For those of you who've been reading my novels for a while, you know this is my first one. It's truly etched in my heart, and I love it. I feel like I didn't do it justice back then because I was so focused on finishing it fast, and I just didn't have the experience. I've rewritten it without making big changes to the plot, just adding details that weren't there before.
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Enjoy!
Near Moscow, Russia – 7:45 AM
All you could hear were the clicks of her heels. Everyone was dead, so no sound besides hers could be heard. That was normal.
The path was covered in blood and the bodies of the people she'd just eliminated. Their bodies were still warm but completely devoid of life. She walked past hundreds of corpses, looking for empty spots between each one so she wouldn't step on them. It wasn't out of respect; she just found them disgusting and couldn't risk messing up her beautiful shoes. Finally, she exited the large warehouse that had started to suffocate her.
She glanced at her men, whom she'd ordered to stay out and only prevent anyone from escaping the warehouse. And that's exactly what they'd done.
The blonde-haired man with sharp, deadly green eyes, a massive muscular build, and towering height approached her. With serious, cold eyes, he put his weapon behind his black jacket and asked, "What are your orders, Boss?"
He asked her, but did she answer him? Yes, of course, but not with her voice. She just raised her hand in a gesture that made him understand what he needed to do. So she walked past him, then cast her empty gaze at her black shadows, who were looking at their shoes more out of fear than respect. That's how things worked here. Fear trumped respect. They'd also seen her flay a man's penis after he'd looked at her admiringly during the massacre, causing her trouble, and then dissolve it in acid. So, no one dared to raise their head in her presence, fearing for their lives.
She approached her car, and one of the men opened the door for her. She got in and sat down calmly. She waited a few seconds for the blonde man to get in and sit across from her. Then the car started, followed by the cars of the rest of the guards.
She reached for the bag beside her and pulled out her tablet and drawing stylus. She needed to finish the details of the wedding dress she was working on. Imagine someone covered in blood, having just killed dozens of people, drawing a wedding dress. Is that even possible? Absolutely. This is our messed-up protagonist, suffering from a personality disorder.
Vanessa Sokolov.
It's not a disorder in the scientific sense; she doesn't have two personalities. For her, she's one person, but everyone needs to know her as a beautiful, innocent princess with a great talent for designing jewelry and clothes since she was seventeen.
She was drawing the details of the lace fabric she'd use for the dress when a huge explosion went off behind them. Neither she nor anyone else turned around, because this was undoubtedly their doing.
Meanwhile, in another place entirely. Not peaceful like the last one, but filled with screams. Down in a dark basement in the Richard family's mansion in London, UK, to be exact. Four people were hanging by their arms, suspended off the ground, while they were being tortured by the second-in-command who had the honor of making a few traitors regret what they'd done. But that wasn't the reason for this display; they were going to die anyway, so why waste time on them? It was meant to be a lesson for anyone who dared to betray Adrian Richard.
Adrian Richard sat on his leather chair, one leg propped over the other. The darkness made his face hard to see, but his powerful, overwhelming aura was something that couldn't be hidden.
"Enough," his voice was sharp, making everyone who was breathing hold their breath. He rose from his chair, revealing his massive body, which was perfectly proportionate to his height. "No need to play with them anymore. We don't have all that time. Make sure they don't die before they see every dog with their same blood take their last breath."
His tone and his brutal, harsh way of handling things made everyone stifle their gasps. One of the men hanging in the middle started crying and sobbing, begging for the lives of his young children. But who cared about his pleas? Nobody, of course.
"Your orders, Boss," Aaron said seriously, starting to remove the cloths from his hands, which had stones in them to make every punch bloody and painful enough. "And also... you have full authority to handle such trivial matters. Don't bother me every time."
