Belle's POV

I went to see Amy at Dylan's house after my class. The rose petals are already gone at Dylan's front lawn. Earlier this morning, I called my bestfriend to ask her if she could have the front lawn cleaned up before I arrive because Ivan and Vasily apparently reports everything to Nikolai.

"What happened to your mouth B?" She asked while stirring something in a bowl.

Geez, I thought I have already concealed my now bruised mouth with a concealer and lipstick. I have always been the kind that bruise easily. After going out of the shower this morning, I also saw bruises on my waist where Nikolai held and squeezed me tightly during his rage of jelousy.

"Uhh...allergic reaction." I responded.

"Nikolai made you eat olives? I should really talk to Nikolai about you B. Give him pointers on how to take care of a delicate flower like you."

"So does this mean you are not against him anymore A?"

"B, I'm just being the reasonable one here. Youre in love. Youre stupid. I get it. As your bestfriend I will support you but at the same time I am going to be your reality check. To be honest, I never thought I would be even playing this role at all. Before you met Nikolai, I really thought youre gonna be like my auntie Lyn who was so picky she ended up growing old and alone."

"I have never been picky!" I answered back.

Amy has a are you kidding me look on her face. If I think about it, if I hadnt been picky as what Amy accuses me to be, I probably wouldnt have ended up with Nikolai. I just smile inside. My past decisions were right. I am so proud of myself.

"So about Artan." She said quite loudly.

"Shush A!"

I lowered my voice while talking. "Nikolai and Alexei found the note Artan sent me."

Amy parted her lips in surprise."Omg B!! What did the note say?" She sits down in front of me closely as I tell her about what Artan said in the note.

"Oh my gosh B. Dont ever tell Nikolai nor Alexei about your former boss' identity. You know how your boyfriend and your other boyfriend deal with the competition."

"Other boyfriend?"

"Oh cmon B! Are you really that insensitive and blind?"

"What?" I asked her, slowly running out of patience.

"Im talking about Alexei. When he went here, his body language and his eyes said it all. Dylan told me he thought Alexei was really your boyfriend. My brother would not assume such a thing if he did not see it in you and Alexei."

"A, can you actually hear yourself right now? What youre trying to say is ridiculuos."

"B, remember this, one day, you will come running back here because you realize that you actually are in love with Alexei. Mark my words." Amy said while pointing her index finger on top of the table beside us.

"I am in love with Nikolai A. Look I'm even getting married to the man!" I said raising my left hand to show her my engagement ring.

"Im talking about Alexei and not Nikolai B."

This is not actually the first time that the people around me insists about me and Alexei. First, Matushka, now my bestfriend. I just shook my head and quickly brush off the crazy thought.

~

Im looking at myself in the mirror inside Yelena's room. I borrowed one of Yelena's royal blue strapless long gown with a long slit reaching my upper left thigh. The top part has glittery design accentuating my full breasts. I placed an intricately designed armlet with beautiful royal blue gems on my left forearm. I used a curling iron to define the waves of my hair even more. My double flick winged eyeliner and false eyelashes perfectly complement my nude lipstick.

As I stand up and leaned closer to the mirror to make some finishing touches to my make up, I noticed Nikolai and Alexei standing at the door staring at my direction.

Nikolai is wearing a dark blue suit while Alexei is wearing a navy blue suit. Both of them looked all too dapper and all too handsome. Nikolai with his godlike presence and Alexei with his magnetic charm.

They both went inside and approached my direction. I noticed Alexei is holding a familiar box and a paper bag on his hand.

Nikolai hugged me from the back while wrapping his arms around me.

"You look amazing baby." He whispered on my right ear. Tingles of electric current instantly run through my body.

Alexei stood beside me and opened the rectangular box. "You left this at Matushka's house."

It's the diamond studded necklace Alexei gave me on his birthday. Nikolai took off the necklace he gave me and placed it around my wrist making it a bracelet temporarily together with the red daisy bracelet Alexei gave me.

I then collected my hair to the side while Alexei hands Nikolai the diamond studded necklace. My future husband slowly placed the necklace around my neck and then planted small kisses on my shoulders and back.

Alexei then opened the paper bag he is holding. "This is from Matushka. She said its her gift for you."

I crinkled my eyebrows when I saw a black lace leg garter like thingy. "What's this Alexei?"

"Alexei will show you." Answered Nikolai.

My lips parted when Nikolai raised my gown revealing my thighs in front of Alexei who is now bending his knee in front of me. "Go on brother." Said Nikolai to Alexei. Oh my god what is happening?

To my surprise, Alexei slowly held my right foot on top of his knee. He slowly removed my high heel then carefully slid the lace up my ankle then my leg, halting on my thigh just a few inches down my femme.

Alexei took from the paper bag a tiny gun.

"What are you going to do with that Alexei?"

"Relax princess. Matushka sent this one for you as well."

He slings the small gun on the lace garter carefully, making sure it's positioned safely and comfortably.

"You need this so you can shoot whoever you wish to shoot." Nikolai says it like its just a normal thing to shoot people down. But then again, my future husband is the boss of the Russian Mafia. I am not surprised at all.

"Arent we going to a private party Nikolai? Why do I need this?"

"In our world, you always have to protect yourself." He replied. I did not argue anymore because I know they are just protecting me. I stood up straight and inspected myself one last time.

