Arranged To Be|18+✔️

'19

I didn't know how long I had been sitting in the room, but eventually Czar came to get me. He was no longer in a suit but in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, looking tired and drained. He didn't speak, just held the door open for me. I brushed past him silently.

The warehouse was bustling with people, but I felt like I was floating—disconnected. Czar led me to a conference room where several people were seated around a long table. He motioned for me to take the empty seat beside him.

"Do we have any news on Liam?" he asked, voice taut.

"We have not been able to track him," said a man with a scar down his cheek. "It's almost as if he doesn't exist."

"Nonsense," Czar growled. "He has to be somewhere. I refuse to have that asshole make my wife live her life in fear."

The room fell silent. No one dared challenge him.

"What if it isn't Liam?" I said quietly.

Heads turned toward me.

"We've all assumed it's him, but... you're not exactly beloved, Czar. There could be other people out for revenge. People with reasons just as strong."

Czar narrowed his eyes.

"I'm just saying... if someone knew where we vacationed, they had to be on the inside. You might have a rat."

Something shifted in his expression. He looked around the table slowly, suspicion hardening in his features. Then he snapped his fingers.

Anderi and another man came to escort me out.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Czar's handling the issue," Anderi said simply.

I tried not to think about what that meant. I took a breath, turning to Anderi.

"I was thinking—what if we went to Liam first?"

"What are you trying to say, Zariah?"

"Maybe I could reason with him. Tell him the truth. He might not want to kill me if he understood my situation."

"Czar would never allow it."

"What if we didn't tell Czar?"

Anderi stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Are you implying we go behind his back?"

"Yes. Please, Anderi. If I can change Liam's mind, maybe we can stop this before it gets worse. And if not... you can kill him. But at least we tried."

"I'm not sure that's a risk I can take."

"You said Czar still cares about Liam. He wouldn't want you to be responsible. But if I talk to him, just me—maybe we can fix this."

Anderi looked conflicted, but eventually nodded. "Fine. But the moment I think something's off, I'm out."

"Fair enough."

Just then, Czar reentered the hallway, his shirt gone and pants stained with blood.

"Well, Zariah, you were right," he said, eyes locking with mine. "We had a rat. Turned out to be more than one."

I swallowed hard, looking away.

"You and I have dinner plans tonight," he added, voice softer now. "Be ready by eight."

I didn't know if I should be flattered or terrified.

~

I wore a deep emerald green dress with a plunging neckline and high slit, paired with silver heels and diamonds I found in the jewelry box. I left my hair natural and spritzed on perfume before heading downstairs.

Lonnie was back, dusting the living room.

"You're back!" I said, rushing to hug her.

"Yep. Mr. Kuzmich said I could return to work."

"Thank God. I was so bored."

We laughed just as Czar descended the stairs in a black suit.

"You look nice," I said.

"So do you," he replied.

"May I ask where we're going?"

He gave a faint smile. "A restaurant my father used to take my mother to."

My heart did something strange in my chest.

"Let's go," he said, holding the door.

~

The restaurant was quiet and romantic. We were seated in a corner booth where no one could see us. The waitress kept throwing herself at Czar, making me roll my eyes.

"Vodka? Really?" I asked when he ordered.

"It's been a long day."

When she returned for our order, she ignored me entirely until Czar gestured for her to take mine first.

"Steak, well done. With mashed potatoes."

Czar ordered the same, but medium rare.

"So... who was the rat?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter. You're safe now."

"So, I can go out again?"

"With security."

I sighed but dropped the topic.

"How did your parents meet?"

"My mother was a waitress. They met in Russia. Her parents didn't approve, so when she got pregnant with Lada, she ran off with my father."

"You don't talk to her family?"

"They're probably dead."

I stared at him.

The waitress returned, still staring at Czar. I wanted to laugh.

"Do you think your parents were in love?" I asked.

"Yes. Without a doubt."

"Do you want that someday?"

He looked at me and paused.

"Yes. I do."

And just like that, my heart fluttered again.

What are you doing to me, Czar Kuzmich?

*~*

Yay! Another update and I hope you all enjoyed, we're finally getting into the juicy stuff. Also I will like to note that I recently got my first job so updates may be a little slow. I will be updating though I just ask that you all be patient, it gets very annoying when I am ask  to update multiple times  I am trying to work things out in my schedule so that I can update more. I love you all don't forget to comment, vote, and share. Until next time my lovelies.