Chapter 3

Orianne, concerned to involve more people, walked swiftly through the crowd towards where her parents’ table. Her mother just grinned at her while her father, still holding a glass of liquor, used his pinky finger to point at jacket on Orianne’s chair. 

“Leave it and go”, Reagan said and drank from his glass. 

Orianne shook her head and grabbed the jacket before the screen once again turned on.  Instead of a video, a text was sent. 

“Take it and leave.” 

“Amos is truly a sweetheart. Orianne, just go home immediately, okay? We don’t want a rocket taking this building down if you’ll stay for another few minutes”, her mother said.

“Enjoy the rest of the evening, mother, father”, Orianne bid goodbye.

She held her clutch with her other hand. The people around watched her as she left the room. Since the crowd was not that big, it was not difficult to find the person whom the video just mentioned. Amos and Orianne’s arrangement was only known by the picked members from both of their clans so it wasn’t something publicized. 

Orianne reached the elevator and wore the jacket around her shoulders. Since Amos knew what was happening inside, Orianne had a hunch that he was still watching her so she looked up and stared straight at the CCTV. 

“You better not have your eyes on me inside my own house, okay Mr. Hachatrjan?”, she said and the LED lights on the CCTV blinked. She took it as a response and focused on the changing numbers in the elevator.

She didn’t know that Amos would be this attentive to her, especially that their relationship was arranged. She expected a colder treatment but maybe Amos realized that they will be together until death do them part so he’s paying attention. 

True enough, a black BMW M5 was parked and the door was already opened by the driver. She nodded at the person holding the doors before sliding in the car. The drive to her home was silent and peaceful. She knows that outside, there were men watching the car’s movement as Amos wanted. After saying her thanks to the driver, she went out and waited until the car was out of the driveway before going inside. 

She only forgave her mother who begged her to change in their house for the party, that’s why she was there the day before it was held. Feeling lonely in her house, visiting her parents was also a fresh breath of air.

Weeks passed after that dreadful night and Orianne was hands on with their beach hotel’s activities. It was that time of the year where tourists visit Russia for its inviting beaches. 

“Did Miss Lebedev finally calm down?”, Oriana asked one of the bellboys who passed her by in the lobby. 

“Yes, young miss. She settled in the room without any further trouble”, the bellboy answered and bowed before continuing his work. 

Today was one of her day-offs and just wearing an asymmetric green floral dress paired with black Odin flip-flops, and wearing her green-mirror Piper sunglasses on her head. She was video calling for her friend, Vitaliya, beside the window while drinking her watermelon juice.

“Oriannnneeee!”, her friend greeted her in a sing-song manner. Vitaliya was in her swimsuit and her hair was damp. Orianne could see that behind her is a falls.

“So how’s life?”, Orianne asked, with a louder volume since the falls at the background was really loud.

“Better than before, of course! And you naughty bitch! A spicy news just came from tetya(aunty)”, Vitaliya shouted since her voice is being overpowered by the falls behind her.

“Tsk”, Oriana smirked before showing her left hand at the screen.

“You lucky, bitch!”, Vitaliya said before laughing. Since the camera moved, Orianne saw that she was with other people at the gazebo, where she’s staying.

“It’s good that you’re with other people. Your crazy thoughts can be dangerous sometimes”, Orianne said as Vitaliya fixed the camera on her self. 

“Yeah, the place is starting to be recognized as a tourist spot. And don’t worry, Orianne, my dangerous thoughts are kept at bay”, she assured her friend.

Orianne was about to answer when a staff came near her.

“Young miss, sorry for the interruption but an unknown helicopter is requesting for a landing”, the staff reported.

“Liya, I’ll contact you later, okay? Something needs my attention right away”, Orianne said and Vitaliya nodded before ending the call. 

The staff escorted Orianne to the control room. 

“Remain 10,000 feet from the heliport until permission to land is given”, one of the people in the control room said as Orianne entered. 

“Have they identified themselves?”, she asked as she went near the glass window and looked at the tandem rotor helicopter hovering. 

“It’s HOV-1937, madam.”

Orianne smirked and went near one of the workers.

