Bound by blood

Chapter five

Roman’s POV

“I brought her here as a peace offering” I shifted my weight in the chair, my cane resting lightly against my leg as his words kept on ringing in my head. “I don’t think we were ever at war, Diego” what I just needed was an account of the gold mines and what happened to the money obtained from the sales” I said tapping my feet impatiently on the floor. “Surely, you cannot reject a peace offering” he said

My lips tweaked at the sound of hearing him call his daughter a peace offering. “If I should accept your peace offering, what would you suggest I do with her?” I asked, my voice low but firm. He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth to speak “I made an agreement with your father before he passed, he knew about the bad investment with the gold mines and everything that took place…”

My jaws clenched “bad investment?” I asked slowly “did you just say bad investment?” He nodded “yeah” he replied “he gave me some time to pull the money together, talk to the people involved but none of that happened because your father had them killed” he said slowly, sounding pathetic. I don’t believe a word he is saying but if he wants to go with this narrative then so be it. I cracked my knuckles, shifting my gaze away from him. I pressed a bell alerting Mikael that his attention was needed. He walked in seconds later “let the young lady in” I ordered. My eyes rested on Diego one more time and I could swear that all I saw was the distinctive signs of lies and even manipulation.The door swung open again, revealing Diego’s daughter and Mikael. I gestured for him to leave.

“Take a seat” I said, pointing at the chair nearest to her father. I watched as her body stilled for a bit before she occupied the spot. She looked nothing like her father. Her lips curled to the side, she had beautiful pink lips and the nicest shade of blue eyes.

I hated the fact that she was ignoring my gaze, making me want to call for her attention and press my skin into hers.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence “what is the name?” I asked and from the corner of my eyes, I could see Diego’s attempt to speak but I shut him up with my fingers.

Bianca’s POV

“Elena” I said The treacherous sound of my voice made my insides twist. I was not Elena, neither have I seen the supposed twin who I was acting replacement for. I hate it here and that was a fact. “Elena,” he repeated. His eyes flickered with a tinge of amusement but there was something about the way he looked that wanted him to keep on talking “you can call me Roman” he said, a smile spreading across his lips.I looked down to my palms, they had already began to sweat. My body shifted in the chair as I feel the burning gaze of Diego, he was probably waiting for me to slip out my real name and then do something that could write off my death sentence.

“How old are you?” Roman asked slowly, his words seemed a little kinder, not what I imagined considering the fact that Diego said he is the most dangerous man in the city. I hesitated a bit before the words rolled out of my tongue “nineteen” I said barely above a whisper. He nodded his head and then shifted his gaze away from me “she most look like her mother” he said in a firm tone, different from the one he had used on me. “Yeah, she does,” Diego agreed, sparing me a glance. I feel myself scowl internally at the nasty grin he gave to me, in an attempt to look like a loving father. Roman cleared his throat again “I will accept your offer, but I am not my father” he said.

Roman’s POV

Diego shifted in his chair uncomfortably, he knew that there would be conditions. Diego isn’t a kind man, he is not one to go around offering peace offerings even after a mess up. I have a strong feeling this might not be his daughter or he brought the girl here to get information. She looks a little bit malnourished. So, there is a high percent chance that this might not be his daughter and he probably doesn’t care about her well-being but I am going to test the waters to see his reaction.

“I am not my father…” I repeated, my gaze rested on Diego’s face one more time “I need the gold at the end of the year and if I do not see it, I will personally kill your peace offering.” I said slowly, my voice firm. Diego’s lips twitched to the side, his reaction was as I expected. A typical situation of nonchalance, he did not even spare his supposed daughter a glance but I watched her look at him with fear in her eyes.“You’ll get the gold” he smirked. I leaned forward, grabbing my cane “well, since we all understand ourselves… I will leave you to say your final goodbye” I said lifting myself from the chair “…and this is not a marriage alliance, she will work for the debt you owe until you return the gold and if you don’t, you already know how it would end” I said walking to the exit.

Bianca’s POV

Acting maid is way more better than playing wife to a man I barely know. So, I smile internally at my new luck. Diego may not like this arrangement but I bet he is happy that his precious Elena is not the one at the end of the stick right now. “Do not think it is all over” he said, cutting through my thoughts and making me wince at the sound of his voice. “It is not?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He grabbed my palms and then inserted a bottle in my hands “you have to put this in his food, so you get to leave here alive”. I feel my insides twist. I hate it here.