I wanted to fight back. But all I could do was watch him in the mirror. This man had me completely trapped and half-naked at his mercy.
We arrived at the event. Seeing Artur blend into an environment that had nothing to do with the underworld shocked me. Gone were the cigars and bullets. He wore a pristine black suit, presenting himself as a refined gentleman. He fitted well on this side of the world, but I learned long ago not to let appearances fool me.
The moment he stepped inside, all eyes were on him. His presence commanded attention. Surprisingly, he was gracious enough to spare a few minutes with them.
His politeness was a mask, and I knew it all too well. I followed his lead, stopping when he did, waiting while he exchanged pleasantries, and moving with him to the next group. He would speak in languages I didn’t understand, switching between themas if he had mastered every tongue.
The ballroom was a portrait of wealth and extravagance. Women wore dresses that whispered luxury. The men were no different, adorned in sharp suits and tuxedos that only added to the elegance. The air was rich with the scent of expensive cologne and perfume.
I looked like one of them. The silver dress clung to every curve, accentuating my lean figure with a V-neckline that framed my chest. On the outside, I looked stunning. But inside, I was exhausted and mentally drained.
Artur expected me to smile, yet he had taken lives in my name. That weighed heavily on me. How many more lives would it take before I was free? How many more deaths would I witness? And would I ever be able to leave this world?
“Smile.” Artur’s voice pulled me from my dark thoughts. I inhaled, holding myself together. “That’s your job here.”
Ignoring him, I focused instead on our next destination. He finished greeting people and guided me toward a table. As we moved, I couldn’t ignore the stares trailing us and whispers flicking through the air.
The tables had sleek displays of crystal glasses and name tags. The name ‘Konstantinov’ stood out on the tag of the table we approached, and I could already tell it was ours.
A woman stood as we arrived, her long red dress flowing effortlessly around her. Her hair, just as red, cascaded over her shoulders like a fiery waterfall. She exuded confidence, and if Carina were here, she could have described her as a ‘rich bad bitch’.
“Elena.” Artur greeted her, his arms extending to pull her into an embrace. Leaning in, he murmured in her ear, “Te ves tan hermosa.”
“Muchas gracias,” she replied with a smile, eyeing him up and down. “How was your flight?”
“Bueno,” Artur sat beside her. She didn’t acknowledge me, and I didn’t care. I slipped into the seat across from them, my mind wandering.
Their conversation didn’t interest me. I surveyed the ballroom, taking in the surrounding scene. A table near the staircase caught my eye. It had the name ‘Leonid’ written on it. I didn’t know who Leonid was, but my gaze lingered on the table. For my sanity, I hoped to see a familiar face.
There were Italians here, too. I heard a few chatting around the room. The room continued to fill as groups of guests entered until it was packed. I picked up a glass of red wine, using it to busy my hands while my mind wandered. It was when Elena spoke, pointing at me.
“Your secretary?” she asked Artur.
Artur’s eyes flicked to me, and a smirk crept onto his face. My stomach turned.
“No,” he said, and then his gaze turned colder. “A treasure.”
The word sent a shiver down my spine. He was a psychopath. That much was clear. I didn’t react, though. Instead, I focused on the stage where a woman in a clean white dress had stepped up to address the room. Her voice cut through the murmurs, drawing everyone’s attention.
The event turned out to be nothing more than a celebration of the wealthy businesspeople in the room. It was all designed to flaunt their success and brag about their influence. Despite the extravagance, it was all boring to me. I longed for a chance to think without the constant distraction of the underworld pressing in on me.
Things moved quickly after that. Before I knew it, we were rising from our seats. We were making our way toward the stairs when a voice cut through the hum of the room.
“Mister Konstantinov.”
Artur stopped in his tracks. Turning, I saw an older man ina dark gray suit rise from the table marked ‘Leonid’. His eyes locked onto mine, and a smile spread across his face, a smile meant to unsettle me.
“Finally attending an event,” the man said, his accent unmistakably Italian. My blood ran cold as I recognized him. This was the man who had nearly taken me at the auction.
Artur towered over him. “I can see you’ve been watching.”
Leonid’s gaze shifted to me again, the smile never leaving his face. I shuddered, and an awkward silence stretched between us. Without warning, Artur’s hand rested on my hip, pulling me closer. My body tensed at the suddenness of it.
Leonid let out a low chuckle. “A poison in your circle?”
“Why?” Artur scoffed. “Are all Italians snakes?”
Leonid’s smile remained as he let the words hang in the air. “You tell me. They are your suspects.”