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Rivka barely slept that night. Her mind kept replaying the brief exchange with Alec in his office, his cold, confident smile, his quiet promises of control, of power. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made a dangerous choice, one that would change everything about her life—if she even had a choice at all.
The next morning, the weight of Alec's words pressed heavily on her chest as she went through her routine. It was all a blur—the coffee she drank in an attempt to calm herself, the endless paperwork that seemed to mock her inability to focus, and the constant awareness that Alec Fedorov was somewhere out there, waiting, watching.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Daniel: "Have you heard from him? What did he say?"
Rivka stared at the screen for a moment before typing a response: "He wants me to meet him again tonight. I don't know what for."
She hit send and leaned back in her chair, the realization that her life had changed forever hitting her like a tidal wave. The life she had known, the safety of routine, was slipping away, piece by piece, and in its place stood a dangerous man who could ruin everything she had left.
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That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Rivka found herself standing outside the imposing glass building once again. The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest, her hands trembling at her sides. There was no turning back now. She had walked into Alec's world once, and now she had no choice but to keep going.
The door to the building opened before she could reach it, as if Alec had been waiting for her, anticipating her arrival. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a suit stood at the entrance, his gaze cold and impassive. Without a word, he stepped aside, letting Rivka pass.
Inside, the lobby was as pristine and polished as it had been the last time she was here. The soft hum of the elevator echoed through the space, and Rivka's heart beat louder in her chest with each passing second. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and the same imposing figure from earlier gestured for her to step inside. No words were exchanged, but Rivka didn't need any. She knew exactly where this was headed.
The ride up felt endless. She watched the numbers slowly climb, each floor taking her closer to Alec's domain, and with every passing second, her nerves intensified. When the elevator finally stopped, the doors opened to reveal a hallway that was sleek and modern, yet somehow cold. The walls were lined with black-and-white photographs, the minimalist design making the space feel even more sterile. It was clear that Alec had a particular taste—luxury, but with no warmth, no comfort.
She followed the man down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent space. He led her to a pair of double doors at the end, which opened with a soft click as he pushed them open.
Alec stood at the far side of the room, his back to her as he stared out the large windows, his figure framed by the glow of the city lights below. The view was breathtaking—an endless expanse of lights, buildings, and life—but Rivka couldn't bring herself to care about any of it. Not now. Not with Alec in the room.
He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers with that familiar, calculating gaze. A small smirk tugged at his lips, and Rivka felt a chill run down her spine.
"Miss Rivka," he said, his voice smooth, almost a purr. "I'm glad you could make it."
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand tall. "You wanted to see me. Here I am."
Alec's eyes flickered with something that might have been amusement, but there was no warmth in it. "You have a sharp tongue. I like that."
Rivka crossed her arms over her chest, a defensive posture she couldn't quite shake. "I'm not here for compliments. You know why I came."
Alec stepped forward, his tall frame closing the distance between them with unnerving speed. "I think you're here because you have no choice, Rivka," he said softly. His eyes softened slightly, but there was no kindness in the way they regarded her—only the cold weight of authority. "You came because I made sure you would."
Her heart raced in her chest. "What is it that you want from me, Alec?"
He leaned closer, his breath just a whisper away from her ear. "I want you to understand, Rivka. I want you to realize that you don't get to decide the terms anymore. Not when you're tangled in my web."
The words stung, but Rivka refused to show how much they affected her. "I don't want any part of your web, Alec."
He smirked, his fingers brushing against the sleeve of her jacket in a gesture that was almost tender—almost. But there was nothing gentle about his touch. "Too late for that, sweetheart. You already are. The question is, what will you do about it?"
Her mind raced, trying to find a way out, a way to regain some control over her life. But there was no escape from Alec. Not when his empire stretched across every corner of the world, not when his influence had seeped into every part of her life without her even realizing it.
"I'm giving you a choice, Rivka," Alec continued, his voice a low rumble. "You can stay in the shadows, hiding from everything I do. Or you can come with me, and together, we can build something powerful. Something no one can touch."
Rivka's pulse quickened at his words. The temptation was there—she could feel it, the dangerous allure of his power, the possibility of something greater than anything she had ever known. But at what cost?
"What's the catch?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
Alec's smirk deepened. "The catch is, you'll have to give me everything. Your loyalty, your trust. And most of all… your heart."
Her breath hitched. The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. She could feel the weight of the choice pressing down on her, suffocating her. But deep down, she knew the truth: there was no turning back now. She was already in too deep.
And Alec Fedorov wasn't the kind of man who allowed his prey to escape.
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