Chapter 2 — Dangerously Attracted

Ekaterina

The next day, Ivan met me at a mall downtown.

The second he saw me, he looked me up and down like he was appraising merchandise.

"You're kind of cute," he said dismissively. "But tonight I need a femme fatale."

I rolled my eyes internally but kept quiet.

We walked into a store far too expensive for anything in my life.

Ivan picked out everything without bothering to ask my opinion.

The red dress clung to my skin like a second layer. The neckline made me uncomfortable immediately.

It definitely didn't feel like me.

Then he bought heels that probably cost more than everything I owned at home. Perfume, makeup, and lingerie—if you could even call it that.

"I want you at the bar by ten tonight," he said while paying. "I'll send you the address."

I just nodded.

And, thank God, he left shortly after.

For the first time all day, I could breathe without Ivan breathing down my neck.

I went straight back to the hospital.

The moment I walked into the room, I got the news about Lis's surgery.

Two days.

Two days.

My heart soared instantly.

I hugged my sister so tight she started laughing.

"Kathy... you're squishing me."

I laughed too.

Because for the first time in a long time—

it felt like something good was actually happening.

Later, while I gently fixed her hair on the hospital bed, I gathered the courage to tell her.

"Tonight I need to work a late shift."

Lis looked at me right away.

And I saw it.

The fear.

She tried to hide it, but I knew every expression my sister had.

She hated sleeping alone in that hospital.

Hated the silence at dawn.

The beeping machines.

The cold hallways.

But still—

she just nodded.

Too small to carry so much understanding.

"Okay."

My throat tightened.

"You sure?"

She forced a small smile.

"We need the money."

My heart broke in silence.

Because Lis never complained.

Never asked for anything.

Never blamed anyone for the unfair life she'd been given.

She just accepted.

And that hurt more than it should have.

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to distract her.

We watched cartoons.

I told stories.

I let her comb my hair her crooked little way just to hear that sweet giggle filling the room.

But behind every smile of mine... there was guilt.

Because I knew that tonight I was going to leave her alone in that hospital.

When night fell, I kissed her forehead for a long time.

"I'll be back early, okay? You won't even notice."

Lis held my hand between her small ones.

"Promise?"

My heart ached.

"Promise."

She smiled, trying to be brave.

But I could see the fear in her eyes anyway.

And I almost gave up on everything.

Almost.

I left the hospital with a heavy chest and headed home.

Our small row house felt even smaller that night.

Silent.

Worn out.

I took a long shower, trying to wash away the anxiety that clung to my skin.

Then I started getting ready slowly.

Taking my time.

As if being late could keep that night from happening.

When I finished—

I barely recognized myself.

The red dress was too tight.

The fabric hugged my entire body, tracing curves I normally hid.

The neckline was bold.

Indecent.

For the first time in my life, I looked exactly like the kind of woman men stare at in expensive bars.

And that made me uncomfortable immediately.

My phone buzzed.

Ivan.

I opened the message with nervous hands.

The bar's address.

And another message right after:

"I'll communicate with you through here. When he arrives, I'll tell you who he is."

My stomach twisted.

A few minutes later, another message appeared on the screen.

"The mission is to charm Viktor Morozov."

I stared at the name for a few seconds.

Morozov.

Even without knowing the man—

the surname already sounded dangerous.

Heavy.

As if it carried trouble with it.

I took a deep breath and called a cab.

Because now—

it was too late to turn back.

I arrived at the bar a few minutes later.

The second I walked in, I regretted it immediately.

The place was too sophisticated.

Dark.

Luxurious.

Full of beautiful people wearing expensive clothes and looking like they belonged to that world.

I didn't belong.

The stares landed on me almost immediately because of the red dress.

It made me uncomfortable right away.

I hugged my bag against my body and headed to the counter, trying to fake confidence.

But my hands were ice cold.

The bartender approached politely.

"What can I get you, miss?"

I shook my head quickly.

"Nothing."

Because I was too nervous.

And because I'd never had a drink in my life.

My phone buzzed inside my bag.

Ivan.

I answered immediately.

His voice came through cold and blunt from the other end:

"He's here."

My heart took off.

"Tall guy, blond, black shirt. Heading your way... don't look now."

