The Billionaire Mafia’s Slave

CHAPTER 41: CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT

LILY’S POV:

‘Did they have a huge fight or are they rivals in business?’, I wanted to know and I don’t care if I am being nosy.

“I can’t say it here, come with me”, She said and started going upstairs, I followed her until she got to her room.

This was my first time being in Irina’s room. It was so like her, colorful but mature, more of red and navy blue.

Makes me wonder if she actually lives here.

‘Wasn’t she supposed to be only visiting? Then why is her room furnished and decorated just to her taste?’, I got a little jealous.

I took a look at the furry blanket, beige color shelves and large dressing mirror. Her room was so many girls dream room, maybe mine too.

“Sit”, She said in an authoritative manner but I didn’t bother, I sat down and waited for her to speak.

She paced back and forth, I know she was contemplating on telling me or not.

“Look, I can’t tell you what really happened okay?… all I can say is, Roman is Nikolai’s older brother. Something happened long ago between them causing the bad blood they have for each other now. We are not to speak of that incident ever since Roman flee from Russia and never came back”, Irina said in a hush hush tone.

I frowned the more she explained to me.

“What was the thing that happened to them?”, That was what I really needed to know, not Nikolai and Roman’s relationship.

“Are you deaf or something?… I just said we are forbidden on mentioning that past trauma ever again and you’re asking me what the trauma is?”, Irina went back to her usual sassy self.

“You’re of no help”, I murmured but I think that was loud enough for her to hear, she scoffed and stood up from where she sat.

“Drop it, okay?… and please don’t go asking Nikolai about Roman or what happened between both of them if you don’t want to encounter Nikolai’s wrath”, Irina said and left. I sighed and stood up too, then I left the room.

Irina was right, Nikolai has always been defensive when Roman is mentioned, he acts weird and loose his composure when Galina mentioned Roman. I still remember that night I heard him talk in his dream about Roman.

“What happened?”, I asked myself.

***

Weeks passed and almost everything returned to normal. Irina wasn’t staying in the mansion anymore, Nikolai said he has her staying at one of his guest house in another state and when I asked him why, he said ‘I needed a little privacy… with you’, I could remember blushing.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Nikolai was really cool this days, no hot tempers, I didn’t tell him about the phone call with Roman, although sometimes I still think of asking him but I just drop it. He lets me watch the TV sometimes, he got me new books, puzzles and scrabbles games.

I didn’t mention about his promise on seeing Papa but I do think about it. I don’t know if I will be asking for too much but I didn’t say anything about it since that day.

Weeks into months and it was almost Christmas. I’ve always spent Christmas with just Papa, at home. Well, sometimes he has work but he makes sure to always come back on time just to open presents with me.

We do this thing where we both give each other a present, it could be something you made, or bought or even something old but you cherish.

Last Christmas with Papa, he gave me mom’s necklace, a beautiful red ruby necklace he gave her on their 2nd anniversary.

My present for Papa was a wrist watch. I had noticed his watch was cracked, so I saved up and got him something nice.

At times like this, I can’t help but think about Papa, I can’t even imagine what he’s going through at this time.

It was already 19th of December and the mansion was just bare, no decorations, no Christmas trees, no lights, no stockings, no nothing. Everywhere was just cold and lonely.

“Isn’t Nikolai a fan of Christmas?”, that was the only logical thought I could come up with.

I decided to do the decorations myself… but how can I do that, I don’t have access to anything, how can I buy those supplies?

‘Fuck! I need to make something work’.

I asked a young maid for help, I told her I needed to speak with her.

“Hi, may I know your name?”, I asked her, she was young, probably my age or younger.

“I’m Tabitha ma’am”, She responded shyly. She was new here, but she’ll be of help.

“Okay Tabby, I need your help… Can you get these things for me?”, I said as I passed to her a list of things I scrabbled down, she took it and looked at it, confusion on her face.

“Wha–“.

“Please Tabby, look I-I don’t have money to pay for it b-but I need them, I know I’m sounding greedy but I’ll repay you one way or another”, I pleaded with her before she could refuse.

She agreed and I thanked her. I wanted to surprise Nikolai with the Christmas decorations so I told Tabitha to get them on the morning of 22th, then I can hang them before Nikolai gets back from work.

“He would be so happy”, I said to myself.

***

Things went as planned and on the 24th, I was hanging stars on the Christmas tree. I could hear the workers in the mansion murmur but I didn’t know what that was about. The guards stared at me strangely but I went on happily. I also had Tabitha help with the decorations.

I put two stockings before the fireplace, I hanged the mistletoe, lights everywhere, the Christmas tree was set and ready, I spent the whole day wrapping presents and placing them under the Christmas tree, it wasn’t Christmas day yet but I made cookies and just waited for Nikolai to get back from work.

He was already running late. Usually he would be back by 10pm but it’s 11:32pm already and I was already getting dizzy.

I had a lot of cookies to eat, I just sat on the couch, waiting for him and trying hard not to sleep when the front door opened and Nikolai walked in.

I could have sense something was wrong but I didn’t, I stood up and went to him but he reeked of alcohol.

“Who the fuck did this?!”, He snarled and I flinched.

“Did wha–“.

“Who is responsible for putting this… things in my house?!”, He asked, looking at me and I saw horror in his eyes and… pain too?

He was referring to the decorations but I didn’t understand why he was acting up or maybe it’s just because he’s drunk.

“It’s almost Christmas and I figured since you didn’t say anything about decorating I should–“, I tried explaining but he keeps cutting me off.

“Should do w-what?!! Who gave you the right to hang this things here?”, He blew hot. That wasn’t enough for him, he went in and ripped the Christmas lights with his bare hands, took down the stockings and everything and I just stood up watching him in shock.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”, I finally mustered up the courage when he went for the Christmas tree, I dashed and stood in front of it before he could destroy it.

It was like it turned ten times colder when I saw him look at me.

“Get out of the way Lily”, He warned and I shook my head and his eyes became darker.

“You know I hate it when you disobey me!”, He snapped at me.

“What is your problem, it’s for Christmas… What do you have against Christmas?!!”, I asked and he scoffed.

“Nothing. But this is my house and I make the rules, if I say I didn’t want any stupid Christmas thing, take it down”, he said and I shook my head in disagreement and he stared at me like he was almost surprised.

Nikolai walked upstairs and came back with a baseball bat, the launched towards the Christmas tree, hitting it to bits, breaking all the balls and he destroyed the presents I neatly wrapped.

“NOOOOO!!!”, I yelled and tried to stop him but there was only little I could do against a big man like Nikolai. I just stared in horror as he destroyed everything I worked so hard to make and I couldn’t control the tears.

“Why?… why do you have to be such a prick?!!”, I yelled at him and he dropped the bat and turned to me who was just sitting on the ground, crying. I saw his hurt expression but he immediately masked it with a smirked.

“Next time don’t do something you shouldn’t be doing?”, He said.

“What does that even mean”, I asked and he slowly staggered towards me, drunk and tired from his little exercise. He squat to my height and held my chin.

“Don’t think because I smile with you, you can go around playing dress up with my mansion. You are not in my league, remember how you got here and know your place”, He said and pushed my chin away and staggered his way upstairs.

I wanted to believe it was the drink talking, maybe he was only joking with me.

‘I thought we were cool now?’, I said to myself. I was really sure Nikolai and I were friends now, he laughs freely these days and talk to me, was it all in my head?

So he never meant anything he did for me? All those little gestures were just because he bought me.

I should be thankful he reminded me of my place, I almost forgot.

.