The Russian translation will be at the end.

•••

"Okay, now Vera you need to sign these papers."

Her mouth went dry and her heart thumped inside her chest. Her father slid the papers across the coffee table and in front of her landed the dread.

"Vera Borisova married off to Rurik Kiselev for an exchange of 10 million Russian rubles."

Her eyes scraped over the highlight of the page written in Russian as it made a short, shaky breath tumble out of her.

"Vera, milyy, please sign them." Her mother's sweet voice interrupted her trance as she gave her a side glance and nodded shortly.

She didn't want to seem too panicked so she did what she would do. Grabbing the pen right beside the papers, Vera signed herself away. What more could be done?

As her father took the papers from her, she couldn't hear anything. Her mind felt black as she was escorted out of the room by her precious mother.

Rurik carefully and attentively observed her body language, which was fraught with fear and trepidation. This caused a myriad of questions to appear in his mind, as he tried to decipher the source of her anxiety.

Maybe it was the fact she was getting married to a stranger but he had heard she agreed to this yet it looked like the other way around.

Meanwhile, Vera's mind was awash with a multitude of thoughts, each one vying for her attention. Despite the chaos, she maintained her composure, knowing that she could handle anything that came her way.

"Vera, I want you to know that if I could change things..." Her mother started as she held her daughter's hand while they were standing in the hallway. "I would. If I could help you run away, I would. But your father is ruthless. He won't let Anya live and would probably marry her off too."

Vera sighed and smiled sadly toward her mother. "It's okay. I knew at some point he'd do something for his own gain. But don't worry, this doesn't mean I'm giving up," she mumbled and tried not to make her mother more anxious.

She radiated strength and positivity, masking her own vulnerability to ensure the happiness of those around her. By putting others first, she cemented her reputation as a shining example of selflessness and sweetness.

"Mat' I will be okay. I know you have done everything you could." Just as she finished talking, Vera heard her sister approaching both women.

"Otets said the car is ready for you Vera," Her sister announced. "Your husband will reach you once you get seated."

Vera took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and shared a firm goodbye hug with her family. She refused to let the tears fall from her eyes and remained strong. The moment was so devastating that even the sky seemed to feel it, turning the weather dark and gloomy.

"I'll call you guys once I reach. I love you." Anya and her mother nodded while they strived to the fullest content to not let themselves pull her back with them but nothing could be done.

Vera stepped outside as the wind whipped around her causing her to shiver. But with a quick adjustment of her coat, she strode towards the awaiting fleet of cars, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.

An intimidating bodyguard opened the car door for her and she gave him a nod, stepping inside the huge vehicle. The doors closed as she sighed and peeked outside.

After a few minutes of staring outside, the car door to the right opened, and in entered an exhausted-looking Rurik who swiftly took a glance toward Vera.

"Vodit' mashinu," He ordered the driver who nodded immediately as he started using his phone.

"Da, nachal'nik," The driver replied with a scared tone, making Vera wonder how cruel the man was.

Despite her eagerness to talk to Rurik, Vera noticed that he seemed uninterested. Throughout the car ride, he was glued to his phone, texting away, while she decided to stare out of the window.

As the journey ended, they arrived at a beautiful mansion while the large gates opened and entered the SUV. The guards opened the door for Vera and they both stepped outside and waited for their luggage.

"Dobryy den', shef i gospozha Kiseleva," One of the maids greeted both Vera and Rurik. Vera greeted her back while Rurik just nodded and went inside the mansion. Rude, thought Vera as she rolled her eyes and followed him inside.

The mansion's interior was just as captivating as it was on the outside. As the doors were opened by the guards, the sight inside was something to see.

The staircase ascended majestically in a sweeping curve, adorned with gleaming polished wood, creating an elegant contrast against the backdrop of marble. Each step seemed meticulously crafted, showcasing the finest craftsmanship and attention to detail. A shiny chandelier hung from the ceiling, highlighting the large area underneath.

Vera's eyes were fixated on the sight before her, and without hesitation, she exclaimed "Wow!" Her breath was momentarily caught in her throat as she felt a rush of amazement and wonder.

Rurik seemed not surprised by her reaction as he followed himself inside, Vera too decided to leave with him but instead of using the miraculous stairs, he left towards an elevator.

He entered inside while Vera did the same. Silence hung in the quiet space as she glanced at him while his eyes were glued in front of him as if he enjoyed the solitude.

A few seconds later, the elevator doors slid apart and revealed another breathtaking floor, lined with golden-striped walls and different kinds of paintings.

As Rurik was about to enter his room, he noticed Vera following him while also observing everything around her in detail.

"There is your room, make yourself at home," He stated in his deep husky Russian accent as Vera looked at him and then nodded. His eyes peer at her for a moment, their gazes lock for an intense second before he clears his throat.

"I will see you in the morning."

"We won't sleep....together?" She asked hesitantly as he looked back at her.

"No." Was his cold response making her sigh in relief.

Vera pressed her hand against her chest while he entered his room, as a sudden breath left her parted lips. Glancing toward the room Rurik had pointed, her feet took her there and she clicked open the door.

The room was stunning. A queen-sized bed lay in the middle while a rectangle-shaped window was stuck on the wall beside the bed. She was in shock, she had her own room along with many useful essentials. Her heart was thankful, in a way, he hadn't acted like her father just yet.

After taking off her dress, she took a shower in the luxurious bathroom and then dried off, deciding to just sleep now.

She took off the quilt and lay inside the bed, placing her head on the soft pillow. Her own room wasn't this comfortable and she was loving this.

No matter how content everything seemed to be, she refused to forget how she ended up here. She never wanted Rurik as her husband, especially since Vera was sold to him.

....

*Bang*

The sound of a gunshot resonated in the huge mansion, its deadly echo caught Vera's ears. She sat up in bed with a racing heart, her body tensed with shallow breathing as a knot formed in the pit of her stomach.

"God save me." 

A/N 

Milyy - Darling

Vodit' mashinu - Drive

Da, nachal'nik - Yes Boss

Dobryy den', shef i gospozha Kiseleva - Good evening boss and Mrs. Kiseleva

Do you like Rurik's character? And what do you think will happen next? 

Okay so a fact about this series. This is inspired by Neva Altaj's series "Perfectly imperfect series" but dw, I'm not copying it. You guys should definitely check it out! It's available on Kindle and in paperback version too.

I hope you enjoyed!

6+ votes for the third part, I'll try posting earlier this time. 

See ya soon! 

xoxo

-lily