hi guys! Sorry for my messed up update! I'm still trying to work out how to use this site on my phone! Thanks for reading the story!

disclaimer: VA characters belong to Richelle

CHAPTER 2

DPOV:

I awoke with a slight headache. Probably from drinking a little bit too much wine. I felt something more like someone move. I looked down to see Rose snuggle closer against my chest. She had a peaceful and innocent look on her face which I found quite shocking since I knew she was anything but innocent.

Flashback

Everyone began having their own little conversations as we drank I don't know how many bottles of wine.

"So Dimitri Belikov huh?" Rose said becoming a little bit tipsy from all the wine.

"Yes? Is there a problem with that?" I asked.

"Well you seem like a nice guy. You obviously care a lot about your little sister but your hiding something's. Also your a business man." She said whilst thinking really hard. It both amazed and scared me how she knew I had secrets when I only met her a couple hours ago.

"What wrong with being a business man?" I asked. I had on what I liked to call "guardian mask." It was basically a neutral expression and you won't be able to see what I really feel.

"My father." She replied.

"Your father?"

"Yeah. He's one too. You guys are the same.. Somehow..." Rose thought about it for a moment.

"Who's your father?"

"Ibrahim Mazur." I nearly spat out the wine I was drinking. This exotic beauty sitting on my lap was Mazur's daughter? Oh I was in deep shit. Abe also knows as zmey back in Russia was a businessman both legally and illegally. I knew him through my father. The man could get whatever he want and nothing would stop him from getting it. He was able to keep his illegal business so much on the down low that people only knew him as the successful multi-billionaire like my father.

"Hey Rose remember when you put flour bombs on every teacher's drawer and super glue on their seats?" Eddie laughed.

"You did that?" I asked. She really was Mazur's daughter.

"They were all being unfair to us. They gave out detentions for "inappropriate commentary" when we were asked to share our thoughts on the topics." Rose shrugged but I could see the glint in her eyes, no doubt recalling the memory.

End of flashback

I saw that I blanket was placed over all of us. Katya must've seen us all asleep. I moved my hand to check the time on my watch without waking up Rose and saw that it was only 5am.

Since it was still very early I decided to fix Rose into a more comfortable position and she snuggled into my chest as I draped the blanket over us. I liked it. I liked having Rose snuggled up against my chest. Her body just moulded against mine.

What was happening to me?

ASH POV

"Hey lil guy." I said and looked down into the crib. I carried the toddler who had begun crying. He looked so familiar. Those eyes...

"Papa." The toddler smiled. I smiled back. This child. Was I his father? He smiled up and I stared into the familiar blue eyes.

I awoke suddenly and looked around me. I realised that it was just a dream. It was only just a dream...

"Mmm. Dobraye ootra (good morning)" Yelena stretched her arms which nearly hit me.

"Ah miss Belikova, I see your all starting to wake up. What would you like for breakfast?" Katya asked.

"Bliny? Please?" Yelena asked.

"Sure." Katya left.

"How much wine did we drink last night? I didn't think that I'd get drunk." She asked touching her forehead.

"Well we all finished more than 3 bottles so quite a bit." I replied and I massaged her temples for her. Yelena then began fiddling with the pendant of the necklace I gave her and I smiled. She always had that habit for as long as I can remember and she didn't even know what it said. If only she knew what that ring meant... I had my own one actually. It was the same as hers except a male's version which I also wore around my neck. Although I always hid it under my shirt so all you could see was a part of the chain.

"I just want to sleep." She grumbled against my chest.

"It's already 10am. I'll tell you what, I've got a meeting I need to attend to but I'm free for dinner. How about we do go out on a... for dinner?" Shit I nearly stuffed up there.

"Sure. Where we eating? So I know what to wear?" She asked.

"Just wear a dress. There's a business dinner thing on as well so I was wondering if we can go tonight? I know it's just suppose to be me and you but your father insisted. We've got new clients to meet..." I gave her a small pout.

She sighed. "chertovski glupyye delovyye vstrechi." (Damn stupid business meetings) Yelena muttered in Russian.

"It's okay. What time is it?" She asked.

"It's at seven. At the office. Your father's coming home as well." I said.

"Yeah... My father..." She thought. I sighed and hugged her tightly. I knew about her past. That was why Dimitri told me to be careful.

