MISCHA ASLANOV

Dark eyes smoldering, she got a vertical wrinkle between her eyebrows. Her lips pursed slightly, Lady Laenyra, Maddox's mother, shot a glare at Maddox who is just arrived at their company.

"Who is Mort?" Lady Laenyra asked her son the moment he entered the glassed door. They are in the President's office.

"How did that man's name get involved in this conversation?" Maddox asked even though he already had a clue in mind.

"So, you fucking know him?! He warns us if you don't drop your marriage proposal to Sumire Massoullève, he will come back here to take over the company!" His mother's voice raised. Maddox clicked his tongue soundly.

"Mom, this company is nothing but a trash compared to when I married Sumi-" Maddox was cut off when a resounding slap struck him violently across his face.

Lady Laenyra was fuming in anger at what Maddox said. Her cheeks were reddened mad and a piercing stare that if the looks could kill, Maddox would have laying dead on the cold floor.

"Say it one more time and you'll lose your fucking head! You don't understand. Your grandfather built this company from scratch. He fucking did everything to make this big. Blood, tears, and sweat! He endured all the pain and rejection for it just grew and bloomed. No money can buy this company. This is his honor. This company brought life to your father, me, and you. So don't speak too lightly about it."

Lady Laenyra said between her sobs. She doesn't know what to do anymore. Not knowing how to solve the big problem started by her son.

"I'm sorry, Mom." Maddox sincerely apologizes and sighed heavily. He is aware of the humble history of their company but he can't fucking help but speak like that. Because that is the truth.

"Call off the engagement." Casting a cold blank stare, Lady Laenyra emphatically commanded in her threatening tone made Maddox frown.

"Mom, I can't do that." Completely disagreed, Maddox said with a forced laugh.

"Maddox, are you out of your freaking mind?" she screwed her eyes shut, Lady Laenyra heaves a deep breath before eyeing her son like he is a lunatic.

"No, mom. Grandfather has agreed to my request. Tomorrow, we will meet Sumire's grandfather and her family." Maddox tried to lighten up the mood, trying to win his mother's favor. Calming her down. He's hoping she agrees with what he wants.

"Does your grandfather know what's going on in his company right now?" Dead-eyed, Lady Laenyra asked coldly. She was still unconvinced.

"Mom, let's keep-" Maddox was interrupted for the second time when his mother took her phone from the sling bag she was carrying and called his grandfather. He wants to grab his mother's phone away. He is afraid that they will get into more trouble. Hair brushed off with frustration, Maddox silently prayed that his grandfather would not answer the call.

"Damn it!" Lady Laenyra loudly curses when no one answered her calls. Her grip tightens on the phone.

"Mom, please let it slide just this once. When Sumire and I are officially married, we can ask for their help. I am one hundred percent sure that the Massoullèves will help us, mom. Our businesses will grow even bigger and our family's name will be known to the world. Mom, can't you see? I am doing this for the family. For us."

Maddox heartily persuaded his mother who is hard as a stone. No matter how sweet, gentle, and flowery words he uttered like he used to convince big businessmen like his mother, it didn't work. Lady Laenyra was stubborn and cannot be easily carried away with such words. Her eyes twitched.

"Disgusting." Lady Laenyra whispered under her breath and she left the office. Even if she didn't agree with him, Maddox knew she gave him a chance to do what he wanted.

Maddox breathed a sigh of relief and seat on the executive swivel chair. Now he just had to make the union between him and Sumire as soon as possible. He has two enemies now, time and a man named Mort. When he runs out of time, he might not be able to save their company. And when that happens, he will lose Sumire and his family will fall into huge debt.

Maddox took his phone out of his pocket and immediately called his private investigator who answered his call right away.

"Sir, what can I do for you?" The man asked with a peal of playful laughter resounding on the other line. Maddox is quite close to the PI. The man was very mischievous and he was easy to work with. Maddox has no problem with him. He works cleanly and quickly according to his command. His PI does everything for the sake of money so they get along very well. He is notable for his works and Maddox pays him dearly.

"Do a background check of Mort Aslanov. I'll pay you a hundred million." He commanded. This is the biggest money he offer to the PI.

Maddox had expected that the man would immediately agree with him and jumps off with delight on the other line but he did not expect his cold and silent response. The strange silence on the other line was loud and deafening.

"Are you still there?" Frowning at his phone, Maddox asked the PI who uttered nothing but didn't hang up the call.

"Sir, even if you give me all your family's wealth, I won't dare dig deeper about that man. I'm sorry, but this is the first job I won't dare to take. I am refusing, Sir." after turning down his offer, the PI immediately hung up and Maddox was left speechless. Something is telling him to stop doing background checks on Mort but his greed and pride won't allow him.

"I can't back down," Maddox whispered and called another PI but again, this was the first time they refused the job. He even tripled his previous offer with many more benefits.

"Damn it!" Jaw-clenched, Maddox threw his phone against the wall when his secretary suddenly arrived in the room. Slightly bowed, she said.

"Sir, someone wants to meet with you."

Maddox's eyebrows were deeply knitted into a frown. He specifically told her to clear his schedule for one week for his proposal to Sumire so he won't be entertaining guests or anyone right now.

"Tell them to come back the next day." He irritably ordered his secretary who was still unmoved in her place and head lowered.

"Mort..." His secretary said in a low tone making Maddox shift his gaze to her.

"What did you just say?" He asked in a cold tone. The poor secretary gulped hard and cannot meet his eyes burning with anger.

