Chapter 6 WELCOME HOME.

CHAPTER 6: WELCOME HOME.

The convoy drove to the western suburbs of Moscow and arrived at Rublevka. Michael was impressed at how beautiful the landscape of Rublevka was. He was amazed at how beautiful Moscow was generally.

"We're home," Vlad declared, causing Michael to pay more attention to where they were headed.

Up ahead, Michael could see that they were headed to a majestic-looking mansion. It looked different and more ultramodern from the other houses which had the typical nineteenth-century Russian style but were beautiful, nonetheless.

They passed through a gate that automatically opened as they got close to it, and headed in, parking close to the house.

"Welcome home," Vlad said smiling, turning to Michael.

But Michael was expressionless. He simply unlocked his seatbelt and a guard quickly opened the door for him, and another for Vlad.

Stepping out of the car, Michael noticed there were more guards, armed with rifles, who stood alert. He furrowed his brow, wondering why there were this many armed men at the mansion.

The guards bowed at the sight of him respectfully. This time, there was no mistaking who they greeted, unlike when he arrived at the hangar.

Michael confusedly nodded slightly in acknowledgment, looking at Vlad. He smiled at Michael and gestured with his hand, leading Michael into the mansion. Two guards accompanied them.

Getting into the mansion, Michael saw that the interior was humongous and tastefully finished, but there wasn't much visibility.

Folks he met in uniform stopped and bowed respectfully at him, and continued on their way.

"Why is everyone bowing at me this way?" Michael asked Vlad softly.

"You're their boss. What else were you expecting?"

"Their boss?" Michael asked perplexedly. This treatment was very strange to him, and it made him a little bit uncomfortable.

They took the elevator, heading upstairs, rather than climbing the stairs. Exiting the elevator, they walked a little and arrived at a door. Vlad pressed a button beside the twin door, which made a buzzing sound.

Almost immediately, a mechanism in the door clicked, unlocking the door.

"After you," Vlad gestured with his hand once again.

Michael sighed, bracing himself, and walked in. The room was dimly lit, just like the rest of the mansion.

He could tell it was a study, but ginormous. That seemed to be the major characteristic of every aspect of the house so far that he had seen.

Vlad got in and shut the door behind him, leaving the two guards outside the study.

Up ahead, behind a desk, Michael saw someone in an ash suit, sitting, but the face wasn't visible. He looked at Vlad, and he nodded at him. So, he gently walked forward getting close to the table.

"So, the prodigal son finally returns home," the person behind the desk said, with a coarse voice, chuckling softly.

Then, he stood up, coming forward to where Michael stood quietly, revealing his face.

"Welcome home son," the man smiled, hugging Michael.

Michael strangely felt a warmth in him. Somehow, he found himself comfortable with this stranger he was meeting for the first time, to his knowledge. But he didn't hug him back.

"I am Zelensky Volkov, your father," the man introduced himself, smiling. But Michael looked expressionless at him.

"Mmm, look at how being married to that golddigger has negatively impacted you. Mmm," his father said, shaking his head disappointedly.

"You knew about my marriage?" Michael asked.

"Of course Mikhail," he answered. "That whore had always cheated on you even before you ignorantly married her, and she tried killing you on that boat ride so she could get your life insurance payment, of half a million."

Michael's eyes widened in disbelief on hearing that.

"You're finding it hard to believe right?" Michael's father chuckled.

"Show him the footage," he instructed Vlad.

Vlad brought out his phone from his suit pocket and showed Michael a couple of footage, including the one where Clarice struck him with a baseball bat behind the head, on the boat.

He saw and heard how his beloved wife spoke with his so-called best friend about how they'd dispose of his body. But before they could, he somehow regained consciousness to their surprise.

A tempestuous rage welled up in Michael, and his head swirled.

"So, Clarice lied to me about being an abuser, and tried to murder me?" he asked, but to no one in particular, clenching his fists.

"I told you that she was a conniving bitch, but you wouldn't listen. You were blinded by love," Zelensky said, leaning against his desk.

Michael's demeanor turned wickedly cold. A craving for vengeance took over him. His father smirked. Seeing Michael's anger was a delight to him.

"I guess you've learned your lesson now Mikhail. Love is never for people like us," Zelensky said. "Channel this rage you feel, and commit to the agreement we had."

"We had an agreement?" Michael asked. But at the same time, it felt strange hearing the Russian variation of his name.

"Yes, we had. I thought your cousin might have told you about it."

"My cousin?" Michael turned furrowing his brow at Vlad. He just simply shrugged at Michael, with a smile. A statement Vlad had said finally made sense to him.

"What was the agreement?" Michael enquired.

"You are taking over what is rightfully yours."

"And what's that?" Michael enquired further.

"Well, let's not rush into that just yet. You just arrived, and you need to rest up and recuperate. Every other thing will be talked about later on," Zelensky said as he walked up to Michael and placed his hands on his shoulder.

"Vlad, get Mikhail settled in. And have the doctor examine him," Zelensky instructed.

"Yes sir," he acknowledged.

"It's good to have you back," Zelensky said, smiling at Michael. But Michael remained cold, unable to reciprocate the warmth.

Michael and Vlad turned and exited the study, heading to his room.

Getting there, a servant awaited their arrival and handed the key to the door to Vlad. As he was about to unlock the door, they saw a slender lady walking towards them, in the company of some guards.

On seeing her, Vlad turned and bowed slightly.

Sighting Michael, she halted, smiling slyly.

"Look what the cat's dragged in," the lady said, still maintaining her smile.

Michael looked at her, wondering who she was, that Vlad had to show some respect.