CHAPTER 44: RIVALS

Braelyn’s POV

Orlov, my mind kept wandering about that name. It sounded familiar but I couldn’t pinpoint where exactly I had heard it from.

While I was lost in thought, thinking about the stranger who bears too much resemblance to Lucien, or might be him? Genevieve was still nowhere to be found, so I decided to search for her in the restroom.

The restroom wasn’t hard to locate since I had been to this particular hotel before. The door to the female restroom creaked open, and my ears caught faint murmurs. It sounded like Genny, so I instinctively called out her name as I stepped in.

"Genny, is everything alright?" I asked. I stepped in and my words ran back down my throat. Erica?

She was washing her hand in the sink, her demeanour was very calm. "I don’t think there is anyone here besides me." She politely said before switching off the faucet.

My eyes darted around the restroom, despite her words, I still searched the small cabins to confirm that indeed there was no one else.

"I wasn’t lying." She stated, I glanced over my shoulder, our gaze met. There was this strange hostility in them that I didn’t understand. It made me instinctively back away.

"I’m searching for my friend. I mistook you for her earlier." I politely said, my guts were telling me to bolt.

She still didn’t say anything, but before I could step out from the door, her calm voice stopped me in my tracks. "How do you know him?" She asked. Her voice carried the earlier hostility.

"Pardon?" I blurted; my brain was lagging because I couldn’t recognise where her hostility was coming from.

Erica was a beauty, she had this calm, mature demeanour and also a soothing innocence in her look similar to Amelia. Unlike me, who was raised to be a pampered, spoiled lady, she looked more like a true heiress. Her shoulder-length brow hair and soft blue eyes accentuated her looks perfectly.

Although I knew her from online, I had never had any face-to-face contact with Erica Marino till today. She strode towards me still holding that polite smile that looked like a warning

"How do you know my boyfriend? You followed me here because of him and not your flimsy excuse about finding your friend." Her boyfriend, my brows furrowed.

"I think there is a misunderstanding here. I am genuinely searching for my friend." I explained. She scoffed then tilted her chin towards me with a proud look

She chuckled, her hand covering her mouth slightly. "Are you still going with that lie? " She sneered then her eyes turned dangerously cold

"I saw the look you had in your eyes earlier. It was like you were searching for recognition..." She pointed out. I didn’t want to rush to a conclusion and let her continue.

Did Lucien have a girlfriend? That cheating bastard wanted to drag me into a pit. Who flirts around when they have a woman like Erica? The Volkov men were really scum.

"I can swear I don’t have that kind of relationship with Lucien." I blurted out. She frowned on hearing my words.

"Lucien?" She arched her brow. "You are still acting oblivious. I am talking about my boyfriend, Mr Orlov, who the hell is Lucien?" She asked, leaving me stunned.

Were they truly not the same perspective? What were the odds? She pointed her finger at me. "I don’t care who you are but I know your type once you lock your eyes on a successful man... You want to.." I raised my hand to stop her

"I understand if you are protective towards your boyfriend but I won’t tolerate any insults. If you can’t trust your man it has nothing to do with me." I shut her up. Her face turned several shades of red

And at that perfect moment, the door was pushed open. "Lynn.." I heard Genny call.

"So this is where you disappeared to? I have been searching." She said, the moment Genny stepped in Erica backed away

Genny was a very feminine girl but her height could be intimidating at times. Erica was below 6 feet and was overshadowed by Genny. "Is something wrong?" Genny asked, sensing the atmosphere was wrong.

Erica snorted, then stormed out of the restroom, leaving just us. Genny got more confused. "What’s up with her? Were you fighting?"

I shook my head. "It’s nothing important. By the way, where the hell did you disappear to?" I snapped.

"I ran into a client. They want me to cover an upcoming event." She quickly explained but from the way her gaze lingered. I could tell she was curious about Erica.

We left the restroom and walked down a hallway which led to the restaurants. The vip private room is located around this area.

A group of waiters were approaching from the opposite direction with a trolley. They stopped at a door ahead then pushed the trolley inside, the door was open long enough for Genevieve and me to catch a glimpse of what was happening inside

It looked like an important meeting. Erica was seated beside a figure who was still too familiar despite his face being away from the door. The door slammed shut, and Genevieve finally spoke.

"Do you recognise someone in there?" she asked.

My gaze turned ahead. "I think it’s just a coincidence.." I muttered before adding.

"Do you by chance know any Orlov family?" From the way her eyes shifted, I was certain she recognised the name.

"That’s not a name you should casually ask about." She said, her eyes cautiously shifted around

"Just tell me ", I urged. Genny grabbed my hand and pulled me into the corner ..

"Where did you hear that name from? I hope you didn’t get into trouble with anyone with that surname." She said in hushed tones. My curiosity piqued seeing her reaction

"I ran into someone with that surname but I can’t remember where I heard it." I said smoothly. Her gaze narrowed at me, trying to read through me, before she finally said.

"The Orlov family is one of the deadliest families in the country. They have connections deep in both the business and underground..." She explained.

"Is it a Mafia family?" I whispered. She shook her head...

"If only it were that simple. They are into weapon manufacturing and sell both to the government and the underworld, making them untouchable....". Her face then turned grim

"No matter what, never offend someone from that family," Genny warned, her grip tightening on my shoulders.

"Their influence rivals the Volkovs and they don’t mind bloodshed."

My stomach tightened. Now I was both curious and wary of Mr Orlov.