Twins For The Romanov Billionaire

Chapter Two

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Romanov residence, prompting a sigh from Aleksandr. Coming over to this house was something he tried not to do too often, as his family was help bent on bringing up one topic or the other, that usually ended up spoiling his day. The last time he had been there, they had berated him for how careless he was to allow his picture with a woman to be put on the front page of a magazine.

How was he supposed to know what the media was cooking at any time?!

Being the first son of Igor Romanov was something only the strong-willed could endure. And as strong as Aleksandr was, he was beginning to give.

Out of the three children, he had it worse with his father's constant demands. In fact, the only time he was blessed with a real smile from Igor, was whenever he got a business deal done, or successfully finished a project.

Like today.

He was there to inform him about the deal with George, which was already signed, and sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

With a little touch to his tie, mostly out of habit rather than actually adjusting it, Aleksandr picked up the file from the seat, and pushed open the door to his car.

The smoothness of the driveway was a little bit reassuring, and he hoped meeting his father in the house, instead of the office, would go as smoothly as he had imagined.

When he had called to tell him he had news for him, his father had surprised him with a chuckle, saying he also had some news for him too. Which was a first...the chuckle...

The door swung open to reveal his stepmother, looking as young and as radiant as ever. Aleksandr found himself smiling, despite his reservations, as Vivienne drew him into a hug. "Look who decided to show his pretty face, today." She literally squealed, pulling away from him, then holding him at arm's length so she could take her eyes over him.

If there was one thing Aleksandr had learned about his stepmother, it was the fact that, despite being closer to his age than his father's, she was a complete sweetheart.

His own mother had packed up her things and left at the first threat of poverty she had seen, which had happened when he and his siblings were so young, they couldn't even understand. And thankfully, it had been the last, as Igor had bounced back after working his ass out. But it had come at a cost. Not only had they lost their mother, they had lost their father emotionally.

Aleksandr could bet his two cents that his father resented him more than the others, because, unlike his siblings, he looked like his mother the most. Something he also resented too.

Vivienne, on the other hand, had never tried to replace their mother, but had done a very good job on being the support system they had needed growing up. And he loved her to pieces.

Aleksandr laughed, shaking his head a little. "How are you, Vivienne?" He asked, leaning forward to kiss her on her forehead.

"Great. As always." She said.

There was a sound in the hallway, and if Aleksandr wasn't mistaken, it was definitely his father making slow and pronounced footsteps towards them.

Vivienne made a funny expression as she looked briefly towards the hallway, before turning towards him. "Knowing you, there is a very low chance you will stay for dinner, so I will have some food and desserts I have packaged for you, sent to your car. Bon appetit." She said, and hugged him briefly, before making her escape.

It wasn't something new to everyone, that Aleksandr and Igor always had something brewing between them, so everyone tried their possible best, to avoid both of them.

And even if she was his wife, Vivienne knew when to stay, and when to leave.

Aleksandr waited until his father's form came into view, before nodding his head briefly to his father, who was staring at him. "Good evening, Dad." He said flatly.

Igor nodded, and looked in the direction his wife had just gone, before shaking his head. "I wonder when she would stop sending you my food, and realize that you are a grown ass man whose hands are working perfectly and can prepare his own food." He hissed, opening the door to Aleksandr's right and stepping into his study. "A grown ass man who could just get a wife like he is supposed to."

Aleksandr just rolled his eyes as he followed in behind his father.

The man was never going to let go of that issue, was he?

"Dad, can you please just drop it? Now is not the time." Aleksandr said with a slight frown. "Besides, I have something for you." He said, praying his father would just do as he asked and forget about that damn topic.

Igor looked at him, then shrugged, before gesturing for him to sit down. Which they both did.

Aleksandr placed the file on the desk in front of the father, before sitting back and pointing at it. "I was able to convince George to agree to the deal we were proposing. It wasn't an easy fit, and we settled at thirty-five percent for him. With his request that he be able to input from time to time as he seemed really into the project." He explained, then went further to give details, while his father looked through the file.

Aleksandr finished speaking and just sat there, tapping his fingers on his thigh, while he waited for his father to give his feedback on what he thought about it.