"Mm what happened last night?" Adrian asked. He and Ivan were both wasted since they drank wine and tequila as well as some vodka.

"You and Ivan drank a lot whilst they rest of us only had some wine." I replied. Slowly we all got up and the girls all shared clothes and what not whilst us guys did the same.

YPOV:

All of us girls headed over to my room and they asked if they could borrow some clothing since they felt like they all needed a good shower and a change of clothes. When all of us girls were done we just sat around my room talking.

"So Lissa when's the big day?" I asked.

"We haven't fully planned it yet but probably sometime next year." She squealed. We all smiled at her.

"So what's with you and Ashton?" Mia asked me. The question caught me off guard.

"Huh? Nothing's going on between us." I began to fiddle with my pendant.

"Oh come on Yelena! He calls you what was it Liss?" Rose paused.

"Lenochka." Lissa replied.

"Yeah that. And the way he looks at you. You cannot tell us there's nothing going on between you guys!" Mia exclaimed.

"That's just a nickname my parents gave me and it caught on." I said. I nearly choked on the last part. My parents...

"Guys, just because they act like that doesn't mean their together." Sydney said coming into my defence. I shot her a grateful look.

"Who gave that to you?" Lissa asked when she noticed me fiddling with my pendant.

"Oh this? It was just a gift." I trailed off. I took it off to show Lissa and the rest of the girls.

"There's Cyrillic writing on it." Lissa examined closer.

"I'm not as fluent as Sydney or probably even you considering your Russian." Lissa said passing the necklace to Sydney.

"What does it say?" Rose asked.

"I don't know." I replied sighing.

"What do you mean you don't know? I thought you knew Russian?" She asked.

"I only know some bits and pieces. Enough to get by. I asked Ashton what it meant as well as Dimitri but neither or them would tell me."

"Well I just know that Ashton obviously likes you." Lissa giggled. I smiled at her enthusiasm. There was then a sudden knock on the door.

"Come in." Ashton and Dimitri walked in.

"Breakfast is ready." They both said.

"Mitri, Dobraye ootra!" I greeted him with a raspberry kiss on the cheek. He chuckled.

"Aw your both so cute! I wish Andre and I were like that!" Lissa whined. I smiled up at Dimitri and I looked to where more like who he was staring at. Rose. I smiled. Finally! Someone for Dimitri!

"Ashton did you get Yelena that?" Sydney asked.

"Yeah." Was his only reply.

"It's cute." Sydney said but I noticed she had wheels turning in her head.

"Lenochka here." Ashton clasped it around my neck again and then he rested a hand on my lower back.

"So what are we doing after breakfast." I asked. Whilst we ate the Bliny.

"Well I've got a meeting and there's a dinner in the company tonight. More business deals and uh father is coming back from his trip..." Dimitri said.

"Yippee." I said sarcasm dripping in my voice. "Ugh. I hate all those business events. Same old same old." I sighed.

"Yelena, mama and the rest of the family will be there too. But Victor Dashkov will be there as well..." Dimitri trailed off.

"Victor as in the business man Victor Dashkov? Father of Natalie Dashkov?" Lissa asked.

"That's the one. You know, I don't feel so good. I think I'll just have to skip out on this event. Excuse me."

I excused myself from the table and made my way to the staff area of the apartment.

"Miss Belikova, why aren't you eating? Bliny is your favourite! Did you not like it?" Katya asked as she made me a cup of tea.

"No, no it was good. I just don't feel good. Thanks for the tea Katya." I have her a small smile which she returned and I went to my study. What I loved about my study was that hardly anyone knew it was there. The door was a bookshelf in Dimitri's study so it was quite well hidden.

I sat down by the fir and just stared at it remembering my parents...

DPOV:

"Dimitri why is he there?" Ivan asked enraged.

"My uncle isn't that bad. What did he do? I know he gets into trouble but he can't be that bad!" Lissa defended.

"Sorry Lissa it's just our family doesn't have a good past with your uncles." I explained.

"Why did Yelena leave?" Rose asked from beside me.

"She and Victor aren't exactly best friends." Was what Ashton said.

"What happened to her?" Rose asked. I hesitated. Should I tell them? Victor was Lissa's uncle but I knew she wouldn't do anything to hurt us.

"You can trust us Dimitri." Rose placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder which sent electricity up my arm.

"It's not really my story to tell." I said.

