**Alex's POV**
I had just finished another meeting, my mind still buzzing with numbers and projections when I heard a knock on the door. My assistant peeked in, looking slightly hesitant. That wasn't like her.
"Mr. Volkov, there's someone here to see you."
"Who is it?" I asked, half distracted by the contracts I was reviewing.
"It's... it's Katerina," she said quietly.
My head snapped up at the name, a knot of tension instantly forming in my chest. **Katerina.** My ex. The last person I wanted to see, especially here, at the office. She was a ghost from my past—beautiful, cunning, and someone I had no desire to welcome back into my life.
Before I could tell my assistant to send her away, the door opened fully, and there she was—standing tall in the doorway with that familiar smug smile playing on her lips. Katerina always knew how to make an entrance, but I wasn't in the mood for her theatrics today.
"Alex," she greeted, her voice smooth, dripping with false charm. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"You are," I replied flatly, my eyes narrowing at her. "What do you want, Katerina?"
She stepped into the room without waiting for an invitation, her eyes scanning the office as if she owned the place. "I was just in the city, thought I'd stop by and see how you're doing. It's been a while."
I stood, my patience thinning quickly. "We have nothing to discuss. You shouldn't be here."
Her smile faltered just slightly, but she quickly masked it. "Come on, Alex. Is that how you're going to treat me after everything we shared?"
I was about to respond, to tell her that whatever we had was long dead and buried, when my phone buzzed on the desk. A message from Emma flashed on the screen: **"Just got to the office. Heading up now."**
I froze. **Emma.** She was on her way, and the last thing I needed was for her to walk in and see Katerina here. Before I could react, there was another knock at the door, and I heard Emma's voice just outside.
"Alex?"
The door opened, and there she was—Emma, standing in the doorway with a bright smile that instantly faded as her eyes landed on Katerina. Her expression shifted from confusion to something unreadable, and I could feel the tension thickening in the room.
"Emma," I said, stepping toward her, trying to smooth over the situation before it escalated. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."
Emma's eyes flicked between me and Katerina, clearly trying to make sense of what was happening. Katerina, never one to miss an opportunity, stepped forward, flashing that calculated smile in Emma's direction.
"Ah, so this is the famous Emma," Katerina said, her tone dripping with feigned politeness. "I've heard so much about you."
Emma stiffened slightly, her posture straightening as she turned to face Katerina fully. "And you are?"
Katerina's smile widened. "I'm Katerina. Alex and I go way back. We used to be... very close."
I could feel the anger rising in my chest. Katerina was trying to provoke something, and I wasn't about to let her manipulate the situation.
"Emma," I said quickly, stepping between them, "this isn't what it looks like. Katerina was just leaving."
But Emma's eyes were locked on Katerina, her expression cool but sharp. "I see," she said quietly, her voice calm but carrying an edge. "Well, I didn't mean to interrupt."
I could see the storm brewing behind Emma's eyes, and it twisted something deep inside me. I hated that she had to walk into this mess, that she even had to meet someone like Katerina.
Katerina, sensing the tension, gave a small, satisfied laugh. "Don't worry, Emma. I'm sure Alex has plenty of time to explain everything. I'll leave you two to it."
With that, she sauntered out of the office, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving a thick silence in her wake.
Emma didn't look at me immediately. Her gaze stayed fixed on the door, her lips pressed into a thin line. When she finally did look at me, her expression was guarded, as if she was trying to decide how to react.
"That was... interesting," she said softly, her tone neutral but laced with an underlying tension.