When she walked into the office the next morning, Alina still couldn’t shake the strange feeling from yesterday. Victor Lison. The name echoed in her mind like an unsolved riddle. Who was he? Why did he seem familiar when she was certain she had never met him before?

She had spent the night trying to dismiss the sensation, but it lingered like a shadow in the back of her mind. Alina prided herself on rationality, on keeping her emotions locked away where they couldn’t interfere with her decisions. And yet, Victor had managed to unnerve her with nothing more than a look.

She took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts aside. Today, she would finalize the contract. Two years. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less.

As she sat at her desk, a knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Come in,” she called, straightening her posture.

The door opened, and there he was.

Victor stepped inside, his movements controlled, his gaze calm but unreadable. He carried himself with an air of quiet confidence, a stark contrast to the men she had met before. There was no arrogance, no desperation—just an enigmatic presence that made it impossible to look away.

Alina forced herself to remain composed. “Mr. Lison,” she greeted, gesturing to the seat across from her. “I assume you understand the terms?”

He nodded, taking the seat without hesitation. “I do.”

His voice was deep, smooth—sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. She ignored it, focusing on the documents before her.

“Good. Then let’s get straight to business,” she said, sliding the contract toward him.

Victor picked it up, his eyes scanning the pages. “Two years. No personal involvement. A clean break afterward.”

“That’s correct,” she confirmed, watching him closely. Most men would have hesitated, asked questions, shown some reaction. But not Victor. His expression remained unreadable, his fingers steady as he turned the pages.

Finally, he looked up, meeting her gaze with that same unwavering intensity. “And what do I get out of this?”

Alina arched a brow. “A comfortable life for two years and a generous settlement after.”

A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “And what if I want something else?”

Her stomach tightened, but she kept her voice level. “Such as?”

Victor leaned forward slightly, his gaze never wavering. “Time will tell.”

Alina narrowed her eyes, but before she could respond, he picked up the pen and signed the contract in one fluid motion.

The deal was done.

Yet, as Victor leaned back in his chair, a knowing glint in his eyes, Alina couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just invited something dangerous into her life.

And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.