The Heiress and the Hitman

Chapter Eleven: UNWANTED VOWS

My heart stutters at Audrey’s words, sharp as broken glass.

The room spins for a second. I wrench myself out of Nicolai’s arms before the embarrassment can fully sink in. My legs still feel like liquid from everything that happened minutes ago. His taste is still on my tongue, his c*m still warm in my throat. I force my hands to function and tug the thin straps of my nightgown back over my shoulders, smoothing the silk down over my breasts and hips with trembling fingers. The fabric clings to sweat damp skin; I feel obscene and exposed, like a child caught in the worst possible act.

Nicolai doesn’t speak. He simply steps back one pace, reaches down, and buckles his belt with one-handed efficiency. The metallic clink echoes in the sudden, suffocating silence.

I clear my throat, voice hoarse. "This is Nicolai. My… new Bodyguard.” My eyes meet Nicolai's puzzled stare.

The word tastes foreign, wrong. Nicolai’s head jerks toward me. Surprise cracks across his features. His gaze flicks between us, same face, same dark hair... The only difference is the cold fury in Audrey’s eyes.

“You’re twins,” he says quietly, almost to himself. Then louder, disbelieving: “You have a twin.”

Audrey doesn’t acknowledge him. Her gaze rakes over his bare chest, noting the faint red scratches I left on his skin, the way his pants still sit low on his hips. Then she looks at me with pure disgust.

“Charming,” she says, voice flat and arctic. “Get decent. We need to talk, Aria. Alone.”

I don’t argue instead I grab her wrist and pull her toward the guest suite down the hall. Nicolai doesn’t follow, but I feel the weight of his stare burning into my back the entire way.

The door clicks shut. I release her wrist like it scorched me.

Audrey rounds on me immediately.

“Really, Aria?” Disgust curls her lip. “I see you've gotten tired of Marcus already? Is this some sort of ploy to get his attention or is this new f**k toy of yours just the latest shiny distraction while you drink yourself into oblivion?”

Heat floods my cheeks. “Mind your own damn business, Audrey.”

She lets out a short, mirthless laugh. “You've made it my business now! Marcus called me at two in the morning in absolute hysterics. Said the lockdown was triggered, you weren’t answering your phone, and he was convinced an intruder was trapped in here with you." Her eyes turn cold.

"I told him it was probably just you up to your usual drunken stunts, but he wouldn’t listen. So I had to call in security experts to override the system remotely. Even had to drag myself out of a very important late-night meeting and come all the way across the city! so Marcus could sleep without imagining you bleeding out on the floor.”

I stare at her, surprised.“You could’ve just sent the team. You didn’t have to come yourself.”

She hesitates. “Well maybe I was worried you’d gotten drunk and hurt yourself... Again.” The words are clipped, almost tender for half a second—then the mask slams back down. “Silly me.”

That flicker of concern hits me harder than it should. My throat tightens. “Audrey—”

“Don’t.” She cuts me off. Her cold gaze returning. “That’s not even why I really came. I wanted to ensure you're on board with the announcement."

Her eyes narrow at my confused expression. "You didn't get my texts? Was your f**k toy really that distracting?"

"The Lockdown interferes with service up here." I blurt out, My face heats up.

She sighs and continues. "Mother made an announcement at the end of the gala last night after you ran off as usual. I tried calling you. Multiple times. You didn’t pick up.”

My stomach drops. I brace myself. “What announcement?”

I can already picture it. Audrey finally being named as CEO of Hudson Holdings, the throne she’s been clawing towards since we were children.

Instead she says, cool as ice. “Your engagement... To Marcus.”

The room tilts.

“Wait—what?”

Audrey shrugs, her fingers twirling her hair absentmindedly like she didn't just deliver groundbreaking news. “Mother announced it to the entire ballroom. You should've been there to witness it. I had to step in last minute and pretend to be you of course. It's nearly impossible to tell the difference between us so I took the engagement photos on your behalf. You're welcome."

She gives me a smug smile, ignoring my surprised expression. "It was a bit hard to get your emerald dress so I could look the part but Jenna was really efficient. It was spectacular, Aria! Champagne toast, standing ovation, photographers everywhere.... It’s already viral. The press is going crazy. This is perfect PR for Hudson Holdings right now.” she has an almost dreamy expression on her face.

“No.” I shake my head violently. “No... No! Why would Mother—she didn’t ask me. She can’t just—”

“You don’t have a choice.” Audrey deadpans.

“I don’t want to marry Marcus!”