The matter was never insignificant; the traitors had sent information about them to their rivals and those who wanted to eliminate them. All the mafias in the world wanted to take down the British mafia, but they had no idea who they were messing with until they tried it for themselves. He could destroy them all without much effort. But he didn't want to destroy them; he wanted to acquire and rule them. The Richard family was the largest supplier of all kinds of drugs in the world. They even dealt with traitorous governments that brought potent drugs to their own people to mislead them into enslavement. But was it important to the mafia? Of course not. This was their business, and the fact that governments were traitors helped their trade even better. As for weapons, they dealt with the Russians to be supplied with the best types, as the Russian mafia was the only one that didn't oppose them, even though they weren't subordinate to them.
Russia was a neutral zone, and because it was so large, many clans ruled it, all under the orders of one boss whom no one knew anything about except that she was a woman. The woman who hid herself from the rest of the world, not out of fear of enemies, but because she loved to play in the shadows, just like a swift black ghost you don't feel or notice its chill until it passes by you. But by then, it's too late.
And this boss was Vanessa Sokolov, our twenty-three-year-old protagonist. She was distinguished by naturally wavy, dark brown hair that reached the end of her back. They say half a woman's beauty is her hair and the other half is her body, so let's talk about this stunning woman's captivating physique. She was 173 centimeters tall, had a slim French waist, and long legs. As for her clear, milky skin, that's another story titled "Blood Bath."
In reality, people pay attention to facial details before other details. What I described earlier was from the perspective of someone only looking from behind, because when you see her from the front, the first thing you'll do is gasp in admiration when you look into her turquoise eyes. Like a clear sky surrounded by thick, long eyelashes. Her eyebrows were delicately sharp, as if drawn. Her nose looked like it was made in a laboratory, and if we wanted to describe her lips, we'd have to dedicate several special chapters to them, and I don't have enough time for that. She was wonderfully perfect, a marvel of beauty, like an artist's painting that combined the most beautiful features of women worldwide to produce such a masterpiece.
So tell me, how could this angel be a devil from the deepest floors of hell?
She was the adopted daughter of Igor Sokolov, the owner of the largest diamond company in Europe and Asia. All his businesses were legal and impeccable; he had refused to let his family's century-old legacy enter the underworld. A man in his fifties who was still so handsome that if you saw him on the street, you'd turn to look again. He had honey-colored eyes and completely white hair with a neatly trimmed beard. He had never married, content only with his little girl, Vanessa.
Vanessa's car pulled into the Sokolov family mansion. She was wearing a classic white suit with a red lace shirt and matching heels, her wavy hair flowing down her back. She had gone to the headquarters first to shower and change her clothes, as well as finish some work that required her presence. Her father knew about her activities and respected her decisions, but she didn't like to appear before him in her bloody state. She walked inside, her gaze cold, even though she wanted to roll her eyes because of this day—the monthly cleaning that happened on the tenth of every month. This explained the many servants running everywhere to perform this ridiculous tradition.
She entered the spacious living room, dominated by red in its design. It featured many paintings by famous 18th-century artists, along with a large portrait of Vanessa and Igor at her high school graduation party. Igor was sitting on a single sofa, reading his morning newspaper—another boring routine for Vanessa. So she wanted to ignore him and go up to her room, but he stopped her by saying, "Your room is being cleaned right now."
"That's ridiculous!" she replied coldly.
She hated this; she hated having all her clothes and belongings taken out by the maids so the room could be cleaned, but this stubborn old man wouldn't back down. And she had given up on saying the same thing over and over again.
"Did you eat breakfast?" Igor asked after placing the newspaper on the small table.
"Nope."
"Come eat with me," he told her calmly. She nodded in agreement. He rang the bell beside him, and one of the maids stopped in front of him. He ordered her to bring breakfast for them and to call Edward to join them.
Edward was Vanessa's right-hand man in both legal and illegal affairs. He was known for his ruthlessness with everyone. When he was nice, he was genuinely nice, but when he changed, it was best to run for your life. He had trained with Vanessa since they were kids. Together, they had founded their organization; it wasn't hers alone, but she was its boss. Edward was Vanessa's brother by oath, and the men respected him no less than the boss herself. However, even though she loved him like a brother, she dealt with him formally when it came to business. At home, they were one family. But she also used her authority for certain private matters—no one ever said she had good qualities.
