Chapter twenty two | Ekaterina
"I think I'm gonna die." I exclaim dramatically as I take another step closer to Alexander, feeling my heartbeats go erratic in my chest, fuck.
He rolls his eyes but clutches my hands in his as he gives me a reassuring nod, "You won't die." He replies sternly, voice calm and words measured, and I stare at the people around us.
Hundreds of thoughts running through my mind, I was really here, finally going after my sister's words and deciding to go along with my art, but I can't stop the fear that is crawling through my mind.
Fear of failure, because what if the painting isn't good enough? I mean there are many gorgeous pieces around here and I wasn't going to pretend that I'm confident in my talent that much.
My thoughts are immediately cut off when I feel Alexander lightly squeezing my hand in his, my gaze falls on him as he eyes me, looking suspicious for some fucking reason, my lovely family was supposed to come here as well.
Which wasn't helping at all, I silently pray that my father doesn't show up, "relax." Another voice joins in and my eyes snap, meeting with a surprising pair, Alexander's brother, Vladimir was here.
I couldn't stop the grin spreading on my face as he hurries excitedly towards us, Alexander rolls his eyes but I don't miss the small smile tugged at his lips, "You invited him?" The surprise in my voice is clear as I direct my attention to Alexander.
He looks at me sideways and shrugs, my grin widens and my nerves loosen a bit, "I saw your painting, it's stunning." Vlad strides towards me, wearing his usual smile, "Thanks." I force out, the compliment slightly calming me.
I run a hand through my loose hair and look around just in time for my family to walk inside the art museum, Jesus fuck, dear father is here,
My muscles tighten but then I get distracted when my eyes clash with Kiara's, my sister grins and almost sprints toward me, attacking me in a bear hug as her scent fills my nostrils.
I laugh and relax into her hold, I didn't realize how much I missed her until now, sure we almost talked every day but nothing compares to this, she pulls back suddenly, scanning me with suspicion, "You look pale, have you been eating? Did something happen? I swear if something happened I'm going to-" my hand comes up, silencing her string of curses as amusement flashes across Alexander's face.
Even though I'm the older one, Kiara has always been so fucking protective it becomes unbearable sometimes, "I'm fine." I offer lightly and my heartbeats pick up in my chest as my father comes into view.
I feel Kiara tensing beside me as well, my mother appears beside him, her gaze downwards on the floor and my heart clenches for her, "Alexander, son." His voice causes a shudder to run down my throat and I feel Alexander coming up beside me.
His hand finds my waist as he pulls me to him, his gaze holding mine for a beat before he averts it away, "Lebedev." His voice is rough as he shakes my father's hand, I would say it's threatening as well but I seem to lose all the words I had in mind the moment my father's gaze turn to me.
His harsh eyes roam all over my frame, making me feel small and uncomfortable in my own skin as he always did, "Katrina." He says sternly, his voice almost devoid of emotion as shivers run down my spine, "Dad." My voice barely sounds audible as the words leave my lips, Alexander's jaw clenches,
Cheekbones sharpening as he narrows his eyes in my father's direction, he doesn't hold his gaze for long as he disappears away from my mother's side, she seems to relax as well and a smile spreads on her face as she steps forwards, taking me in a hug.
Alexander steps away to give us space and my eyes meet his, as my mother continues patting my back, a silent promise is exchanged between both of us and I can't help the heat that's flooding through my belly.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･
"There has been a couple of arguments on your art piece because a lot of people want it but the highest that's been offered is 750,000 dollars, should I say yes?" The assistant manager repeats his earlier words again and surprise floods through my body just as a smile spreads over my face and I nod in his direction, he smiles in return and walks away as he picks the painting off the wall and plants a SOLD chart over it.
I hurry excitedly towards where all of them are standing and grin as I tell them what just happened, Kiara's face mirrors mine as she smiles so wide in my direction, "I told you!" She squeals and comes to my side.
Vlad smiles in my direction and winks "I would've bought it for the same price as well—if I was into those things." He says calmly and I smile, my mom hugs me again and the proudness in her gaze is worth any fucking thing.
My father is nowhere to be seen and so is Alexander, they're probably together which isn't comforting at all, Vladimir clears his throat and speaks up "Where is dear brother?" His voice is different, almost as if he's nervous, this is fucking weird.
"No idea," I reply to his earlier question and continue studying his weird state, but then I follow his gaze and I find it on no one other than my sister, what is going on? She doesn't look as flustered as he is at all.
Instead, she's almost jumping excitedly as she scans all the paintings around us, when my eyes catch his again, he looks embarrassed as he covers it with a wink of his, and just when I'm about to interrupt this lovely tension, I feel a hand wrapping around my waist and I relax into his hold the moment his familiar scent hits my nostrils,
I look up, smiling as I lean towards his face, "I want to tell you something." I whisper and I don't miss the way his breath heaves faster, fuck it spreads a wave of confidence through my body to know that I have this power over him.
