Cold as Ice
ALL HUMAN. Dimitri Belikov is a heartless businessman who cares little for both himself and others around him. When his wealth and power are threatened, he scrambles to keep his so called 'life' together. Introduce Rose, a struggling waitress, and will Dimitri be able to see past the money and luxury? Or is his corrupt heart too cold to be thawed? RxR
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
DPOV
And through it all, my head just hurt. Calling it a 'life', I would consider inappropriate: it was more of a routine; something one gets used to over a period of time and then just accepts as norm. Every morning the same: the same high-pitched wail of the alarm clock; the same suit as the day prior; the same drive in the same car to the same building to do the same thing and it always ended with the same bottle of vodka.
And through it all, my head just hurt.
I let out a hefty groan and hung my head back in fatigue. If I ever wanted to do anything, it would not be this. And yet, I must sit in a colourless and grey office staring solemnly at numbers and figures and statistics and facts and then try to make some sense of them to thus manipulate them into doing something profitable. I hated doing it. I hated being here, in this spotless office in this broken country. I wanted to just go home or go to hell.
And through it all, my head just hurt.
To be fair, the whiskey last night was my own fault. I had had a particularly bad day involving my boss, Viktor Dashkov, and needed to just unwind. So I did what any and every other twenty-four-year-old in a high paid business job did: I sniffed up some illegal high and partied away my sorrows.
Sure, waking up with some girl – whose name was either forgotten or we hadn't reached that point in conversation – wrapped round my naked body each morning gave me a feeling that could only be described as self-hatred and disgust did have its drawbacks but hey, who's keeping score?
My mama did raise me to respect women. And with three sisters, that kind of comes with the brother package, but my father had been violent and dishonourable towards my family, particularly my mother, and I guess that even though I hated him so, as soon as I laid that first punch to his face, I became him.
I became violent. I became merciless. I became as cold as ice and nothing could thaw through. The money I earned did not go to anything good but supplied the distraction from what I shamefully called my 'life'.
It also made me feel safe.
To have money, in this day and age, gave you power. Power to win; power to diminish; power to rule. Who cares if that power corrupts you? Who cares if, for that power, you traded what you once considered moral and good for something you that sickens you so much that you have to choke back your own vomit with alcohol? Who gives a shit?
I certainly don't. I have nothing to live for but the money and power and I never will. Family? Phft. My sisters do not want to look at me. They moved on with their lives: got married, had kids. Only my youngest, Viktoria, still tried to keep in touch. My mama is still clinging to the hope that I could be 'redeemed' or that my lost soul could be found. I have serious doubts about her argument, especially when she uses my crazy grandma's vision of my "flower" rescuing me from my arctic heart.
Love had always eluded me. My sisters Karolina and Sonya suppose they have found it in their husbands and children, but I don't even think it exists. You always hear it in children's stories and when something has been Disney-a-fied, you know it isn't real. It is like the 'Tooth Fairy', 'Santa' or 'Aliens'. It is not real.
Admittedly, I had felt warm and content with my family (or as much as you can be with an abusive father who would spontaneously turn up and start abusing) but I had never felt anything like what is described in Romeo and Juliet or portrayed in Tristan and Isolde.
No. It is the biggest load of bullocks in the world and nothing anyone could tell me was going to change that.
"Mr. Belikov." I snapped out of my haze and lazily tipped my head forward to see my sectary at the door.
"Alberta." I said, more irritably that intended.
"The statistical analyses for the planning permissions in the Manhattan area have been produced and are waiting your approval. The seasonally report has shown a substantial increase in both profit and popularity which has extended our title for another term. Your coffee is lacking its sugar because the kitchen has run out and Mr. Dashkov wishes to see you this morning." She imparted formally whilst placing my coffee cup on the table. I stared at the thing for a moment before picking it up, taking a sip and swallowing slowly.
My head was still spinning from last night. So much so that I forgot that Alberta in all her 5"5", grey pencil skirt, file-carrying glory still stood in the glass doorway of my office waiting to receive some sort of response.
"That coffee is disgusting." I dumped the cup back down and hastily left my chair.
I barely heard Alberta utter "I'll get you another then" over her slamming the files onto my desk, but since I did; I gave her courtesy of a reply.
"By the time a get back!"
Viktor was an aging man. His forehead was lined with creases and wrinkles and his once dark brown hair was line with grey. His eyes were heavy and tired from exhaustion and dull from boredom. I shuddered every time I saw him. My looks were the only thing I had going for me – my shoulder-length, dark brown hair, 6"7" frame and toned build generally got positive reviews – and whilst I wasn't looking like Viktor now, it only seemed inevitable.
"Belikov," his raspy voice croaked as I entered the glass-windowed board room.
"Good morning sir." I said, cheerfully putting on a smile.
"For some I suppose." He grinned, his eyes glistening with a sense of evil. I just rolled my eyes and sat down beside him, knowing full well this was typical Viktor behaviour.
"You wished to see me." I said getting straight to the point. No use in beating around the bush with pleasantries at this time in the morning.
"Oh yes, I sent the short-haired one. What was her name?"
"Alberta."
"Ah yes, her. Well, I can't keep track of all our couriers now can I?" he mused. "Anyway, the company reports came out and you know what that means… I get to fire some people!" he exclaimed and I rolled my eyes again. "Goodbye slackers and pain in my arses. It is my favourite time of year and especially this year as I finally get the kick that Adrian out of your floor." He paused, "It is in times like this where I think there is a God! Anyway," he chuckled, "back to businesses." I had always marvelled at how quickly his face could change. Not a moment ago was he joking around and now, his face seemed void of emotion.
He leaned forward and continued. "The reports have shown just how successful and well you are doing and have been in this company but it has also highlighted an issue. As you are aware, Nathan Ivashkov is one of the company's biggest success stories. He is a shining light on our stage and has brought much prosperity to our lives. However, you too are a bright one; you are young thus lacking in some experience however your talent is incomparable: you are an oncoming storm that is raging within out ranks. Both you gentlemen are the fundamentally key assets to Moroi Enterprises and I couldn't bear to go on without you."
"I don't see the problem sir?" I raised an eyebrow.
Viktor looked at me squarely with his placid face: "I have to fire one of you."
Yo my dear comrades in Comrade.
It has been a while but nonetheless, hello again. First (planned) multi-chaptered Fanfic is underway! I would love to hear your thoughts on the plot. I had recently watched Духless – which, by the way, is brilliant so I would recommend it (it also has Danila Kozlovsky in it so I was all for it :3) but it does surpass the M rating on this website and is in full out Russian so, they may be factors to consider before watching – and I thought "not bad" so this is very loosely based on that (very).
I couldn't remember if Viktor's name was spelled with a 'c' or a 'k' in the book as I have lent them to a friend so I went with the 'k' because it kinda looked cool :P
Also, apologies for the length of the chapter and the slow start: I needed to set the scene so please bear (bare?) with it.
Anywho, I would love to hear what you guys think of the plot, writing, etcetera. so review away and I'll respond soon.
All the best
Mariarty :3