The three of them sat at the six-chair dining table, having their breakfast. There was a large dining hall for banquets and parties, but they didn't use it; they preferred a small table in the living room. Vanessa was eating a toast sandwich with sausage and cheese, along with fresh orange juice. This was Vanessa's favorite breakfast; she adored this sandwich, which she used to eat in her childhood when she lived an innocent and happy life. It remained the only tradition she had kept since then.
She ate while Edward looked at her cold features, along with Igor, as if she wouldn't care if the world burned. Vanessa was known for not talking much, so they didn't talk to her much so as not to bother her.
"How are things with the business, Edward?" Igor asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Sorry, Uncle, but my boss doesn't allow me to talk about that."
Igor laughed, and Vanessa joined him, innocently saying after taking a bite of her sandwich, "My dear father, don't cause my assistant to break any bones." She added, "Then I'll be the one who suffers from not having an assistant beside me." Both men chuckled, while Vanessa didn't look like she had just told a joke. "Excuse me, Uncle Igor, you know the rules," Edward said.
They didn't really mean it, as Vanessa didn't hide anything from her father; it was him who preferred not to talk about the details of the underworld. He just wanted to annoy Edward, but he didn't succeed, as irritating this beast was much harder.
Igor cleared his throat seriously after silence fell between them and said, "Vanessa..."
Vanessa raised her eyes toward her father, who seemed a little tense, as if he was thinking deeply about whether he should say what he was about to say. "I want to take you somewhere this evening. Come home early."
Vanessa didn't answer him with words, but just nodded her head, and he said, "Good."
Hours later, Vanessa was sitting in her father's car, which he was driving himself, unusually, as he wanted them to be alone. He stopped in an empty area where it was raining heavily. He entered a small house, and Vanessa followed him without asking, as it was clear from his expression that the matter was serious, and she could guess what it was.
Igor lit the fireplace and said after they sat facing each other, breaking the silence between them, "Vanessa!"
He paused for a moment, letting the name hang in the air, then she coolly interrupted the silence, "Agreed."
He looked at her in surprise, first because she knew what he wanted, and second because she agreed so readily. "I think you forgot who I am, Father. The day the former British mafia boss came, I knew about it. I just waited for you to make your decision about this." Vanessa said these words calmly, as if she wasn't personally concerned with the matter. Igor could only feel guilty and said quietly, "Well then, be confident that this is the best for everyone..."
Wearing a completely black suit, except for a gray tie, the man who had just entered his thirties a few weeks ago stood before his office's glass window, watching the raindrops fall. His black hair, like threads of night, was neatly combed to the side. His olive eyes stared coldly into space, as if deep in thought. His right hand held a cigarette, bringing it to his thin lips, from which poison quickly exhaled, rising until it vanished into the air. His left hand was in his pants pocket.
His solitude was interrupted by someone knocking on his door. He said nothing because he knew the knocker, who usually didn't knock. His secretary didn't come in without informing him or being called, and if anyone else came, she'd tell him before he allowed them in.
Aaron entered, dressed in loose clothes, looking like a member of a band, wearing a white shirt and black pants. His honey-colored hair was scattered casually across his forehead. His eyes, the same color as his hair, gleamed with amusement, which made Adrian realize he was here to provoke or mock him. If it weren't for the weapon hidden behind his loose shirt, he'd truly look like a member of some obscure band.
Adrian paid him no mind, so Aaron sat on the couch opposite the desk and put his feet on the table after pouring himself some wine from a bottle on the table. "Don't you have any ice, man?" he grumbled.
Adrian threw his cigarette to the floor and said after crushing it, "Does my office look like a bar?"
