Chapter 101 Camilla’s Pov.
Of course I recognized the older one of the two, even from a distance. Dmitri Veklov. The bastard that ruined my vacation in the Maldives. He was also present in the meeting my father had organized not long ago.
Next to him was another young man, who I assumed to be his brother even though they looked nothing alike. He looked to be about Àlvaro's age. Both were dressed in suits, exuding power.
My dad put on a fake smile as he shook hands with both of them but when Dmitri extended his hand to me, I refused to take it. He's not that dumb to think I'd ever let him close to me after the way he treated me at the vacation in the Maldives and the humiliating way he talked to me at the meeting.
There was an awkward silence for a few seconds after my refusal and even though I could feel my father's judgmental gaze on me, I didn't take my eyes off the two men in front of me.
My father hastened to rectify the situation as he invited them to the large table by the pool that was already filled with an unnecessarily large amount of food. The two men sat on one side of the table and my father and I sat on the other.
Dmitri and my dad made mindless small talks that I had no interest in listening to. Judging by the look of the man on front of me, Dmitri's brother, he didn't want to be here either but I still felt him sneaking glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking.
Weirdo.
I was so bored and I wasn't hungry anyway so I allowed myself to look at the two men better. I found out the name of Dmitri's brother was Afanas, Afanas Veklov. He introduced himself when I refused to offer my hand to his brother.
He had dirty blond hair, almost brown. Dmitri's hair was shorter while his brother's hair was long and messy although it suits him just fine. He had the most colorful blue eyes and a slightly bushy blonde beard. Afanas clearly had all the good looks in the family. I just hope he didn't also inherit his brother's disgusting personality.
“Now I think it's time to discuss business.” My father finally said in a slightly louder voice to get my attention. He must've sensed that I wasn't paying attention. “I believe you mentioned that you have something we may need, Dmitri?”
“Yes.” Dmitri coughed, getting serious out of nowhere and I felt like laughing. “I have some information that'll be useful to you.”
“I'm listening.” My father leaned back on the chair, inviting him to speak.
“It's about Vincenzo Castillo.” That name was enough to get my full attention and my gaze was locked on him as he spoke. “I heard about the issues between you and the Castillo family.”
“Nothing that can't be solved.” My father assured him, nodding. “I'm all ears, Dmitri.”
“I know where he's hiding.”
Those words made me freeze in place and I locked eyes with my father knowing how much we've been trying in the past few months to find him.
“Very well.” My father nodded approvingly, barely hiding his grin. “You have my attention.”
“But of course, this information won't be for free.” It was Dmitri's turn to put on a big grin on his disgusting face.
Of course. I expected that part.
Greedy fucking bastard.
“You know you work under me Dmitri. But of course, I've always admired your confidence. So tell me the price.” My father replied, waving his hand. “Money's not an issue, you know that.”
“It's not about money.” Dmitri shook his head, crossing his arms on the table as if he held all the power in himself and maybe at this point he did. I looked at my father and he raised a brow in confusion.
“More power and territory?” My father asked again. “That's no issue either.”
“No.” Dmitri refused again, his gaze landing on me and I froze in place. “It's about her.”
My body tightened and suddenly, there was not enough air in this fucking garden for me to breathe.
What the fuck does he mean by that?
“Watch your mouth, Dmitri. You may be one of my best men but that doesn't mean that you cannot easily be replaced.” My dad replied through gritted teeth, his gaze darkening.
I don't want to believe that Dmitri was dumb enough to come into our home with his brother and disrespected me and my father by wanting me? They could easily be killed and no one would ever find their bodies. This disgusting married old man must have a death wish and I'll be so glad to grant him just that.
“You misunderstand me, boss.” Dmitri was quick to correct himself, waving his hands.
“In return, I would ask for your daughter to become the wife of my only brother, Afanas.”
And just like that, I felt like someone just slapped me across the face, leaving me in shock. My gaze stopped on the man in front if me. The man asking for my hand to arrange his brother's marriage and there was zero emotion or regret written on his face. This was all some kind of a joke, right?
It had to be.
“I believe the last time we met, you told me that a woman had no place at the table. You insulted me because I'm a woman and I'm not even talking about how I nearly died from the hands of your men back in the Maldives because you instructed them to capture me now you ask for my hand to arrange your brother's marriage? Pathetic.” I laughed humorlessly, shaking my head. I was furious at his insolence.
“I can only apologize for my actions, I was clearly wrong.” Dmitri nodded, visibly displeased that he was saying all these. “I just think that a union between the Spanish and Russian syndicate will be an untouchable and fierce one.”
“I'm untouchable already, Dmitri. I don't need to be backed up by you.” My father fired back. Although his expression was not as angry as I expected. He was strangely calm and I could see a hint of amusement in his face.
“We're clearly not immortal, Leonardo. We're getting old. Someone's going to have to watch over your daughter after we're gone. Who best than the brother of your most trusted man?”
“I can take care of myself, thank you very much.” I hissed at him and he grinned. I want to slap that smirk off his face so bad.
“When you get rid of Vincenzo, I'm sure he has a few allies somewhere that'll stop at nothing until they get revenge for him. His nephew might even be one of them.”
“I'll get rid of him too.” My father simply answered but Dmitri locked his eyes on me, his disgusting smile even wider now. He knows. Of course he knows. He said as much in the Maldives.
“You know that's not going to be an easy task, right?”
There was a murderous silence at the table. My heart was beating fast and the minutes passed slowly and agonizingly as I waited for my father to speak, to defend me and even kill them both for daring to ask of such a thing.
“You know it's a fair trade, Leonardo.” Dimitri spoke again and my father cupped his jaw, looking at me, thinking.
“No.” I said and they all turned their heads to me. “Fuck no.”
Dmitri smiled at me, almost laughing at my face.
“Miss Torres, I wasn't asking you.” He nodded to my father. “I was asking your father.”
And my father just stared at me. His face was blank just like my hopes of getting out of this without damages.