"These are the designs we picked. Your approval is needed before we go ahead with it,"My secretary, Louisa, explains to me as we walk side by side, the sound of our heels clicking and clacking across the walls.

I take a look at the designs for the mall we're launching in Moscow. Everything looks too modern and intimidating to me.

"I don't like any of these. What I want is a building that looks modern but welcoming. I want people to walk into the mall without feeling oppressed. Yes, our products are low priced, but they're not so high that the average person would be too scared to afford them. Review more options and let me see them before the day ends."

"Yes, ma'am," she replies, taking the papers from me and heading in a different direction as I turn to walk into my office. But I stop dead in my tracks when I spot a man dressed in a black coat and hat sitting on the sofa in my office.

I immediately pull out my gun. "Who the fuck are you?" I sneer. My feet do not move from their position as I watch the person from where I am. The man stands up and lifts his head, but I can only see his lips and nose.

There are faded scars on his cheeks, and he looks somewhat familiar.

"Relax, relax. I'm not here to kill you," he says, raising his hands as if that should make me less worried or alert. "I believe you girls have been searching and sniffing around me and my business, but I don't mind. I'd do the same if I were you." His voice is thick with a Russian accent, and he doesn't even try to hide it.

"I said, who the fuck are you?" I shout, taking a step closer with my fingers tightening their grip on the gun.

"Relax, I'm a friend of your father's."

"What?"

He walks towards me so quickly that I move away from the door, quickly rounding the corner to get to my desk so I can press the red button, but he doesn't follow me. He stops at the entrance of my office.

"I just wanted to see what his heir looked like from a close distance. You can't trust anyone in the Mafia, not even your family. You'll find this advice helpful very soon. Goodbye, Davinia." And just like that, he's gone.

What the fuck. I immediately press the emergency button on my desk. Tiana calls me back immediately.

"I just met a stranger in my office. He looks like trouble, but he just left. See if you can track him down," I say.

"Are you okay?" she asks worriedly.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Get someone to come and check for bugs or anything dangerous. I'm out of here."

The call ends, but my hands are still shaking. No doubt that man was the guy I saw leaving my uncle's office that day, the one Tiana could hardly get information on. The ex-soldier.

I don't bother to drop my bag or sit. Instead, I leave. I need to think.

How did he get past my security? What was he doing in my office? Why did he need to see me? Is he a threat? An enemy or a friend? The whole thing is giving me a headache. His words confirmed what I already knew: I can't trust anyone, but to what extent?

Should I ask Uncle? No, that's not a good idea. I remember how angry the stranger made him. Uncle hasn't said anything about his relationship with that man, which means I mustn't let him know that I've met the stranger.

I need to go through Papa's files again and see if I can find anything that connects to the ex-soldier who claims to be his friend.

My phone rings again, but this time it's Helene calling. "Is everything okay?"

I hear shuffling in the background. She's probably in the cellar. "Well, erm, your mother wants to see you. I just met with the doctor, and he says she's in her right mind. So I suggest you come quickly and listen to her before she's unable to talk to you anymore." She rushes out the words in one breath.

"Thank you, I'm on my way now." The call ends. I'm already outside the building and in the parking lot. I take out my car key and unlock the door.

I wonder what she wants to say to me now. Now that this opportunity has arrived, she'll probably make it all about herself again, knowing her.

Throughout the drive, my mind remains unsettled. I suddenly have the urge to smoke or drink. That's how my mother makes me feel—like I'm a failed project.

My phone rings again. My eyes roll in annoyance. Can I at least get a moment for myself? It's Tiana calling. I connect my phone to the car.

"Cleared. You can go in now. Where are you going?" she asks.

My eyes roll again. I totally forgot. She always knows my every move, but why does that seem to annoy me today?

"You'll know soon enough."

"Davi," she calls softly, and I'm forced to change my tone.

"Helena called. Mother wants to see me. The doctor said she's sane enough to have a proper conversation, so I'm hoping I can also talk to her about the wedding."

"Wedding?"

Shit! I didn't tell her about the conversation I had with Rolan. She's going to be so mad.

I try to play it cool. "Rolan and I had a talk, and I've thought about it. The wedding will take place on the 11th of this month."

I hear nothing from her end. There's silence for a while. "That soon?"

I hear the hurt in her voice, and now I understand what she means. What she wants. But I have to do this.

"Yes, Tiana. That soon."

"Alright. See if you can talk to Mother and spend some time bonding before you become a Dimitri." Her last words sound a bit harsh, but before I can say anything, she hangs up.

"Great."