Aaron feigned a frown and replied, "You're such a buzzkill. I know work's serious, but we can enjoy it. Like, in my room, there's a fridge with all kinds of drinks—you'd even find strawberry milk in my office 'cause some girls like to act cute, and their eyes light up fake-bright after I tell 'em I got strawberry milk for nice girls. It's really fun. There's ice too. And instead of a boring wine bottle, my side table has a box of arriving chocolates..."
"Just shut up, Aaron. I know what your room looks like. Just be quiet," Adrian cut him off sharply, but not with the same intensity he used with his men or business partners. This was the sharpness between friends and cousins. The person Adrian Richard trusted the most was Aaron Richard, and blood relation had nothing to do with their closeness.
"Speaking of girls..."
"I didn't mention girls."
"I did. They called from the airport. Looks like your future wife has arrived in London."
Adrian sighed in annoyance, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. Now, as if he had nothing else to do, he had to deal with a spoiled princess who was going to be his wife. "Send someone to pick her up and ensure her protection. If anyone finds out she's here to marry me, she could be in danger."
Adrian's POV:
She's coming. She wants to marry me! Ha! I'll marry her in my dreams, of course. That dumb girl who thinks her life will get better after she gets my family name, but I know the truth. She'll regret saying yes, that's for sure. All I'm thinking about her is that I'm just going to avoid her. I'll pretend she doesn't exist. My mansion is full of unwanted people anyway. But it's not like I'm marrying just any girl; she's also from a powerful, old family. The only difference is she doesn't belong to the underworld. Plus, she's made a name for herself in business. So, she might want more than I plan to give her. I just hope she has some dignity and doesn't invade my space.
I put my cigarette back between my lips, inhaling its poison deeply, then released it from my lungs toward the window, which had become foggier than the incessant London rain. According to what I know about her, she's supposed to be the best fashion designer in Europe, and her brand is globally famous. She has a sparkling image in the fashion world. Any girl who wears slutty clothes attracts attention and always smiles like an idiot, as if her jaw doesn't hurt, and her achieving such a position at a young age indicates only one thing: her father opened these opportunities for her. I hate women and everything that comes with them. I remembered one love in my life, that sweet girl I can't find no matter how much I search. It's like she vanished into the lowest depths of hell.
End POV
"You're not going to pick her up yourself?"
Adrian exhaled in annoyance after seeing the amused gleam in his cousin's eyes and replied, "I don't have time for that, and I don't want the idiot to hope for or expect anything from me."
"Are you gay, man?" he asked seriously, as if he truly believed it and was just waiting for confirmation.
"Unfortunately, I'm neither. I just don't like unnecessary relationships," he replied coldly, then continued, "I only agreed to marry her because my grandfather asked and convinced me that I needed to get married, settle down, and all that stupid stuff so he'd stop interfering with my business. Also, I only loved a girl once, so I don't think I'm gay."
Aaron shifted helplessly and said seriously, no longer seeming like the guy who was enjoying provoking him just moments ago. "How are you going to convince her you don't want a real marriage? She might consider that an insult. Plus, she's not just anyone. For a fashion princess to change her life and come from Russia to Britain to meet a husband who doesn't want a real relationship! I don't want to imagine what I'd do if I were in her shoes."
"She can leave; I don't care. I'll tell her my conditions... If she wants, she signs. If she refuses, she goes back where she came from."
"You're really weird. Have you seen her pictures? She's the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever seen. There's something special about her you'll never find in any other woman."
Adrian looked at him with hostile eyes that made him swallow. How could there be someone like him in this life who rejected her and didn't want her, yet felt jealous when someone complimented her beauty? So, to preserve the last shred of sanity he had left, he'd leave this suffocating place, just like its owner.
"Alright, I don't care about your curse. Do whatever you want. I'm going to the club. You coming?" he asked in a playful tone. Adrian pulled out his weapon from behind his waist, causing Aaron to quickly flee the office.
