CHAPTER 23: IT’S ALL FOR THE PAY?!

Elias headed to the twins’ room, needing a distraction after the little drama with Viktor. The boys were sprawled on their beds, an action movie blaring on the TV... explosions and shouting filling the air. Dante and Dario were arguing loudly, pointing at the screen.

"Iron Man’s the strongest!" Dante said, tossing a pillow at Dario. "He’s got the suit!"

"No way!" Dario shot back, dodging. "Hulk smashes everything! He doesn’t need gadgets!"

Elias sat on a chair behind them, pulling out his phone to check his phone. He clicked group chat from school and his heart sank as he scrolled through the messages... his classmates were talking about him and Jace. He already knew they always gossip about him but he never thought they would also do that on the group chat.

"Elias is definitely working for the Dragos," one wrote.

"Do we have to care about that? Maybe he’s a cheap slut trying to get noticed by the Mafia,"

"Can we all stop talking about Elias Kane? It’s wrong!"

"Oh shut up! Don’t pretend you don’t talk about him too,"

"Bet he’s clinging to Jace to avoid getting picked on." Another added,

"He’s using Jace for protection. Pathetic."

Elias’s fingers tightened around his phone, his cheeks burning. He knew he kept to himself at school, but seeing it laid out like that hurt. He never did anything to stand out but he never thought this would get him into this kind of trouble. He was so lost in the chat that he didn’t hear the twins calling him.

"Nanny!" Dante shouted, waving. "Earth to Elias!"

Elias blinked, looking up. "Huh? What do you want?"

"Who’s the strongest Avenger?" Dario asked, folding his arms. "Come on, settle this!"

Elias scratched his head, confused. He’d never watched the movies... between part-time jobs, school, and Lila, he’d never had time. But he’d overheard kids at school talking about it. "Uh... Thor?" he said, picking a name he’d heard.

Dante’s jaw dropped. "Thor? Seriously?"

Dario frowned, tilting his head. "Are you sure, Nanny? He’s got a hammer, but... Hulk’s stronger!"

"Thor’s cool, though," Dante said, rethinking. "That lightning stuff’s awesome."

They dove back into arguing, debating Thor’s hammer versus Hulk’s strength, and Elias let out a small laugh. Their bickering pulled him out of his head, making the group chat feel less heavy. He tucked his phone away, grateful for the twins’ chaos.

"Alright, you two," he said, standing. "Movie’s almost over. Homework time."

"Ugh! But it’s Saturday tomorrow!"

They groaned.

"It’s Friday! Not Saturday,"

"Should we tell Daddy to take Fridays from the days of the week?"

"Daddy can do anything... Maybe he’s the strongest superhero,"

Elias shook his head, trying to hide his little frustration. He didn’t want to tell them that it was impossible so he just grinned, ruffling their hair. "No arguing. Let’s go."

The next day, the mansion buzzed with activity. Just as the twins wanted, they had no school. Fashion designers were coming to measure them for their outfits for Viktor’s engagement party. Elias was in the kitchen with Milo, who was kneading dough for fresh bread, his loud voice filling the room.

"Have you ever baked, Elias?" Milo asked, tossing flour onto the counter. "My dad taught me this recipe. It’s a family secret."

Elias smiled, chopping vegetables for lunch. "I never had time. But it smells good."

It’s not that he never had time, he just lacked the energy to knead the dough. His flabby hands could never handle such strength.

Milo grinned. "Stick with me, man. I’ll teach you."

Gerald walked in, looking stressed. "Elias," he said, "the designers are here. Can you get the twins for measurements?"

"Sure," Elias said, wiping his hands. He headed to the twins’ room, but when he pushed the door open, it was empty. The beds were unmade, toys scattered around the floor, and no sign of Dante or Dario. His heart skipped.

"Guys?" he called, checking under the beds, in the closet. Nothing.

He hurried back to the kitchen, his stomach twisting. "Gerald, the twins aren’t in their room."

Gerald sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Those boys. They’ve run off again." He grabbed his walkie-talkie, barking orders to the guards.

"Spread out, find Dante and Dario. Check the grounds."

Elias’s chest tightened. "What if they’re... kidnapped?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Gerald shook his head, his tone calm but firm. "They’re not kidnapped. They’ve done this before. They don’t want the engagement to happen, so they’re hiding to mess things up."

Elias exhaled, relief washing over him.

"That’s a good thing. I just... I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to them."

A deep voice came from behind. "Is your burn

okay?"

Elias flinched, turning to see Viktor leaning against the doorway, his grey eyes fixed on him. His heart raced, the memory of Viktor’s gentle touch flooding back.

"I’m fine, Master," he said, his voice tight, his cheeks flushing. "But your kids are missing. Don’t you care?"

Viktor’s gaze didn’t waver. He glanced at Gerald. "Take Milo. Check the grounds."

Gerald bowed slightly. "Yes, sir." He gestured to Milo. "Let’s go."

Milo nodded, wiping his hands on his apron, and followed Gerald out, leaving Elias alone with Viktor. The air felt heavy, Viktor’s cedar scent creeping in, making Elias’s skin tingle.

