The next day, Julian was still there at his relaxation house trying to hatch what his next line of action would be. An unexpected dancer had entered the dance floor. Dealing with Adeline would not be as easy as he had planned it to be.
He was frolicking with his chick when a flashy black Benz pulled over and hit the brakes just outside his space. When the person stepped out, his face was immediately contorted. It was no other person than Viktor.
Viktor stood at a place for a moment and absorbed the scenery. The last time he was here, there was no time to check out the layout of the place.
Then, he took his sunglasses out and slid them right against his eyes. With a hand in the pocket, he marched to Julian.
"Run along," Julian said in a calm whisper to his chick. Then, he turned to Viktor with a cold grin on his face. "Why are you here again?"
Viktor came to a stop and rubbed his palms together. "That's not a proper way to welcome a guest."
Julian gnashed his teeth. "Except the guest is not wanted. You are no friend to me. State your business."
Viktor pulled his sunglasses out. He needed to be looking him straight in the eyes to make his stand known.
"It's simple." He pulled his phone and played a video, turning the screen to Julian.
He heaved a sigh and looked away. That was a video of Adeline at the relaxation house the previous day. He had sent it to a major news media to have it aired with the narration that the cursed bride was still in pursuit of him.
"I will make it clear for you to understand now, Julian. Adeline is no longer yours to torment. She's free from your torment."
"Adeline owes me a debt and I will —"
Viktor cut him off before he could finish.
"She owes you nothing. Absolutely nothing. Whatever happens between the parents should remain with them. Let her be."
Julian smirked. "And if I refuse to do that, what will you do to me? I know you are at loggerheads with your father right now because of her. You are afraid that she will see you for who you are, a monster, and leave you."
Viktor smiled. "Perhaps, I have not been particularly clear enough on this matter. If you come for Adeline again, you would be coming at me. And you know what that means, right?"
Julian remained mute. Viktor had made his point. He turned and started walking away. Halfway to his car, Julian spoke again.
"Don't forget your family owes me a bigger debt," he said. "I will come to collect it."
Viktor heard him clearly. But he refused to react to the subtle threat. He got to his car and sank in. Then, his phone beeped. A message from Adeline.
"....Where can I see you? Let's discuss the terms of the marriage."
On reading that, he quickly forgot all about Julian. The message gladdened his heart. And he knew just the right place to bring her.
Home.
★★★★
Moments later, Adeline was seated in the back of a G-wagon as she was cruised to meet with Viktor by a driver sent by him. In front and behind were two other vehicles occupied by those scary men he had sent as her private guards.
The approach to the estate felt less like a driveway and more like a transition into a private kingdom. Her eyes scanned the entire place. It was a wonder.
The long tarmac was crudely black and unblemished as it traversed through a dense layer of towering trees. Their movement was halted at intervals by each high-tech security post they had to pass. Adeline was getting tired of it. Soon, they heard one last hydraulic hum of a gate and rounded a last bend.
Behind them, the woods disappeared and the arc of an ancient mansion appeared in sight. With every ascent through the hilly road, the building became clearer.
They arrived. Adeline was stunned. A structural edifice. Ancient but still modern. She was too lost to have noticed Viktor standing in front of the house.
"Siamo qui," a guard said as he opened the door. …. It meant, "We are here."
Adeline stepped out and saw Viktor. She kept her composure in place and walked to him.
"Hello, Adeline," he said and reached out for her hand.
"Good morning," Adeline greeted him.
He took her hand and landed a soft kiss on the back.
"Shall we?" He gestured that they should head inside.
Adeline followed him. The interiors looked nothing less wonderful. The entire space was a sharp blend of modernism and ancient artefacts.
"I wouldn't have agreed to meet you here if I had known this was the venue," Adeline chipped in.
Viktor giggled and offered her a seat.
"That's probably why I didn't tell you," he replied.
Adeline sat down and crossed her legs. "You have a nice home, by the way. The famous Constantino estate is definitely worth more than the hype. But I can't quite place the ancient vibe thingy."
Viktor smiled. "It's a way of preserving the legacy of the bloodline. By the way, what would you want to eat? There's —"
Adeline didn't give him room to finish the talk. She cleared her throat and cut in.
"Let's deal with why I'm here for now," she said firmly and crossed her legs.
"Okay. You have agreed to be my wife. What next?"
Adeline produced a piece of document from her bag. Then, she walked over and handed it to him with a pen before returning to her seat.
"What's this…. supposed to be?" She asked him.
"This is a legally binding document that will guide us. Those are my rules that you have to stick to if this will work. Nothing much. You can add yours if you wish."
Viktor flipped it open and perused it. Then, he smiled and looked at her.
"Will everything here still be applicable when you have fallen madly in love with me?"
The question came as a shock. Adeline didn't expect that.