Chapter 167

Konstantin:

I watched as my nephew left the office, most likely to go to his room with Elena.

The fact that he was falling for her only made this a lot more pleasing. At least I knew where I had him, and I knew how to wrap my hands around his neck when I needed to remind him of his limits. 

But for now, I had to admit, I did find it pleasing to know that he was willing to challenge me for her. It only showed me how far he was willing to go, and it seemed to me that he was willing to go a little too far for the woman.

I called Batrov, knowing that he was going to know what to do when I sent him away. And though I knew that Vladimir was not going to go anywhere without her for a while, I knew that a little stir was going to remind him who was boss here. Especially when the woman ended up being put in my mercy to save.

My second hand walked into my office, choosing to use the backdoor so as not to catch attention. He frowned at my sight and the sight of the broken desk before he shook his head in question. It was a shame that I was going to have to give him up. But a sacrifice is always needed in a world like mine, and I was done with the man’s services anyway. 

“Boss, what did he do?” He asked, gulping as he tried to process the scene before his eyes. 

“It doesn’t matter. What I care about is how we are going to react to what he did, and I doubt that we are going to let him get away with it. But I am going to need to find the right punishment to give him. You know, being who I am, I do not like anyone to double cross me. But Vladimir seems to have a small advantage as he is still my nephew and my sister’s only son. I can’t kill him. It would hurt her more than anything, and I do not aim to do so. Not when I know that her loyalty is mine.” I said, and Batrov shook his head at me.

“Boss, the woman should be brought here to at least speak to her son. He would listen to her…”

“I do not want her to be caught, and the Ivanov believes that she is loyal to them. With the information that I keep getting from her, my nephew that she gave me as an heir to save; I owe it to her to keep the two of them safe. As annoying as it is, I know not to put her under that pressure. I will know how to deal with the fucker myself, but that would not need to involve her finding out about it.” I said, stopping the man whose eyes met mine. He studied them and he shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he did.

“You are going to end up giving him more than he deserves, boss. The man already knows that you have a weak point toward him and he is taking advantage of it. Please allow me to put him in place. I will know…”

“He is young, passionate, and strong. But you are right about the need to put him in place, and I know the exact way to do so.” I said, and the man frowned in confusion, trying to understand what I was referring to. I stayed quiet for a second, thinking, smirking as I did. I walked to the bar and poured myself and him a drink. 

“What do you want to do?” He asked, watching as I handed him a glass of scotch.

“I’ll send you a note when I need you to do. For now, nothing. But soon enough, I am going to show Vladimir what it is to mess with me, and I am going to be sure that he is reminded of it if he ever thinks of doing so. You know, there is nothing worse than a man owing a life to another, is there?”

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“Where are you going?” I asked, stopping Vladimir who was heading toward the door.

His eyes didn’t meet mine and though I knew that he was well aware of me sitting in the living room, the man didn’t bother. He has been ignoring my presence for the past week, and considering that he was in the house, I didn’t care. But if he was leaving, then he was not going to go without my consent, it was something that he was going to have to understand from now on.

“I doubt that it concerns you.” He said, and I rolled my eyes at the man.

“You are yet to apologize for what you’ve done, and yet you are here, crossing more limits? I am curious, what are you depending on? Because even my respect and love for you have their limits, and believe me, the last thing that you are going to want to deal with is my impatience.” I said, and the man raised an eyebrow at me.

“Then how about you show me what you would do if you grow impatient?” Vladimir said, challenging me.

“You know that I like challenges. But I have no one to lose. You seem to have a special someone that you don’t want getting harmed, and I think that I can use a little visit to teach her the place that she seemed to forget.” I said, and Vladimir growled at me. His eyes met mine and I saw rage in them. “I am giving you one last chance. But I promise you, you cross your limits one more time and I am going to forget that you are my nephew, my sister’s son, and the man that I wanted as an heir. My threat was not only words, and if you think that I was playing around, you can ask your woman what I am willing to do to those who betray me.”

“You stay away from my woman, and I am going to stay away from your bullshit. However, with you playing with the sensitive line that I made, which is mine, I think that you have signed your own contract.” He said, and I scoffed.

“Son, this is something that I don’t think you understand; however, I am going to explain it to you anyway.” I said, taking one slow step toward him. “This house and everything that you see here is mine. Your woman, the woman that you believe is yours to be exact, is mine. YOUR soul is mine if I want to have it.”

“Do not consider yourself too special and do not think that I am going to allow you to cross your limits with me. As I said, I love and respect you more than most that are in this house. But if you play with the thin line that I put up right now, I am going to play back, and trust me, I neither play nicely nor do I do it fairly.”

“Now, I am going to ask my question ONE more time and I expect a direct answer this time.” I said, calming my tone a bit as I looked at the man. “Where the fuck are you going…?”