Nothing in this world prepared me for this. All my years, I've been taught control and how to stay in control, how to make people bend to my rules without objections. It has never been a chore for me. That is, making people bend. I never had to apply too much pressure, call it a gift. Sometimes it gets boring, watching people do my bidding without objections or any say to the matter. They just.... Do it. Of course any objections will result to immediate execution but won't it be more fun if they did?

I stare at Christian's calloused hands, how they grip the silverware utensils with a gentleness a man like him should not be able to posses. Those hands, dosed in blood of many raised me into what I am today. Never will I complain of the world I happen to fall into. Many would expect me to wail and lament of how horrible it was growing up but no, it wasn't. To some, it is but to me it was more of an entertainment. I live everyday, eager for what tomorrow will bring. I have everything yet it feels like I have nothing. Maybe once I have finally accomplished my true goal, once I finally achieve my level of success, once I've gained what Christian has, maybe then I will feel like I own the world, maybe then, I won't be so eager for the future and make most of the present. Once I have them in my arms, looking into my eyes with adoration and love. My own children, a replica of me and my wife, in my arms, sleeping to sound of my heartbeat. Maybe then, no, only then will I feel like a man who is worthy of happiness.

Speaking of which, a giggle makes me pause the glass of wine that I am about to place on my lips. Like a kid from a fairy tale story, the sound of it. I look to my side to catch Davinia giggling to something Nikolai said. Her auburn red hair bounces on her shoulders when they quake softly. I'm in a transfix as the sound echoes in my head or maybe it's the wine getting to me but she looks surreal in this light. Her plump pink lips curl lightly and I want nothing more than to seize them with mine. Nikolai says something again and her giggling intensifies, what the fuck is so funny. Her face is starting to glow a bright shade of pink. Now I get it. Davinia luchesse is drunk on white wine. Interesting.

I find myself watching her exhibit an emotion that she wouldn't want anyone to see. Now she's muttering incoherent words as she flicks her nose with her index finger. Her thick lashes flutter like a leaf in the wind, indicating how near she is too a deep slumber. What am I doing? My eyes blink once and I immediately look away from her mesmerizing face but my eyes lock with Christian's piercing gaze. They hold a glint of mischievousness, a look that I know too well. My eyebrows arch indifferently to him before I take a sip of my wine.

My eyes twitch, begging to gaze upon Davinia's sultry face again. I no longer hear her giggle and for the first time ever I want Nikolai to say something stupid just so I can hear her soft giggling.

"Ronan, why don't you take Davinia to her room. She needs to rest." Mother says in a light tone. It's a total surprise that she isn't drunk herself.

"I can take her to the her room" Nikolai volunteers with so much eagerness one could easily tell the intent behind it. I send him a warning look. A look that says "Touch her and you die". He as always, ignores it and gets up from his seat with a sly grin on his face.

Motherfucker.

My fingers drums on the feet of my wine glass patiently while I watch him move slow on purpose, trying his very best to make me burst. A task he always fails at doing. He has a dumb as grin on his lips when he looks down at Davina whose eyes are still closed. He moves his hand to touch her shoulder but what happens next makes me raise an amused brow with quirky smile on my lips. Davinia holds his hand in a tight grip before it touches her shoulder. She opens her right eye and stare lazily at him.

"And what do you think you're doing?" She asked with no slur in her words. I guess she is not as drunk as I think she is.

Nikolai lets out a nervous laugh. "Trying to help you to your room." He replies innocently but we all know there is nothing innocent in his actions. Nikolai, a shameful fox who is funny and very wise but mostly stupid when it comes to being a brother and a son.

Davinia throws his hand to the other side and proceeds to close her eye like Nikolai is an irrelevant case to be bothered with. She rests her head on the folded knuckle of her right hand  which is resting on the handle of the mahogany stylish chair. "I'm pretty sure I heard Mrs Dimitri give that job to Ronan or did she not?" She drawled with no flavor. I catch Nikolai smirk at her before stepping away from her space.

Tucking his hands in his pants he says, "Of course yes but my brother seems to be busy thinking of rainbows and pink feathery clouds. He teases before bouncing out of the dining area.

" That must be fun."I hear Davinia mumble quietly like a child. Her in this state takes me back to the five year old Davinia who is always free and adventurous. That old Davinia is showing her appearance now. I guess all it takes is a few drinks. My eyes catch my mum making a weird eye and hand gestures at me.

She mouths the word. "Take her to the room."