Blood Bound

A New Beginning

Isla Kalashnikov (P.O.V.)

Second day of work and I already feel like quitting. After all of the hardships I went through yesterday, I do not think I had the frame of mind to go through that again. I felt depressed and anxious about today.

I woke up at five this morning, it is now seven o’clock and I am still in bed. It was so tempting to just lay in bed and lock off the world, but I knew that if I succumbed to my depression, there is no getting out of it within three working days.

Maybe I could just quit. There are other jobs out there for me, with more professional people. I did not have to stay in this job, but it was a good one and I had so many advantages. Of course, those advantages do not come without sacrifice. That sacrifice being that I have to work with Dimitri, the man-w***e and self-obsessed man child.

“Isla honey, you are going to be late for work.”  I heard my mother shout through the door, and I sighed heavily.

Despite my negative feelings about today, I rolled out of bed and immediately began getting ready for work. As I was already behind schedule, I got ready in thirty minutes and ran downstairs where my both parents stood in the kitchen with my breakfast.

“Can I take the car to work today please?” I gave my dad a puppy eye look which he rolled his eyes at and chuckled.

“You know that technique is rather offensive to your kind considering some people refer to you as dogs.” My mother said handing me a cup of coffee and a bagel with cheese and a slice of ham on it.

“Well considering I am cute either way, I will take the compliment.” I said smiling sheepishly.

“You can take the car today.” My dad handed me the keys and walked away giving me a knowing look.

I looked at him in confusion while I downed the rest of my coffee and finished my breakfast.

“What did that look for?” I asked my mother.

She smirked and shrugged as she too walked away from me.

What the hell man.

Why is everyone acting so rude.

I grabbed my bag, hopped off the stool I was sitting on and made my way out of the house.

When I got out of the house, I saw another car parked in the driveway with a bow on it. Then it clicked in my head, and I looked down to see I was holding brand new keys which were stamped with the same car brand as the one with the bow.

My mouth grew agape with shock, and I looked at my parents who were smiling from ear to ear and jumping in excitement.

“WE GOT YOU A NEW CAR!!!” they both exclaimed, but I was lost for words.

“W-when, h-how…you guys!!!! When did you do this? Oh my gosh this is amazing, Thank you!” I ran up to them and immediately embraced them into a tight hug.

“We got this car for you as a congratulatory present for getting a new job. Mr. Zane also called us to let us know just how much of an amazing employee you are. Good job on finishing so much work on your first day sweetheart. We are so proud of you. Now, now, you cannot be late for work, you need to leave now. Drive safely and we will celebrate tonight.”

My father said while my mother continued to engulf me in hugs.

My parents were the sweetest people alive. I swear.

I unlocked the car and immediately got in. As I took a seat behind the wheel, I inhaled the new car scent and instantly felt so nostalgic.

I guess my parents made me conflicted decision for me. I felt so conflicted about the job at the firm, but now that my parents have done so much for me because of the opportunity, I did not want to let them down. While I may be staying at the firm, to not disappoint my parents, I am also benefitting from it in the long run; so there really is no reason to fuss about it.

The car was pushed to start, so I ignited the engine and immediately reversed out of the driveway and began my journey to work.

Fortunately for me, my parents made my day better and I was now in a good mood. I turned on the Bluetooth on my phone and as I stopped at a red light, I paired my phone to the car and put on some music.

Today is going to be a good day and I am dedicated to not let anyone, especially Dimitri, ruin it.

Dimitri Zane (P.O.V.)

Second day on the job and she was late. I had my suspicions that maybe she quit, and I was half expecting a call in a few minutes with the news. I sat behind my desk, slightly hungry, as Isla was assigned the task to get my breakfast every morning.

She did not need to, but I felt like it was a task I could annoy her with as my personal assistant. I really do not know whose brilliant idea it was to give me the intellect to start a firm that would turn out to be this successful, thus awarding me with so much power and money; because at this point, I practically use it irresponsibly.

Just as I was about to call another employee in to send her out to get me breakfast, Isla bounced in through the doors, without knocking with food in her hands.

“Sorry I did not knock; my hands were full, and I did not want to rest the food on the floor just for the sole purpose of knocking. Though, I did ensure you were not busy by looking through the blinds, before I came in, so I think I am safe in that aspect.” She chirped, not even giving me a chance to scold her.

With a tighten lip, I got up from my chair and took the food out of her hands.

“Thank you. How thoughtful of you. How are you today?” I asked her, trying my best to get pass the ongoing dispute I had with her.

Last night I came to the decision that I was not being fair at all toward her. She did the right thing by ending the relationship between us – something that I could not do because I could not look pass my own greed and temptation. I should be grateful that at least one of us was mature enough to see the consequences that may come as a result of our actions.

When it occurred, I prayed that she would not become attached me and use our relationship to get things her way and as those prayers were answered, I rejected the outcome, and it was not her fault at all.

I am a grown man and I think it is time I own up to my mistakes.

“I am great. Thank you for asking.” She said briefly, sticking to the point.

“Care to have breakfast with me?” I asked as I gestured to the food on my desk.