If there was one thing they both agreed on, and had the same style in, it was business. He had made sure to instill in his son everything he knew about business, and Aleksandr had improved over the years, even achieving more than his father did. Something that Igor was proud of, but would never ever admit to.

"I have to give it to you on this one, son. The last time I did business with George, it was hell to get him to agree to a forty-five percent profit. It makes me wonder if the means you used to get him to sign this was pure." He said. It was a bad joke, and would have actually been funnier, coming from someone else, than it had been coming from Igor, but Aleksandr chuckled anyways, before they went on to discuss more about the project, with Igor keeping a straight face all the while.

It was a wonder Vivienne was able to stand him. Although his father was a completely different person to his wife.

But still...

An hour of intense deliberation, and not even a glass of water, later, they were done, and Aleksandr stood up to leave, when his father cleared his throat, telling him they were not done yet.

Aleksandr turned around to face his father with a frown, wondering what else there was to discuss, as they had already agreed on a conclusion.

Igor stood with his hands in his pockets, facing his son.

"I did tell you that I had something to discuss with you earlier, when you called." He said,along Aleksandr raise his brows as he remembered.

Yeah...he had wondered about that, but had been quick to forget when he had arrived.

He nodded. "Oh...yeah...I do. What is it about?" He asked, hoping his father wasn't going to bring up something that would only serve in annoying the jell out of him.

He had been happy that he was about to escape without them having any kind of issue to quarrel about. And his mind had already been on the little surprise Vivienne had in his car.

Igor shrugged. "There is a charity ball being held this weekend, and I would love for you to attend with me," Igor said.

There was a moment or two of silence, as Aleksandr wondered what was so special about a ball that had his father asking so nicely. It was very common to go to charity balls and stuff like that, so what made this one different?

Aleksandr nodded, chuckling slightly. "Uhh...okay. I will be there." He said, looking at his father weirdly. There was an expression on his face that was unreadable, but made him wonder what he was hiding. But knowing his father, it was best not to ask, and just let him speak if he wanted to, so he waited.

And Igor did speak. Although his words shocked the hell out of Aleksandr.

"Well, of course you will. But that's not all. The ball is being hosted by Viktor Ivanov, so....be prepared." His tone was casual, which surprised Aleksandr the more.

"Are you talking about the same Victor Ivanov I know, or is it someone else?" Aleksandr asked, just to be sure.

"It's the same one, Aleksandr. The very same one. And I want to propose a deal he would not say no to."

Those words followed Aleksandr down to his house, and even the tantalizing aroma of the carefully packaged food next to him was not enough to deter him.

What was his father cooking this time?

He could remember vividly how many times his father had come home in such a foul mood, due to one encounter with Viktor or the other. And be it physical, or not physically, they had encountered each other quite a number of times as Viktor had made it his life mission, to, sweet talk deals away from his father's hands.

Viktor Ivanov.

The sworn business rival of the Romanovs. The only thing the two families didn't have in common, was the gender of their children. Because while the Romanovs were all male, the Ivanovs were all female.

And even if Aleksandr, in his own opinion, didn't care about why it should matter, he did understand why it did.

The media had, over the years, speculated on who among the two daughters would inherit their father's vast business. Not because they could control it, but because they wondered who the lucky son-in-law would be.

Left to Aleksandr, he knew that there had to be one among the two girls who could handle the business well, without the help of a man. But then again, if there was one thing the two families had in common, it was the fact that they were traditional to the 't', and took things like that very seriously.

The wide gates to his huge house opened, and Aleksandr drove inside, finally taking his mind off the issue his father had brought up.

There was good food next to him, and he wasn't planning on letting it go to waste, over some stupid rivalry.

He parked his car in the equally huge garage, switched off the engine and stepped out of the car. Walking around to the passenger's side to retrieve his goodies.

Now that he had it in his hands, the aroma intensified.

Was that blueberry pie he smelled?

"Oh, Vivienne, you are the absolute angel." He said mostly to himself.

It was no news that Vivienne had actually gotten to his father's heart through his stomach, as the renowned chef had first met Igor after he had requested the services of her company, for a company dinner.

Aleksandr shook his head, chuckling as he made his way into his house.