Dangerous Devotion

Chapter 4 : 𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻

ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏsᴇʙᴜᴍᴘs sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴀɪsᴇ
ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴇғᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅ
ᴍᴇᴇᴛs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀɪsᴛ
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇɪɢʜʙᴏʀʜᴏᴏᴅ

𝙶𝚒𝚘𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚒

I never thought she'd agree. Sure, I hoped she might be interested in my proposition because of the auction house, but still, that was too fast. Well, I'm glad it worked out because it was only her I wanted as my fake wife. If she had rejected my proposal, I wouldn't have gone to anyone else. The way she understands both the business and the mafia world makes her a great partner for me. And today, I have a date with Anastasia Ivanova. But now I don't know what to do. My fists tighten in frustration, why the hell am I even getting nervous about sending her flowers? Am I a teenager or what? And I can't just message her because I don't have her personal number.

After some deep thought, I do what everyone does when they're lost, call their so-called friends for advice. I pull out my phone and dial the number. It rings a few times before he picks up. "Hey, how come you called me in the middle of work? You don't do that. Love problems?" Daniel's voice grates on my nerves immediately.

"Stop the bullshit. I need your help," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, though my irritation seeps through.

His tone shifts instantly, losing its humor. "Yes? Is it the Camorra again? Where are we meeting?" He's already on high alert, completely misunderstanding the situation.

I sigh, leaning back in my leather chair, the dim light casting shadows on the dark wood of my office. "It's not the Camorra; it's about Ivanova."

Silence. Then, he bursts out laughing, this fucker. "Stop laughing now, or I'll come wherever you are and kill you. I'm not joking," I growl, my anger palpable.

"Seriously, Ivanova? You're worrying too much, just go and ask he-"

"I already talked to her, and she's okay with the deal," I cut him off, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

"What the fuck? When did this happen? And how come she said yes so easily? I thought she'd make you work for it, you're taking her away from her precious time."

I thought the same. Even with her sharp business acumen, I expected her to make it difficult. "It happened yesterday. I went to her, and she accepted. Today we have our first date. We'll be discussing the contract." I pause. "And I need your help with the date."

"Okay, what do you need help with? Clothes, gifts, hotel bookings?" He's enjoying this way too much.

"My mistake. I shouldn't have called you," I mutter, my anger flaring up again.

"Alright, sorry. But what are you so worried about? It's just a business deal, go to the restaurant, eat, talk about the contract, and take her home. Easy." He says it like it's nothing, but it doesn't feel like that to me. I've dated my fair share of women, and I know what to do on a date, but this feels different. Maybe it's because it's Ivanova. Daniel's right, she does bring out people's competitiveness. And something else too, something I can't quite put my finger on.