His To Claim | 18+

CHAPTER 5

  NATALYA'S POV

    "Are we there yet?" I asked Andrei, feeling utterly exhausted.
We'd been driving for about thirty minutes, and my ass was beginning to ache.
We had long since left civilization behind, and now we were enveloped by dense trees, their silhouettes creating an almost scary scene.

  "Are you kidnapping me?" I added, trying to inject some humor into my frustration. "Don't mess with me right now, because I know karate, Mr. Velkov. I swear, I'll drop-kick your ass all the way to China if you’re pulling something on me."

  "Quit your rambling, Miss Vasquez. We're almost there," he replied with a slight smirk, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

   I fell silent, my gaze fixed on the road as I slipped into contemplation. Who was this man, really? I'd read numerous articles online claiming he was the leader of the Bratva. But surely that was just rumors, right? If he were truly the "bad guy" the media portrayed, he wouldn’t have saved me twice today.
Or perhaps he had hidden motives
    One thing was certain: if he did have ulterior motives, I was fucked.

   My thoughts were abruptly interrupted as we approached a grand gate that looked like it belonged in front of a castle. The gate slowly rolled open, and as we passed through, I couldn't miss the presence of two men standing nearby.
  On the phone call Andrei made when we left my apartment, he mentioned something about "a full perimeter check," so I wasn’t entirely surprised to see additional security personnel patrolling the area as we neared the house.

Not house—mansion. Andrei's home loomed before us, a sprawling two-story edifice that seemed to stretch the width of my entire apartment building. Its grand entrance was so wide it could easily accommodate a car. The meticulously landscaped grounds were bathed in a soft, dramatic light that accentuated the mansion’s impressive architecture.

   It was stunning. But as I gazed at the luxurious setting, I couldn't help but wonder why he had brought me here. Wasn't his wife supposed to live here too?

   "You can get out of the car now," Andrei said in a detached tone, stepping out and striding toward the house.

   I hurriedly followed, eager to keep up with his brisk pace. "I really appreciate you bringing me here, but I have to ask—why? Doesn't your wife live here?" I whispered the last part, as though speaking of her might be taboo.

  "She'll understand," he replied firmly, opening the door and stepping inside with me trailing closely behind.

   As we entered the mansion, I was immediately struck by the grandeur of the foyer. The walls were painted a pristine white, providing a striking contrast to the lavish gold accents that adorned the space.
  A magnificent chandelier cast a warm glow over the room, while the polished black marble floor added a dramatic touch of sophistication. The furniture, a tasteful blend of white and gold, featured plush sofas and armchairs, complemented by gold-leaf coffee and side tables.
The house mirrored Andrei himself: sleek, exquisitely decorated, and stunning in a way that felt both cold and impersonal.

"Wow, this place is beautiful," I said, my voice filled with awe as I continued to take in the surroundings.

"Thank you," Andrei responded curtly. "Come, let me show you to your room." Without waiting for my reply, he turned and started walking.

  I followed quietly behind him, still absorbing the beauty and luxury of his home. I knew he was a CEO of a major company, and with the extensive security outside the gate and within the property, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility that he might also be involved in something more illegal.

   We walked down a long hallway until Andrei stopped in front of a door. He opened it and gestured for me to enter. The room was spacious and starkly white, with just a few gold accents here and there. It had a queen-sized bed, a walk-in closet, and a door leading to a bathroom.
The only other items in the room were a bedside table, a clock, and a lamp with a mirror. The room was beautiful but felt unused and impersonal.

   "This will be your room until I figure out what to do with you," he said, turning to leave. I found myself reaching out and grasping his bicep before I could stop myself.

   "Thank you so much, Mr. Velkov. I really appreciate everything you’ve done. But what about your wife?" I couldn’t help but ask.

"Don't worry about her. We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Now go to sleep, Malyshka." He patted my head gently and sauntered out of the room.

   With a deep sigh, I took one last look around the room before heading to the shower to wash off the events of the day. After a refreshing shower, I examined the closet and found only a plain black shirt and some pajama pants. I put on the shirt, which fell to mid-thigh, and since I usually sleep without pants, I decided to abandon them, folding them neatly and leaving them where I found them.

  I climbed into bed, my thoughts racing through the day's events.
It had been an overwhelming and intense day, but it had ended on a note of unexpected security and luxury.
  
   As I settled under the covers, my mind lingered on Andrei. Tonight, as I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts were consumed by the enigmatic man who had turned my life upside down.