A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

When I went to work that evening. I was thinking about what had happened earlier. I couldn't believe myself. I had the courage to meet the Sicilian mafia boss and got him to agree to marry me. It could've flopped and things weren't supposed to go this way, but he agreed, after a few persuasions and all. I could tell he was quite interested in how things would turn out

Then again, there was never an escape on this one.

The original plan was to secure his last name and stay married for at least three years-that was enough time for Papa to back away from my life. Eventually, he was going to give up and no longer wanted to control my life but apparently, Matteo wanted a lifetime. Apparently, it was against his religion to divorce.

It didn't take me long to think about my future. I didn't have much of a choice. I wasn't left with a choice at all, to be honest. It was either to marry Viktor or protest and marry a man of my choosing. I was much more interested in the latter. There was no way in hell I would give up and let Papa ruin my life.

his

My family was nowhere able to help me because Mama was caught in between. Alexei was Pakhan, he would put first, The mafia's bond was indeed thicker than blood. As for Anastasia, she was young-she wasn't even supposed to be there that night. She wasn't supposed to know about our family business. When I was her age, I wanted nothing to do with the mafia.

I hated the killings. The violence.

I never had the choice to choose my parents nor my family, but I definitely had the chance to choose my life. It was either being caught in a dead end with someone named Viktor and never-ending letting my father dictate my life or propose an agreement with Matteo. None of it was making any sense. None of it ever crossed my mind.

It was the Bratva princess and Papa was right, sometimes we needed to make the sacrifices in our lives. This was my sacrifice. In order to protect my career and my freedom, I decided to run into the arms of an Italian leader.

Face to face, he wasn't as scary as they said. He was s***y and breathtaking.

Nobody could change my mind about God having favorites. He was definitely God's favorite. I could only imagine him shirtless, the appearance of his toned abs and golden skin or how his body was literally screaming 'sex-appeal' wherever he

went.

I could only imagine the women he was with

What the hell, Alena? I needed to get a grip on myself because I was imagining my future husband naked. I mean, it wasn't anything wrong to imagine him walking around the house naked or even him being dominant in bed but it was wrong, * considering our situation. We were never going to head that way-but a lifetime was long. Could we survive not finding mutual attractive towards each

other?

No. He promised me no love.

I didn't want love. I was just imagining him dominating me in bed as he devoured me.

Chapter!

5

For f***k's sake, Alena didn't have to think about it that far. I had no problem excluding sex in my life but why suddenly. I was thinking about it way too often?

"Dr. Orlov." Someone called which caused me to turn around, meeting face-to-face with my colleague, Zach. "Deep in thoughts... what were you thinking?"

I chuckled, trying to hide away the embarrassment.

"I didn't see you there, Zach

"I just came in. How long are you working tonight?" He asked.

F

Zach and I were both in our final year of residency. Apparently, be had recently got out of a really bad relationship- something he held onto for years until he finally decided to let go because it was starting to take a toll on his mental health. He never wanted to go into details about what happened with his ex-girlfriend because he was quite the mysterious man, and 1 was just a fellow colleague, but he seemed happier ever since he broke it off. He did love her.

That was terrifying, too, Imagine falling in love but not having the happy ending. One of the reasons why I swore off love. I didn't have much time on my plate, and I definitely didn't want to deal with anything that would make me lose my focus. I had fought for my freedom and went through great lengths to achieve it, nothing worthless was going to ruin

it for me.

It for me.

Zach was a great friend. We had quite a lot of shifts together and he kept the working hours bearably because he was always putting in silly jokes.

But when it was time to focus, he had never let anything distract him.

Other female doctors tried to flirt with him-Zach was on the attractive side. He was tall and lean, soft-spoken, and funny. I guess, those three traits were enough to attract anyone.

"Thirteen hours."

"Yikes and here I wonder how you can still maintain to look beautiful at the end of the shift later?"

rolled

I my eyes, "Only you, Zachary. You and your flatteries."

He laughed. "Oh, come on. My flatteries are always the highlight of your day. You can't help but to expect them, can you?" "Maybe, maybe not. It It depends."

"But hey, you looked a bit off when I came in. Everything okay? How was your day off?" He asked, the concern was sincere.

"Everything is okay and my day off was fine. You don't have to worry,

He smiled,

revealing his straight teeth. "Okay, if you say so. I'll come by later to see you for breakfast." "Which is like thirteen hours later."

"Exactly!" He said, making his way down the hallway before waving.

The hours passed by like a breeze and it was quite a surprise to see the sun already rising. I looked down at my wristwatch to see the time-realizing my shift was coming to an end soon. I took care of things in the emergency room this morning and honestly, many doctors dreaded whenever they were assigned to help in the ER, but I had always thought it was fine. Assigned to help in the ER just meant time was going to pass by quicker.