"She told me that she knew Mort, Sir. So she wanted to talk to you." The secretary responded and Maddox quickly stood up from his chair.

"Where is she right now?" Maddox asked while adjusting his suit and necktie properly.

"She is in the lobby, Sir. Waiting for you." The secretary replied and Maddox wasted no time. He quickly went out to meet the lady who knew Mort.

"What an odd twist," he whispered with a wide grin.

Maddox arrived at the lobby. The place is strangely quiet and there was no one sauntering in the place. The lobby is usually crowded with employees and visitors filled with chatter and laughter, but now the space is bleak, gloomy and the bustling scenes have gone in just a blink of an eye.

"Where are the people..." Maddox looked around and saw a girl in all black on a single sofa in the far corner of the lobby. She was wearing black sunglasses, arms folded on her chest, and legs crossed while facing his direction.

"Kid, where are the people here?" Maddox asked as he approaches her place. He could see how her eyebrows arched underneath those glasses.

"I am Mischa Aslanov. Mort's little sister. I am here to help you marry Sumire. I know my older brother is also the mastermind behind everything that happens at your company. Sit first."

Straight-faced, the girl responded without beating the bush and for some unknown reasons, Maddox believed her. He sat down on the opposite side of the single sofa.

"Why are you willing to help me? He is your brother as you've said." Maddox asked curiously. A mischievous smirk curved on Mischa's lips.

"They are from completely different worlds. None of them should cross the line. We are in the lane where Death has already reaped our souls the day we were born. Unlike you and Sumire, your world is filled with rainbows and unicorns. You stay, live, and die in that way in your lane."

Straight forward, Mischa said. She can't allow a weak girl like Sumire to just die because of her reckless and emotionless brother. His older brother didn't even care about Dieu, how much more about the maiden? Yes, 'he loves Sumire', but her brother cannot guarantee the maiden's safety. Mischa knows her older brother is oddly rational and has twisted morals that he prefers to choose others over his loved ones. 'Bet he will let Sumire be feasted by the shark just to get his precious deed of sale. That's how he is.' Mischa said in her mind.

Maddox found her words agreeable. But how can a 15-year-old little lady help him if he is not wrong in his guess?

"How can you help me then?" Maddox asked all ears to her and was ready to listen to what Mischa had to say.

"I have an ace on how to get him away from Sumire and focus on other things. All you have to do is to set your wedding day as quickly as possible. If I were to decide, do it tomorrow or in the next two days. I don't care just do it as soon as possible."

The lady answered that Maddox fell into deep thought. Can he really trust the kid? He has doubts. What if it's just Mort's trick? What if they are in cahoots?

"Tell me. how can I trust you?" Maddox challenged the lady. Mischa smirk and remove her sunglasses revealing her mesmerizing pair of green orbs.

Awestruck, Maddox was marveled at the lady's eyes and he could tell right away, she had orbs the same as his rival, Mort. Even he had met the man once, Maddox saw the resemblance between Mischa and Mort. They could even be mistaken for father and daughter.

'Their genes are no joke.' Maddox complimented her at the back of his mind but took it back when he realized that.

"Your mother will call you any second now," Mischa said with a smirk as Maddox frowned. And as the lady said, his phone rang.

Maddox glanced at Mischa before looking at the caller. His eyes quickly widened when he saw his mother's name on the screen. She did call him. His heart was beating rapidly and he had mixed emotions right now.

'Aslanovs are the scariest even though I don't know them totally yet.' Maddox said to himself as he answered his mother's call.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, son. I was just mad because I thought you didn't care about our company but you proved me wrong. Now we hold all the shares of the company. I love you. I'll support you in everything you do. Enjoy your day and congratulations on your engagement with Sumire..."

Maddox couldn't answer what he just heard. He didn't listen to the rest of his mother's words as he was now staring at Mischa asking himself how the girl could do that.

"....Goodbye baby."

Lady Laenyra ended the call and didn't even wait for him to speak. He could feel her excitement on the line about what was happening.

"Just who the fuck are you people?"

Mischa barely heard that. He's out of words. Maddox couldn't explain how much these siblings impressed him. He feels that they are Gods themselves.

"People you won't dare to know," Mischa replied and rose to the seat.

"Do your part or else not only will you lose your properties but also the lives of the people around you," Mischa added in a cold, menacing tone. A wave of nervousness struck his chest, Maddox stared at her.

"I will. Promise." He agreed. Mischa nodded before leaving him alone in the place. Maddox was left dumbfounded. His face glazed with awe and couldn't believe he already owns one hundred percent shares of the company. This is truly an odd twist.

He was in a state of astonishment and he didn't even realize that the lobby had become a busy place again. People are back with much gaiety.

"Done daydreaming, big guy?" Out of nowhere, a woman sat in Mischa's seat earlier. And just like the little lady, the mysterious woman is wearing a black outfit.

"Am I too late?" She asked which captures Maddox's attention and frowned at her. The woman in front of him now had a different aura. It's heavy and suffocating. He felt like a big snake slithered all over his body, gripping and crushing his bones as she lowered her sunglasses and looked straight into his eyes.

'She's different. She will definitely kill me in an instant when I answer or move wrong.' said Maddox in his mind.

"Who are you?"

He asked making her smirk. The woman in front of him is very captivating with an angelic visage but he seems to be hallucinating with visible two horns on her forehead. A beautiful devil.

"Yelena."