Desire and Diamonds

TheVolkovs

Viktor was a man of sharp intellect and an even sharper tongue. He was not one for public displays of wealth, though the family’s immense fortune was impossible to hide. He rarely appeared at social gatherings, preferring to operate from the shadows, pulling strings with an efficiency that both fascinated and terrified his peers.

To the outside world, the Volkovs’ were an enigma. Their wealth was undeniable, their influence stretch across all the country and abroad, but whispers followed them wherever they went. No one could pinpoint the source of the rumors, but they were persistent: stories of underhanded dealings, connections to shadowy figures, and fortunes built not only on legitimate businesses but also on secrets too dangerous to uncover.

Viktor never addressed the rumors, which only added to their allure. “Let them talk,” he was known to say when questioned about the family’s reputation. “Wealth attracts envy; power attracts fear.” Viktor’s elder brother Jamie was said to have died from natural causes although no one can really tell the cause of his death in the public, it’s said that a rival billionaire family called the Dragomir’s might be related to his death but no one can say for sure.

Despite Alex being the elder one, Luca was more popular among their business associates due to his charisma and his business minded nature. Since he entered the business fully at the age of 21, the business has blossomed and more lucrative deals has been signed with him as the frontman. He has been busy with Shea his secretary who has been planning on the DGMIL 1.0 signifying the empire’s first delve into the world of Art and jewelries. The empire has already secured lucrative deals with agencies and exporters and are ready to see what innovative artists have to offer in their premiere gala.

Anna was about to retire to bed, Elena has just left and she has time to bury herself in books and simply enjoy the night before she sleeps off. Other than being a skilled artist, she owns a jewellery line - well, more like a jewellery shop-. Proceeds from her store are only enough for her to live a low income lifestyle. She left an abusive marriage two years ago and most of her finances went into resolving her divorce with her previous husband. Her husband was a well to do man who was also in the art industry but owns a well established jewellery line - at least so he claimed- he inherited from his parents. She has tasted wealth, now she has to get used to her present life. Elena was the only one who stayed, financially and emotionally she has been present but there’s only so much she can do. Her rent is expiring soon and she need money, fast.

The sound of her phone vibrating on the counter pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw the name of her longtime friend, Camille. “Anna, darling, you have to come to the Volkovs gala this year,” Camille’s voice bubbled through the phone. “It’s not just about the art anymore. Trust me, there will be some… quite interesting people there. And I heard Viktor’s sons will be in attendance.” Anna’s stomach twisted at the mention of Viktor, the notorious mafia kingpin whose name was spoken in whispers and with fear. He was a figure she had tried to avoid for as long as she could. The mere mention of him brought memories of the dark parts of her past, the ones she had worked so hard to escape. But Camille wasn’t wrong. The gala was an important event, and it wasn’t every day that Viktor’s sons, Alex and Luca, would make an appearance. And now it’s two people on her neck pressuring her to be present, Elena and now Camille.

“Camille, you know how I feel about that world,” Anna replied, her voice cautious. “I’m not getting involved in any of their games. We know the rumour behind the Volkovs”

“Oh, come on. It’s just a gala. No strings attached. Besides, Viktor’s sons are both... quite the catch. And maybe this will be the moment to finally introduce you to the right people. You can’t keep hiding forever, Anna. You’re too pretty a flower to be covered by bare hands”. Camille can never change, she thought. She’s the life of the party and can’t just accept that everybody can’t be social like her. But to be honest, Anna is pretty, at least that’s what most people around her says. She had a very brief modelling career before she went to pursue an interest in other things, she was a catch of the eyes of both males and females growing up but that was then, she’s more like a shadow of herself now.

Anna didn’t answer immediately. Camille’s words lingered in the air. She had worked so hard to build a life that was separate from everything Viktor and his family represented. Her last husband was an abusive drug dealer and if the rumors about the Volkovs were true, well she did not want to think about it. The last thing she wanted was to be tied to them in any way. But she also couldn’t deny that the gala presented an opportunity she couldn’t ignore. If she wanted her designs to be taken seriously, she needed to make connections, and this was the place to do it.

“Fine,” Anna said, her voice firm. “But I’m only going to focus on the art. No personal drama.”

Camille laughed lightly. “We’ll see about that. I’ll save a seat for you, darling. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

It’s now two people inviting her to the same gala right in the heart of the country, it can’t be a coincidence, can it? As Anna ended the call, she sighed deeply. She hadn’t made a decision yet, but one thing was certain—whether she wanted it or not, she was about to step into a world where secrets and power would collide in ways she couldn’t yet comprehend.

Later that night, Anna sat by her bedroom window, staring out at the dimly lit streets. The gala invitation that Elena dropped lay on the small table beside her, untouched. A glass of wine sat next to it, still full. Her thoughts were not on the event but on the memories it stirred.