The Mafia's Baker
Nadya Volkova
Chapter 6
MILANA'S POV :
The bakery fell silent as every customer turned toward the elegant woman standing before me. She was breathtakingly beautiful: long blonde hair, diamond earrings sparkling under the lights, and a designer handbag that likely cost more than our whole month’s earnings. She carried herself like she owned the room—and judging by how everyone looked at her, she was used to getting exactly what she wanted.
She smiled at me, though there was no kindness in it. "So... you're the famous bakery girl."
I frowned. "I'm sorry?"
She laughed softly. "Oh, don't worry. I've heard quite a lot about you."
I glanced at Dmitri; his jaw had tightened noticeably.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I knew that smile—Victoria only looked that way when she was planning something.
"Victoria," my voice was cold. "What are you doing here?"
She looked at me with feigned innocence. "I came to see my fiancé."
The word hung heavy in the air. *Fiancé.* Several customers exchanged glances, and Milana froze.
"Fiancé?"
Victoria linked her arm through mine. "Didn't Dmitri tell you? We're getting married."
I pulled my arm away immediately. "There is no engagement. There never will be."
Her smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "Oh, Dmitri—you're still being stubborn." She turned back to Milana. "Our families have already arranged everything. The wedding is only a matter of time."
---
MILANA'S POV :
I didn't know why, but hearing those words left a strange ache in my chest. I'd only known Dmitri a short time—why should I care if he was getting married? Still, I forced a polite smile.
"Congratulations."
Dmitri looked straight at me, his expression unreadable, while Victoria looked thoroughly pleased.
"Thank you. I've already started looking at venues."
She deliberately slipped her arm through his again.
This time he stepped back completely.
"Enough."
His voice was firm.
"I told you already—I am not marrying you."
Victoria's smile faded.
"You'd embarrass both our families over..." she glanced at me dismissively, "...a bakery girl?"
Whispers spread through the shop. I felt out of place.
"I'll just check the kitchen," I said quietly, turning to leave.
"Wait," Victoria called out, and I stopped.
"How much are they paying you?"
I turned back, confused.
"Excuse me?"
She crossed her arms.
"My Dmitri doesn't spend time with ordinary girls. So—did he pay you to keep him company?"
The whole room went dead silent.
---
MILANA'S POV :
Her words stung more than I expected.
"I don't know what you mean."
Victoria chuckled.
"Really? Then why does he keep coming here?"
I looked at Dmitri; he looked ready to lose his temper. Before he could speak, I answered calmly,
"He is a customer. And customers are always welcome here."
Victoria laughed louder.
"That's adorable—you actually believe that?"
I took a steady breath.
"My personal life is none of your business. And whatever is between you and Mr. Dmitri is none of mine."
From the kitchen, Aunt Nina watched with quiet pride—polite, but never one to be pushed around.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
Victoria had gone too far.
"Apologize to her."
She stared at me in disbelief.
"Me?"
"Yes. I will not ask again."
She laughed bitterly.
"You've never stood up for another woman before. Why her?"
"Because she has done nothing wrong," I answered without hesitation.
She looked at me as if I had betrayed her.
"You've changed."
"No—I've simply grown tired of your behavior."
The hurt in her eyes hardened into anger.
"You will regret choosing her over me."
"I am not choosing anyone," I said clearly. "But I will never choose you."
I picked up my order, placed enough cash on the counter to cover everyone's purchases, and turned to Milana.
"I am truly sorry."
"You don't have to be," she said softly.
"I do. My problems should never have become yours."
For the first time, she saw something genuine in my eyes: guilt.
I gave one quiet nod and left, Seb following close behind.
Victoria stood alone in the middle of the shop—humiliated.
---
VICTORIA'S POV :
The moment I got into the car, I slammed the door so hard the driver flinched.
"Drive," I snapped.
We rode in silence for minutes before I looked back at the bakery through the window. Milana was already laughing with an elderly customer as if nothing had happened. My nails dug into my bag.
"A poor baker... making me look small in front of everyone," I muttered, my jaw tight. "This isn't over. If she won't stay away... I'll make sure she has nowhere left to go."
A cold smile touched my lips.
"This is only the beginning."
---
MILANA'S POV :
After closing, I sat alone on the bench outside. The evening air felt chillier than usual. I couldn't stop replaying everything.
Dmitri... so he really is engaged.
My chest felt heavy, and I didn't understand why. Maybe because he'd become a real friend to me, or maybe... something more.
Before I could think further, a black luxury car drove slowly past. It didn't stop, but the window rolled down just enough for our eyes to meet.
It was Dmitri.
He didn't smile—just looked at me, as if saying sorry one last time.
Then the car drove away until its lights disappeared.
I had no idea someone was watching from the shadows across the street, lifting a camera.
*Click.*
A photo was taken, on its way to someone who would use it to hurt me.
