lot to you,” Mr. Jucef said. “Of course I know you will annihilate many of my men too, maybe even kill my son and I in the process. But one thing I can guarantee you is that lives will be lost.”
“I highly advise you give it some thoughts. Is it worth it? Just because of one woman, think about the number of innocent lives that will be lost,” Mr. Jucef said and then stood. “You have seventy two hours to make your decision. A minute after that, please watch your back and that of your family cause anything may happen.” Then he walked out.
Pavel also stood.
“You knew it will come to this yet you deceived me into pretending to be your fake wife. You knew that once your father announce me as your partner, there’s no going back yet you made me do it.” Natasha lash out her pain on Pavel.
Pavel stood. “I am sorry. But like I said the last time, I’ve loved you since, I was only pretending not to have any emotions towards you. Natasha, we will make lovely babies together, I give you my word that I’ll never lay hands on you again. I’ll dote on you with everything. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”
“Empty promises. You have lost your reputation in my sight. Also, you may have feelings for me but understand that the feeling is not mutual. I don’t love you. I do not like you. You disgust me. I do not want to be your friend. I do not want to be your lover. I do not want to be your wife. Stay away from me, Pavel.”
Those words poured on Pavel’s heart like hot coal. He clenched his fist hard and then slammed it on the table in rage, his eyes beaming with fire, he lowered himself and maintained a scary eye contact with Natasha, “unfortunately, in our family, we do not take NO for an answer. Whatever we want, we get! And you, Natasha, I want you. I will have you. You will be my woman and will produce heirs for me. You and I will lead my father’s empire together.”
“I thought you said you will never lay hands on me again but here you are, acting all aggressive. I think you should leave, Pavel.”
Pavel stood upright and said finally, “Dmitry won’t be able to save you, Natasha.” Then he walked out.
Natasha became even more troubled than she already is, she turned to Dmitry who had been mysteriously quiet all these while. “Please don’t withdraw your protection over me. I don’t want to live the rest of my life with a man I do not want.”
Natasha do not even want to imagine what Pavel’s family will do to her should they forcefully take her over to Crying Sun. Moreso, what will be the fate of her children? She can’t let Naomi alone take care of them. She’s just their nanny.
Still, Dmitry remained quiet.
After fifteen seconds had passed, Dmitry said, “I can’t make a decision now. I’ll look into how powerful Jucef is first then I’ll know what to do.”
Dmitry stood and attempted to walk away but Natasha spoke, “but I’m still working on your mom’s health, you can’t wuthdraw your protection no matter how powerful Mr. Jucef is.”
“Would you rather let me go into war? War is not good for countries talkless of me. Souls will be lost. And war, you see can last more than a year, sometimes extend to two years.” He said.
“But you have to help me, somehow, there has to be a way,” Natasha said.
“I never said I won’t.” This was Dmitry’s final word before he walked out.
Did he not care about her at all? Natasha wondered. Of course, there is no relationship between the two of them but based on their recent encounters, she can tell that their relationship had grown. Maybe it hadn’t reached the level of friendship yet but at the very least… Will he just let those hungry beast cart her away like an object with no value?