Chapter 2

Belle's POV

I woke up at three in the morning. I didn't realize that I fell asleep because of exhaustion. Alexei is sill passed out. I run my palm all over his soft beard and kissed him on his lips and forehead. "I love you Alexei."

When I extended my hand on my side, I didn't feel Nikolai. I stepped down the bed and decided to go outside. Only a dim light illuminated the whole living room of the penthouse. I looked around but I did not see my future husband.

"Madamme?"

"Boris?" Gee, do this man ever sleep?

"Where's Nikolai?"

"He's with Yuri, Madamme."

"Where?"

The not so gentle giant just looks down in response. I suspect that Nikolai prohibited Boris to disclose where he went. At this time of the night, where could Nikolai have gone?

"I said, where is Nikolai, Boris!"

"Madamme."

I inhaled deep and sighed in frustration. I know it's not right to channel my anger towards Boris, but exhaustion and hopelessness is slowly creeping in me. I don't know if I can hold on to this anymore. I immediately dialed Nikolai but he just ignored my calls. I decided to text him.

Nikolai where are you? We need to talk.

I went back inside the room leaving Boris behind. I climbed next to the other love of my life and instantly hugged him.

"I'm tired Alexei. I'm so tired."

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I woke up very late the next day. My eyes are heavy and my body feels like I have been slammed to the wall many times. Once again, I woke up alone in this huge and sad penthouse. Alexei left me a message and said that they will be back after an important business. I'm not sure if Nikolai was able to go home or not. His unwillingness to talk things over has already got me thinking whether or not we can still go back to the way we used to. I looked up and blinked a couple of times to stop the tears from forming in my eyes.

I took my phone from the side table and decided to call my bestfriend.

"A."

"B what's up."

"How was Dara?"

"I did not go."

"What? Why?"

"I sold the tickets. Did you know I got ten thousand dollars from those pieces of papers? Hahaha. I'm rich bitch!"

I suddenly feel bad for not coming with her. I know it was supposed to be a very special night for her. Even if she's not saying it, I know she did not go because of me.

"I'm sorry A. I'll make it up to you, I promise. We can have a girls night out? Or perhaps an out of town trip? Anything and anywhere you want, just the two of us."

"Hmmm.....really?"

"Yes. I'm sorry. We will catch Dara next time."

"So how are you? Were you able to talk to the two?"

"No. It's like the more I try to fix it, the more we fall apart. I want to give up, A."

"Okay."

Okay? I know that she's not really fond of Nikolai but I expected a different reaction from her.

"Okay?"

"Yah, OKAY. You want to give up with your relationship with the Ultra Boss? Fine. You wont be able to see him anymore which is perfectly fine by me. I mean, you wont be able to see that face every morning when you wake up. You will go back to your intelligent self because you will not be blinded by your love anymore. People will not be calling you Mrs. Volkov anymore, so you'll go back to your more badass and legal name, Ms. Mary Arabella Galves, only child and daughter of General Emilio Pablo Galves, Former President and Beloved Dictator of the Republic of Palawi. You will not be shared by two Mafia Bosses anymore which will throw away your spicy and exciting life with the Russian, drug dealing, people murdering, Billionaire Bad Boys. You will go back to your mundane, traditional, kinda boring life. You know I can go on all day..."

"I got it. You don't have to make a novel out of my story."

"Good. Just to be clear, I don't like your fiance' for you, like.....at all! But I have seen you miserable without him and the Extra Boss. So just talk to him, explain your side and remind him that your L.O.V.E is stronger than this misunderstanding."

Little did my bestfriend know that this is far from being just a misunderstanding. I did not tell her about what happened with Nikolai and I last night because if she does, I know her tone will not be like this.

"And oh, one more thing...if you give up, you wont have your regular dose of oral sex anymore. I know Ultra Boss and Extra Boss have quite an appetite when it comes to your vagina. So yah, just think about it."

"A!"

"Hahahaha!" She's now laughing like a crazy hyena.

"Pervert."

"Hahaha! Pervert-ER!" She retorted.