“Let me talk to them”, she said and the worker stood up then gave her his headphones. She thanked the worker before sitting down and wearing the headphones.

“HOV-1937, state your purpose of landing. An unknown aircraft is not permitted to land in our heliport”, she said while moving the swivel chair she’s sitting on. She knew who she was talking to but she just wanted to hear it coming from them.

“Miss, it’s me.” 

Orianne smirked at Amos’ answer. She was just wearing a smirk the whole time that the workers’ attention was on her.

“HOV-1937, cleared to land”, she finally said before thanking the workers and leaving the control tower. She, along with a small number of staffs, all went to welcome the incoming guests.

Strong winds blew as the helicopter was nearing the ground, stronger than any of the helicopters before because of its double main rotors. Putting on a show, mister, Orianne thought as the rotors slowed down. Uniformed men went out from the aircraft, all wearing sunglasses and all-black uniforms, like what Amos wore when they made their official engagement. Each of them were armed and holding their own duffel bags.

The rotors were close to stopping when the door to the pilot’s seat opened. Amos, in the uniform like the others, went down while carrying a duffel bag. All the men lined up and saluted as he passed them by. 

“Stay here until further instructions”, she said to the staffs behind her before walking towards her fiance.

He was still wearing his sunglasses while Orianne has hers on her head. 

“Moy mister, welcome”, she said as she confidently tiptoed, held his shoulders, and kissed him quickly on the lips. The men behind Amos and the staffs behind Orianne were all caught off guard, including Amos whose face and ears are now red and certainly not because of the sun. Orianne’s staff pretended to fix their stance while the men behind Amos maintained a straight pose and face. 

It didn’t escape Amos how Orianne tried to imitate his call sign for her. 

“You’re taking a vacation alone or including your men?”, she asked as she took a peek behind him.

“It’s just me, miss. They’re working on a tight schedule but I’ll be giving them a one-night-one-day break”, he answered as Orianne faced him properly. 

“Okay, copy that.” Orianne snapped her fingers and the staff came forward. 

“Assist the gentlemen to their cabins. I apologize for not offering the hotel but we are fully booked as of the moment. The cabins are well-furnished so no need to worry about anything”, Orianne said.

Amos raised his left hand, signaling his men to move forward. He turned around and lifted his glasses to his head before talking.

“You can take the rest of the day off”, he just said and the men saluted before following the staffs as they head towards their quarters. 

“Are they under the government or under your group?”, Orianne asked as both of them started walking towards the hotel.

“Under us. The government wouldn’t let their men do the dirty work outside the country”, Amos answered but he was more concerned as to where he was staying since he was walking with Orianne and not with his men.

They reached the elevator and went inside. Amos just watched Oriana press their floor number.

“Ah, you might be wondering. I own the whole floor so it’s not bad if we share. And were engaged anyways”, Oriana said while smiling.

Amos was still questioning as to how Orianne is fine with being engaged to him. She has not shown any negative reactions like refusing his offer or trying to destroy their arrangement.

“I’m still impressed, miss. You don’t seem to find our situation ridiculous”, he said as he took a side glance at Orianne. 

“It’s futile, mister. You and I are tied to be together if not for our grandparents’ deal”, she said with a serious face. “Besides it’s not a loss since I’m beautiful and smart, and you don’t want your wife ugly and dumb”, she added, now back with her enthusiastic voice.

The elevator doors opened and they were welcomed with the beautiful sight of the beach outside the glass walls.

“And this is going to be your room. And you, including your men, won’t have to pay a single cent in this vacation. Everything will be charged under my name. Food, activities, souvenirs, just everything”, she said as she fully opened the curtains and faced Amos whose at the doorway staring at her.

“Miss, you have forgotten. I can pay for myself and the people I brought”, he said after leaving his duffel bag at the bed’s foot. 

“Moy mister, I know that your wealth is immeasurable but I want them to be saved for our future generations”, Orianne joked but Amos seemed to have taken it seriously.

“My wealth right now is enough for the next five generations. Paying for this vacation wouldn’t reduce that to four.”

“Of course, your wealth is immeasurable”, Orianne said but with a hint of double meaning that Amos didn’t catch.