Chapter One

Violet

“ Violet Vale Greco, in consideration of the alliance between the Greco family and Aleksei Carmene of the Carmene family…”

It's taking every bit of control for me not to gag right now. I had come into Papa’s office because he asked me to pick up the invoices he wanted me to review. The one is precious heir—Marco was supposed to file in two weeks ago. Still, he didn't because he never does anything but take credit for every work I put so much effort into.

I thought I was finally getting some respect from papa but a marriage contract, I skimmed through it slowly again, Papa wouldn't want to do this to me, I thought he was finally recognising my effort in this empire.

Why would he want to marry me off to his rival’s son?

“ What are you doing here?” Marco said leaning on the door.

I dropped the file like it burned, my fingers twitching. “ Doing exactly what you are meant to do” I said walking past him “ cleaning your ass while you take credit for it.” I hissed

He grabbed my hand and I gasped, biting my lips from crying out, “Don't— Don't you ever speak to me in that tone in your life.” Marco said gripping my hands tighter.

“ And what will you do if —”

“Let her go!” Papa came in standing in front of us. “ I'm sure she has seen the file.” he continued calmly

“ papa you can't do this?” I cried out

“It's done,” he said firmly

“But papa—”

“ I said it's done, Violet!” his eyes flashed anger

The room went silent, I turned to Marco and of course, he had that stupid smirk on his face.

“Papa, I have worked for you, done everything for this empire that Marco could never and you decide to sell me off?” I blinked back the tears glistening in my eyes.

“ You’re a woman Violet and you can't keep working in the men’s world forever, you know I love you and this is the best for you,” Papa said stretching his hand for me to come to him.

“ I will not marry him,” I said firmly.

Marco's eyes flashed anger and Papa frowned and the next second a slap landed on my cheek blurring my vision.

“ You stupid girl, Papa has done everything for you and you dare speak to him in that manner?” Marco said, holding my jaw forcely making me gasp in pain, “You should be lucky the Carmenes consider you worthy of a marriage.” he said tightly.

“You are going to marry him and there is nothing you can do about it, I have found a purpose for you which is more than you have earned,” Papa said firmly

“ But papa—”

“ Shut up, foolish girl,” Marco said tightening his hold on my jaw causing me bruises.

Papa’s eyes flashed dangerously, “ You will do what you are told and your engagement is tomorrow.”

“ You should be grateful to Papa for giving you this opportunity at least you are marrying into the richest and most powerful men in New York city not trying to act like an heir.” Marco hissed.

“ Get your fucking hands off me, fucking leech” I said peeling myself away from him and walking out.

“ I'm not done talking to you, you dare not do anything stupid, if I have to bundle you to that engagement I sure will,” Papa called out angrily.

I rushed outside of Papa's office straight to my room and met my best friend— Rochelle, who had been waiting for me. My eyes were red with so much anger.

“Oh! Fuck, it’s true then,” she said

“What is true?” I asked her

“Your engagement to Aleksei Carmene.”

I blinked in surprise, “ How many people already know about this?”

She held my hand and I whizzed in pain

“What happened to you in there?” she asked

“ Did Marco do this?”

I nodded and hugged her fighting the tears,

“Calm down V, do you know who Aleksei Carmene is?” she asked calmly, taking me to a seat in my room.

I looked up and shook my head, “Just a little detail that he is my father’s rival heir, I have never had reasons to look into him.” I said

“ Girl, then you're in a big mess.”

“ Why?” I asked confused. “ He can't be any more ruthless than his father,” I said

“Oh! V he is the worst, he is a scary and dangerous man, I think you might like him because you are so much alike, but there are rumours about what killed his ex-wife.”

“ the fuck, are you trying to scare me right now?” I said to her

“ I know you will do your research but he is not a man to be messed with. In the Russian world everyone fears him, if you marry him no one will dare trouble the Grecos ever again,” she said

“But I don't want to be married to anyone I said firmly

“ Then what are you going to do?” she asked

I stood up and went to my wardrobe, Aleksei Carmene you just signed your death wish and you don't even know yet.

I picked up my note padand my burner phone and dial.

“What are you doing” my Rochelle whispers

“ Find out everything you can on Aleksei Carmene, his weakness and mostly what can kill him easily.” and I hung up.

“You know you can just run away, instead of bringing a war between the Grecos and Carmene,” Rochelle said

“ Are you going to join me to find out more about him or argue with me about how to go about this situation all day?” I said

I brought out my laptop and we lay on the bed, but my hands danced around my notepad first as I typed my father's name into my list.

I have a list of people who have hurt me and I slowly write out my revenge for them and my father just entered the list.