"Shall we Mrs.Volkov?" Said Nikolai offering his arm for me to hold.

I instantly turned crimson. Deep inside Im already squeeling with joy. He is already calling me Mrs. Volkov! Ah!

While in the car in between Nikolai and Alexei, I scan the photos we took from Alexei's phone just before we left the house. A smile is plastered on my face just by looking at our every shots.

In one picture, my arms are wrapped around Nikolai's waist while he grabs the small of my back. Another one is me and Nikolai kissing on the same position. The other one is Nikolai pulling me close to him, he carried all my weight effectively removing me from the floor while kissing me. We look so in love and carefree.

Mine and Alexei's shots are the same as with Nikolai minus the kissing part. Although the first shot, I was the one kissing him on his cheek, his hands wrap around my waist while he's looking at the camera directly. In another picture Alexei is the one kissing me, near my lips while I was the one looking at the camera.

Nikolai took mine and Alexei's pictures. I giggle as I remember Nikolai was directing us like some kind of a professional photographer but Alexei and I are doing the exact opposite of what he was saying intentionally.The image of a slowly running out of patience Nikolai was really funny. Even his men were holding back their snickers. Gosh! That was so priceless!

"Baby, do I need to call a shrink for you?" Nikolai said teasingly, noticing my giggles.

I bent over towards Nikolai and looked him in the eyes.

"Yes Nikolai, I think I need one. You know why? I'm going seriously crazy about you. You are always in my mind twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, since the day I met you. In fact if you open my heart right now, you would see your face carved all over it. I'm obsessed with you baby."

For the first time ever, I saw Nikolai's face turn red. Oh my gosh! I gave him the sweetest smile and continued, "Did you know that the first time I saw you, I heard church bells ringing for some reason I could not explain? You took my breath away Nikolai."

The moment he heard that, Nikolai pulled me close to him and kissed me passionately, instant sparks ignited inside me, "Are you in some kind of a drug?" Asked Nikolai all puzzled.

"Nikolai, your love is my drug." I replied. His face turned even redder.

When will this man understand how much I love him? Its like he doesnt know it at all. Or perhaps he thinks he doesnt deserve my love, he have said it a couple of times before.

His only response is to pull me even closer to him and then planting kisses all over my neck and breasts.

"Nikolai, behave. My make up will smudge." Geez, not to mention, Alexei, Yuri and Boris overhearing and noticing what he is doing. This man just doesnt care at all!

I removed myself from Nikolai and went back sitting in between him and Alexei and scanned the photos of the three of us. Yuri was the one who took the picture of me, Nikolai and Alexei. The picture shows the three of us, I'm in the middle while clinging on to Nikolai and Alexei's arms.

I sent all the pictures to my phone and Nikolai's. I then made as wallpaper the picture of the three of us.

"Nikolai, who's party are we attending again?"

"A long time friend of our family, the Albanians."

"Oh. The one you were talking to earlier?"

"He is the Albanian Mob Boss, princess. The Albanians have been our friends since the old Boss." Alexei buts in.

~

A few minutes later, we arrived at what seems to be a car race track. There are several sports cars, luxury black suv's and limousines parked outside the entrance of the building next to race track . There are also men in trench coats and black suits standing at the entrance.

Our entourage consisting of four black SUVs pulled over the drive way. The second car where we are in, pulled over directly in front of the entrance of the building. Alexei helped me step down the car while Nikolai followed from behind.

As we enter the hall, Nikolai held my right hand tightly, Alexei to my left. Yuri and Boris are walking ahead of us while Alexei's men are following us from behind.

We were greeted by a woman wearing a red long gown with a low neckline.

"Good evening Mr. Volkov my name is Lena, I will be your hostess for tonight." Said the woman while looking at my Nikolai all too seductively.

Damn this girl. Shoo! Cant you see he's holding my hand? Nikolai is mine!

She held out her hand to Nikolai after introducing herself. Dont you dare Nikolai! Dont you friggin dare hold her hand!

"Hello Lena, your boss is such an accomodating host indeed but Mrs. Volkov and I would like to be left in peace all through the night. My men will let you know if we need anything." Answered my love dismissing the bitch.

I feel like my heart is doing jumping jacks inside me. My Nikolai did not even touch the hand of the minx! I am squeeling with pride inside! My future husband deserves a treat later.

The look of embarassment can be seen all over her face. She then gazes at me intently. I looked at her while a smile of victory is plastered on my face. That's right bitch, you have been dismissed. Now shooo!

Oh god, what is happening to me? Jealousy indeed makes people think crazy thoughts. This is actually the first time I have felt this feeling. This love thing is making me a bad person.

"Of course Mr. Volkov. The Boss is already waiting for you. Right this way please." She said while pointing toward the elevator's direction. After getting out of the elevator, we walked along a short hallway toward a huge black double door.

One of the men escorting Lena opened the double door for us. We were instantly welcomed in a room covered with burgundy colored carpet, chandelier pieces hanging like tiny sparkling stars, black leather sofas with a small black table in the center and buffet dinner. The room is overlooking the whole race track through the long glass window.

There are a couple of men already sitting on the sofas drinking liquor and smoking. Some men are facing the race track while holding glasses of liquor in their hands.

Lena approached one of the men in black suit and whispered to his ear. As the man faces our direction, I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. I can feel my legs weaken in utter horror. Oh my god.

It's Artan.