CHAPTER 004
1307 Words
CHAPTER 004
Looking out the window from this plush penthouse, Elitsa Petrova adjusted the cuff of her silk blouse. She looked out, past the glittering city skyline, but the city did not make her feel beautiful as it do a normal person, it only exacerbated the cold emptiness of her life. It should have seemed like a dream to most to be married to Stanislav “Stani” Yanev, a billionaire CEO described as one of the Alcantar’s most powerful men. Elitsa viewed it as a very gilded cage.
It wasn’t love that built their marriage. But it was a transaction — arranged by their families to combine their fortunes, and to cement business ties. From the first moment she walked down the aisle it was clear to Elitsa, she wasn’t a bride, she was a pawn in a much larger game.
He was a man of few words and even fewer emotions. He was in meetings all day and buried in work all night, leaving no room for anything—or anyone—else. Their talks were short and clinical as if two strangers on the same street had nodded in passing.
At first Elitsa had tried to break through his icy demeanor. However, no attempt went any further than indifference, and she stopped trying after some time had passed.
---
Elitsa was at yet another formal dinner with Stani that night. It was the place where the city’s elite gathered, the biggest business moguls, politicians and socialites in the city, all dying to be seen near the elusive billionaire. People moved out of her way as Elitsa moved through the crowd, with practiced ease offering polite smiles and horrible small talk.
Across the room Stani stood, surrounded by a group of men in tailored suites. His jaw line was sharp and his gaze piercing, a powerful businessman every bit, but there was something else in his expression that was more than ambition, more than just simple ambitiousness.
A voice interrupted her thoughts, “Elitsa.” She turned to see younger brother Nikolai coming. He stood out of place among an ocean of tailored suits and askew tie, his face lined with worry.
She forced a smile and said, “Nikolai.” “What are you doing here?”
'He sat up urgently, said, “I need to talk to you.”' “It’s about the family business,” he said.
Elitsa frowned. Nikolai and her had always had tension over the Petrova family’s business empire. When marrying Stani, however, she had backed away from it, choosing instead to be his wife. Nikolai’s tone made her pause, however.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
He looked around nervously and said, “It’s not safe to talk here.” “Can we meet tomorrow?”
Her unease grew and Elitsa nodded.
---
The next day Elitsa found Nikolai in a quiet café on the edge of the city. His fingers tapped at the table more anxiously than the night before, and he appeared even more stressed.
She sat down and said, “Nikolai, you’re scaring me.” “What’s going on?”
He lowered his voice and leaned in. I’ve been going through some of our company’s recent deals, and something doesn’t seem right. There are connections to... criminal networks,” and large sums of money are being moved through offshore accounts.
Elitsa’s stomach dropped. “What kind of criminal networks were they?”
Nikolai hesitated. “I don’t have all the details yet, but there’s a name that keeps coming up: Deyan.”
Elitsa froze. Deyan—the infamous mafia leader, whose name caused fear even in the most powerful people in the city—she had heard of him.
Why would Deyan be involved in our family business?' she whispered.
Nikolai admitted, “I don’t know.” “I think Stani knows more than he’s telling us though.”
---
Elitsa couldn’t get that conversation out of her head that evening. Across the dining table she watched Stani, whose expression remained unreadable as ever.
Quietly, she said, carefully, “Stani.” “Do you know anything about Deyan?”
Stani’s fork stopped mid air, but his face didn’t change. “Why do you ask?”
Her heart pounding, she said, “I heard his name mentioned in connection with the family business.” “I just want to know what’s happening.”
Stani put his fork down and leaned back in his chair, looking at her. “Elitsa, you don’t need to know things about my world.” It’s better that way.”
“But this is your world,” she said. “Whether you like it or not.”
Stani said nothing for a moment. He stood and walked to the window, his back to her. Finally, he said, “Deyan is dangerous.” “If he’s involved with your family’s business, it’s because someone made a mistake.”
Elitsa stood as well. “Then we need to fix it.”
His expression was hard, Stani turned to her. “Stay out of it, Elitsa. This isn’t a game.”
---
In another part of the city, Deyan was also having to manage his own encroaching threat. Kiril’s werewolf pack had been encroaching on his operations, disrupting his carefully maintained control, reports had come in.
His mind running he paced his office. This had always been something he liked to keep clear of; the supernatural world was something too chaotic, too unpredictable. Now, however, he had no choice but to face it.
One of his lieutenants entered the room and said, “Boss.” 'We have eyes on some of Kiril's people.' “They’re coming closer to our territory.”
Deyan nodded, his face grim. “Keep watch. I want to know everything they do.”
---
At the penthouse, Stani’s warning wasn’t going to stop Elitsa. She started to root through financial records, hell bent on uncovering the truth. The more she looked however, the more uneasy she became, transactions that linked to offshore accounts, payments to companies that seemingly served no purpose, and names she didn’t recognize.
One name stood out: Shadow Moon Enterprises.
Elitsa’s breath caught. She had heard whispers of Shadow Moon before, a front for Kiril’s pack. She realized and got a chill down her spine. Deyan’s mafia, Stani’s world and her family’s business were intertwined in ways she couldn’t still understand.
Her mind raced, and she closed the laptop. This time she had to go up against Stani again, but this time she needed more information.
---
The following day, it was back to the café, and Elitsa met Nikolai, and the table was empty. Her anxiety grew by the minute and she waited. A sense of dread when she finally left.
Stani came home earlier than usual later that evening. His face was tense, but his usual composure was cracked just enough for Elitsa to notice.
She immediately asked, “Where’s Nikolai?”
Stani’s jaw tightened. “He’s safe. For now.”
“What does that mean?” 'Elitsa stepped closer ad demanded.'
Stani said sharply, “It means he’s gotten himself involved in things he doesn’t understand.” “And now, so have you.”
Elitsa’s eyes widened. “Are you threatening me?”
Stani said, his voice softening slightly, “No.” “I’m trying to protect you. You need to stop digging, Elitsa, but. You’re playing with fire.”
---
Elitsa was awake that night; the weight of her discoveries seated her. Her own husband was the center of a web she was caught in: secrets. But one thing was clear: she couldn’t stay silent.
As the lines between love, loyalty, and survival blurred, she found herself asking:
**What lengths would you go to when the truth is a threat to everything?**
- Writer
