Nikolai yawned and rubbed his eyes. He was hungry.
"Boss, they're in the meeting room," Damian said.
"And Kalma is here too," he added.
"Okay," Nikolai said as he stood up.
"Did you see the money I sent you?" Nikolai asked.
"Yes, Boss. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it and I will forever be your loyal servant and dog," Damian said.
"You are more than that, Dammy. You are family, so I love you like my brother. Now let's go," Nikolai said.
The two of them left the office and headed toward the meeting room.
"He still hasn't apologized?" Olivia asked.
Rima shook her head.
"It's fine. It's not his fault," she said.
"Hell yeah, it's his fucking fault," Addison said.
"I have a feeling that he will today because I saw Yaya crying in his arms, telling him to apologize or she won't eat anything," Darya said.
"No wonder she didn't eat breakfast today and yesterday," Rima said.
"Let's go," Sabrina said.
The women left for the meeting room as well.
Inside the meeting room, Nikolai sat down as the presentation began.
"The other rival group named The Hollow Circle has twelve members. Six men and six women."
"The men are:
Maddox, half Russian and half Yemeni, the Warehouse Handler.
Ares, fully Russian, the Enforcer.
Kairo, half British and half Russian, the Trainee.
Magnus, half Spanish and half Canadian, the Shadow Observer.
Xerxes, half Russian and half Greek, the Iron Sovereign. He is Rima's ex-boyfriend from university.
And lastly, the Supreme Commander and Nikolai's second rival and former partner, Giovanni, half Russian and half Ukrainian."
"The women are:
Taiga from the Netherlands, the Black Fang.
Nixie from Germany, the Ash Serpent.
Azura, half Belgian and half Colombian, the Silver Widow.
Freya, half Polish and half Venezuelan, the Strategic Commander.
Vera, half Russian and half Italian, the Lady Tyrant. She is Rima's former best friend and the one who betrayed her and the group.
And Lyanna, half Russian and half French, the Black Swan."
Nikolai sat silently while the presentation continued.
Rima typed on her laptop.
Xerxes kept looking at her.
He stared at her throughout the meeting.
She was now absolutely gorgeous.
Her smoky grey ombré hair flowed over her shoulders.
Her dark red nails gleamed.
She had changed.
Yet he still stared.
"He is still looking at you, Ria," Sabrina whispered.
"He'll go blind then," Rima replied.
"And that's all," Azura said.
Nikolai read every single paper.
He had already been investigating them.
"Clean. Too clean, Boss," Valerio said.
Nikolai nodded.
The doors opened.
"Boss, Lily," Damian announced.
"Hi, Nikki!" the tiny woman said as she skipped toward him.
"Hey, Bambi," Nikolai said.
She climbed onto his lap and kissed him.
"Y…Y…Y…You… h-h-hungry?" she asked while tapping his stomach.
"Yes. Very hungry, Bambi," he replied.
"Yummies?" she asked.
"Koroleva Korolev!(Queen of Queens)The Hollow Circle members greeted.
"Hi, Neva!" Adnana said as he walked in and kissed her forehead.
"Nanno!" she squealed before hugging him.
"Come have lunch, y'all," Nikolai said.
Rima and the girls stood.
Everyone headed toward the cafeteria.
"No way. Seriously?" Adnana asked.
"Shhhhh. Keep quiet," Asif warned.
"She's pregnant?!" Adnana whispered.
"Yes," Meghan replied.
He looked toward Lilith and Nikolai.
The couple sat together eating.
Lilith giggled happily.
"Hey, Nanno, you're coming with us to Pakistan," Hassan said.
"Great. I need a fucking break, bro," Adnana replied.
The Dominant Apex gathered together.
"Nobody should tell Brother," Meghan said.
"But Lily is pregnant. That's why she's been sick for weeks now."
"Oh my fucking God!" Alexio shouted.
Kenan quickly covered his mouth.
Nikolai glanced toward them.
"Sorry, Boss!" they all said immediately.
Lilith continued feeding Nikolai.
"So what now?" Nathan asked.
"Lily has already gotten her Christmas present for Brother. We'll wait until tomorrow to see his reaction," Zhanna said.
The group cheered.
Nearby, the Bratva members gathered.
Arina whispered the news to them.
"I fucking knew it!" Hammad said.
"Shut up," Arina hissed.
He immediately covered his mouth.
"Boss is gonna be happy," Jaxon said.
"Yeah," Sergei agreed.
"No wonder she's been sick all week," Nolan added.
"I hope it's a girl so we can build dollhouses," Brandon said.
"Really, bro?" Rohan asked.
"What? I want to feel a bit childish," Brandon replied.
"Nobody should tell Boss," David warned.
"Tell me what?" Nikolai suddenly asked.
Everyone froze.
They slowly turned toward him.
One eyebrow lifted.
"Uhmm… your Christmas gift, Boss," Adrian quickly said.
"Yes, Boss. That's what we were planning," Enzo added.
"Hm. Okay."
"Aira, Grandma wants Christmas Eve dinner. We're spending Christmas with her this year. We leave now," Nikolai said.
"Okay, Brother," Arina replied.
Meanwhile, inside Rima's office.
"Hi, Ria. It's good to see you again," Vera said in her bratty voice.
"I can hardly believe it," Rima replied while flipping through papers.
"Soooo… how are you doing? Do you have a man? Oh my bad, I guess nobody wants—"
"Ria! Yaya is crying!" Olivia interrupted.
