The morning after, Liza woke up in her small apartment, her head pounding with the remnants of last night's whiskey. For a brief moment, she believed the events at the bar had been a bad dream—the betrayal, Viktor, the insane proposal. But the moment her eyes landed on the sleek business card resting on her nightstand, reality hit her like a sledgehammer."Viktor Ivanov, Elite Holdings."Her fingers traced over the gold-embossed letters, her mind racing. Viktor wasn't just some stranger in a bar. Elite Holdings? It sounded legitimate, but there was no doubt that this man was involved in something much darker. Liza had seen the look in his eyes—the ruthless, calculating way he moved through the world.But even as she thought about backing out, something inside her burned with resolve. She thought of Christoph, her fiancé, and Kylie, the woman who had laughed with her, shared secrets with her—and then destroyed everything. Viktor had offered her something more than revenge. He had offered her a way to reclaim her power, to not be a victim.A knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. She hesitated for a moment, wondering who it could be this early.When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.Viktor stood there, as imposing as he had been the night before. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he was a vision of control and authority, his icy blue eyes surveying her apartment with a flicker of distaste. Behind him, two men—clearly bodyguards—flanked him like shadows."Good morning, Liza," he said smoothly, stepping inside without an invitation. "I trust you've thought about my proposal?"Liza swallowed hard, her fingers still clutching the business card. "I—yes," she said, struggling to keep her voice steady. "But this… it's insane. I don't even know you."Viktor's lips curved into a smile, but there was no warmth behind it. "You will. But first, we need to finalize our arrangement."Her heart raced as Viktor moved closer, his presence commanding. "Do you want this, Liza? Truly? If you enter this world with me, there's no going back."Liza's gaze flickered to the men at the door, the reality of Viktor's life suddenly more real than it had been the night before. But the fire of betrayal still burned bright inside her, and something about the way Viktor looked at her, as if he saw more in her than anyone else ever had, made her stand taller."I want this," she said, her voice stronger this time. "I want them to pay for what they did to me."Viktor nodded, his eyes softening just slightly. "Then we'll begin immediately."