The Billionaire Mafia’s Slave

CHAPTER 73: SLOW POISON

NIKOLAI’S POV:

I fucking hate this party, these people who think they know me, the music is way too loud, the clicks from the glasses and shoes, the fake laughter, everything.

Lily is the only one that matters, she’s beautiful, her smile is enchanting, her laughter and the way she relates to everyone is just divine. I don’t let her speak, I know these people better than anyone else, they’re all snakes and back stabbers.

I sight an old time friend, or should I say he was a business partner, He owes me a favour and I like to remind my debtors. I don’t want to leave Lily even for a second but I can’t take her along with me, that debtor of mine isn’t a kind person, not that I would let him touch a strand of hair on Lily’s body.

“Wait here, I need to say hello to someone”, I said to Lily, kissing her cheek and I left.

I moved into the crowd, avoiding anyone who try to talk to me.

“Hello Dimitri”, I called out, he turned to face me.

“Well if it isn’t the one and only Nikolai Vladimir… When did you get back to Moscow?”, Dimitri said, I can smell the fear in his voice.

“This is a Vladimir’s annual ball, why do you think I wouldn’t attend?”, I asked with a smirk.

“You have not been in Russia for a while now, you also missed this fundraiser last year–“.

“Cut the bullshit Dimitri, I’m not here to chitchat…”, I cut him off and I saw him take a large gulp.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I moved closer, smiling mischievously at him and he moved backwards.

“Y-you don’t want to do-do this here”, he said.

“Oh trust me, I don’t give a fuck about this party or anyone here… you know me”, I replied and he knows too well how serious I am. Dimitri swallowed hard, looking left and right for who to bail him out.

“I-I’m still–“.

“I will give you a call soon… I need to be with my lady, she’s waiting”, I said to him and left, I only came to show him I never forget a debt. I went back to where I left Lily but she wasn’t at the table.

‘Where is she?’, I asked myself, my heart has already started racing. This was a huge party, finding her would be difficult.

My phone dinged in my jacket pocket, I took it out and it was a message from Lev.

(Check the headlines boss).

I furrowed my brows, I checked the internet and was greeted with a news headline.

[SCANDAL ROCKS NIKOLAI VLADIMIR’S PERSONAL LIFE: Girlfriend, Lily left heartbroken as He reconnects with former flame, Elena]

“SHIT!”, I cussed under my breath.

‘Did Lily see the news? Is that why she isn’t here? Is she crying somewhere?’ Different thoughts started going through my head. I immediately called Lev back.

“Hello boss”, he responded.

“Take down that post and find out who is behind it”, I instructed.

“Noted boss”, he replied.

“Some people are slowly forgetting what I am capable of”, I said and disconnected the call. I moved around looking for Lily, I don’t want her out of my sight as most of my enemies are here.

I pulled through the crowd of people, looking for my lady in beige color dress, I was taller than most of the people here so looking for Lily shouldn’t be that hard.

I sighted Lily and I felt a sense relief in my chest, I walked towards her then I noticed Elena, I halted.

‘Why is she with Lily?’, I wondered. I couldn’t hear what they talked about but I saw Lily’s face, she was uncomfortable.

“Of course you meant it! You couldn’t accept that Elena looks more beautiful than you and the news that she and Nikolai meant work things out, you clearly took your frustration on her! Fucking two face!”, I heard Anastasia ranting.

“Wait– What news?”, Lily asked in confusion.

‘Fuck’, I cussed, I was relieved that Lily was still unaware of what was going on but Anastasia was about to tell Lily.

Anastasia look a glass of wine and I knew what she wanted to do with it, I rushed to them and held Anastasia’s hand.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you”, I said, fuming with anger.

“Nikolai”,

“Nikolai”.

Elena and Lily said in unison, I let go of Anastasia’s hand and moved to Lily, analysing her from head to toe, making sure she wasn’t hurt anywhere.

“Are you okay?”, I asked and she nodded, I smiled down at her.

I turned to confront Anastasia and Elena walked up to me, I ignored her, she wasn’t the one I came here for and we have nothing to talk about.

“Long time no see Niko–“, She tried to say but I interrupted her.

“I can see you so badly want to loose your hands, right?”, I asked Anastasia.

“Wha-what are you ta-talking about?”, She feigned ignorance. I moved closer to her, keeping Lily protectively behind me.

Elena got in my way, standing in front of Anastasia as if trying to protect her from me.

“Move”, I said to her.

Elena has not changed a bit, her deceiving smile is still the same, her pretence about caring for someone. She was smart and beautiful, I will give her that.

I was aware she was the one behind that post on the internet, she was slow poison.

“You don’t want to do this”, She said.

Who does she think she is? Just because my stubborn father invited her family here doesn’t mean we are cool enough for her to order me around.

I felt a little human tug on the sleeves of my jacket, I looked down at my angel and my hard expression melted.

“Let’s go”, She whispered to me. She was the only one that could move me, I sighed and nodded, noticing she was uncomfortable.

“We will talk later”, I said to Anastasia, holding Lily by her wrist, we walked out of the hall.

***

We talked for a while outside, I reassured her that all was fine and there was nothing she should be worried about. I fucking hate myself right now for lying to her but I couldn’t imagine the look on her doll face when I tell her about the baseless rumors, so keeping her in the dark was the only way out now.

I had Lily glued to my side, no one would dare talk to her hearing about the rumors and she won’t find out. I sighted my father approaching where we sat.

“Nikolai, come I need to introduce you to someone”, He said.

‘Fuck! Not now father”, I cussed in my head. This wasn’t the time to introduce me to anyone, I need to be by Lily’s side.

I stood up, taking Lily with me.

“Just you”, He said and I cussed him.

“She goes wherever I go”, I uttered.

“She’s not a kid and you are not her mommy. She can take care of herself”, My father said and I gritted my teeth, wanting to punch his face.

“It’s fine, I’ll be alright on my own”, I tried to argue more when Lily said, she smiled at me, pleading with her doe eyes to go. I sighed and kissed her cheeks, leaving with my father.

“Mr Pavel Tikhonov!”, My father called the attention of an old looking man with gray hairs and black beards. I recognized him, he is the presidential candidate and my father’s business partner, these are men who have paid price.

“Ahh, my good friend… You never disappoint with this fundraisers!”, He responded and they both laughed.

Mr Pavel attended the ball with his lovely wife and his two daughters, they both smiled at me, whispering amongst themselves but I didn’t bother.

“You should know me by now, I do only the best hahaha”, I was already getting bored and tired, missing Lily like crazy.

‘I wonder what she’s doing now, is she missing me too?’, I pondered.

“Let me reintroduce you to my son, Nikolai”, My father said, driving me back from my thoughts. I shook hands with Mr Pavel while keeping a neutral expression.

“Aha! He is all so grown up! He would make a wonderful son-in-law”, Mr Pavel commented and my father laughed, feeling satisfied.

I know fully well what my father was trying to do, introducing me to a business partner who had two single daughters? I was about to disappoint him.

“Those are really flattering words Mr Pavel but I have a girlfriend”, I said to him. I noticed as his daughters sneered.

“Good. She isn’t your wife yet”, His first daughter, Tatiana, responded making these two old men laughed happily like she just made a good point.

I looked Tatiana straight in the eyes and smirked down at her.

“I’m already making plans for that, I just need her father’s approval”, I said and the smirk dropped from her face, they both looked at me in disbelief.

My father tried to reprimand me but my time was done her, Lily was waiting for me.

“Enjoy the rest of the evening Mr Pavel”, I said and left, ignoring my father’s call.