Aaron's POV:
I got out of his office before he could shoot me. I know perfectly well that my cousin is crazy and never goes back on his word. He didn't like it when I told him his future bride was beautiful; I saw anger radiating in his eyes. And the problem is, he doesn't want her; he wants to make her life a nightmare so she'll run away and never think about setting foot in London again.
Also, I was telling the truth; she's truly captivating, and she's famous and capable of taming any man she desires. Unfortunately, her bad luck landed her in the hands of this lunatic. It would be great if she didn't completely lose her self-confidence because of him.
I headed downstairs, making my way outside. I deserved some relaxation since I didn't have any essential work today. As I walked, all the girls in the office turned toward me. Each one tried to steal a glance, and when I winked at one of them, their hearts fluttered, and their steps stumbled. I'm a rich and famous man, and I'm the second most handsome man in London after the boss—that's what the list made by the girls in the company says. A man in his thirties, with honey-colored hair with some blonde streaks, eyes similar to the color of honey, and a light beard highlighting my sharp features. My body might not be as huge as Adrian's, but it gets the job done. And since the boss looks intimidating, girls don't dare to look directly at him, but they know his handsomeness from those who work with him, and from me, of course, because I'm truly fond of the fairer sex.
I sit with girls and chat with them every chance I get, which makes me the complete opposite of Adrian. It's true I'm a mafia man; my name alone is enough to inspire terror, but I'm a first-class womanizer, and everyone knows it. They even tried to kill me by sending beautiful girls to seduce me, but I don't let any curse control me, so those tactics failed with me. What I'm saying about myself isn't my own opinion; it's not like I'm admitting Adrian is better than me. This is just what the girls in the company talk about. For your information, I eavesdrop through the surveillance cameras and hear their whispers when they gather to gossip. I even hear them commenting on the boss and his handsomeness. It's really good that he's gay, otherwise no girl would look my way. Please, don't blame me; I'm not a pervert. It's them who don't do their work and gossip about the managers.
Finally, I left the company and got into my armored Jeep—it's safer against bullets. I drove to my favorite club. It belongs to our family, which gives me complete freedom to do what I want without watching my back. This place is managed with the highest levels of protection, as it's the secret meeting place for our businesses.
Without caring about the men of her future husband who had come to pick her up, Vanessa was sitting in the back seat of a luxurious black car that her father had sent for her. An aura surrounded her that made everyone stay out of her way, while she was deep in thought about her new situation.
For the first time, her visit to Britain wasn't a secret; everyone knew she was coming. She was used to coming for work discreetly, but this time, all eyes were on her, and for reasons she knew well related to this marriage. Her agreement to this marriage didn't mean she'd let her so-called husband lay a hand on her. She definitely wouldn't give him a chance to overstep his boundaries. She just needed to figure out how to do it without showing her true power and who she really was. If things went south, she was ready to blow his brains out on the spot.
She was lost in thought when Edward called her several times, his firm, familiar voice trying to get her attention after she seemed pale to him. "Vanessa... Vanessa... Vaneesssa!"
She finally turned to him, finding his gaze fixed on her as he asked anxiously, "What's wrong? You seem distracted. Are you okay?"
She replied coldly, trying to hide what she was really thinking. "Nothing, just... I don't like London."
Edward smiled, and with a rare warmth in their harsh world, he said, "Don't worry, I'm right here beside you, Boss. Everything's gonna be alright."
Vanessa nodded at him, then rested her head against the windowpane, watching the London streets and some people running because of the sudden rain, while others pulled out their umbrellas.
When they arrived at the Richard family mansion, the car passed through the large iron gate, decorated with a golden inscription bearing the words "Richard Family Estate."
The mansion looked grand and imposing, with luxurious decor embodying classic Victorian style. In front of the mansion was a fountain with a statue of a man holding a bow and arrow, surrounded by gardens full of colorful flowers. The palace gate was also adorned with two huge wolf statues, as if guarding the place. The place was breathtakingly beautiful, and if it weren't for the cars in front of the inner palace gate, you'd think you'd traveled back in time to the Victorian era.
