A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 4

Alena

Igor surprised me with a text of his details within less than five minutes. There was his name and his office's address because everything else was secured. It wasn't shocking to find the rest of the details unknown-he was the Sicilian mafia boss. He had his data protected. Apparently, he was a well-known businessman. The internet didus job in finding more details about his company. Nothing too specific but it was enough to know about the kind of business he was doing, even though I knew it wasn't completely There was no way he was doing any 'clean' business.

true.

He was feared. He was danger itself.

Even my brother, Alexei, didn't want to cross paths with him. It seemed like the Russians and the Italians had bad blood in the past. Papa never tried to form an alliance with them, and they only signed a peace treaty to avoid war. It made me wonder about the secrets they were hiding. Then again, I was never interested in the mafia.

His company, Fin-Tech were one of the leading technology companies. The company was well-known for their expertise in creating newer and better technologies for the future. It was worth billions and even the CEO, Matteo Lerclerc was worth

more.

I did my research on the internet and found out that he was single. I mean, I assumed he was single because he wasn't seen in any pictures with a woman by his side. He was either alone attending business events but other than that, there were barely any pictures of him. Maybe he wasn't straight.

No, he couldn't be. The way he kissed me proved it enough.

He didn't exactly kiss me because I was the one who kissed him, but he responded back and didn't hold himself back or push me away-that was enough evidence for me to convince myself he was straight. Matteo. Lerclerc.

His name was familiar. Maybe, it was his family's name, but I heard of his name, I just couldn't remember when Papa might've said his name while he was dealing business a few years ago but if Matteo was around my age, he wouldn't be more than forty. So, what was I going to do with Matteo? What was I planning? I needed to meet him first. Personally.

Hence, which was why I found myself standing in front of Fin-Tech the next morning. My shift started at five in the afternoon, so I still had time to go through with my plan, only if everything went according to plan.

Apart from kissing and meeting Matteo's lips for the first time, I had never encountered him before. Yes, I have heard of him-about someone from the Lerclerc family who was brutal and enjoyed killing. He was known for his notoriety, and it was exactly what I wanted to solve my problem.

He was the solution. I knew it

Even I

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if I was risking my life. It was already ruined in the first place.

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How could I be so sure that be would go through with it? How could I convince myself he wasn't going to kick me out or worse threaten to kill me? What if the moment I stepped into his office, he'd realized who I was, and he'd straight away put a bullet in between my head. I was being delusional to think he was going to help me. I was risking everything, but I couldn't care less, now. I needed this.

The longer I let things went on hold, the faster Papa would gather more plans and he might even decide to kidnap me if I tried to run away. Papa wasn't a good option because he was far too lost to communicate with his daughter. We weren't going to have a decent conversation either. What about Matteo!

He was a stranger. I heard bad things about him, but I was willingly stepping into the lion's cage.

Even Alexei warned me about him. I didn't understand the bad blood between our families, but I was selfish, I needed a way out. If he didn't want to help me, I'd left with no other option.

I took my time in entering the building, letting my high heels clank across the floor. There were quite a crowd, and the lobby was busy with chatters. I was left standing as I held tightly onto my handbag-I would be lying if I said I wasn't

nervous.

I was

s trembling but I was raised to be strong and determined.

As soon as I reached the receptionist, her eyes met mine and her lips curved up into a smile. "Hello, welcome to Fin-Tech. How can I help you?"

Hi. I want to meet with Mr. Lerclerc."

"Do you have an appointment?" She typed away on her laptop without breaking eye contact.

"No, I don't but it's important

"Can I have your name, please?" Orlov."

"Alena "One

second."

The receptionist stood up, walking towards another colleague before saying something. Then, she reached the phone to make a quick call as she kept glancing at my direction. The call took almost two minutes before she decided to hang up and walk back to her seat. "Mr. Lerclerc is expecting you. Denise will help you up, she pointed at a man near the entrance. He had a frown on his face as he walked towards me. пада

Matteo was expecting me. How could that be possible?

I tried to push away any confusion as I followed Denise towards the elevator. He didn't say a word while we were heading towards the top floor. While I was already shifting and biting the insides of my cheeks, he was standing still like a statue. Was he even breathing?

As

reached the top floor, he gestured for me to follow

kept a few steps away from him until we stop in front of a closed door, and he decided to

the door, which I assumed was Matteo. 77%@

window as he looked down at the city, with both of his hands in his slacks" pockets. Even from behind, he was a masterpiece. If God had favorites, I was convinced He

met. Those perfect amber eyes could be mistaken for flecks of gold especially with the sunlight seeping through the window and were as deep and expressive, where you could get lost if you stared long enough. Matteo didn't hide his intrigued as he looked down at my body before meeting my eyes once more. He was beautiful that night, but he was even more beautiful today-how could that be possible?

man in front of me was

back with a few fallen strands, somehow

I

me.

me, waiting for my response. Every single word had left my mind and I was speechless. I

to admit he might've had someone did a

guess it was common for someone in their line of work.

"And

he had an

sure nobody has

you know

name?"

had people

you

"Found everything you wanted?"

exactly. Your brother did well in hiding your personal

me. We were the targets of our enemies. Sometimes, I could still sense one of Papa's men following me to keep me safe. They had been doing a great job because I could barely see them

a few steps forward, my chin held

replied, watching my every movement with intensity. "You belong to the Bratva. Yet here you

!

frowned, "I don't pay attention to my father's business. As a matter of fact, I know nothing about his business. I

why you

brother didn't really do a great job at hiding my personal

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Chapter 4

his lips curved as he kept looking

lot more about me than I knew about him, but I wasn't scared. I wasn't a spy, and I came here willingly for my own benefit. "About the other night

He

off. "You came for a second

I shook my head. "I need your

stopped, leaving a big space between us. He was intrigued and he wanted me to speak up quickly. Then again, he wasn't even forcing

to

like someone who can help you? You're

help me.

his arms, "And why should I

Then, tell

me."

his composure. It took me a while to realize that we were only inches apart and if I were to make any moves, our lips would meet. We weren't as close as we were during our first encounter, but we were close enough. I could even see the thickness

you to marry me."

left his lips as he leaned back. He thought I wasn't being serious, and he decided to walk back towards his seat,

don't think it's funny. I want you to marry

I

think I'd

In fact, you'd gain benefits of your

you possibly offer that I

power. The Bratva." I

maintaining good

I sighed.

someone of his chosen. I don't want to. I want to

life. So, I want you to marry me. Pretend

into my office to offer me marriage and expected an agreement?" He asked, shaking his head. "Like I said, you're in

starting to lose hope. Maybe, he really did mean it when he said he didn't want

4

Who in the right mind would want to agree? I was already risking everything the moment I stepped inside his

agree

As

"I already have billions."

asking

for three years of

we go out but behind closed doors, we remain as strangers. I won't bother you in anything you do, and you won't have to bother what goes on in my life. All I'm asking for is three years of marriage." "You have no benefit for me." "You'd have the Russians as your

"I already have enough"