Chapter 55 Not His Lover
Nikolai stormed into Aleksandr's office with his hands fixed inside his black trouser pockets.
His eyes that were dark mixed with fury had calmed a little when he saw his little Isa sleeping a while ago.
"To what do I owe this impromptu meeting, Nikolai." Aleksandr's with a grin on his face jibed at Nikolai.
To push it further he added, "Last time I remember, you had barked like a dog saying that you were going to move out with your lover." He purposely said that to give Nikolai a hard time.
Nikolai rolled his eyes, walked and took a seat right opposite Aleksandr's chair.
"She's not my lover, watch it."
"Oh really? I actually thought she was, coupled with your veins that were bulged and skin rippled with anger when you wanted to wound my queen."
"Whatever she is to me is none of your business. No one touches her, Alex. Not even your queen." The words gritted out from his teeth, his tone chilly as if the air in the room had been shifted.
Aleksandr's heart didn't tremble, he sat reclined on his swivel seat as he crossed his legs. He just stared at Nikolai with a wide smile pulling at his lips.
Finally his brother had found someone to love.
"Whatever." He clicked his tongue and averted his question.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were on your way out of 'my mansion." He raised a brow Nikolai.
"First light at dawn tomorrow. I need you to get me invitations to the charity gala hosted by Bruce Sterling."
"Bruce Sterling? Do you have scores to settle with him? I'm sure you must have read the file I sent you days ago." Aleksandr paused, scrutinizing Nikolai's expression.
Nikolai was a man uninterested in human lives and a specky CEO isn't enough to have his attention. There had to be something more.
Honestly, Nikolai was never interested in a man named 'bruce sterling,' but after reading and digging through Isabella and her family's file, something wasn't adding up.
The records had shown that Richard and his wife were unable to bear a child, so it was medically impossible to have a child 4 months after their marriage with no sign of pregnancy.
The reason why Bruce was in the picture was because at the sequence of time when Isabella was adopted, he was searching for a new born baby girl.
A weary sigh escaped him as he rubbed the space between his temples not sure of his theory and needed to see Bruce in person.
"I was invited but I declined since I had no plans of attending. I will see what I can do tomorrow." Aleksandr added. "Good. About Kozin... You know he worked for Mikhail right?"
"I do." Nikolai expression suddenly deemed. His eye brows narrowing at the name of his estranged younger brother.
Nikolai didn't know why Mikhail decided to cut ties with him and Aleksandr.
"Do you trust him? What if he's the one that stole your goods and planned the attack. He once told me he hated you."
Fuck! Nikolai's jaw clenched, his fist clenched on his laps.
Mikhail was his younger brother and he wasn't going to see him as a traitor.
Despite the signs, Nikolai knew that there was someone else beside Mikhail.
Even though they weren't biological brothers but because of the fact that the three men had spent their childhood suffering in a Training Facility, Nikolai wasn't going to go after Mikhail.
"I don't think his thoughts about me affect the way I am. Mikhail isn't a problem but Lavrentiy Kozin is. That sly bastard!"
"Why did you come to London? I am sure it's not because of a man named 'Bruce Sterling' since you never mentioned that in your brief message."
"To catch a spy. My mansion is filled with traitors."
"Only?"
"Yes, should there be more."
"I'm not sure. Should there? You have a pretty damsel beside you. Fine skin, luscious lips and beautiful jade green eyes that entrap your soul."
Aleksandr noticed the slight shift in Nikolai's demure and he couldn't help but stiffle the abrupt laughter that choke his throat.
"I wonder what Anya would think when she finds out that her man is eyeing other ladies. Keep your eyes glued to your woman, Aleksandr, and stay away from mine before I plug them out and feed to the dogs." He eyed Aleksandr with jealousy, his hackles raised high that Alex could literally feel the hot burning stare from where he sat.
"Your woman?"
"Yes, mine!"
Alexsandr laughed out, holding his stomach when he couldn't stop his laugher.
Nikolai had said she wasn't his lover but here he was staking his claim on her.
Alexsandr wondered what it would take for Nikolai to understand his feelings.
Probing further he asked, "Slept with her yet?"
"I wonder when I began to discuss my bedroom activities with you. Keep your nose in your business not mine."
The flicker of hesitation in Nikolai's eyes didn't go un-noticed by Alexsandr. If only he had a mirror in his study room then Nikolai would literally watch how his emotions were made out through his facial expression.
"You're scared of hurting her. You've been a terribly rough man and I —"
"Enough!" Nikolai slammed his hands on the desk, the force sending a thunderous crack through the room. "If you do not keep quiet, I will help you do that for you."
Alexsander shivered, his skin frightened a smidgen from Nikolai's icy tone. Now, he was throughly certain that Nikolai has feelings for Isabella.
Aleksandr could still remember how he discussed Nikolai's prostitutes with him and Nikolai would remain unfazed with the discussion, even when the red haired girl that everyone thought he loved, Aria, was brought up.
Gathering his composure, Aleksandr threw his hands in the air, "If you say so brother." He surrended.
"Aha!— I just recalled something. You sent a distorted footage to me and asked that I enhance the footage. I did that actually, but the driver was found dead days later."
Nikolai's brain clicked. It had actually slipped his mind since he was dealing with Ivan through Dimitri.
"Family?"
"Unfortunately dead too. The mastermind is wiping off every trace so it doesn't run back to him. I must say, he or she is indeed skilled."
"More of a dumb coward. Resulting in silly tricks." A dark laughter rolled off his tongue.
"I have another thing to say. Might be upsetting."
"Then keep it to yourself."
"It's actually important."
Nikolai rubbed his temple, "Spill."
"I couldn't disobey him, and I'm apologizing in advance. Aria's father, reached out and asked whether you're in London..." An invisible lump passed through Alexsandr's throat.
Nikolai was bastardly furious. His eyes hardened and his jaw tensed.
"What did you say?" He asked, voice low.
"Yes. I know I shouldn't have but, you know he has most of the Volkovskaya members under him. You might be the Pakhan but he still has some leverage over your brigadiers."
"You're scared of him?"
"No I'm not. It's just—"
"Save it." Nikolai cut him off sternly.
Aria's father was a huge pain in his ass but he would deal with him later.
He uncrossed his legs and aimed for the door when Alexsandr's voice reached his ears again.
"He's in London and would attend the charity gala." He dropped the final bomb.
Alexsandr was waiting for Nikolai to snap and hold his collar angrily but all he got was silence then the receding back of Nikolai as he closed the door behind him quietly.
No sign of anger or whatsoever.
Aleksandr couldn't help but wonder what had gone through his head knowing the fact that Aria's father was the demon that turned Nikolai's into a heartless monster.