Depraved

42 . Alexei

"Hello, father "I say. "Alexei " he acknowledgeds. "I don't think I'll attend the meeting today. So will you lead the meeting or should I ask Luca or Boris, to do it." He asks from his seat. "I'll do it" I say. He nods in approval and I don't wait a minute leaving the room. I go back to the meeting hall and sit in my spot at the right side of the pakhan's chair, which will soon be mine. Luca takes a seat opposite to mine, "I'm having a masquerade party this sunday." He says to me. "lisa's suggestion I guess?" I shrug. "yeah, my wife's wish is my command. She wants you and Alana, there, so don't be late." He adds. "lisa has personally asked for me and my wife, how could I not come" I say with a big smile plastered on my lips. He narrows his eyes on me but doesn't respond. I wait till it's 8 and then say, "alright gentleman, the pakhan won't be joining us today, so lets begin". Boris starts with briefing of what has happened in the week. I give them instructions about the next shipping of weapons from the Italians. And then my phone rings.

I fetch my phone from my pocket and look at the caller id and I'm surprised. I stare at the ringing phone for few more seconds, the caller id showing Lana. To name it a surprise would be an understatement. I feel many pleasant sensations going on in my stomach. Am I sick?. . I lift my hand and every head in the room turns towards me. "I need to take this call" I say, get up and rush outside to the spare bedroom. I quickly answer the call before it gets cut and listen to whats going on the other end. Did she call me by mistake? This thought runs in my mind. There is some rustling noise before she says "hello". A single word. So she indeed didn't call by mistake. I left a breath that I didn't know I was holding back. What is wrong with me? Fuck.
"Yeah" I reply listening intently to what she has to say. "Umm.....this is Alana" she says. I smile at that, she thinks I can't identify her voice. The voice that I frequently listen to beneath me writhing, moaning and whimpering. I would know it is her even when there are thousand people screaming their lungs out together with her. And oh if she knows how I have saved her number in my mobile right from the day when I married her.
" I know" I say.
"I'm going shopping with Sofia" she chimes.
"No" I say even before she finishes her sentence.

I don't want her to go out into this wretched world.
"Let me go shopping with her .....please". She adds. I try suppressing my smile. My fiery kitten just said please. I close my eyes and take a moment to savour it. This is nice I think as I click my tongue and say
"alright, I'll let my men know, they'll be accompanying you, buy whatever you want. Don't care about the payment. I'll inform Rafael" I say.
"Okay" she answers.
"We will be attending a masquerade party at Luca's house in 3 days, get a gown and mask for that too" I add.
"Alright" she says obediently.

And then there is silence on both sides of the line except for our breathing sounds. This is nice I know she is listening if I would say anything. She might even be expecting me to say something. My lips stretch even more at that. Before I could say anything I hear sofia calling for her. "Yeah" she says before ending the call. The beep shows the call ended. I remove the phone from my ears and stare at it.
Fucking fuck! She just talked with me on the phone. I feel my jaw stinging with so much smiles today. I quickly call Rafael and he answers in the second ring
"hey, boss!" He says.
"Rafael you have to accompany Alana and Sofia today. Be on high alert and take the best guards with you. Don't fuck this up or you wouldn't be breathing from tomorrow" I warn. "Alright, boss. Where do I accompany them to?" He asks.
"They might be going shopping. Take them to Giovanni and aks him to put everything they want on my tab. you should also notify me about everything they do, no matter how trivial it is. Do you understand?" I ask in a stern voice.
"Yes, sir " he says and ends the call.
I scroll through my contacts to find Giovanni's name and dial the number.
"hey, Alexei, I thought you completely forgot about me after your wedding" he says.
"Giovanni, how could I ever forget you, you wound me" I fake assurance.
"So to what do I owe this surprise?" He asks. "My wife's visiting you today. Give her the best you've got. Dont worry about the budget, just put it on my tab." I say.
"oh my, you called for your wife, you're the one who's wounding me Alexei." He says.
I roll my eyes at his dramatics. "Don't worry, she's in good hands, I make the best dresses in the whole world". He proclaims.
I smile and I say "I know, show me what you've got" I  say and end the call.

I compose myself before entering the meeting room once again. Everybody seems pissed. I don't give a fuck, if they are. My wife just called me for the first time and I wouldn't care even if they had to wait for the whole day. Lets get started I say and Luca starts to explain about how the irish has been acting out lately. All of the men chime in giving information and suggestions. But I can't seem to focus on anything other than the few words I exchanged with her today. I involuntarily smile. Luca catches me smiling and he smirks. Fuck. Fuck him. I fake interest in the meeting, and today for some reason the meeting is longer than usual and not to forget it's disgustingly tedious.