Many crazy things happened in the ER. Some guy came in with blood pouring out of his arm because he accidentally

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drilled his anni.

I mean, who was in the right mind to drill in the middle of the night?

I didn't have time to think or complain because he was literally streaming in pain.

Truly glad that was over.

As I walked towards the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee, I was surprised to find a familiar figure standing in the lobby-he had both of his hands in his pockets as he made his way towards me.

Crap. What was he doing here? What did he want?

Our eyes met in instant, and it was s**id of me to turn around as if he didn't see me in the first place. I was contemplating on whether I should pretend I didn't see him and run straight to the cafeteria or just accept that he was here to see me.

"Hi.

Hi, wifey."

My eyes widened at the nickname before I turned to look at him.

Zach was going to come down in any minute now and he was going to wonder-I couldn't have my colleagues ask questions about Matteo, I wasn't ready to answer them yet. I kind of expected to surprise them that I might've eloped or something: they were going to ask many questions. For instance, where did we met, How did we met, how long had we been together. I wasn't ready for any of that.

What are you doing here? How do you know where I work?" I asked, looking around.

Please, I didn't want anyone to see us together. Especially not Lily.

"How

can

I not know where my future wife is working?"

"Shh, keep it down. People will hear you."

I grabbed his arm, but he didn't budge. "I thought you wanted me to show you off in front of everyone as my wife or did you "decide to change your mind?"

Matteo was raising an eyebrow, a challenging look on his face. He was enjoying this. He was trying to turn this into a game he wanted me to change my mind, to prove that I wasn't serious. Well, he thought wrong because I wasn't going to change my mind. Not when I had rhy future on stake.

"I just know about of the teas, whey." He workplace in strands at hair tehind my

just doing my part of the deal, wifey." He tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear. It was a sleek move, and it was

sudden.

"Stop calling me that. And I didn't expect you to-

"I'm leaving for Berlin. I won't be back until Saturday," he cut me off.

That was four days away. Matteo came all the way to my workplace to let me know that he was leaving to Berlin.

"You

You

checked've called or text me." I replied. "It wouldn't be a surprise if you got my number from one of my background

He smirked, "I'd like to see my wife before I leave."

"Future fake wife

"Now don't go around flirting with other men. I won't like it."

You're already controlling my life, now?"

"Not controlling, baby, just setting a boundary for what's mine. Je leaned in, his warm breath on the side of my temple as he whispered. "There is one thing you can expect from me, Alert... it's loyalty. I can play my part as your loving husband, but you need to play your part as my wife. I may never love you, but I don't want you to go around f***g other men, either or there'll be consequences. You know what I'm capable of My whole body shivered at his words. What was getting myself into?

Then, he leaned back, placing his hand underneath my chin before caressing the side of my cheek. It was short but he was sealing his promise-he meant every word he said. I needed to keep reminding myself who I was dealing with. He was no regular man. He was dangerous, deadly and a criminal. I was going to marry a mafia boss, who was capable of lot of things. I may have managed to escape Papa's control. but I was falling into another man's powerful

I've assigned Angelo to be with you, at all times. Don't worry, he'll be out of your sight. It's just for safety purposes." He said, turning serious.

Why would need someone to look after me? I was fine being on my own. I never needed anyone to look after me-Papa may have assigned to look after me for the past years, but he never told me anything. Besides, ever since he retired and Alexei took over as Pakhan, he may seem to be respecting my privacy more.

"I don't need a bodyguard, Matteo. I'm fine on my own." I shook my head, disagreeing-

"I have alliances, Alena. I also have enemies. If you're to marry me, I need to make sure you're safe. I can't risk your life."

"You seem to forget that my father was the Pakhan,"

"It never slipped my mind, but you'll soon be my wife-the Russians have no business to bother with what's mine."

His

"I'm not going to be yours. Don't flatter yourself."

"On paper you are." He took a glance to look down at his wristwatch, "I also expect you to move in with me before I return."

Oh, this was not going according to plan. Maybe, I didn't think it through when I went to his office and asked him to marry me-I thought I was going to decide everything, and he'd just follow but I was truly mistaken.

"I can't move in with you this weekend. I don't have the time."

"All you need to do is pack your belongings and I'll handle the rest."

"We aren't even married yet. I don't have to move in with you this quickly,"

"Either way, you'd move in with me. It is bound to happen sooner or later."

Come on, I was dealing with a mafia boss. He wasn't going to back away that easily.

I thought it was going to be easy because he said he wasn't going to commit. This was starting to become more like a commitment, or did he mean a different type of commit! said you weren't going to commit."

