I Give Up

Chapter 2

Vladimir's POV:

Since the day that I showed her the picture of her father,Pavel informed me that she's been having nightmares. I actually don't care but I need her to be in the right state of mind for her to give me the information I want.
So I left the site early today and went back to my house,into her room.
  "Can you walk?"
  "What?" Her voice trembled.
  "Do you really want me to repeat myself?"
  "Yes,I can walk." She stood up quickly and nearly fell but I immediately caught her before she could fall.
  "You said you could walk."
  "I'm sorry I lied, please forgive me, please don't hurt me."
  "Just keep quiet and use me as a support." I ordered.
  "Okay." She seemed hesitant but did as I said,only her body is really stiff on me.
  "Where are you taking me?"
  "Didn't I just tell you to keep quiet?" I brought her to my garden and sat her on the swing-like seats.
  "This place is beautiful." She smiled as she admired the garden.
  "How scary are they?"
  "What did you say?" She looked at me, this time,I know she didn't hear me because she was distracted.
  "The nightmares,how scary are they?" I sat next to her.
  "They're not just nightmares, I think they're memories."
  "What do you usually see?" I was immediately intrigued.
  "Myself and four girls that are trying their very best to end my life."
  "What do they look like?" I asked,a picture in my head.
  "I don't know, their faces are always a blur."
  "Does this look like their older selves?" I showed her pictures of Mr. Volkov's daughter and she threw away the photo in a flash.
  "No, please, please don't kill me, what did I ever do to you?" She cried as she held onto her head in pain.
  "Please somebody help,help me please!" She sobbed. For an unknown reason, it broke me to see her like this.
  "They're gonna kill me!" She hugged me and cried on my chest. I was taken aback but I didn't push her away
  "You can't be by yourself like this,you're going to stay in my room."

Irina's POV:

  "What?" I looked at him as if I had just seen a ghost. But he only ignored me and carried me in a bridal style. My whole body immediately became stiff in his embrace and I immediately forgot about the scary girls who were chasing after me after they had finished beating me almost to death.
Initially,my eyes were closed in slight fear and shock but once I heard the sound of a door opening I couldn't help but open my eyes and there I finally saw it. Master Vladimir's lair was a testament to his ruthless power. Black marble floors gleamed beneath a crystal chandelier, casting an eerie glow on Renaissance artwork and leather-bound tomes. His massive desk, flanked by stone lions, seemed like a throne, where he'd dictate fate with a raised eyebrow. Velvet-draped windows filtered the light, casting a sinister ambiance.
Every detail reflected his calculating nature that Nina told me about,the plush sofa, inviting yet unnerving; cigar smoke lingering in the air, a reminder of deals made and broken. This was a space where Master Vladimir, the most feared among his five brothers, held court, his stone heart unmoved by the fortunes made or lives shattered within these walls.
  "This is your new cell,the same rule is applied here." He reminded me as he placed me on the bed and left the room. After about two minutes, Pavel walked in.
  "Pavel, please tell me I'll live to see the next day." I asked,my voice sober.
  "I can't predict the future, I'm sorry Miss." He answered in a poker face.
  "Thank you so much,Pavel. I was having doubts that I'll make it to the next day, but now it's been confirmed." I'm as good as dead,I thought to myself.
I laid on the bed and while looking at the ceiling,I began to replay what just happened a few minutes ago. I hugged him? Why? Why didn't he shove me away? Why am I even thinking about such things?
I decided to go to sleep as this might be my last time I get to shut my eyes willingly.

*

******

Hours have turned into days,and days into weeks since I last saw anyone other than Pavel. I'm sure Nina would have come to see me,if only I were in another room not his. Pavel isn't even helping me at all. He just stands there like a statue, sometimes I wonder if he's still breathing. Weirdly enough,I haven't seen Vladimir step into this room since it officially became my cell.
  "Come on,Pavel, won't you please talk to me?"
  "About what,Miss?" He answered in  his professional tone. I thought we've passed this stage.
  "Can't you talk to me as if I were your best friend?" I asked although I doubt he even has a best friend to talk with.
  "But,Miss,this is the way I speak with my best friend." I gaped at him, surprised.
  "You actually have a best friend?" I asked slowly closing my mouth.
  "I know it may come as a surprise to you, but yes,Miss,I do have a best friend."
  "May I know who the person is?"
  "Master, Master is my best friend,Miss." I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.
  "Initially, I was finding it hard to believe that you have a best friend. Now I know you're just pulling my leg."
  "Alright Miss,are we through talking then?" Why hasn't he admitted that it's a joke? Is Vladimir really his best friend?
  "No, we're not through talking. Tell me more about you, please."
  "Of course, Miss."
Pavel and I talked all day about our likes and dislikes. Although he was still formal with me, I could feel him slowly getting comfortable with me. Yes,I don't remember anything about how I was before, but I still had lots of fun with him.
  "But yellow is such a nice color."
  "I prefer sober colours."
  "Okay, Dracula." I teased. Surprisingly,he nearly chuckled but stopped himself and looked at the door.
  "If you are still interested,Miss, we will finish up our discussion later" He went back to his statue position and his face returned to being expressionless.
I looked at him, confused at first, but then I started to hear footsteps and immediately knew who was about to enter the room.
  "Get up!" He shouted and I stood up immediately out of fear.
  "Pavel,get the gown."
  "Okay, Master." Pavel bowed and left the room. When he came back,he had a bag in his hand.
  "Give her the bag." Pavel gave me the bag and I took a sneak peak of what's inside the bag before looking back at Vladimir.
  "Put on the gown." I looked at him and then at Pavel then at him again. Does he want me to put it on in front of the both of them? If I don't do as he says, won't he kill me?
My body began to tremble as I dropped the bag on the floor. I put my hand on my shirt and began removing it but stopped midway when I heard him shout.
  "What are you doing?! I told you to put on the gown. So why are you taking off your shirt? Isn't there a dressing room in here? How insensible" I didn't dare to look at them anymore. My face immediately turned red in embarrassment. I quietly excused myself and went into the dressing room.
After putting on the gown,I looked at myself in the mirror and didn't like what i was seeing. Although the gown is yellow and I love the color yellow,it still brought out my shape and is far too revealing. Why does he want me to wear this? It's also quite tight on me.
  "What are you still doing there?" He shouted making me snap out of my thoughts.
I tried my best not to show how much I detest this gown and stood in front of him.
  "Do you not like it?" His question took me unawares.
  "It's not that, it's just......" Before I could complete my statement he said
  "Take off the gown, we're going to the shopping center."

