Chapter 4 Bitter Moon

The limousine was moving through the streets of Moscow, taking the newlyweds to their love nest, but the atmosphere inside the vehicle was far from romantic. Anya was looking out the window, fighting back tears, beside her, Alexei was drinking champagne straight from the bottle, completely ignoring her.

"I hope you are satisfied, you have managed to trap me in this sham marriage." He said suddenly, his voice laden with venom.

Anya turned to face him, her blue eyes burning with indignation.

"You think I wanted this? To marry a stranger who despises me? You are very wrong." Alexei let out a bitter laugh.

"Of course, because you are a poor innocent victim, don't think I have forgotten how you used me that night, you must have planned all this with your cousin Katya." Katya? What did Katya have to do with Alexei? Anya wondered for a moment, did Alexei know her?

"I didn't plan anything! I didn't even know who you were until today, and I never conspired with Katya, she betrayed me," Anya burst out.

"How convenient, but it doesn't matter, you are my wife now, for better or worse, and I assure you it will be for worse." She said bitterly, then took another sip of champagne.

The rest of the trip passed in tense silence, upon reaching the mansion, Alexei got out of the car and walked towards the entrance without looking back, Anya followed him, when she was about to cross the door, Alexei turned abruptly and picked her up in his arms.

For a second, Anya allowed herself to dream that everything was different, that he was holding her tenderly, ready to start a life together, but the fantasy was shattered when Alexei unceremoniously threw her into the garden fountain.

Anya screamed as she felt the icy cold water soaking through her dress, emerging coughing and spitting, her makeup smeared and her hair completely ruined.

"Welcome to your new home, darling." Alexei mocked before turning around and disappearing into the house, Anya stood there, shivering in the cold, humiliated, as her tears mixed with the water from the fountain. What nightmare had she gotten herself into?

Later, after changing, they left for the airport, on Alexei's private plane to the Maldives, he set about humiliating Anya, flirting with the flight attendants, Anya ignored him, not that she cared.

Arriving at the hotel, Alexei mocked the romantic decor.

"How cheesy, don't get excited, I'll ask for separate rooms."

The honeymoon was a constant tug-of-war, Alexei either ignoring Anya or humiliating her in public, shamelessly flirting with other women, Anya was fed up with being treated like a leper, if Alexei could have fun, so could she.

That was how she met Dmitri, a diving instructor at the hotel, he was kind, attentive and made her laugh, it was everything Alexei couldn't, soon Anya was spending her days exploring the coral reefs with Dmitri, while Alexei drank and rolled around with any woman who crossed his path.

But the idyllic getaway couldn't last forever, one afternoon, while Anya and Dmitri were walking on the beach, Alexei saw them, blinded by fury and jealousy, he lunged at Dmitri and knocked him down with a punch to the face.

"Get away from my wife, you idiot!" He roared, while kicking the poor man on the ground.

Anya, completely horrified, tried to stop him.

"Alexei, stop it! You're going to kill him!"

But Alexei wouldn't listen, he kept hitting Dmitri until Anya stepped between them.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You have no right! You've ignored me all this time, and now you're playing the jealous husband?" she screamed, pushing him away.

Alexei looked at her with reddened eyes, for a moment, Anya feared he was going to hit her too, but instead, he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the hotel, leaving Dmitri bleeding on the sand.

Anya struggled uselessly against Alexei's strong grip as he dragged her back to the hotel, the pain in her arm nothing compared to the fury she was feeling.

"Let me go, you brute! You have no right to treat me like that." She screamed, trying to get away, Alexei let out a bitter laugh.

"I have every right in the world, moya zhena, you're my wife, remember? And I won't allow you to make a fool of me with your affairs."

"Affairs? Have you gone mad?" Dmitri is just a friend." Anya looked at him incredulously.

"A friend that you spend all your time with, well that's it, from now on, you won't leave my side, and if I find out that you've been unfaithful, pray that that bastard was never born." Alexei tightened his grip, making her gasp in pain.

Anya paled at the threat. How could Alexei think that of her? Didn't she see the hypocrisy of his accusations, when he was rolling around with every woman that crossed his path? But arguing was useless, Alexei was blinded by jealousy and possessiveness, and nothing she said would make him see reason.

Resigned, Anya let herself be led to the suite, once there, Alexei slammed the door and abruptly released her.

"You'll pack your bags, we're leaving first thing tomorrow morning." He ordered.

Anya looked at him defiantly, rubbing her sore arm.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Oh yes you will unless you want your little friend Dmitri to suffer an unfortunate accident." Alexei smiled dangerously.

A shiver ran down Anya's spine, she knew Alexei didn't make idle threats, if she refused, Dmitri would pay the consequences.

"You're a monster." She whispered, tears burning in her eyes.

"I'm your husband and you better get used to it, because I'm not letting you go." Alexei shrugged, with that, he turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving Anya shaking with rage and fear.

But beneath those emotions, another more dangerous one stirred, one that Anya refused to acknowledge, even to herself, arousal, she felt a dark and twisted fascination for this man that terrified her and attracted her in equal parts.

Shaking her head to clear those disturbing thoughts, Anya began to pack her bags, swallowing back helpless tears. She had no choice, for now, she would have to play along with Alexei, but one day, she would find a way to free herself from his clutches.

Although a part of her feared that by then, it would be too late, that Alexei would claim not only her body, but also her soul, the flight back to Moscow was tense and silent, Alexei devoted himself to working on his laptop, ignoring Anya completely.

She pretended to sleep, but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What would her life be like from now on? Could she survive a marriage with a man who despised her?

When they landed, a limousine was waiting for them. Grandparents Vladimir and Anatoly wanted to see them immediately, so they went to where they were waiting.

"Welcome home, dear grandchildren, I hope the trip was beneficial in getting to know each other better." Vladimir greeted with a smile.

Anya and Alexei exchanged a quick glance, if only their grandparents knew the truth.

"It was instructive." Alexei replied with a tight smile.

"Well, well, because there is news, during your absence, we have decided to merge our companies, starting today, Alexei will be the president and Anya the vice president." Anatoly said.

Anya blinked, stunned. Working alongside Alexei? Seeing him every day, with no escape? This was a nightmare come true.

But Alexei seemed pleased, too pleased, he smiled, it was the smile of a predator who had just been given the keys to his prey's cage.

"Excellent news, Grandpa, I'm sure Anya and I will make a great team." He lied.

Anya gulped, a bad feeling stirring in her stomach, what was Alexei up to?

"However, if they were to divorce, the companies would separate again, so for the sake of everyone, we hope their marriage will last." Anatoly continued.

Anya saw her last hope fade away, she was trapped with Alexei, for better or worse, later, in her new office, Anya tried to concentrate on work, but it was difficult with Alexei just a few meters away, his presence constantly distracting her.

Suddenly, her secretary walked in with a huge bouquet of roses.

"For you, Mrs. Petrova, from your husband."

Anya blinked, confused. Alexei sending her flowers? After everything that had happened? She opened the card, her heart racing as she read the message.

"We got off to a bad start, moya zhena, but maybe we can start over, if you're willing to try, meet me at the Pushkin restaurant at 9, if you don't come, I'll understand, the decision is yours. -A."

Anya stared at the flowers, her mind and heart going to war. Could she trust Alexei? Or was this just another manipulation? Before she could think better of it, Anya made a decision.

She would go to this date, she wanted to know what Alexei was up to once and for all.