Page 10 of His to Own

I notice Maxim talking with Nikolai. He glances in my direction and I turn away from him, hurrying across the room as far away as possible. That man is dangerous. Lana was kidnapped twice by a man named Lev, who was Nikolai’s right hand. Lev was jealous that Lana was going to get everything Nikolai had instead of him so he hurt her. The first time, it was Lana with one of her fellow ballerinas. The second time, it was Lana with Adriana. Maxim helped kidnapped Lana the first time when she had to see one of her friends murdered. It took Lana a while to tell me this story but she eventually did, confiding in me that she still struggles to this day with the memories of it all.

And that handsome, dangerous man played a role in my sister’s trauma. He hurt her even if he was just doing Lev a favor as he claimed. I’ve never hated someone more in such a fast amount of time.

Lev is dead. Lana killed him. So our family doesn’t need to worry about him anymore.

But Maxim is alive and walking around and at my party. Panic inside my chest squeezes my heart. I try telling myself to calm down but it’s difficult. For a moment, it feels like I can’t even breathe. I am going to die. Die. Die.

I gasp when someone touches my shoulder. Lana. “Are you ok?” she asks, looking me over.

“I’m fine,” I lie. I don’t want to worry Lana with all of my troubles. The last thing I want to think about is Sergei.

Except, that’s difficult to do when I see Sergei walk through the ballroom doors… my father beside him.

“Lana,” I say, pointing.

She sighs when she sees our father. “What is he doing here? He must have heard about the party. Father hates when people go behind his back.” She motions at Nikolai and together they walk towards my father. I stay back – close enough to hear but far enough away to not face my father’s ire.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demands. “I get wind that you’re throwing a party for Elena? Why?”

“Because it’s her birthday,” Lana says flatly. “And you never threw her a party so I’m throwing her one.”

“This is unacceptable. Shut it down. I’m bringing my daughter back home with me. She doesn’t need to be cohorting with you. You’re a bad influence on her.”

Lana huffs. “How am I bad influence? I have done nothing but try and protect my sister.”

“You’re distracting Elena with this party from things she needs to be focused on.”

“She can take a break from school for one afternoon.”

“I am talking about her upcoming marriage.”

All the air leaves my body and I wobble on my feet. Lana looks like she was punched in the gut.

“Her marriage?” she whispers, shooting a look at Nikolai.

“What marriage?” Nikolai demands. “You never agreed to the deal I offered.”

“That’s because we’re not going with the deal you offered. Elena is going to marry Sergei.” He nods at the man next to him. Sergei stands up straighter, smiling like the cat who ate the canary. I think I’m going to throw up.

“What?” Lana practically screams the word. “You… you’re going to marry her to… him?”

Sergei’s smile instantly slips. “You don’t have to sound so disgusted, girl. I am a good catch.”

“Sergei is a well-respected man I have worked with for many years. It’s a smart match. Elena will finally make me proud with this marriage. So stop distracting her with this party. I am taking her home.”

Lana turns to me. “Elena, did you know about this?”

All the eyes in the room are on me. I wobble on my feet again. These kitten heels are not tall but right now, I feel like I’m the height of the Empire State Building. We visit New York everywhere so we can go shopping for high end products we can’t always get here. Now, I’m not sure I’ll ever take that New York trip again. Not when I feel like I am going to die.

Drowning. That’s what this feels like. But how can a person drown when they’re not in water?

“Elena,” Father snaps. “Let’s go home. Now.”

I can’t do this. I can’t marry Sergei. I can’t give up my dream of being a writer. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t…

I fall to the ground and my head hits the floor with a loud crack. Lana gasps and hurries to my side. Then darkness over takes me.

I wake up in a bedroom I have never been in before. Lana, Nikolai, and my father all hover around me while a small, beady-eyed man sits on the bed next to me.