Vladimir's POV:

It's been a heck of a week. I've been having my suspicions but it's now been confirmed. There are moles in my organization. All thanks to them,my brothers have been informed about her and I already know that they must be plotting ways to get her, either peacefully or their way.
The people who beat her up to the extent that she can't even remember who she is,are as good as dead once I figure out who they are. I need her to give me the information that I want, before my brothers strike. Although,I am more powerful than all of them combined,but like my babushka always says in our native language, "nikogda ne znayesh, chto luchshe byt blagorazumnym." Which means "You never know, it's better to be prudent."
Due to this, I've been tensed up for weeks now and I really need to relax.
  "Don't stop torturing him,till he talks." I left my site,got into my car and drove back to my penthouse.
I have been avoiding my room since I made it her new cell. But now I just need to see her, even if it's just once. I can't explain why but I just need to see her.
I heard her laughing and talking with who else would it be other than Pavel. But not to my surprise,when I entered the room her expression because stiff and on edge.
I know what her favorite color is, because, even though I haven't entered into this room for weeks now, I've been watching her. So when she came out of the dressing room. I first looked at her body.
Ah, the way she stood there, a vision in yellow silk... the gown seemed to emanate a warmth that rivaled the Tuscan sun itself. Delicate threads of gold danced across the bodice, like the first whispers of a summer breeze. And the skirt, full and flowing, like a ray of sunlight on a cloudless day. She wore it with a grace that would put the finest Italian noblewomen to shame... And just for a moment, I forgot the calculating nature of my own heart but as soon as my eyes landed on her face. I snapped out of it and looked at her with a poker face.
My stylist said, ladies love such revealing dresses. So why is her face saying otherwise? So my stylist dared to lie to my face?
I decided to take her to my private shopping center,so she can choose whatever she wants. Nina said making her feel comfortable with her surroundings may bring back her memory or if she's actually pretending to have lost it, she'll feel guilty and spill the tea.
She kept looking at all the gowns with a look of disdain and disgust.
  "Miss, hasn't even one of them caught your attention?" One of my employees asked her.
  "I think they're all so very lovely but, I prefer......" That's all I could grasp from her as the rest she whispered into my employee's ear.
  "Oh, Why didn't you say so,Miss? Right this way, please." She led her to the men section and that's when I saw it. Her eyes glittered with admiration and her mouth curled up into a smile revealing her dimples which I never knew existed.
I was immediately bewitched by her smile that I didn't notice when I said
  "We'll take everything." She looked at me in surprise but immediately looked away once she saw me staring at her back.
Throughout the drive home,she was all smiles. When we got back,she immediately excused herself to go try out her new clothings.
  "Pavel, come with me." Pavel followed behind me closely as we both entered my office. Which has now become my new room since I made her move into my old room.
"You actually trust her to stay in that room without being supervised?"
  "I trust that she knows the consequences if she defies any of my rules."
  "Master, It's not good to be hypocritical. Don't you detest lies anymore?"
  "Of course I still detest lies,Pavel and what do you mean by it's not good to be hypocritical?"
  "Nothing, Master. Why did you summon me?"
  "You need to make her feel more comfortable with you. She hasn't given us the information that we need. At this rate, I'll have to get violent." I said even though I have no intention to use force.
  "They know?"
  "I'm not sure if all of them know, but yes."
  "Are you not worried?"
  "They can't fucking do anything to me." I sneered at his question.
  "I'm not talking about you." His statement silenced me. "Since that's all,I'll take my leave." He left the room and I faced my computer. But no matter how hard I tried I couldn't concentrate on anything. Pavel's words kept ringing in my ears.
Would they really hurt her? I won't even permit them. She's my prisoner, I dictate what happens to her and when it happens,not her and especially not anyone in this whole damn world.