Xerxes looked toward Rima.
"Please help me bring her," Rima said as she folded up her sleeves and tied her hair into a ponytail.
Her curvy figure became even more noticeable.
Xerxes rubbed the back of his neck.
"Soo, Ria—"
"It's Mrs. Rima Asif to you both," she corrected.
"Wait, what?" Xerxes asked in shock.
Vera looked stunned.
"Y-you got married?" they both asked simultaneously.
"Yes, I did," Rima replied.
"Pretty Mama?" Yasmin called.
Her little nose sniffled.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Yaya, baby, come here, love," Rima said.
The little girl waddled toward her.
Rima picked her up, wiped away her tears, and hugged her tightly.
"Mama's here, baby. Mama's here," she whispered.
The child felt warm.
She was developing a fever.
"Pretty Mama, Yaya no eat her yummies again!" Yasmin cried as she ran inside.
"Mina, love," Rima said, kissing her forehead.
"They're twins?!" Vera asked.
"You have eyes, don't you?" Rima replied.
"Baby, look at me. What's wrong, love?" she asked while gently cupping Yasmin's face.
Yasmin whispered softly.
"Pretty Mama… Papa sowry for pushing you. Please talk to Papa and I eat or Yaya no eat anything."
"So my baby is on a hunger strike, huh?" Rima asked with a small giggle.
The toddler nodded.
"Okay, baby. Mama promises I'll talk to Papa for you. Hm?"
Yasmin nodded and hugged her.
Vera scoffed.
Food was arranged on the table.
"So… when did you give birth?" Xerxes asked.
"Stepdaughters," Marina answered while handing her boss a sushi plate.
"Open up," Rima told Yasmin.
Yasmin opened her mouth.
Rima fed her a chocolate cookie.
The little girl chewed happily.
"Good girl," Rima praised.
She then fed Yasmine.
The little girl took a huge bite and giggled.
"Ria, I got it!" Addison suddenly said.
"Yaya is shy and quiet. She's always hiding. While Mina here is rough, loud, runs around, and is full of energy."
"And I love Yaya!" Yasmine announced.
She hugged her sister.
Yasmin giggled.
Then she kissed Yasmine's cheek.
"Why would you marry a man who already has kids?" Vera asked.
Rima ignored her.
"Did you destroy someone's marriage to marry him? Oh, that's shameless, Ria."
"What's shameless is a slut trying to make other people feel bad," Olivia snapped.
"Besides, you two broke up, didn't you? And now you're here vomiting bullshit."
"Ria, baby?" Asif called.
Everyone turned.
He entered carrying a bouquet.
Camellias.
Magnolias.
Irises.
Lavender.
And blue roses.
Rima's heart melted.
She blushed instantly.
Asif wore a brown short-sleeved polo shirt, white pants, a brown belt, black loafers, and a white Rolex watch.
Xerxes clenched his fist.
Jealousy filled his face.
Asif leaned forward and kissed Rima right in front of them.
Rima smiled against his lips.
She had missed him so much.
He gently wiped away her tears.
"I'm sorry for everything. And I love you a lot. Forgive me, baby?"
"Papa monkey ears!" Yasmin shouted.
"Oh yes, madam," Asif replied.
He held his ears.
Rima laughed.
"It's okay, love. I missed you so much," she said before hugging him.
He hugged her tightly.
"Yayyy!!" the girls cheered.
"Lily is pregnant," Asif announced.
"Seriously?!" Rima gasped.
"Yes. The doctors checked her. Turns out her fever was actually pregnancy symptoms."
"Boss actually did it, huh?" Rima teased.
"Yes. Now lunch," Asif said.
"Oh. Sorry. Who are you guys?" Asif asked.
"Not important. Just business people," Addison answered.
"Hi, I'm Vera actually. Ria and I were besties during college," Vera said sweetly.
"Is it the girl who betrayed Ria? And the ex-boyfriend guy?" Asif asked while pointing toward them.
"Yep, brother-in-law. That's them," Darya said while feeding Yasmin.
"I feel sorry for your first marriage. I'm sure she did something, right?" Vera asked.
Asif's expression hardened.
"For your fucking information, Rima didn't destroy anything."
"In fact, I should be thanking him for leaving her and allowing me to find someone like Rima."
"She is a good mother and a great wife."
"So please mind your stupid words and keep your useless disgusting thoughts to yourself."
"My kids lost their mother at a young age."
"Rima has been taking care of them ever since."
"So watch it."
Xerxes chuckled.
"So she's not your real wife then."
"Oh please. I pointed a gun at her and got married to her."
"She could have killed me at that point."
"But she didn't."
"Besides, it doesn't matter to you."
"So both of you mind your business."
Asif stared directly at Xerxes.
"Please leave my office. I'm having lunch with my family," Rima said.
"I want to talk to you, Ria—"
"It's Mrs. Rima Asif Zahuril to you."
"Now get out of my office before I call the guards on both of you."
Xerxes rubbed his neck.
He nodded.
Before leaving, he looked at Asif once more.
Then he walked out.
"You too. Out," Rima told Vera.
Vera stood speechless.
Then she left.
Asif sat beside Rima.
He kissed her hand.
The family finished lunch together.
Later, they all returned home.
Meanwhile, Lilith quietly continued working on Nikolai's Christmas gift.
A gift that would become one of the most precious things he would ever receive.