God Of Desire

moving pieces

Anastasia :

As the sound of my car engine echoed through the grand mansion, I threw open the door and hurried out, nodding to the guards as they began unloading my bags. The pulsating noise of the party reached my ears, reminding me that I was fashionably late.

The maid, standing by the entrance, raised an amused eyebrow at my frantic pace. “You really need to work on your timing, Miss Volkov.”

“Tell that to my mom,” I shot back, rushing past her and darting up the grand staircase. I could already feel the weight of my mother’s expectations pressing down on me.

Bursting into my room, I quickly changed into a sleek black backless maxi dress that clung perfectly to my frame. With swift movements, I released my ponytail, brushed through my hair, and touched up my makeup, adding a final layer of glossy shine to my lips. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror fierce and ready to take on the world.

Rushing outside, I stepped onto the patio where the enormous pool sparkled under the party lights. My eyes scanned the lively scene, and then I spotted her those familiar blue eyes sparkling back at me. I made a beeline for Aunt Glyn, one of my mom's best friends.

“Anastasia!” she exclaimed, her arms opening wide for a hug. I rushed into her embrace, feeling the warmth of her affection as she planted a quick peck on my cheek. “You look stunning, darling!”

“Thanks, Aunt Glyn!” I smiled, pulling away to find her brother, Brandon, hovering nearby. I hugged him tightly before turning my attention to my favorite uncle and also brands husband, Nikolai, who was standing a bit apart, eyeing the crowd with a hint of mischief.

“There you are! Look who decided to grace us with her presence!” Nikolai exclaimed, scooping me up in a bear hug and ruffling my hair.

“Hey! I was stuck in traffic,” I protested, laughing as he set me down. Nikolai was the coolest uncle in the family, and we shared a bond that felt more like friendship than mere family ties, despite him being my dad’s best friend.

“What have you been up to, Ana?” he asked, leaning back with a proud grin.

“Just dealing with the usual high school drama,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “You know how it is. Boys and grades and all that fun stuff.”

“Ugh, boys are the worst,” glyn chimed in, scrunching her nose. “You can do so much better, trust me.”

I chuckled, glancing around the party. “Where are my parents?”

Nikolai pointed across the yard. “Your mother is over there, talking to that black-haired woman. First time seeing her?”

“Yeah, I’ve never met her before.” I shrugged it off, my eyes drifting to my father, who was deep in conversation with Uncle Killian and two other men. “I’ll catch up with them later.”

Just then, a waiter approached, and Nikolai took two glasses of vodka from the tray. Uncle Brandon reached for a glass of wine while Aunt Glyn opted for champagne. I turned to Nikolai, raising an eyebrow. “Who’s the second glass for?”

With a smirk, he winked at me while passing it over. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Glyn frowned, crossing her arms. “No, Niko! You’re not giving her that. She’s just sixteen!”

Brandon lunged for the glass, but I snatched it before he could reach me. “Relax, it’s just a shot!” I giggled, noticing it was a small glass, thankfully not a full-sized drink.