"This is not committing, Alena. Committing to you is surrendering my whole self and expecting the thinking of you and no one else."

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sal

Committing is

me.

"You expect me not tis f***k-anyone else, but you're allowed to?"

"When did I say anything about me f***g anyone else?"

"You just said committing is thinking of me and no one else. So, I'm allowed to think of whoever I want but I just can't have a relationship with them?"

"Mm, right. You're finally catching up."

"This is ridiculous." I scoffed, crossing my arms.

You can always change your mind and I'll be glad to walk away

You

know I can't do that"- it's settled then

"Okay, it's settled the

Matteo stood with confidence, and it didn't pass by me that women kept glancing at his direction. He was a masterpiece which he knew very well. Nobody was able to tell him otherwise.

It was very clear, he loved the control. He would always get what he wanted because he could do so. Even if those things were out of teach, he was able to make sure he got ahold of them. He had the power, the money, and the time. I wanted t to

o learn more about him. Mostly about his past but I knew I didn't have enough resources to do so. His personal information was out of reach-Igor couldn't give me much when I asked for his background check. Besides, Alexei could suspect something. "Alena!" Zach called out my name, making me turn around.

At first, he was looking at me, but his eyes quickly turned to look at Matteo's figure behind me. He didn't take any further steps as he gestured for us to head to the cafeteria, and he nodded as a sign of understanding when I told him to wait. "I got to to go," I said. "Who is he?" 'Matteo asked, staring into my eyes.

"My colleague."

He didn't say anything else afterwards, but his next action surprised me. He was leaning really close, as if we were kissing. However, instead of his lips meeting mine, they brushed against my cheek.

His breath was warm, and the kiss lingered.

My eyes closed shut at the feeling as I felt his hand on the back of my waist, holding me in place. It was silly of me to get at tingly feeling, like pleasant shivers by his touch. My heartbeat quickened, too as gave me another peck on the cheek. He took his time to lean back and pull his hand away.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I was staring at his broad back as he walked out.

I felt a jolt deep in the pit of my stomach and I didn't look away until he was finally out of sight. He was starting to make me feel things, but I was wishing to myself for them to go away. We were going to spend alot of time together and if I couldn't keep myself together, I s going to lose it and get my heart broken

My heart was broken once. I wasn't going to risk it being broken for the second time.

was 1 kept repeating to myself about our fake marriage. We weren't going to fall in love and live happily. We were keeping our part of the deal I was proving to Papa that I needed him to back away from me. Matteo was gaining more power and respect. It was a win-win situation. Nobody was losing.

I couldn't be the first to surrender.

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Even though my body was making me feel things, even though felt myself leaning into his touch. I needed to push them all away

and remind myself they were never real.

Soon, I was going to bear his last name. I was going to be Alena Hose Lerclerc but my name was never going to be in his heart nor was his going to be in mine. We were talking about a business transaction between two adults.

He was dead to begin with. His heart was stone cold.

I needed to be dead, too.

"Hey,"

1 turned to look at Zach as he stared at me with concern.

"Oh, hey."

"Are you alright? Who was that?"

"I'm fine.

I'm

"Are you sure?"

Yeah, don't worry." I stated, firmly.

Zach wasn't going to be a problem-he was a colleague, but Matteo might saw him as a problem if he kept seeing us together. That was going to be impossible if I decided to not always be seen with him because we tend to work together. "Who was he, Alena?"

"Nobody." I started to walk towards the cafeteria with Zach following me behind. I expected him to keep bugging me about Matteo, but he stopped asking and we proceeded to talk about how our shift.

Zach 1

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WE

talked about how his patient had vomited all over him and he had to change his scrubs before his shift ended because he had to attend to another patient. We never tell the details of our patients, but it was enough to know what happened. during our work hours.

My mind kept wandering away whenever Zach and I stopped talking.

I kept thinking about Matteo, his deep voice, and his mesmerizing eyes.

I was never going to admit the sudden attraction-he was more of a sex-appeal than anything else. Anyone would find him attractive, and I was no different. It was normal and I didn't have to feel bad for it.

He was going to be in Berlin for four days which meant I wasn't going to meet him in the next four days. It would also mean an extra time for myself; I didn't have to think about the agreement or the contract we needed to sign soon.

We needed to talk about this fake marriage, too.

As I looked around, I couldn't help but wonder if Angelo was already around.

Matteo was right, he had a lot of alliances, but he also had a lot of enemies. Many powerful men wanted his position and his power. If I was to marry him soon, his enemies would assume I was his greatest weakness and made me their target.

I hoped it wouldn't come to that.