Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 24

"Alexei."

"De Alba looks cozy sitting on your side and kissing you." He retorted.

"It was not what it looked like." I replied as a matter of factly.

"You did not even object to his advances. You fucking like him." He snorts and then drinks his scotch all the way down.

Oh my goodness. He is really pissed. There's really nothing to be jealous or pissed about.

"Alexei, please."

"Madame Volkov. The meeting is about to resume. You are needed at the wives table." Said one of Axel's men.

"Your boyfriend is summoning you, Belle."

"Fine, Alexei Viktor Volkov. I will go because you seem to be drunk and thus unreasonable. We will talk later."

I am honestly starting to lose my patience. Not with Alexei because I know that he is under the influence of alcohol and he's jealous. I just need to explain myself and ease him down later. To what I am losing my patience with is this stupid wives meeting which is nothing but a power play in a fancy tea party. It's nonsensical really.

As I approach the wives table, Victoria walked towards me for a private talk. The woman did not even hold back her words. "This is the second time that the wives meeting has been interrupted on your account. If you could be more considerate of the time of the other wives, we won't be having this conversation anymore."

"Victoria, I did not ask for the meeting to be interrupted on account of me. I excused myself because I have some important matters that I am dealing with. I am a considerate person that is why I politely excused myself so that you and the other wives won't be able to witness my personal business." I replied without mincing my words.

"And that personal business is? You've already seduced the Volkov Brothers. Are you now seducing your way to Axel De Alba? Artan Bogdani? Jakoby Quinn who is the only grandson of Irish Mob Boss? And the heir to the Black Mafia of Brooklyn, what's the kid's name?-- oh Matthias King and all the available Bosses of the Conglomerate so you can have their money? Power? Conglomerate votes? Honey, your looks can only do so much." She looked at me from head to foot, looking all smug.

Oh wow. This bitch. I can't believe she just said that. Where did she even get this idea? She even mentioned Jakob the Irish child who is fond of my legs and Matty, my baseball friend-who for some cosmic reason I crossed path with the first time arrived in New York.

"Excuse your foul mouth Victoria, but you don't even know me and yet you're already accusing me of vile things." I then grabbed her forearm so I can whisper to her ear. She flinched at first but I pulled her with more strength the second time, her eyes widened in disbelief. That's right bitch. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

"What I do with my life is none of your business. Who I seduce is also none of your business. So I am not going to explain myself to you and my relationships with the men that surround me. One thing I can tell you though is that I can make your life miserable in the conglomerate for this. So stay away from me. And don't even look at me." I let go of her and pushed her lightly so I can walk past her.

I went back to my seat and took a deep breath since my insides are already shaking in anger. I am not used to confrontations especially when it's for insignificant matters, but when I do engage in confrontations I tend to go overboard and get overwhelmed by my emotions to the point that I am actually thinking right now of agreeing to my husband to crush the German Mob his way.

It took Victoria some time to go back to the wives table. I'm waiting for her to look at me so I can show her who exactly she's dealing with but so far she's looking at her notes with a serious look on her face. So far, so good.

I glanced in the Russian Mafia's direction. Alexei is already on his brother's side, holding a drink on his other hand, looking all serious. His hazel eyes are looking at me like a wolf that is about to devour its prey. Exactly what his brother is doing as well. Geez Belle, guess who's not sleeping well tonight? You have managed to piss off Nikolai and Alexei at the same time but on completely different reasons. One for punching your husband in the face and going against his judgment and the other one for making him feel jealous of Axel.

"The meeting is now finally resumed." Said Victoria, ringing the glass bell she's holding.

"Victoria, before we proceed may I propose a toast for the newest member of the Conglomerate wives?" Says one of the ladies across Victoria, she looks cordial and younger than most women in the wives circle, and a little bit drunk I suppose. She smiles at me and Victoria with those sparkly white teeth and her flushed face.

"Sure, Millie. That's so nice of you to do that." Replied Victoria who is now sporting a smile on her face. Well, that's weird.

Millie stood up all wobbly, "A toast to the latecomer who stole everyone's thunder tonight! A toast to Mrs. Volkov who is also Mrs. De Alba and Mrs. Bogdani! Basically, all the hot men we have all been dying to get, apparently, she already fucked!"

The look of disbelief can now be seen on people's faces. There are some gasps and chattering from outside the velvet rope and I can already see Axel, Nikolai, Alexei and Artan stand from their seats.

One upside to this meltdown is that I can already pinpoint which wife is actually on my side and which are not. I can't believe I am so focused on this game right now that not even the obvious slut-shaming fazed me. I have been a target, mostly by women who are-- one way or another--connected to the men that are surrounding me and this one right here is the friggin highlight.

However, this did not do anything but bolster my resolve in finishing off my deal with Nikolai in ousting Victoria. She has at least four wives rooting for her. Four women who enjoyed Millie's drunken episode. I have Nikolai's ring which has two votes, as well as Axel's and one from Artan, which means I also have five votes on my hand right now, I mean literally around my fingers.

I am sure that I have the votes of the wives aligned to the Russian Mafia and that if I push for a vote I will have my way, but still, I'd rather not rely on the votes of the other wives.

Just when I was so focused on my strategies, I notice something or rather someone climbing on my chair from the side. Oh my goodness, this kid.

Jakob the Irish kid who apparently is the only heir to the Irish mob is here to save my night. He is holding a ring on his tiny little chubby hand looking so determined.

"Marry me! Marry me!" He said at the top of his lungs.

I thought I already put him to sleep back in the Ballroom, apparently, he's still awake and kicking. "Marry me Arabelly. Will you marry me Arabelly?"

Arabelly? I bit my lower lip to suppress a giggle. I did not have any choice but to fish him from the side of my chair and carry him in my arms. He looks sleepy and yet still determined to give me his ring. The Irish mob and Nikolai's men are already on their way to go to me but I signaled them to stop. I offered my pinky finger to him so he can make his peace and finally go to sleep. The funny thing is, when the ring is already at the tip of my finger the kid drifted off to sleep slowly. His mouth partly opens as he rests his head on my chest slowly; it gained some sound of amusement from the people around.

I focused my attention back on the other wives when the little boy was taken from me by one of the men from the Irish mob. I slowly slid the ring and then placed my hand on the edge of the table making sure that the wives get to see the colorful rings around my fingers. I looked at Victoria and her other friends as I begin the culling.

Now it's my turn.