He nods and holds my eyes for a second and I know for a fact that my face is currently similar to a tomato, which doesn't seem new at this point, but-my father's voice cuts off my thoughts and my breath as well.
"We're leaving." He states harshly and clutches my mother's hands, she barely flinches but I don't miss it, my sister looks like she wants to cry and I don't think twice as I blurt "She can stay with us tonight." The glare he casts in my direction is enough to make me cower like I always did, but I raise my chin.
Even when my hands tremble in Alexander's, my sister sucks in a breath and averts her gaze to our father, his expression is anything but pleased, fuck, "what the fuck are you talking about, girl?" he snarls and lightly slaps my hand away, my muscles tense just as Alexander takes another step.
His gaze looks deadly as it lands on my father, shivers run down my spine when he grits his next words out "Take your hands off my wife, Lebedev." My lips part as I watch my father's face redden from anger, no one has ever had the balls to talk to him that way, let alone order him.
"She's my daughter, I can do whatever the hell I want with her I don't take orders from you." He shouts and I can't help the embarrassment and shame running through my body, Alexander clenches his jaw and I clear my throat when he speaks again.
"I don't give a fuck about that, She's mine, you don't touch a hair on her head from now on unless you're interested in getting your limbs broken." he's threatening him, loud and clear, Vladimir takes a step towards his brother and pulls him back.
Before he glares at my father, an expression I've never seen on him, but as he does I see how much he looks like Alexander right now, "if you're not interested in what he just offered then fucking leave, because another moment and I'll join him." My jaw falls open at the tone he's using, he sounds as murderous as his brother.
I notice my sister's expression from the corner of my eyes as well, she's shaking, Moments later, our father finally leaves and surprisingly he doesn't take Kiara with him, she looks up at me, apology clear in her glassy gaze and I shake my head as I step beside her.
Side hugging her, Vladimir's gaze meets mine but a second later I realize that it's on her not me, Alexander's voice sobers me up and I snap my eyes on him, "You can stay with us." He offers kindly as he shrugs.
She contemplates the offer for a moment before she nods, accepting it and I release a breath, "Vladimir is staying as well." Now what the fuck is that? I raise a brow at the said Vladimir and he shrugs "I changed my mind, I really miss it here, and I need to spend some more time with my lovely brother." He dangles his shoulder around Alexander causing him to roll his eyes.
But he doesn't attempt to push his hand away, "Lovely, my ass." I mutter under my breath and Kiara releases a laugh which causes Alexander to glare in my direction, is it stupid to say that I missed it?
Absolutely stupid,
*:･ﾟ✧*:･
Alexander looks as unpleased as Kiara, "Come on." I squeal excitedly as I push Alexander towards the ice cream shop, he doesn't even move an inch, "Ugh." I protest and roll my eyes "Please." I give him my best innocent expression and he arches a brow.
Okay so maybe he got used to this action, interesting. "They're missing out." Vlad interlocks his hand with mine and shrugs nonchalantly, before grinning devilishly in my direction "watch." He mouthes and I frown, confused by his statement.
It doesn't even take a second before Alexander shows up in front of my face, pushing his brother away and interlocking our hands together instead, I grin and start walking towards the shop, "Which flavor do you like the most?" I ask and he doesn't answer.
"Oh, are you giving me the silent treatment?" My question causes him to give me a sideways look and I roll my eyes "I don't like sweet things." He replies sternly and I frown, "You're disturbing." I protest as my eyes widen.
"Sure, you shouldn't be the one talking since I saw you eating cheese with jam yesterday." He says nonchalantly and I gasp, pausing in my tracks as I turn my gaze to him "You were there?" The surprise in my voice is undeniably clear, amusement flashes across his face.
The fucker gets off from embarrassing me.
"You can't judge without trying." I mutter under my breath and I ignore the heat rising up my cheeks, "In your dreams." He says and I smile, challenge coursing through my veins.
"You're going to get ice cream with me, end of discussion," I state and he rolls his eyes but I don't miss the smile tugged at his lips as we step inside the shop.
"Is the damn color hunting me?" He groans the moment we step inside just as I grin wickedly, it's all pink in here, "it's just fate at this point." I snicker as we move towards the ice cream corner, ordering for both of us and he raises his brows in amusement as we take the ice creams.
I try to ignore the looks people are casting us, the looks those girls are giving him as if they're imagining their future kids together, and I can't ignore the knot of jealousy that's tightening through my stomach.
However, whenever a guy just looks in my direction I'm sure the glare Alexander gives them is enough for them to never cast a look at my face again, it's frustrating at this point, "Hmm, do you like it?" I snicker as I lick the pink frosting off mine.
He bites into it and I grimace, his attention immediately snaps in my direction and I raise my brows at him, "What?" Confusion is clear on his face as he shrugs.
"I can't believe you just bit down into your ice cream." I almost shout and he looks like he's holding back a laugh as his lips twitch, "You're such a drama queen." He mutters under his breath and I feign shock "Did you just call me a queen?" I snicker and the fucker smirks.
"Maybe."