4 Chapter. Yulia

- What's going on? - I turned to my father, who was sighing heavily. He lifted his head, not looking me in the eye, he said:

- Sit down.

- I don't want to get married... we don't live in the Middle Ages! After all, I have the right to choose! - I couldn't help but raise my voice, I rarely let myself do that, especially with my father.

-Tamara, bring me a brandy," said the father, addressing the housekeeper in a calm tone over the telephone as if nothing had happened, and then hung up.

- Sit down, I said.

And that's for me, because I didn't do what he asked or ordered. Honestly, I don't see much difference. I sat down in the chair. Tamara brought a bottle of his favorite cognac on a tray, with a carved crystal glass for this alcoholic beverage. She placed the tray with its contents on the table in front of him and filled a quarter of the glass, pulling it closer to his father. He followed her gaze until she left his office.

- You're not allowed," I said.

- I've had my fill of everything, daughter, and this isn't about me. I've made a contract with Alan... for you, he's a very favorable match.

- But me! - I jumped up from my chair and started to speak.

- Don't interrupt and sit back down," he changed his tone slightly, not letting me finish my sentence. - You're being disrespectful to me. What kind of manners?!

Lowering herself back into the chair and folding her arms in front of her, she said:

- I'm sorry, Father.

- Another thing. Daughter... Alan is a very powerful man, and in some matters, no one can do better than him, his family is as powerful as he is. I couldn't have found a better alliance for you. But... none of this would have happened, of course, were it not for circumstances. Let's speak openly..." he took another sip and drained the glass, setting it down noisily on the table. - Tomorrow you turn eighteen, you'll be an adult, but you're just getting started. When I'm gone, you'll live a little longer than I will... I'm sorry to have to say this to you, but I guess I can't tell you any other way.

I sit and listen with horror to what my father has to say to me. After these words, I became very nervous, but for a different reason, because marriage doesn't seem so terrible compared to what my father is saying to me now.

- If you don't listen to me..." he paused for a moment, looking at me. - I see that you've begun to realize that I'm not joking... so, my little girl, unfortunately, you've been unwittingly drawn into the game of grown-up and far from kind people, for whom human values are unimportant when it's a question of power and money. People who would like to get my share in the holding are bandits and murderers. Believe me, not everyone means well or sympathizes with you. And a bandit doesn't necessarily have to be wearing a cap over his eyes and dark clothes, as they often show in the movies. Sometimes, they are intelligent people in expensive suits, with neat manicures, on whose wrist is a watch encrusted with diamonds. Yulenka ... daughter, - you are my direct heiress, I can not leave you just like that, at the mercy of fate. I've thought of everything in advance and made all the arrangements. Therefore, you will have a wonderful protector and a wonderful husband, who will take all the reins of the holding on himself. This is my partner, we started together. I know him well both as a man and as a businessman. The contract has already been signed. You will get married, and only after that all the assets and shares will go to him, so you will be protected and live well. You may think this is the end of life - believe me it's not. I want the best for you. Once you're married, I'll leave the country forever. I want you to be happy...I am guilty to you...very guilty...spent a lot of time at work, have been unfair to you. I've been a lot of things, but I love you, my little girl. Be strong and listen to your husband, he's a good man, even though he's very harsh. You can find levers to control everyone, you're smart...

- Pa, don't leave me... please... I don't want all this. I want you to be with me..." my tears came involuntarily, and I couldn't stop them.

- Yulia, you are a strong girl, you will survive... give your energy to the family you will soon have. Don't waste it on tears and sadness. Don't cry, daughter, your eyes will hurt. Now please go and get ready, Arsoev's car will be here soon. Don't say goodbye, I don't like goodbyes... go, my daughter, go... but don't do anything stupid, Arsoev thinks three steps ahead, he left his men in our house to watch you. He realizes you might do something stupid. And that's no good.

I only smeared tears and snot on my face, but my father did not change himself, even at such a moment he remained like a rock, unshakable. He didn't even look at me, because he was concentrating on the cognac, pouring another portion into the glass.

I left the office quietly, stood outside the door for another five minutes, swallowing bitter tears, and then moved forward to my room. I was so looking forward to my adulthood, I had so many plans, and now nothing matters, because today I am entering the unknown. What will happen to me, I don't know... And I wanted to celebrate my birthday with my friends.

- Welcome to adulthood, Yulia," I said aloud to my reflection in the mirror in my room. I don't care about everything, I need a hot bath. I went, tearing off my favorite linen tunic on the way, taking my headphones on the way to completely relax...

Lying in the bathtub filled with hot water and pineapple oil and bubble bath. Trying to relax to the soft melody of a popular artist. And yet... it's hard to do when you're standing at a fateful crossroads prepared for me by an evil fate. The gaze of my future husband stands before my eyes, unwilling to evaporate. His eyes are the shade of dark chocolate, thick black lashes fanning his eyes, and his eyebrows are just as thick and black. He is brown, which makes him more attractive, shading his eyes and eyebrows. His nose is large and flat, it looks like his lips are sensual, but I couldn't see it because he was very angry and they were compressed into a thin stripe, with a small beard. I was already afraid of him in absentia. His wide cheekbones were tense and he's huge, and to me in particular. Looming like a rock over me, obscuring the entire space, he seemed to take up all the oxygen, depriving me of air. He's attractive enough, but he's too mature for me, too... too.....