REUNITED
1069 Words
“We meet again, Ms Greene,” Vladimir said giddily, as he walked into the lounge area together with Andrei.
The look on the older woman's face as she spun around to face him, told him immediately that she didn't return his feelings.
“Why am I here, Vladimir? Have you not won enough by taking my granddaughter from me?” She lambasted him.
“Hold on now, Ms Greene. There are no winners or losers here. I thought you knew this already?”
“No, I don't. I never did. I never will. The only thing that has been true is the stupid pact between your father and Ivy's father.”
“You mean your son?”
She shivered exaggeratedly. “unfortunately.”
Vladimir and Andrei exchanged quick glances, both trying not to chuckle out in amusement.
He remembered hearing one time about how much the Greene matriarch abhorred her own son. Seeing it on display at the moment was quite fascinating.
“You're here now, Ms Greene.”
“Again, unfortunately. Tell me why. And don't give me that bullshit reason about my granddaughter needing me. The Ivy I know doesn't need anyone to survive. Not even me.”
He lifted a wrinkled brow. “So you knew your granddaughter didn't really need you? Why didn't you refuse to go with Hedeon then?”
“And pass up an opportunity to see my granddaughter? Heaven forbid. Still, I want to know what the truth is.”
“Right, you have the right to know. I'll keep it a buck with you. The Gambino's have it out for you. Their plan was to abduct you to force my hand into releasing their granddaughter who is in my custody.”
Sheila chuckled dryly, shaking her head from side to side. “So is this like your thing? Taking girls away from their families? Don't you see how chauvinistic you are?”
“Can I at least explain why I did what I–”
“Don't bother,” she cut him off with a dismissive hand sway. “Take me to my granddaughter. I can't stand being in the same space with you anymore.”
Vladimir looked at Andrei, who returned his gaze with a look that communicated for him to be calm.
“Ms Greene,” he stepped forward, a charming smile on his face, and his hand outstretched, proposing a handshake. “We haven't officially met. I'm Andrei–”
“I don't care who you are. I just want to be taken to my granddaughter.” She shoved past him, leaving his hand hanging.
Andrei looked up at Vladimir who gave him the, I told you, look.
“I'll handle it,” he mouthed to him next, and then hurried ahead of Sheila.
Opening the door for her, he stepped aside for her to go through.
“Bloody barbarians,” she muttered under her breath, as she crossed through the door.
Vladimir turned to communicate with Andrei, who used a gesture of his hand moving from his chest downward, telling him to remain calm.
He gave him a thumbs up, before moving away to catch up with the older woman who was walking as if she knew where she was headed.
As they walked through the hallway, Sheila thought about her very first time in the Bratva villa.
Contrary to what many people might think, her first time there wasn't on the night her precious princess was tied to the brutal beast.
There was a time she had met up with Aleksandr Bratva, the grand patron of the Bratva family.
She had fearlessly walked into the villa to question him about the whereabouts of her husband, because he was allegedly the last person to see him after they met on a negotiation table.
That memory sent shivers down her spine, because it took her back to a time when she thought men were worth something.
Not anymore. Not ever again.
“We're here, Ms Sheila,” Vladimir called to the woman who had walked ahead.
Sheila broke out of her thoughts, turned around, and returned to his side.
“Hmmm,” she studied the position of her granddaughter's room. “Alright.”
Vladimir knocked, and the door opened almost immediately.
Ivy's eyes fell on her grandmother first, immediately widening almost to the back.
“My princess!” Sheila Greene almost picked her from ground up in a warm embrace.
“You're really here, Grandma. You're here!” Ivy damn near burst into tears as she hugged her grandmother like she was afraid letting go would mean complete separation.
Vladimir watched their interaction, observing some interesting details.
When they eventually broke apart, Ivy pulled her grandmother into the room.
He nodded, realising he had been dismissed. But just before he could fully turn around to leave, he felt a hand on his arm. That hand he had become all too familiar with.
Slowly, he turned around to face Ivy.
“Is there a problem?” He asked.
She withdrew her hold from him, and avoided his gaze. “I appreciate my grandma being brought to me in one piece. I hope your intentions for bringing her here are as genuine as you've said they are.”
Vladimir sighed on the inside, but on a second thought, voiced his thoughts. “You could just say thank you, you know? Won't take anything from you.”
Her head went up, so her gaze was fully on him now. She thought briefly about what he said, and came to the realisation that he was probably partially right.
Would it be so bad to properly show him gratitude? She wondered in her heart.
But just as her lips slid apart to give him what he wanted, her grandmother's voice interrupted.
“Princess? Come here please.”
A flash of hesitation crossed her eyes, but she easily dismissed it, turned around, and shut the door behind her.
Vladimir sighed, but this time, there was a smile on his face.
She was a challenge that he had decided to take it upon himself to overcome.
Whatever it would take, he was ready to do just to drive her to a place she would willingly come to him, over and over again.
“You'll appreciate me, princess. By God, you will,” he muttered under his breath as he turned around, and walked away.
- Writer
