“Damien.” Viktor turns to my brother. “You authorized these negotiations. Are you going to let him destroy months of work?”
Damien’s gaze flicks to me, assessing. “Dimitri. A word outside.”
We step into the hallway, leaving the Volkovs seething behind us. The moment the door closes, Damien rounds on me.
“What are you doing?”
“Exactly what I said. Declining the arrangement.”
“Why?”
I could tell him about the trafficking. Show him the evidence Felix compiled. Make this about principle and family reputation.
Instead, I say, “I don’t want to marry her.”
“This isn’t about want. This is about strategic alliance.”
“Then find another way to secure it. I’m not available.”
Damien studies me with those ice-blue eyes that miss nothing. “This is about the woman. The one from your marketing firm.”
“This is about me making my own choices regarding who I marry.”
“You don’t get to make those choices. Not when they impact the entire family.”
“I just did.”
The hallway goes quiet. Damien doesn’t raise his voice; he never needs to. His authority comes from absolute certainty, unwavering control.
Right now, I’m defying both.
“You mentioned a bride,” he says finally. “Who is she?”
“Someone I’ll introduce when the time is right.”
“Dimitri, you can’t be serious.”
“This conversation is over, Damien. I’ve declined the Volkov arrangement. Handle the fallout however you see fit.”
I turn and walk away before he can respond, Felix and Oleg falling into step beside me.
Behind us, I hear raised voices as the Volkovs erupt. Viktor’s shouting something about disrespect and consequences. Elena’s quieter voice is underneath, tight with humiliation.
Let them rage. I’ve made my decision.
The only question now is whether I meant what I said about having found a bride—or if I just created a problem I’ll need to solve before Damien demands answers I don’t have.
***
We’re three blocks from the restaurant when Felix breaks the silence.
“That was reckless.”
“It was necessary.”
“The trafficking intelligence could have been presented privately. You didn’t need to humiliate them in front of everyone.”
“Yes, I did.”