The bakery fell silent as every customer turned toward the elegant woman standing before me. She was breathtakingly beautiful: long blonde hair, diamond earrings sparkling under the lights, and a designer handbag that likely cost more than our whole month’s earnings. She carried herself like she owned the room—and judging by how everyone looked at her, she was used to getting exactly what she wanted.
She smiled at me, though there was no kindness in it. "So... you're the famous bakery girl."
I frowned. "I'm sorry?"
She laughed softly. "Oh, don't worry. I've heard quite a lot about you."
I glanced at Dmitri; his jaw had tightened noticeably.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
I knew that smile—Victoria only looked that way when she was planning something.
"Victoria," my voice was cold. "What are you doing here?"
She looked at me with feigned innocence. "I came to see my fiancé."
The word hung heavy in the air. *Fiancé.* Several customers exchanged glances, and Milana froze.
"Fiancé?"
Victoria linked her arm through mine. "Didn't Dmitri tell you? We're getting married."
I pulled my arm away immediately. "There is no engagement. There never will be."
Her smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "Oh, Dmitri—you're still being stubborn." She turned back to Milana. "Our families have already arranged everything. The wedding is only a matter of time."
---
MILANA'S POV :
I didn't know why, but hearing those words left a strange ache in my chest. I'd only known Dmitri a short time—why should I care if he was getting married? Still, I forced a polite smile.
"Congratulations."
Dmitri looked straight at me, his expression unreadable, while Victoria looked thoroughly pleased.
"Thank you. I've already started looking at venues."
She deliberately slipped her arm through his again.
This time he stepped back completely.
"Enough."
His voice was firm.
"I told you already—I am not marrying you."
Victoria's smile faded.
"You'd embarrass both our families over..." she glanced at me dismissively, "...a bakery girl?"
Whispers spread through the shop. I felt out of place.
"I'll just check the kitchen," I said quietly, turning to leave.
"Wait," Victoria called out, and I stopped.
"How much are they paying you?"
I turned back, confused.
"Excuse me?"
She crossed her arms.
"My Dmitri doesn't spend time with ordinary girls. So—did he pay you to keep him company?"
The whole room went dead silent.
---
MILANA'S POV :
Her words stung more than I expected.
"I don't know what you mean."
Victoria chuckled.
"Really? Then why does he keep coming here?"
I looked at Dmitri; he looked ready to lose his temper. Before he could speak, I answered calmly,
"He is a customer. And customers are always welcome here."
Victoria laughed louder.
"That's adorable—you actually believe that?"
I took a steady breath.
"My personal life is none of your business. And whatever is between you and Mr. Dmitri is none of mine."
From the kitchen, Aunt Nina watched with quiet pride—polite, but never one to be pushed around.
---
DMITRI'S POV :
Victoria had gone too far.
"Apologize to her."
She stared at me in disbelief.
"Me?"
"Yes. I will not ask again."
She laughed bitterly.
"You've never stood up for another woman before. Why her?"
"Because she has done nothing wrong," I answered without hesitation.
She looked at me as if I had betrayed her.
"You've changed."
"No—I've simply grown tired of your behavior."
The hurt in her eyes hardened into anger.
"You will regret choosing her over me."
"I am not choosing anyone," I said clearly. "But I will never choose you."
I picked up my order, placed enough cash on the counter to cover everyone's purchases, and turned to Milana.
"I am truly sorry."
"You don't have to be," she said softly.
"I do. My problems should never have become yours."
For the first time, she saw something genuine in my eyes: guilt.
I gave one quiet nod and left, Seb following close behind.
Victoria stood alone in the middle of the shop—humiliated.
---
VICTORIA'S POV :
The moment I got into the car, I slammed the door so hard the driver flinched.
"Drive," I snapped.
We rode in silence for minutes before I looked back at the bakery through the window. Milana was already laughing with an elderly customer as if nothing had happened. My nails dug into my bag.
"A poor baker... making me look small in front of everyone," I muttered, my jaw tight. "This isn't over. If she won't stay away... I'll make sure she has nowhere left to go."
A cold smile touched my lips.
"This is only the beginning."
---
MILANA'S POV :
After closing, I sat alone on the bench outside. The evening air felt chillier than usual. I couldn't stop replaying everything.
Dmitri... so he really is engaged.
My chest felt heavy, and I didn't understand why. Maybe because he'd become a real friend to me, or maybe... something more.
Before I could think further, a black luxury car drove slowly past. It didn't stop, but the window rolled down just enough for our eyes to meet.
It was Dmitri.
He didn't smile—just looked at me, as if saying sorry one last time.
Then the car drove away until its lights disappeared.
I had no idea someone was watching from the shadows across the street, lifting a camera.
*Click.*
A photo was taken, on its way to someone who would use it to hurt me.
Chapter 6
— Chapter 6 of 6