But all this beauty only filled Vanessa with aversion. The sparkle of colors and the decorative details were too much for her; she preferred black and gloom over all this exaggerated vibrancy. She entered the mansion, which was decorated in white and gold, and her hatred for it grew. It seemed she would suffer discomfort in a place with such a cheerful and fake spirit. Edward followed her, loyal in his support as he'd promised, despite hating being there.
The head butler greeted them, bowing respectfully, and informed her that Mr. Adrian hadn't returned yet, and that she should wait in the guest room until his arrival. As for the family members, they were gathered in the living room if she wished to see them.
She replied in a cold, decisive tone, "No need for that."
So, they weren't welcoming this marriage either? Good. Things would be less boring if they didn't show their fake affection. She muttered sarcastically to herself.
She gave the head butler a steady look and said in a commanding tone, "Give Edward a private suite and a maid to help him."
The head butler was surprised and looked at her in confusion, so she repeated her words coldly, her tone enough to make his body tremble. "I don't think there's anything unclear... This is my friend, and he'll be staying with me, so he needs a place to stay and a maid to serve him. As for me, I'll stay in the guest room until my husband arrives."
The head butler nodded submissively and left to carry out her requests. As he began to move, Vanessa stopped again and added, "Bring my bags from the car and put them in my husband's room. As for Edward's belongings, put them in his suite."
The head butler hesitated slightly and said, trying to justify his refusal, "Madam, I can fulfill Edward's request, but no one is allowed to go up to the Boss's floor except under the supervision of one of the governesses, and she's on leave today, so I cannot—"
Vanessa cut him off with cold disregard and continued on her way, unconcerned by his excuses. She surveyed the grand hall, with its luxurious white and yellow designs and gold-framed paintings depicting ancient scenes. This opulent and bright decor made her want to leave immediately, as joy and colors didn't suit her personality at all.
When she reached the guest room, she lay carelessly on the bed, having dismissed the maid they sent, who seemed to have come to annoy her rather than serve her. But before she left, Vanessa asked her to close the curtains to plunge the room into darkness instead of the miserable view outside. Vanessa's concept of misery was a little different.
Meanwhile, the Richard family members were gathered in the living room: Isabel, Adrian's stepmother, her daughter Mary, and her brother Gainer and his wife Georgina. Although many family members didn't live in the mansion, Adrian had them live there because everyone hated them and didn't want to deal with their daily quarrels.
Isabel commented with hidden venom after the head butler informed her, "So, the little snake is trying to assert her control from the first moment. I'll show her who really runs this house."
Georgina replied in a flattering tone, "Yes, sister. It seems she thinks she's the lady of the mansion just because she's marrying the Boss."
Isabel laughed mockingly, while Mary muttered in a voice her mother didn't hear, "She already is the lady of the mansion." Mary didn't like her mother and only tolerated her because she had to. As for Adrian, he refrained from getting rid of Isabel out of respect for Mary, his younger sister, whose feelings he didn't want to hurt.
Later, Adrian arrived at the mansion, tired. He entered through the other side, which he had made his private entrance, preferring isolation away from the faces he couldn't stand. After entering his suite, he summoned one of his trusted men, one of those who went up to his floor, then asked him to bring Vanessa. After that, he threw his body onto the couch exhaustedly, rubbing between his eyes. He smoked his cigarette, as was his habit when thinking.
Christopher returned after a while, his face etched with worry. Adrian asked, "Where is she?"
"Sir, she's..."
He paused for a moment, as if hesitant, which prompted Adrian to straighten up from the couch and ask in a stern tone, "She's what...?"
Christopher replied hesitantly, "She said you made her wait, then asked her to come to you at your feet..."
Adrian's expression changed. Vanessa's audacity had angered him. No one had ever dared to disobey his orders before. Christopher continued, "Then she added that she's tired and will take a bath, and she told you that you can come to her in an hour and a half."
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