"The kids are fine," Viktor said, stepping closer. "They’re just being brats. I’m more worried about you. That burn... It’s not worse, is it?"

Elias’s face burned, his body reacting to Viktor’s closeness. "It’s fine," he said, stepping back. "I need to look for the twins."

Viktor’s eyes narrowed. "I said they’re fine. Why do you care so much?"

Elias froze, his mind racing. Because I’ve gotten attached to them, he thought, but he couldn’t say it. Not to Viktor. "I don’t want anything to happen to them," he said instead. "It’d affect my pay."

Viktor’s jaw tightened, his voice dropping. "Your pay? That’s all this is about?"

Elias nodded, his heart pounding. "That’s why I’m here. For the money."

Viktor stepped closer, caging Elias against the counter with his arms. "Is that why you seduced me, too? For money?"

Elias’s eyes widened, confusion hitting him. "Seduced you? What are you talking about? When did I..."

Before he could finish, Viktor grabbed his chin, tilting his face up, and kissed him hard. Elias’s heart stopped, his hands banging against Viktor’s chest, trying to push him away. Viktor’s lips were firm, hungry, his cedar scent overwhelming, sparking heat in Elias’s core. His body betrayed him, tingling, responding, even as his mind screamed to stop.

Finally, Viktor pulled back, his breath heavy, his eyes dark. Elias gasped, his lips swollen, his face flushed. "You’ll get your pay," Viktor said, his voice low. "On the day of the engagement.."

Elias’s chest heaved, anger mixing with confusion. "Why not before the party?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Viktor slipped his hands into his pockets, stepping back. "Because I said so." He turned, walking away, leaving Elias standing there, his mind reeling.

Elias touched his lips, the kiss lingering. Why does he keep doing this? He was getting used to it, and that scared him. He shook his head, trying to focus. The twins. He needed to find them, but first, he wanted his jacket from his room... it was chilly outside.

He hurried to his room, pushing the door open, and froze. Dante and Dario were there, curled up on his bed, fast asleep. Relief flooded him, his shoulders sagging. They were safe. He stepped closer, watching their peaceful faces. They looked so small, so innocent, nothing like the scheming kids who hated their dad’s engagement. He wanted to wake them, drag them to the designers, but he couldn’t.

’I guess I should just hide them,’ he thought. ’It’s not their fault that they don’t want this wedding,’

He grabbed his jacket from the chair, moving quietly, and slipped out, pretending he hadn’t seen them. Back in the hall, the mansion was chaotic... guards shouting, Gerald barking orders. Elias joined the search, calling,

"Dante! Dario!" His voice echoed, but he felt guilty, knowing they were safe in his room.

Gerald stopped him, his face tense. "One of the guards thinks they might’ve gone to the forest behind the mansion."

Elias frowned. "Forest? What forest?"

Gerald pointed out a window, where trees loomed in the distance, dark and dense. "It’s small, but... It’s also dangerous since it’s filled with traps."

A guard nearby muttered, "That’s where the dead Drago family members are buried. Rumour has it that Master Viktor hid gold there, set traps to protect it."

Another guard nodded. "No one goes in. It’s too damn risky."

Elias’s heart raced. He had to stop them from searching there... they’d waste time, and he’d have to admit the twins were in his room. He opened his mouth to speak, but Milo’s loud voice cut through.

"I found them!" he shouted, running up. "They’re in Elias’s room, sleeping like babies!"

Relief swept through the group, guards muttering thanks as they dispersed. Gerald sighed, turning to Elias. "Let’s check on them."

They headed to Elias’s room, Milo trailing behind. The twins were still asleep, curled up under Elias’s blanket. Milo grinned. "Should I wake them?"

Gerald shook his head. "Let them sleep. They’ll face the designers later." He turned to Elias. "Go tell the master they’re found. He’s in his office."

Elias’s stomach dropped. Facing Viktor again? After that kiss?

"Can’t you tell him?" he asked, his voice tight.

Gerald raised a brow.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No... It’s just that..." Elias clenched his fist, trying to stutter but Gerald touched his shoulder with a soft smile on his face.

"You’re the kids’ nanny. He’ll want to hear it from you. Go."

Elias nodded, his heart pounding as he walked to Viktor’s office. The door was slightly ajar, and he reached for the handle, ready to push it open. Then he froze, hearing a low groan from inside, followed by a moan. His eyes widened, and he peeked through the gap, his breath catching.

Viktor was on his leather chair, his head tipped back, his hand moving beneath his desk. He wrapped his fingers around his cock, moving up and down swiftly. Elias’s face burned with embarrassment as he pulled back. He shook his head and cleared his throat, trying to forget what he had just seen.

"I guess I’ll come back later," he mumbled, turning to leave. But then he heard it... Viktor’s voice, low and rough, groaning his name. "Elias... Fuck! Elias!"

Elias slammed his hand over his mouth, his heart racing.

’Why? Why is he saying my name?’ His mind spun, heat flooding his body as he backed away, his footsteps silent. ’He’s... thinking of me by doing... that? Does he think of me like that?’