Don't Call Me Baby

Belong

"Mr. Petrov..."

"A Petrov...?"

"Why a Petrov is here...?"

Hushed, terrified mumblings erupted as Samuel Petrov stood in the middle of the room, looking foreboding. A lot of questions are whirling around but no one dared ask aloud.

Tense silence rules as everyone nervously waits. No one dared move more so leave despite wanting to scurry away from his dark gaze.

While everyone's attention is on the Petrov entourage, Kamilla is busy lamenting her miserable state. More than her throbbing cheek, her fortitude is ebbing away.

She felt like being stripped of whatever dignity was left in her. She was slapped not because of the insult she hurled, but because people regarded her as insignificant. An irrelevant member of society she thought she belonged to.

She had been too preoccupied with her thoughts to notice the intent gaze that bore down on her. Only she realized the attention after a huge hand cupped her chin.

She looked up, startled, only to be met with a piercing cold gaze she had previously encountered. A pair of dark orbs that only belong to certain people known for their immense power and ferocity in the underworld.

The Petrovs.

For a fleeting moment, she seemed drawn to the realm of the unknown as she locked gazes with the man. But before she could grasp what was happening, the baleful pair looked away.

"What plausible explanation for such violence...?" Though he sounded calm, no one was convinced as his cold questioning eyes drifted and bore at Desiree Baranov.

For a mere woman, under the scrutiny of a formidable man whose presence is feared by strong men and even criminals, Desiree seemed to have lost her tongue as she gaped in fear at Samuel Petrov.

"Waiting is not my cup of tea, woman" Samuel gritted his every word as he impatiently issued his warning to Desiree.

"I'm demanding repayment of my money, Mrs. Desiree Baranov's son owed me"

Though nervous, Kamilla brazenly blurted out, earning everyone's attention including Samuel.

"Shut up, you crazy girl. Stop these lies" In a low and hushed voice, Desiree tried to silence her. But Samuel's threatening look made the older woman nervously step back. Seemingly trying to get away from the man's piercing sharp eyes.

Samuel narrowed his eyes to Desiree before they averted to the guy next to her.

"Mama to the rescue?" Samuel snickers in mockery after grasping the situation he arrived at.

"No, Mr. Petrov. It's not what you think" Vehemently shaking his head, Ivan tried to salvage his pride.

"That girl is just fabricating stories, Mr. Petrov. My son doesn't owe her anything. She is a liar. She can't accept that my son dumped her" Desiree, after gulping hard, defended her son.

"Is that so?" Samuel turns to Kamilla with raised brows.

"Ivan Baranov owed me thirty grand eight months ago to pay for his car. It has nothing to do with his betrayal. Anything borrowed should be returned" Kamilla, undeterred to prove her point, met Samuel Petrov's unnerving stare as she grits her anger.

For a while, Samuel stares at her, seemingly gauging her words. Though she was intimidated, she met his eyes with equal intensity.

"Thirty grand for a slap" His eyes averted at the side of her cheek that still shows the imprint of Desiree's palm.

"It's my money and I want it returned" She defended herself while she glared at the man everyone feared.

"You don't need to resort to such wickedness, Kamilla. If you desperately need money, I will give you fifty grand. Consider it as a donation for your father's demise. He hasn't raised you well and left you with nothing with his death but I understand your life won't be easy without him. Money is difficult to earn for a young one like you" Anthony Baranov interrupted with his surety.

Kamilla stiffened at the mention of her father. Samuel felt it too. Thus, his scrutinizing eyes narrowed on her.

"I don't need alms from anyone, especially from the Baranov family. Ivan Baranov borrowed my money and I want it returned" Ignoring her tribulation, she faces Anthony Baranov with evident anger.

"If you can't pay me my money, please tell your parents to stop lambasting my dignity, Ivan. And keep my father out of this. His good name is all I have" With a clenched jaw, she turns to Ivan with her warning.

"I don't know what you're saying, Ella. Just please stop lying. Especially in front of Mr. Samuel Petrov" Nervously glancing at Samuel Petrov, Ivan denied her.