"Yelena won't tell us. She won't tell anyone D. Hell we had to pry it out of her!" Ivan exclaimed.

"Fine. Get comfy ladies and gentlemen." I got into a comfy position and began telling them Yelena's story.

"Yelena's not actually my biological sister." I said and all the girls gasped.

"How?" Mia asked.

"We adopted her. Here's the story... Yelena's my cousin. She's got an older brother- Andrew. He's around our mine and Ivan's age. We were all close when we were younger. Our families. But then Victor came into the picture."

"What did he want?" Sydney asked.

"Victor was a small investor for Yelena's families business. A branch of the Belikov Industries. Yelena's family didn't want to do business with Victor anymore and he was outraged. He kept pestering them until Yelena and her family lived with my family and I since our fathers our brothers and had a good relationship."

"Why didn't they want to do business anymore?" Eddie asked.

"Victor was a gambler. He had a bad gambling problem I'm sure you've heard about. He was a stock hold just a small one as well as an investor. He used the money he got from the company for gambling and god knows what else."

"One day after our families ate out, Yelena and Andrew were kidnapped. They didn't go down without a fight. Yelena didn't know how to fight since she was about five at the time but Andrew did. They were taken and our families did a search of the whole of Europe. We found them at some sort of mansion or something outside of Novosibirsk. Her mother and father new how to fight and freed her and her brother. Ivan, Ashton and I were there and so were some other people. Whilst we were fighting we heard gun shots."

"Aunt Sasha and uncle Sergei where shot and we brought them to hospital. When we got there they were brought to the ER but they died on the operating table. There was too much blood. Too many gun shots. Andrew and Yelena didn't known until the next day since they were both unconscious for a couple days since they hadn't eaten and fought they were too tired."

"After the funeral, we decided to adopt them both but Andrew disappeared. We don't know if he was taken or if he just left. My guess is he was taken and we've been looking for him ever since."

"So Yelena's your cousin but now she's your adoptive sister?" Mason asked. I nodded.

"So Victor kidnapped them. All for money?" Rose asked.

"Yes. She's been looking for him but we don't know where he is."

"How long has he been gone for?" Adrian asked.

"Fifteen years. It's going to be his birthday in a few weeks..." I continued.

"That's why your so protective of her!" Adrian said.

"Huh? Why would you say that?" I asked.

"I've known you for less than 48 hours but I notice stuff. Your protective over her. I can read it. It's like an aura around you. Also you always check if she's alright every now and then. Making sure she's there as if she might disappear." Adrian could read auras? Let alone see them? That's out of the ordinary.

"Yeah I guess. Things just changed since then. She thinks that we've stopped looking for Andrew since every time we have a lead, it's never him. We just keep the whole PI thing on the down low." I replied.

"Maybe Abe can help us." Lissa looked at Rose.

"Abe Mazur?" Ivan asked.

"Liss I haven't seen the old man in ages and I don't even know which continent he's in. He just calls every now and then and changed his phone after every call. I can't contact him Liss." Rose sighed.

"Your Mazur's daughter? I knew I recognised that name..." Ivan trailed off.

"How do you know my father?" She asked.

"That's a story for another time. Right now I've got to get ready for a meeting." I excused myself and do did everyone else.

After showering and changing into slacks, a dark blue dress shirt and blazer I went to my study knowing Yelena was either there or in her own study.

"Yelena?" I entered her study. She sat on the couch and looked at the fire. She's probably been looking at it for ages. Her eyes ha a far away look and she had silent tears flowing down her cheeks.

"I got a letter." She said. She handed me a square envelope.

"Who's it from?" I asked.

"Read it." Was her only reply.

I opened up the letter and there was a card. I read it out loud.

"To Lenochka,

Yelena I missed you. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. I know it's been a year since I last wrote to you. To answer your previous question, I can't come home. Nor can I tell you when or where I am. It's not safe for you. I can't keep away from you little one. We'll meet soon I promise. Just be careful of Dashkov. Don't worry I'm watching and I'll protect you if he dares to lay a hand on you. I won't let it happen again. I love you.

Love Andrew"

"I get one every year. I just want to know where he is. I don't even know what he looks like anymore. His face is slipping from my mind. Dimitri I can't go to night. I can't see Dashkov. I'm not ready to face him yet. If I face him I might cause a scene." Yelena looked at me so fragile and so... Broken...

