Chapter 59

Polina

I followed him further into the penthouse and tried to ignore the knot tightening in my stomach at every glint of the ring on his finger.

Ivan was there, head bowed over paperwork. I sat and Albert got me a glass of water before joining the table, sitting across from me.

"We need to discuss the Kulak celebration and the plan as it stands."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Of course. What about it?"

I kept my eyes on the documents, trying to focus on the conversation. But my thoughts kept drifting back to the ring. Who was she? What did she have that I didn’t? I could barely concentrate. Albert’s frustration with the situation was palpable, he kept spinning the ring around his finger and working his jaw. Albert’s eyes flicked to his hand for a moment before he forced his gaze back to the pages.

He was thinking of her. Whoever she was. I wanted to scream and demand answers, but I didn't. Albert deserved a woman who was in control of her emotions, and I was definitely that.

He couldn't run an organization as large as it could be without a competent and level-headed woman at his side.

"...Mia?"

"No. She won't be there."

"Who is Mia?" I asked, looking between the two of them.

Albert shook his head, glancing at the ring on his hand again. "It's not important. She won't be there."

"Trying to push for it to be at the celebration tomorrow feels a bit hasty, but I think you're right," Ivan said. "Once you start pitting them against one another, it's bound to get bloody." He looked at me. "Once we execute our move, you'll have to move fast... We all will."

I nodded. "Is there anything I should know about my role in it?"

Albert shook his head. "I'd like it if you weren't there. Just because it will get dangerous, but for the most part, I just need you to wrap up what you can by tomorrow. You think that's possible? Or that you at least have plausible deniability?"

I nodded and forced a smile, trying to sound professional despite the gnawing jealousy eating away at me. It took everything in me not to look at the ring on his hand.

“Of course. I’ll make sure everything is handled properly.”

As the discussion continued, I felt ready to explode every time he absentmindedly twirled the ring on his finger. This Mia... Whoever she was on his mind and I was right in front of him!

Who was she?

Could I find out? A first name wasn't a lot to go on. I scanned the paperwork hoping to find another clue, but there didn't seem to be anything. Then, I got the idea, looking around.

"Why the new place? It seems a bit fancy for a meet up. We could have met anywhere."

"I'm clearing it out. It was convenient since Ivan and I will be here for a little while longer." Albert sat back. "Thanks for coming, really. Ivan, have you heard from Mikhail?"

"Yeah. He says he'll bring the paperwork with him."

Albert nodded, looking at the ring. "It's... coming to an end so quickly after years of planning."

His smile turned wry. "I don't know about you two, but I'm looking forward to freedom."

"I'm looking forward to a new start," I said, leaning toward him. " You should think more about what that freedom is going to look like. What it'll be like when our parents aren't looming over our shoulders..."

He took a deep breathe. " I imagine it will be like breathing after a long time underwater."

He smiled, looking at his hand. "At least... I hope so."

The hopeful, almost wistful expression on his face stung deeply. Who the hell was he thinking about? I had to find this girl and figure out who the hell she was.

"I hear having a wife is a happy thing," Ivan said, laughing.

Albert laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. "Only if it lasts."

I set my jaw and kept my smile plastered on my face. "Well, I wouldn't know anything about having a wife. I'm more interested in having a husband, after all."

I slipped from my seat. "I have a lot of work to do with this new timeline. I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Drive safely, Polina." He called one of his men. "Walk her to her car and get ready to leave."

"of course, boss."

I was going to ask him to walk me, but I held back.

I needed to find who this woman was quickly. The second I got in my car, my anger flared up. I drove out of the parking lot, fuming. The ring on his finger, the way he had seemed so preoccupied flashed through my mind.

Mia, whoever she was, better watch out.

No one got in the way of Kulak and what they wanted.

Mia

I sat by my mother’s bedside, feeling myself relax more and more by the second. The sterile smell of the hospital room was oddly soothing. My hands were still trembling, my mind replaying the events of the past few hours.

One of the guards, a tall man with a serious demeanor, approached me. He looked like he had seen a lot, his expression a mix of regret and concern.

“Miss,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, “I wanted to apologize on behalf of all of us for allowing you to be taken. I’m glad you’re alright.”

I looked up, confused. “I don’t think I know you.”

He nodded. “I’m Sasha. I’m an old friend of Albert’s. I'll be added to your personal guard.”

The name didn’t ring any bells, but the warmth in his tone was reassuring. I managed a weak smile, grateful for his concern.

“Thank you, Sasha. I’m glad to have you... for however long."

He grinned. "I suspect it will be quite a long time. Never seen Albert the way he's been with you."

My stomach flipped. I tried not to think too much about it. I dropped my gaze and froze at the sight of his knuckles. They were bruised and swollen, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Your hands,” I said, my voice catching. “What happened to them?”

Sasha smiled. "Part of my job is to handle people who put their hands on people they shouldn't."

I blinked, looking up at him. I wanted to ask if he'd been there the night of the party, but that would just lead me to wonder what exactly he'd done, and I didn't want to know, so I nodded. The contrast between his calm demeanor and the bruising on his hands was unsettling. It made me think about the violence that had happened that night even after Albert took me away.

"I-Is Albert coming again?"

“I’m sure he’ll be by soon. There are some things he has to wrap up.”

I nodded again and we fell into silence again. I looked back at my mother, who lay there peacefully.

"I hear she's a strong woman," Sasha said, looking at my mother. I looked up at him, noting how soft his gaze was. "But I'm sure she's grateful that you're here with her."

"I know she is. I am, too."

The door opened and I turned to see Katie walking in.

"Ms. Roman," Sasha greeted.

"Sasha?" She asked, glancing between me and Sasha. "I... Well..."

"Ivan appreciates your spark," Sasha said. "But try not to get into so much trouble again?"

Katie flushed and ducked her head, nodding. "Thanks... Any chance we can have a moment alone?"

"Of course. I'll be right outside."

He left and Katie let out a low whistle. "Something must have happened...Other than me being an idiot and getting us into trouble."

She came over and hugged me gently. "I'm sorry."

I hugged her back. "Are you okay?"

She pulled back, waving her hand. "I've dealt with worse... Though not all of it was bad."

"Yeah?" I asked wryly.

She sat beside me. "Ivan and I reconciled. We’ve talked things through, and I’ve accepted that his job might be dark, but he’s a good person. We’re going to make it work.”

I blinked, taking in the news. “Katie, that’s wonderful. I’m really happy for you. I know how much he's meant to you..."

“Thanks, Mia.... And next time, don't let me do something so stupid as to get drunk in a drug den." She shook her head. "They say that love makes you stupid, but this was a new level."

I laughed through the pang of envy that she was able to move forward so easily.

“I’m glad you two worked things out. But I don’t think I could ever do the same. The things I’ve seen, the danger—it’s too much.”

I took a deep breath, my mind racing back to the events earlier.

Katie’s smile faltered slightly, and she looked at me with concern. “What do you mean?”