My entire body went taut.

"Pay attention, Ekaterina. Do whatever you have to. You only leave that bar with him."

I shut my eyes for a second.

"And he needs to stay off the grid."

My throat went dry.

Then Ivan added, cruel:

"Use that pussy for something useful. I'm watching you."

And hung up in my face.

I stood there for several seconds, gripping the phone hard.

Humiliated.

Wanting to walk out of there.

But then I thought about Lis.

The scheduled surgery.

Her smile when she said she could finally run like the other kids.

And I swallowed every last bit of shame.

All of it.

Then—

I felt a presence stop beside me at the bar.

Tall.

Imposing.

Heavy.

My heart sped up instantly.

Without needing to look—

I knew. It was him.

"Can I join you, or are you waiting for someone?"

His voice sent a shiver through my entire body.

I turned my head slowly.

And saw him for the first time.

Blond.

Tall.

Far too handsome.

The kind of man who knew exactly the effect he had on people.

And he definitely had a player's face.

Still... my heart raced.

I gave a slight smile.

"I'm alone."

His light eyes scanned me quickly before he sat down beside me.

"Viktor."

The deep voice suited him perfectly.

The bartender returned right away.

Viktor ordered something strong without even glancing at the menu. Then he turned his attention back to me.

"And what are you drinking?"

"Something nonalcoholic."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Nonalcoholic?"

I felt a flush of embarrassment.

"I've never had a drink."

An amused smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

And, strangely—

it made me less nervous.

Our drinks arrived a few minutes later.

My phone vibrated discreetly inside my bag.

I glanced at the message.

"Good girl. Now spread your legs and the job's done."

My stomach lurched.

I locked the screen before Viktor could notice.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Ekaterina."

He repeated my name slowly.

As if he were tasting the sound.

And I hated that my body reacted to it.

Because I had absolutely no experience with men like Viktor Morozov.

Actually—

I had no experience with any man.

He talked more than I did for most of the time. He asked a few things about me, cracked low jokes, made comments about people in the bar.

And gradually—

I started to relax.

Until a friend of his showed up.

The man approached with a smile and greeted Viktor warmly.

I practically thanked God for the interruption.

Because Viktor's presence was too intense.

But the friend didn't stay long.

The moment he left, Viktor leaned in toward me.

Too close.

His cologne wrapped around me instantly.

"Would you like to go somewhere more private?"

My heart pounded.

Right away I remembered Ivan.

The messages.

The money.

Lis's surgery.

So I nodded.

"Yes."

Viktor smiled, satisfied, and stood.

He guided me toward the exit with his hand resting lightly on my lower back.

And I tried to ignore how much that simple touch affected me.

Outside, his car was absurdly expensive.

Luxurious.

Intimidating.

Everything in Viktor's world felt too big for me.

As soon as we got in the car, the silence hung for a few seconds.

Then Viktor leaned toward me without warning.

And kissed me.

My whole body shivered.

Because the kiss fit perfectly.

As if he knew exactly what he was doing.

And for the first time that night—

I completely forgot why I was there.

Viktor pulled back just enough to start the car.

I was still trying to catch my breath while he drove through the lit streets as if nothing had happened.

But my whole body still felt that kiss.

My heart was beating too fast.

And that scared me.

A short while later, the car pulled into the garage of a luxury hotel.

My nervousness slammed back instantly.

Everything felt too fast.

Too intense.

The elevator rose in silence.

And before I knew it—

we were walking into an enormous room.

The second the door closed behind us, Viktor looked at me in a way that made my stomach flip.

As if in that moment, only the two of us existed.

He approached slowly.

Without rushing.

Then he held my face and kissed me again.

The taste of alcohol filled my mouth while his hands traced my body slowly, awakening sensations I'd never felt before.

My whole body trembled.

With practiced ease, Viktor found the zipper of my dress and pulled it down with one hand.

The fabric slid along my skin.

And I should've stopped it.

Should've remembered why I was there.

But my body wanted him too.

Maybe more than it should have.

The dress fell to the floor at my feet.

Viktor pulled back just slightly.

Just enough to look at me.

His gaze traveled down my body slowly—intense, burning.

And my cheeks flushed immediately.

Because no one had ever looked at me like that before.

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