"I'll talk to father and see if you can skip out. Don't worry." I hugged her and she snuggled up to me and cried silently on my chest.

"Come on." I said after a good thirty minutes or so. She nodded and cleaned herself up before shutting the secret door to the study.

YPOV:

"Yelena!" Ashton came up to give me a hug once Dimitri and I entered the living room. Everyone was there. Sitting around.

"Yelena we know what happened..." Rose began.

"You were bound to find out. Any questions?" They all seemed surprised that I sounded so casual.

"What did he do to you and Andrew?" Dimitri hesitated.

"On the first night he punched Andrew in the face and told him to shut up. Andy and I tried to think of ways to escape but we got caught and we were beaten up badly. We had only one glass of water a day and no food. They would beat us up and record it and they'd send it as videos to our parents. After the whole incident I learnt how to fight and Andrew disappeared." I said whilst fiddling with my pendant.

Ashton sat me down on his lap and I instinctively snuggled up to his chest. He wrapped an arm around me and kissed my head.

"Hey I need to hand some stuff in for uni so I need to get going." I said after a while.

"Why don't I come with you? I need to take some more photos for this project I'm working on." Rose asked.

"Actually I just got a message from the office. They said that the meeting had to be cancelled due to some food poisoning so I'm free." Dimitri said.

"Well Christian and I need are having some alone time together. How about we just catch up later on?" Lissa asked.

"Sounds good." Adrian said and we all nodded and one by one everyone began to leave.

"By Yelena, I'll call you when my meeting is finished." He said giving me a kiss on the cheek. I nodded and he left.

"Rose are you ready to go?" I asked she nodded and Dimitri decided that he'd come with us.

RPOV:

Once we were at Yelena's University, she stayed for a while saying she had to speak to some of her professors so Dimitri and I decided to walk around the halls.

Whilst I took some photos Dimitri's phone rang.

"Hello?" He said. His tone was cold.

"What? But- no father I- tonight?! But I'm not- No No No! Actually I'll introduce you to her tonight... Yes yes. Look I promise. And is there any possibility Yelena can back out tonight? Yes. She's just not ready yet. She got a letter from him... I know. We're still looking but she doesn't know that. Yes. Ok. I'll explain to her. Bye." Dimitri hung up the phone and cursed in Russian underneath his breath.

"Rose... I know we've only recently met but..." Dimitri held onto my hands and gave me a pleading look."Will you marry me and be my wife?" He asked. I stood there gaping like a fish. Did he just ask me to marry him? I mean Dimitri was nice and was hot- like the kind of hot that makes you stop walking and get hit by traffic hot- I mean we hadn't even gone out on a date yet!

"Look Dimitri I-

"Please Rose? It's my father I need your help." He pleaded.

"What happened?" We walked and talked.

"The board of directors think that for my age I should be married or at least engaged. They say it's bad to have me running really the main part of the whole business and not be married. Can you please pretend to be my wife?" Dimitri asked.

"I-I"

"I know I shouldn't have asked. I mean we hardly know each other and-

"I'll do it. If it helps you then why not? And your a nice guy Dimitri, I wouldn't mind getting married to you someday." Oh shit! Did I just say that last bit out loud? Dimitri raised an eyebrow at me.

"I mean-" he just chuckled and took my hand in his. Oh Fuck my life!

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Practising for a later." He said. Knowing that he was pretending kind of hurt for some odd reason yet the feel of his big warm hands entwined with mine made me smile.

"What are you smiling about Roza?" He asked.

"What's Roza?" I asked. I'm pretty sure I stuffed up the pronunciation. Dimitri chuckled.

"Roza. It's your name in Russian." He shrugged.

"I like it comrade." I thought.

"Comrade?" He raised an eyebrow. Damn him for doing that cool on eyebrow thing.

"It suits you. Besides I learnt about the RSSR." I shrugged.

"It's the USSR..." I playfully hit him on the arm and he chuckled.

"I think Yelena should be finished now. Come on. I don't want to leave her alone for too long." His grip tightened a bit. I knew his concern.

Yelena was already out and saw our hands.

"Uh, I have nothing against you two being together but haven't you guys just knows each other for less than forty-eight hours?" She tried to raise her eyebrow but failed so she raised both.

"She's my wife." Dimitri said kissing my temple.

"What the-" then she started cursing in Russian.