“You don’t get to want things anymore! Aria.” She steps closer, voice dropping. “Listen... We need this. The company needs this!" Her eyes grow weary and her mask slips again.

"Hudson Holdings is on the verge of collapse. We’re drowning in debt. Father—" her voice grows hoarse "Father’s death sent the stocks plummeting. We’re weeks...maybe days away from liquidation if we don’t merge with Greystone Inc. And Marcus’s family owns Greystone. Your marriage to him would seal the merger and save everything.”

I feel the air leave my lungs. “What… how did this happen? We were fine. The numbers were—”

“We weren't! Everything collapsed with Father's death." She snaps. "You just didn't pay attention.. Too swallowed up by grief to do anything useful!"

Betrayal burns hot behind my eyes. “You all decided this without me. Behind my back! Without my consent? You, Mother, Marcus. You planned my entire future like I’m some… bargaining chip.”

Audrey shrugs, unapologetic. “Marcus insisted. He’s in love with you. Mother saw the opening and took it. I would’ve married him myself to save the company. It should've been me as I'm clearly the better choice... But Marcus only has eyes for you. As always." Her tone turns bitter. "Clearly he has poor taste in women."

I scoff. "Wouldn't that be a slight to you as well since we're literally identical twins?"

She arches a perfect brow, her voice dripping with condescension. "I wasn't talking about appearances, Sister. I was talking about substance. I honestly don't see what Marcus sees in you. You're definitely less of a woman."

"Well that's unfortunate." I say icily. " I don't even want Marcus. He's just another 'f**k toy'. I'd tell you to have him but he doesn't want you now, does he?" I watch her grind her teeth in frustration.

"Just marry him and get it over with! Our claim as heirs is at stake. Without that merger we could lose the company and everything—"

"You mean...Your claim as heir is at stake... You're the true heir afterall, I'm not even a spare. I'm sure sometimes you wish I didn't even exist. Mother's even told that fact to my face several times! Now you come to me to play sacrificial lamb?"

Her eyes widen slightly, surprise replacing fury for a split second. "Mother said that? I didn't—" she sighs, her mask slipping back in place. "It doesn't matter Aria."

“I’m telling you to do your duty for once.” Her voice hardens. “And get rid of your new f**k toy before Marcus notices him." She hesitates then her voice softens. "People like us don’t marry for love. Aria. We marry for power, Status... Survival. He’s a distraction. A warm body. Sure, you can keep him around... in the bedroom so far you keep him out of the boardroom. Fantasies don't belong in the real world."

She gives me a cold glare. “The company was Father’s sweat and blood... We don’t let it die because you’re too busy grieving and screwing strangers!”

Something inside me fractures.

I sink to the floor, knees hitting the carpet. My vision blurs. “Get out... Now!”

Audrey stares down at me. Her face an unmoving icy mask. “Be useful for once in your life. Marry Marcus and save the company.”

“Get. Out!" I snap.

She turns on her heel, heading towards the door with deadly calm. At the door she pauses, voice like frost.

“And Aria? The next time you drink... don’t make me come back here at three a.m.”

The door clicks shut.

Silence crashes in and memories flood me—Father’s warm laugh, his hand ruffling my hair, the way he’d call me his “little shadow.” The gunshot. The blood. The emptiness... Now everything was falling apart.

Tears come hard and fast. I curl into myself, sobbing. Quiet at first, then ragged, ugly sounds I can’t control. I hear soft footsteps behind me.

Then strong arms slide under me.

Nicolai lifts me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest as he sinks to the floor with his back to the wall. His good arm wraps around my shoulders. He doesn’t speak. Just holds me. One hand strokes slow, soothing circles down my spine and his heartbeat is steady against my cheek, a low, grounding rhythm.

I don’t know how long we stay like that.

My sobs eventually slow to hiccups. I lift my head, cheeks wet, eyes swollen. He's still here...Nicolai. My Assassin. What do I do now?

The shutters are up and the steel panels that should have kept us locked in for hours are retracted.

The lockdown is over.

I could walk out right now. Take the elevator down. Find the night guards and tell them an armed intruder forced his way in. I could have them cuff him and haul him away in the pre-dawn dark.

He’d be gone... confused and injured with no memory of who he was or what he did. Exactly what I planned from the beginning. I look up and his storm-grey eyes meet mine. Soft, patient... Waiting.

I open my mouth to speak.

But nothing comes out.

Because the truth clawing at my chest is louder than any plan.

I don’t know if I can turn him in.

I don’t know if I want to...