She looked at the food and smiled weakly.

“Actually, I ate before I left home. Sorry.” She said, looking at me apologetically.

I guess she can sense the effort I was making to make things better between us. I know it still is not professional to have breakfast with her like this, but considering we started off great as friends, I would like to get that connection back.

“Sit and have breakfast with me.” I said nonetheless, holding back a smile as I watched her struggle to refrain from rolling her eyes.

She took a seat and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat awkwardly.

Honestly, the tension in the room was thick and even it made me nervous.

“How come you were late today?” I asked as I took out a sandwich from the bag and handed it to her with a napkin.

She took it and sighed.

“I did not want to come. I got lost in my thoughts as I contemplated quitting my job.” Isla said bluntly with a straight face.

Yikes.

“What made you change your mind? Could not get enough of my handsome face?” I jokingly said chuckling, only to be met with more silence.

“My parents changed my mind.”

Okay so she was dead serious and was giving me the cold shoulder.

Time to apologise. This is the first time I have ever needed to do this, and it pained me to even consider it.

I shifted in my seat and took a sip of the coffee she brought me.

“Look, I know I treated you unfairly and I let my emotions get in the way of my actions and my judgment and I would like to apologize for it. I am sorry for treating you unfairly and giving you such a hard time. You were right, we cannot maintain a s****l relationship in a work environment, and I totally see why as per my recent actions. I could not see that, more like I did but I did not want to accept it because I was conflicted due to my own personal gain and temptations. I accept what is now after much deep thinking and consideration. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and we can continue this just as friends.” I felt like I said all of that in one breath.

I was still starving though, so I took casually took a bite of my sandwich as to avoid my stomach audibly grumbling in the silence and embarrassing me.

She sat in silence watching me as I chewed away. I suddenly felt self-conscious under her gaze which made me chew slower because I felt like she could hear each crunch occurring in my mouth.

“Sure. I forgive you but hear me when I say that I forgive, but I do not forget.” The last part sounded dark coming from her and it almost sent shivers down the spine.

Just then she chirped up with a bright smile.

“Great, so would you let me take you out tonight after work? Just as friends.”

She tapped her index finger on her chin and pretended to think about it.

Meanwhile, my heart began to palpitate, and my nerves began to get the best of me.

After much suspense, she looked at me and smirked.

“Sure, but this friend will be paying because I have yet to be paid.” She said chuckling slightly.

“This is only your second day Ms. Kalashnikov. You will get paid eventually but if you would like an advance on your salary, I can do that.” I responded jokingly.

She rolled her eyes and chuckled.

“I think I can wait Mr. Zane. What do you have for me to do today?”

Isla Kalashnikov (P.O.V.)

Well, this came as a surprise. I really was not expecting him to own up to his mistakes and apologize. It is shocking how much things have turned around for me, within the span of one day. Do I have a guardian angel or something? There is no way I am just that lucky.

“There is a stack of documents on the desk that needs to be typed and faxed to a few clients today. I would also appreciate it if you could schedule a conference meeting for me, with those same clients. I am not sure what I have scheduled this week, so simply schedule it for a day that I am mostly free. I would also like for you to go collect my suit that has just been tailored, I will send you the location.” He instructed and I instantly got up to go get started on today’s workload.

I honestly could not complain. Office work is not too bad when you have your own privacy and there is no one hovering over you all day. I basically come in, do work and leave.

Not bad at all.

“Are you not going to finish your sandwich?” He asked, gesturing to the meat sub in my hand.

I placed it on the desk and shook my head.

“I am not hungry. As I said, I ate before I left home.”

With that I walked out of his office and started on the work for the day. I made a mental note to finish at least half of the documents to be typed before I left during my lunch break to collect his suit.

That was until I noticed how much work was assigned to me. It was one stack of documents, less than what I was assigned yesterday, but it was still a lot.

I sat down and began typing away to get it over with.

Alessandro Petrov (P.O.V.)

Today I had a conference meeting at a firm because I figured that the lawyer team, I currently worked with for the company was not doing a proper job. I needed a strict team of really good lawyers to represent my company, especially as of recent developments with international branches.

It was about ten in the morning now and I sat behind my desk at the office, in pure frustration. Ever since I lost Isla, I had this constant feeling of emptiness, and I could not concentrate on anything.

I sent out search teams to look for her, but they were not successful at all. It is as if she disappeared from the planet. I could not catch her scent, I could not find her house, no one knew anything about her parents, and I was losing my mind.

I do not know how much longer I could take this because it is taking a toll on my wolf. These days he was rather agitated, and it is growing increasingly difficult to control him. I am basically losing control of myself.

“Alpha, you have a meeting in an hour, and I would advise that you leave now to skip the traffic to get there on time.” Stephanie, also my new personal assistant said as she sauntered into my office.

“What have I told you about knocking before you enter Stephanie.” I spat at her. She bowed her head in submission and exited my office.

She is honestly so useless.

Regardless of that, I got off my chair and made my way to the garage to make my way to the meeting. These people better not waste my time.