Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34


GEORGIA

"You were really harsh on Janette, you could have at least waited for us to get home."

"Why did you give her some of the company's shares, Rhys? Why did you even follow me here?"

Rhys winced, his hands gripping the steering wheel harder as he navigated through the busy road. He practically had to drag me out of the company, I wasn't finished yet. Not with ensuring everything was in order or with Janette.

Before my interview with Dimitri was to take place, I decided to check on the twin's company and was shocked to find Janette, Vanya's mother still running it. I went into a fit of rage, but then Rhys appeared out of nowhere.

"Janette is not as bad as you make her appear."

"As I make her appear? Do you have an idea what you're talking about? Janette has tried multiple times to kill the twins, she and her son. She has tried to get Emily's father to have another child with her. The child who would inherit all of these today."

"But she has just lost a son." Rhys said with a tired sigh. "Vanya is dead, cut this woman some slack. I don't even know why you decided to interview her, she's grieving."

"But you haven't answered my question, Rhys, Whyid you give Janette control over the company? After you said you sold it."

Rhys was quiet, his eyes fixed intently on the road. The tension in the car was thickening, the same with the anger in my chest. This was betrayal, I can't believe Rhys made decisions without informing me.

"I am still waiting for your answer."

"Fine then!" He grunted frustratedly. "Before the twins father got sick, he assigned some people to manage the company but they weren't competent enough. When I came to the here things were not smooth and I needed someone to trust. I mean someone who knows a great deal about the company and it turned out to be Janette. So, I asked Janette to oversee the affairs of the company,, but she wouldn't do it for free. That is why I gave her the shares as payment for her work."

"Why didn't you tell me about this? I have every right to know how the decisions you make and the people you connect with."

"But Janette is doing a good job," Rhys insisted. "I mean, there's hasn't been any complain since she started."

"You don't know that woman." My voice went above my head. " She is greedy, wasteful and lazy."

"She is dangerous!" Rhys suddenly said. "Janette wheeler is just not anyone. Do you know the number of syndicates she's affiliated with? Do you know the horrible things she can do?"

"So you are afraid of her?" I questioned.

Rhys's face went blank and then I saw irritation crawl onto it.

"Janette Wheeler is nothing but a bug beneath my feet. I might as well squash her to pieces."

" Jannette is there for personal interest, even if it means running the company to the ground."

"Hmmm." That was all Rhys said, looking out of the window. He already told me my father was on vacation and this discourage me from asking anymore questions.

"We're here!" He suddenly announced, pulling the car to a halt. I looked around and saw that we were in front of a tall building with cobblestone floors.

"What do you mean? Where are we?"

"We're at a lunch and cinema home." He answered, pushing the car open. "They serve the best sea food, trust me, you'll love it."

"But what about work? It's only 12:37."

"You'll go to work tomorrow," he waved a dismissive hand. "Today is for me and my beautiful angel. Come on out, let's enjoy the rest of our day."

I was hesitant at first, a smirk crouching upon my face, but a smile from Rhys melted my resolve. It was rare. His smile was heavenly, his teeth aligned perfectly, the shape of his lips was like a soft curve from an exquisite brush. This smile warmed my heart, another crawling onto my face. For the first time ever, I felt a rush of dopamine, a tight, trickling sensation between my panties. A sharp hardening of my nipples and a tender beating between my breasts. I wanted Rhys to touch me, intimately.

The instant I and Rhys stepped into the restaurant, all heads turned in our direction. Time froze, and I watched as the women's gazes darted around to settled on Rhys's breathtaking face. As the gazes intensified, Rhys wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I didn't realise we were being videoed until the camera flashes went off.

I scotted closer to Rhys and placed my head on his chest, reclaiming ownership as the women continued to ogle me. Rhys Mikalihov was mine ladies, and I was proud to be his wife.

"These people know who were are," Rhys whispered.

"Oh really." I whispered back. "I didn't think your speech would get this much publicity."

"Not my speech." He has corrected, lowering his head to kiss my lips. "Our videos and pictures."

I remembered the kiss Rhys and I shared on the podium back at the ball. Then another when the shoes sprained my ankle. A warm feeling coursed through me, and against my better judgement, I stood on my toes and kissed Rhys. A kiss so deep and passionate I felt my gelid soul reawakening. My eyes were closed, but I could see lifetimes of pain and loneliness flashing by, departing from me. Our minds and souls were connecting, and when Rhys stepped back, my sight seemed to acquire a new glow, something about Rhys's entire appearance shifted and changed.

He was no longer the imposing, fearsome man I argued with at the club 3 months ago. He was no longer the devil I was forcefully tethered to, or the slave master bounding me in chains. Standing before me was a man whose darkness no longer terrified me, but drew me in like a flame I should have run from.

A man whose eyes—once so sharp and unyielding—now carried something I never thought I’d see in him. Fear. Not of me, but of losing me. And in that moment, all the control he had wielded over me, all the arguments, all the chains of our forced marriage—none of it mattered as much as the truth trembling in his gaze. I wasn’t staring at my captor. I was staring at a man terrified of a world where I didn’t choose him back.

And for the first time, I saw not the mafia lord who had taken my freedom, but the man who, against all reason, had stolen pieces of my heart.

"Let's get a seat Georgia," he said leading me forward. But a voice suddenly asked.

"Will Mr Mikalihov be contesting for the state's governor? People has begun to speculate whether your visits to the governor's banquet was his way of endorsing you for the next tenure. Is it true, will you truly be contesting?"

I expected Rhys to contemplate a response, but his reply was curt and short.

"I am not sure."

And then he lead me to the table, where a waitress was already present holding a tablet containing the menu.

"I am not really interested in politics." He said to me. "It is a very dirty game. People die, and there's always cheating and stuff."

Indeed, I muttered to myself. Contesting for the governor of the state is better than plotting to take a mafia syndicate down.

"I think the people love you Rhys. They believe you can improve the condition of the state."

"So, what are you implying?" He dropped the glass of wine and stared directly into my eyes.

"I don't know Rhys," I raised my shoulders in a small shrug. "I think you run for governor. It isn't going to affect your mafia dealings and you'll get the chance to make a change."

"Enjoy your meal Rhys," he said after a short while of silence. "I have another suprise after the movie."

"Really? Is it my birthday or something?"

"Just wait and find out."

My mind wandered around, my thoughts colliding and jumbling even throughout the movie session. There was still a huge Mystery surrounding Vanya's death. Accusatory fingers were still being pointed and it was a matter of time before Rhys was caught in the middle.

This game was beginning to swallow me, I wasn't even sure this was still a game. I didn't want Rhys to fall, but what if I was truly treading on a dead end. If the syndicate found Rhys to be guilty, he would be executed in a shameful manner, with his body left to rot. I didn't want that. I also didn't want this subjugated lifestyle. Oh heaven help me.

"Are you ready for the surprise Georgia?"

"What surprise?"

He stood up and held out his hand, a warm smile plaster across his face. "Everyday is a surprise my love."