"Ok D. What is this? Romeo and Juliet? I love you both but don't go to fast." She said.

"No, she's pretending to be my wife. I'll explain." Then Dimitri started rambling off in Russian and Yelena nodded.

"Wait I have to go?" Dimitri nodded.

"The board wants to see you and ask you some questions about the business trip in Russia." Dimitri said.

"Fine. I'll go. But don't expect me to exchange compliments with Victor." She huffed.

"Well I better go get ready. I'll see you later Mitri. By Rose." She gave Dimitri a kiss on the cheek and gave me a hug then left.

"I suppose she took it well?" I asked not really sure what to say.

"Not really. When she's that calm it means that I'm going to have to buy some new dummies for the gym. I bet we'll need a couple new ones." He shook his head.

"Hey, how about we go do something. You know, get your mind off things?" He nodded and smiled at me. His smile took my breath away. It was beautiful and genuine. I loved it.

"Let's get some coffee. I know a cafe just down the street." He took my hand in his again and I felt electricity shot up through my arm.

Once we arrived at the cafe he sat us down and ordered some drinks and doughnuts.

"So tell me about yourself." Dimitri began.

"Okay... We'll I'm twenty-one. I'm an only child, my father as you know is Abe Mazur and my mother is Janine Hathaway." I said in between bites of my chocolate glazed doughnuts. "What about you?" I asked.

"Well I'm the only boy. I have an older sister Karolina, then it's me then Sonja and then it's Viktoria. And then it's Yelena. Karolina has a son Paul who's ten and Zoya who's six months old." He said.

"Anyway what should I wear tonight?" I asked.

"Mm... Preferably a dress." Dimitri said.

"Okay what times is it at?"

"It's at half seven so I'll pick you up at seven. May I please have your address?" He took out his phone and I typed in my address.

"Well I guess I'll see you tonight then." I stood in front of my apartment building which I owned with all the girls meaning, Mia, Sydney, Jill, Lissa and I were all roomies.

"Thank you again for that Roza. Pick you up at seven." He said before driving off.

? ゚メル? ゚メレ❤️? ゚メル? ゚メレ❤️? ゚メル?

ASH POV:

Ugh. When I got home I immediately took off my watch, shoes and suit and lied down on the couch. God I was tired. I had so much paper work I had to do and to top it all off, some clients were being difficult. I needed to do business with them later this evening during the banquet. Speaking of banquet, I wonder who Dimitri and Ivan's taking. According to the board, Dimitri should have a relationship if not Alexander's going to choose his bride. Ivan on the other hand always has some girl with him so I wonder who the new lady is going to be.

I sighed and got up to change for the banquet. I ended up wearing a white dress shirt which was rolled up to my elbows with a striped tie and black vest. I then put on my trench coat since the weather had started to become cold.

I knocked on Yelena's door to see is she was ready and my breath caught in my throat. She was wearing a simple blue open back Zara dress with a slim brown belt. Her hair was in a slightly messy chignon like what Nina Dobrev had (pic of link on profile) and black wedged ankle boots. For jewellery she had on the necklace I gave her which made me smile.

"Hey, are you ready?" I asked and gave her a hug. She smelt like one of those VS perfumes which I knew she loved.

"Yeah. Let me just get my bag." She said. I smiled at her and we drove to the banquet.

DPOV:

I stood in front of Rose's apartment in my suit and tie. I also had a single red rose. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Lissa answered it.

"Dimitri! Hey! Rose will be ready in a minute. Come in!" She said happily.

"How are you?" She asked making small talk.

"I'm good and you?"

"I'm-" Lissa was cut off by Mia.

"I present Rosemarie Hathaway Mazur-Belikova. Dimitri Belikov's "wife". And here she is folks!" Mia announced.

Rose emerged out of the hallway wearing a blue Sandro dress with black heels and her hair was up in a bun.

"Hi Rose." I smiled at her and handed her the flower. She smiled.

"Hey Dimitri. Thanks for the rose.

I usually don't like the whole rose gestures but I like this one, so thanks." She smiled at me and gave me a peck on the cheek. Lissa squealed whilst Mia giggled.

We just shook out heads and drove to the banquet. Knowing that Victor and Yelena would be in the same room as well as my father? I knew it was going to be a long night...

Thanks guys for reading! Review if you want to! And also sorry for my late update! I'll try to update as much as I can!