Elena’s POV<b>: </b>
If I was wrong about Niki Vetrov ?s intentions, the worst that could happen was that i would embarrass myself. That was nothingpared to what was at stake. But if I didn’t do anything–if I didn’t at least try to ask for his help–and my mother’s condition worsened, or worse…
I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life.
I exhaled sharply, forcing my shaky legs to <b>push </b>me <b>upright </b>
That’s it then.
I had made my choice.
Pulling put my phone, I searched for the address of Vetrov Enterprises. I <b>had </b>been there once or twice before, back when Dmitri would take me out for <b>lunch </b>at one of the high–end restaurants near his brother’s office. But 1 didn’t remember the eract address.
At least I knew Niki wasn’t out of the country.
nced down at my outfit <b>a </b>simple <b>ck </b>dress<b>, </b>the same one I had worn earlier at <b>my </b><b>dad’s </b>funeral. My hair was still tied into a low bun, strand? <b>Jalling </b>loose from <b>hours </b>of exluustion.
I looked like a grieving woman.
Which, in many <b>ways</b><b>, </b>I was.
I was mourning the death of my father, the life 1 thought I would have, the man I thought loved me and the security I had believed in.
Now, I had nothing.
Except for this one insane, desperate n.
30 minutester-
The towering ss building of Vetrov Enterprises loomed before me, its sharp edges piercing the dawn sky.
The city was still <b>asleep</b>, the streets nearly deserted, but this ce–this empire Niki built with his own hands—was already awake at four o’clock in the morning.
A few luxury <b>cars </b>lined the private parking area, their sleek exteriors gleaming under the streetlights.
I inhaled deeply, steeling myself.
I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to see him right away. CEOs don’t stroll into <b>work </b>at four in the morning. But I had no choice. I would leave my number with the receptionist and <b>pray </b>that Niki would agree to meet me.
There was no way I could ask Dmitri for his brother’s mumber.
Not when I was about to do this.
I pushed through the heavy ss doors and stepped into the lobby,
The receptionist at the front desk–a well–dressed woman in herte twenties–looked up from herputer screen, her eyes widening in surprise
when she saw me.
“Are you Miss Elena?”
I <b>frowned</b>. “<b>You </b>know me!”
She hesitated, then todded. “Ah, yes. Sir told me to send you up<b>.</b>”
My heart stopped.
<b>Wild </b>
I stared at her, my pulse hammering in my ears. Had he anticipated my arrival!
No. That wasn’t possible.
How would he know?
18:14 PM
My hands curled into fists, my heartbeat racing.
The receptionist smiled <b>and </b>handed me a key card. “Take the elevator to the twenty–seventh floor. <b>He’s </b>expecting <b>you </b>
I nodded slowly, forcing myself to act normal as <b>I </b><b>took </b>the <b>card </b>and walked toward the elevator
My mind was spiraling.
Was this just a coincidence? Had he expected me toe?
Or had he known all along <b>that </b>this day woulde! No.that didn’t make sense. How would he know that I needed money for my mother’s bypass in advance?
There was another more usible reason that swirled in my mind was he somehow stalking me?
I swallowed hard, shaking off the thought as I stepped into the empty elevator.
That was <b>ridiculous </b>though. Why would someone like him have a need to do that?
The moment the doors slid shut, I let out a shaky breath and pressed my <b>back </b>against the cold metal wall.
<b>Calm </b>down. Keep it together
I tapped the key card against the panel. The elevator hummed to life, carrying me higher and higher.
Maybe it was just my imagination or nervousness but the air felt thinner the closer I got.
Twenty–fifth floor
Twenty–sixth.
Twenty–seventh
A soft chime echoed, and the doors glided open.
There was only one office here.
A <b>massive</b>, double–door entrance at the end of the dimly lit hallway.
And sitting just outside it, a man—his posture straight as he typed away at hisptop. <b>Nikr’s </b>secretary?
As soon as he saw me, he stood up and gestured toward the doors
“Sir is waiting <b>for </b>you, <b>Miss </b><b>Kovalyova</b>.” He smiled <b>and </b>moved to open the door <b>for </b>me.
I nodded, thanking him <b>as </b><b>I </b>stepped inside, <b>my </b>gaze immediatelynding on the man behind the desk
Niki Vetrov ut in his massive leather chair, flipping through a file as <b>if </b>he hadn’t <b>just </b>called me here before I even made the <b>decision </b><b>to </be.
<b>His </b><b>dark </b>eyes flicked up from his papers, locking onto me.
The man was unfairly attractive.
He looked unbothered,posed. His expensive suit was perfectly fitted, the top button of his shirt undone, revealing <b>a </b>glimpse of tattoos pecking
from his cor.
The picture<b>–</b>perfect CEO.
And I was standing frozen in front of him.
“Good morning” he said smoothly, his voice deep.
Thest time we had talked, I had drank alcohol so it hadn’t felt like this, and before that, the couple of times we ran into each other we hadn’t conversed at all.
1 took a breath, forcing down my nerves. “Morning”
“Have <b>a </b>scal
I did<b>, </b>trying to keep my posture straight and confident despite the storm raging inside me.
“Tea or coffee?” he <b>asked</b>.
8.34 PM
“Neither. I’m fine.”
Niki frowned slightly before picking up the tel. “Send in a pumpkin spice Latte,”
My body went rigid.
How did he know my favorite drink!
He leaned back, watching the with something close to amusement. “Don’t think too much. Dmitri talks a lot about <b>you</b>.”
My stomach tightened.
Hearing my ex–fiance’s name out loud felt like a punch to the ribs. But I refused to show it.
Instead, I kept my gaze trained on Niki “You know what he did, don’t you?”
He smirked.
“I warned you, didn’t I He isn’t husband material
I clenched my fists ignoring his remark for now. “Why do you hate Dmitri
His smirk didn’t fade. “Hate? No, I don’t hate him. But I dislike him
1 narrowed my eyes.
“He’s spoiled<b>. </b>Daddy’s little treasure. He’s never suffered <b>a </b>day in his life. Never had to fight for anything. He thinks with his head, but not the one on his shoulders
Niki motioned toward his crotch.
1 bit down on my tongue, feeling the urge to refute him.
But could
I had seen it with
y own lwb <b>cyck </b>
my
Dmitri was exactly what Niki described.
“After all,” <b>Niki </b>continued, if he <b>had </b><b>any </b>brains, he wouldn’t have fumbled someone like you.”
<b>A </b>sharp, hot sensation crawled up my spine.
This <b>was </b><b>it</b>. This was my opening
I lifted my chin. “I have an offer for you”
His eyes flickered with interest.
“<b>Marry </b>me. Give me enough money <b>to </b><b>save </b>my mother. In return, I’ll give you a wife on paper. And a way to make your little brother aughing
nock
For the first time<b>, </b>Niki froze.
I watched <b>as </b>he leaned back, studying me. Then, his lips curled,
You’re pretty straightforwjed. I expected you to take more time to corre routed
My fingers dug into myp. “I don’t have time for that. My mother needs emergency Bypass surgery. Are you willing to help me or not?”
I was probably ring at him now.
A moment of silence stretched between us
Then-
“If I say no will you go <b>back </b>and ask Dimitri for money?”
wry smile spread <b>across </b>my face.
“He but the only member of the Vetrov family I can go to, <b>you </b>know,” I said, my voiceced with something dangerous. “After all, I know <b>Daddy </b>Vetrow has cenain tendencies toward girls half his age.
I was pushing my limits,
But I had <b>a </b>lunch.
A dangerous, reckless hunch
That Niki Vetrov was interested in me.
AD