Aghast by the Baranov's continued charade, Kamilla roughly took her breath to collect herself. She can't believe Ivan and his family could be cruel.

Despite the tension filling the room, Samuel seemed to be enjoying the scene as he folded his arms and watched with an amused expression.

"Is thirty grand worth this exchange?" After a while of silence, Samuel turned to Kamilla.

For a moment, she locked gazes with the man. As she let herself be drowned in his soulful orbs again, everything that happened earlier flashed in her mind.

Is thirty grand worth the slap she got from the Baranov? Can she let herself be subjected to it again? After some contemplation, she closed her eyes and heaved a sigh.

"Nevermind" shaking her head, she dejectedly murmured. She comes to realize how pointless the argument is.

Knowing the Baranovs, getting back her money is impossible without them, ruining her credibility.

"Great" After her quick agreement, Samuel exclaimed as he straightened on his feet. A simple gesture but made everyone tense.

"Everyone, leave" he added as he fixed his gaze on the Baranov family before it slowly scanned the crowd.

Recognizing the calm yet stern command, everyone scurried to the door. Even the staff of the restaurant dashed to leave in fear of the Petrov security who took a step forward to show their rule.

The place is almost empty when Kamilla has the chance to stand and follow the rest.

"Except you, Kamilla Laskin" Samuel declared as he firmly gripped her arm to her surprise.

Startled, she froze on her feet as she gape at him. She wasn't aware he knew who she was.

"Of course, I know who you are, Kamilla" Seeming to have read her mind, Samuel muttered as he led her to the chair she previously occupied.

Confused, she let him help her. Her mind is full of questions about why a Petrov is here. Has he come to meet with her? But why? After the news of her father's death, she heard nothing from them. Even his body is yet to be delivered for her to bury.

"Where's my father?" She dazedly whispered as she blankly stared at nowhere.

"He was being prepared. The reason I'm here" he took a seat across from her and what he said caught her full attention.

"The Petrovs never abandon their people" he added while meeting her questioning eyes.

"It's been weeks" She bitterly whispered.

"I know. But I'm here now, Kamilla" For the first time since he arrived, he sounded sympathetic. Weird, she could almost hint assurance with the way he said her name.

The gentleness in his voice surprised her. Petrov men are known for their rough demeanor. They could only be seen as agreeable whenever they were with their women. But most of the Petrov cousins, though all are women magnets, remained bachelors.

Every female population in the country could only fantasize about earning even the slightest attention from one of them. However, at present, no one has succeeded.

"You will not worry about anything from now on. Especially with money" he added with the same gentleness despite it being firm.

"I will only demand what my father deserves, Mr. Petrov" she seriously blurted out.

"Well, then it's everything, Kamilla. You deserve everything" He persisted with a dismissing tone. But the way he looked at her made her wonder, more than his words that thoroughly confused her.

"I'm not expecting such benevolence from the Petrovs. My father is a mere employee" Despite her intimidation, she dared challenge his words.

"You don't know anything about the Petrovs, Kamilla. But I won't blame you. People believe what we want them to believe" With an ominous smirk, he stands up while rummaging through his chest pocket.

"Here"

Kamilla stared at his hand, stretched towards her while holding a black card.

"What is that?" Her brows furrowed with confusion.

"My card" he casually responded while urging her to accept it. But she did nothing, instead, she just stared at it before her eyes averted at him with a raised brow.

"Spend as much as you can. Starting today, keep away from the Baranovs. There's way more than thirty grand in this card" he added after getting no response from her.

"I'm fine, Mr. Petrov. I have a job and with my father's death benefit, surely I could live a decent life" She shook her head as she refused his offer. With Petrov's money, she won't be surprised if the card contains millions or even billions of dollars. But she is not interested in their money.

She could see his displeasure but she met his indifference with bold defiance as silence rules between them.

"Well, I forgot to tell you, Kamilla" he muttered with an ominous glint reflecting his orbs upon earning her interest.

"Your life is Petrov's vital concern. So bear in mind that as of today, Kamilla Laskin belongs to the Petrovs" Samuel smirked while she gaped in sheer perplexity.

***tbc***