"That's not even a word."

"It is to me."

I just shook my head in defeat.

"Come here for lunch, I made you delicious authentic Palawi food and some deserts. My brother is not here, but he'll be home at once if he knows that you're coming."

"Okay. Ill come by Nikolai's house to get some clothes then Ill be there for lunch."

"Why? where are you now?"

"At the penthouse, the house is being renovated that's why we temporarily transferred here. We'll talk later k?"

"Oh okay. Be strong B! Go fight for love!"

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"Where are we going Madamme?"

Asked one of Alexei's men who is in the driver's seat.

"To Amy's, but let's go by the house first. I'll just get some clothes."

I noticed that he looked at me from the rear view mirror and then glanced at the other one in the front passenger seat. They looked at each other momentarily. The one in the front passenger seat dialed his phone.

Why do I feel like there's something really off?

"Hand me your phone." I said sternly but they did not abide.

"Madamme." Said the one in the passenger seat.

"Did you not hear what I said? Hand me your goddamn phones! Or I swear to god, I will do everything in my power to have the two of you punished!"

I know that these two are just doing their jobs. What I'm making them do right now might cause them not only their jobs but also their own lives, but this unsettling feeling lingering inside me right now is just too strong to ignore. Why did they have to react that way when I said that we are going by the house?

The two gave their phones in defeat.

At this point, anger is starting to build up inside me. "Open the compartment and hand me the two way radio."

Based on experience, I am fully aware that they keep a two way radio in the compartment in case mobile phones are not accessible. They obliged and handed me the two way radio instantly.

"Now Drive."

I tried to calm myself down by rubbing my palms together. Oh god. Why am I feeling like this? Is there something that Nikolai and Alexei are not telling me about? I looked outside and placed my palm on my abdomen. Please help Ma calm down my little one.

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We are almost half a block away from the old house. As our SUV nears, I can see from afar another Black SUV and Nikolai's sports car parked outside. So they are here. I thought they are in a meeting?

When the SUV pulled over. I could not see any work being done outside, so I'm assuming the renovations are in the interior of the house. When I stepped down the SUV the look of surprise was instantly painted all over Yuri and Boris' faces. They are at the entrance standing and smoking with two other men.

"Madamme."

Yuri instantly blocked my way while Boris went inside.

"Get out of my way Yuri!"

"Madamme, you're not supposed to be here."

"Did you just tell me that I am not welcome in my own house Yuri?

"It's not like that Madamme, please. You have to understand..."

"Understand what? Get out of my way now Yuri!!!!"

I stepped to Yuri's side and headed towards the door getting past the other two men. Yuri followed from behind while trying to keep up to my pace.

"Madamme, please..."

I walked as fast as I can towards the living room, but I was halted when I heard someone giggle and laugh at the kitchen down the hall and I'm sure as hell that it's not a man's voice.

At this point my hands are already shaking. I feel like I'm going to run out of breath. My heart is pounding very hard. When I entered the kitchen, Alexei, Boris and Dimitri are already on their way out. The three looked like they have seen a ghost when they saw me come in. They were not able to say a single word. They just stood frozen.

Another giggle emanated the kitchen. When I took a few more steps inside, I saw Nikolai and a familiar looking woman sitting on the chairs of the center island. Oh my god.

It's Yrina.

My world slowly crumbled down. She and Nikolai are sitting close to each other while face to face. They are both drinking wine. Yrina is resting her elbow on the center island while her head is resting on her fist. She's looking at Nikolai while giggling and blushing. Nikolai on the other hand is talking to her with a smile on his face. Not the scowling and full of disgust Nikolai last night. I feel like my heart is being ripped apart. They are actually enjoying each other's company.

Everything is making perfect sense now. They made me think that renovations are being made so that they can conveniently oust me from this house to accommodate Yrina. All the meetings they were telling me from the time we went back from Palawi are meetings with Yrina. Nikolai did not come home last night and now I now why and where he went. Everything that Artan told me are now confirmed. Nikolai and Alexei are cheating on me.