Two Broken Hearts

Chapter thirty-five

Maria's POV:

We were all standing up when Leoniv Smirnov entered. He glanced at everyone and sat at the head of the table. When he took a seat, everyone else followed, including me.

Leoniv Smirnov scanned everyone and he smirked when he saw me.

He nudged my father: "Kto eto?" He asked him and I could tell from the similarities in Croatian that he asked who I am. (Who is that?)

My father smiled: "Eto moya doch'."
He said, almost proudly, which I knew he wasn't.

Leoniv Smirnov smirked and then looked at me. He made a movement with his hand, telling me to come.

I started going up from my chair but Matteo's hand on my thigh stopped me.

"Gdje bi ti?" He asked quietly, obviously seeing that Leoniv Smirnov called me. (Where do you think you're going?)

I scoffed at him: "Možeš se smiriti?"
I told him while rolling my eyes.
(Can you calm down?)

"Nemoj ti meni kolutati očima!" He said a little bit louder.
(Don't you roll your eyes at me!)

As I was about to say something before my father interrupted.

"Matteo, bolje bi ti bilo da je pustiš." He said, sending glares with his look.
(Matteo, it would be better if you let go of her.)

Matteo's jaw tensed and I could tell he was every mad that anyone, especially my dad, is telling him what to do.

Leoniv Smirnov started laughing and we all looked at him.

He quickly switched to English: "I love how everyone at this table is fighting for you. What's so special about you?" His accent a lot less noticable then Adrian's.

My stare bore into him. I didn't say anything to that. What could I say?

I'm not really special.

His face went cold again: "Come here." He said as he tapped the desk.

I gave Matteo's hand a light squeeze, telling him not to be worried or make a scene.

I could see he was mad but he did let me go.

I slowly approached Leoniv Smirnov and stopped right in front of him, where he was sitting.

He got up, towering over me, but I didn't let myself be scared away or back away. I looked at him straight in the eyes and he was looking at me too.

"What's your name?" He asked, coldly.

"Maria." I said shortly.

"Your real name, I mean." He said, smirking.

"It seems like you already know, Mr. Smirnov." I answered sarcastically but still politely.

He again glared at me and sat back down.

"You can go eat." He said, not looking at me.

I shrugged but went on my seat next to Matteo. As soon as I sat down his hand was on mine.

He squeezed tightly as if saying he was relieved that nothing happened.

Thru the whole dinner we held hands. After Leoniv went away to do some business, people started to go. My father and Adrian went along with Leoniv and at one point just Matteo and me were left.

We both looked at each other and I felt really sad. Like the kind of sad where I feel like everything is falling apart.

He whispered: "Nothing is going to happen while I'm here, alright?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow.