CHAPTER FIVE

Arielle’s POV

I knew for a fact that something was wrong the moment Viktor called my name because it was not soft and casual like before but more like a command.

“Arielle.”He called

I looked up from my phone slowly. “What is it?” I asked

“You’re coming with me for a dinner party.” He ordered while adjusting his cuff links.

 “No,  I’m not going anywhere with you.” I said while frowning.

“This is not a request, I’m ordering you to get up and get prepared”. He said without even looking at me.

The statement made me pause.

“I don’t understand, do I take orders from you now?.” I snapped back immediately.

“ You will take my orders and obey them tonight”. He said finally looking at me.

Before I could respond, the door opened and two body guards appeared standing close to the door. They stood like they were waiting for orders to bundle me out.

“You’re serious, are you?” I asked,  stunned at the actions being displayed in front of me.

“We’re leaving now.” Viktor said, walking towards the door.

“Where exactly are we leaving?” I asked sharply.

“For a dinner party,” he repeated.I almost laughed. 

“You should have  said that without turning it into a kidnapping.” I said.

But he didn’t respond and that was one problem with him, he never wasted words but always got whatever he wanted.

While we were inside the car, the ride was silent more like the one that feels enforced.

I sat staring through the window as the city moved past us like nothing was wrong. But everything felt wrong.

Viktor sat beside me indifferently like he could not feel the tension. Then I finally spoke up.

“Where are we going?” I asked again.

“I already told you, we are going for a dinner party.” He answered me.

“That’s not an answer, where exactly is the dinner holding?.” I asked with uncertainty.

“Enough with the questions” he thundered with his eyes still fixed on the road.

“You’re so impossible.” I scoffed under my breath.

When we arrived at the venue, it was a bit crowded from the outside. The moment we stepped out of the car, cameras came  flashing on us, they were too many of them.

“Smile,” Viktor murmured beside me.

“I’m not your display piece.” I fired back.

“Obviously you are tonight,” he replied calmly.

That statement irritated me but not enough for me walk away because I knew what was at stake and also there was something about the way people reacted towards him. It was quite respectful, careful which made me realize that this wasn’t just a dinner.

As we walked in I noticed that the dinner itself was power dressed in elegance and also attended by not just dignitaries but people of great affluence. 

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw Daniel my ex fuancee whom as a result of his betrayal, I landed into something that I could not easily walk away from.

At first glance at him, my heart skipped with many thoughts on my mind about what he was doing here.

He smiled the moment he saw me with his fake confidence written all over his face.

“Well,” he said loudly, stepping forward. “I never thought that would upgrade so fast to this status, Arielle.” He said trying to attract the attention of the dinner attendees maybe in a bid to humiliate me as usual because that’s the only thing he’s good at. 

My spine straightened but I did not react not because I don’t know what to do or say but I can’t go so low with him.

“Be careful,you might catch something standing too close to her.” He added with his eyes moving to Viktor.

That made the energy in the room shift though it was not loud but it was real.

Viktor finally looked at him and  everywhere went quiet.

“You talk too much Daniel, can you just tone it down” Viktor said. 

I was shocked to hear him mention his name but the memory of last night flashe before me then I have to keep mute and just listen in order to extract more information.

Daniel chuckled. “And you’re…. what to her? Her savior now?”He asked mockingly.

“No, I’m her problem now ”Vicktor answered sternly. My breath caught because I never expected him to say it in that tone.

I noticed the shock in Daniel’s face instantly but he was quick to recover from it. And he spoke again.

“She’s not worth whatever game you think you’re playing with her.”He assured.

Viktor didn’t even blink.

“She is worth it everything and more”. Viktor said without blinking. I was shocked at his reply. “Do I worth that much to him?”. I kept asking myself.

“Do you guys know each other?” I managed ask.

“Ohh, he didn’t tell you. Arielle how dumb can you be, that’s my Uncle for Godsake” Daniel said with so much mockery in his voice.

My heart slammed on my ribs.

“You better watch your mouth” Viktor thundered.

“Are taking sides now Uncle?” Daniel said 

“What is he talking about?” I asked in confusion but Biktor ignored me rather he took my hand and walked away from the scene while people murmured 

And just like that the conversation ended. When we sat at the table , I spoke up first.

“What is he talking about” I asked him. Viktor fixed his gaze at me before responding.

“Long story short, I was accidentally shot by Daniel’s dad, was taken to the hospital and at the could not remember anything about my past so he took me in as family”. He explained.

I was shocked at what I was being told because I just realized that I was dating my ex-fiancée’s uncle.

“You should eat, the food is getting cold” he added while acting ignorant of the whole truth.

Within me I knew that the story wasn’t really clear as some information were left but I have to find out myself.

I also noticed that across the room, I could feel Daniel’s eyes watching me but I cared less this time because for the first time since everything started I finally got a chance to get back at him for everything he did to me.

It seemed not to notice Alora at first because the room was full of noise, glass clicking, conversations and a controlled chaos.

But I noticed the presence of someone just like everyone else even Viktor reacted to the energy around.

Then she walked like she owned the whole place and just quvkily she foiloubd where o was seated with Viktor and came there directly.

“ I thought you wouldn’t come,” she said referring to Viktor with her calm voice. Viktor did not respond immediately.

Then she stepped closer to him

“I didn’t think you’d actually ignore me forever,” she added as she took a glance at me.

I bent towards Viktor and asked 

“Who is she?” I asked. But he ignored me.

“Let’s leave this table” he said to my surprise.

“Excuse me!”I said with a frown on my face.

“Move!!” He ordered.

Though I hated to admit it but I stood up and followed him.

But surprisingly she followed us even after being ignored.

“I can see that you  replaced me too quickly,” she said.

“I never replaced you, you left when you were needed the most so remain disappeared” Viktor replied.

She gave out a quiet laugh before speaking again.

“You always lie better when you’re angry.”she said

“I know everything about her,” Alora added. The moment she said that my body went still.

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, but no one heard me.

Viktor’s voice dropped.

“Stop it already, Alora” Viktor said as I could sense tension in his voice.

“Ohh you think she’s random?” she continued. “You think this girl just fell into your life?”

“What does she mean by falling into his life?” I thought to myself.

“You chose her,” she said softly. “And I know why.”

Viktor finally turned fully toward her.

“That’s enough.” Viktor warned her.

But she ignored him and continued talking.

“I can expose everything,” Alora continued. “If you don’t come back to me.”

“ What do you mean come back, this two really had a long history between but what the hell is going on?” I battled in my head.

I decided to move forward to question everything, but before I could mention his name, I felt a hand grab me and a cloth pressed over my mouth. My eyes widened instantly, as I struggled my vision blurred more.

“Arielle!!!!” I heard Viktor call out my name but I was already being dragged away.

People in the hall began to scamper for safety as there were chattering of glasses, shouts and a few gunshots.

The last thing I saw before passing was Viktor running violently towards me. 

Just then I heard Akita’s voice….

“ You shouldn’t have chosen her, Viktor”.

Then everywhere went dark.