Silken Chains

chapter 3

Chapter Three: A New Routine

The next few days were a blur for Alex. The rain had cleared, leaving the small town bathed in the crisp, cool air of early autumn. Despite the lingering chill, Alex felt a strange warmth that seemed to follow him everywhere. It was Viktor’s warmth, Viktor’s presence, still hanging over him like a comforting shadow.

Every time he reached into his pocket, he could feel the smooth edge of the black card Viktor had given him. He hadn’t used it yet—hadn’t even dared to look at it more than once—but just knowing it was there gave him a sense of security he couldn’t quite explain. There was something about Viktor that drew him in, something that made Alex feel…safe.

But it wasn’t just safety. Viktor’s attention had stirred something deep within Alex, something he had long since buried. It was a feeling he had almost forgotten, a mix of excitement and anticipation that left him restless, his thoughts constantly returning to that night in the car.

He tried to push those thoughts away, to focus on his daily routine, but they lingered, always just beneath the surface. He found himself checking his phone more often, half-hoping for a message, half-dreading what it might say. But the days passed without a word from Viktor, and Alex began to wonder if he had imagined the whole thing. Maybe Viktor had just been being polite, doing a good deed for a stranger. Maybe it didn’t mean anything.

But then, one evening, as Alex was closing up the small bookshop where he worked, his phone buzzed. His heart leapt as he pulled it out, his hands trembling slightly as he saw the message on the screen.

**Viktor: How are you, Alex?**

It was a simple message, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through Alex’s body. He stared at the screen for a long moment, unsure how to respond. Should he play it cool? Should he be honest? His mind raced, but in the end, he typed out a simple reply.

**Alex: I’m good, thank you. How are you?**

The reply came almost instantly, as if Viktor had been waiting for him.

**Viktor: Better now that I’m talking to you.**

Alex’s breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he didn’t respond right away. He finished closing up the shop, his mind racing with possibilities, with what-ifs. By the time he stepped out into the cool evening air, he had composed himself enough to type out a reply.

**Alex: That’s sweet of you to say.**

He hit send and slipped his phone back into his pocket, trying to calm the fluttering in his chest. But his phone buzzed again before he had even taken two steps.

**Viktor: Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?**

Alex froze in place, his heart pounding in his ears. Dinner. With Viktor. He had been hoping for this, hadn’t he? So why did the idea suddenly make him so nervous? He thought back to the way Viktor had looked at him that night, the intensity in his eyes, the way he had made Alex feel so small and protected all at once.

Taking a deep breath, Alex replied.

**Alex: I’d love to.**

The moment he hit send, a wave of anxiety crashed over him. What if he made a fool of himself? What if Viktor was just being polite? But then his phone buzzed again, and all his fears melted away.

**Viktor: Perfect. I’ll pick you up at 7. Wear something nice.**

Alex couldn’t help but smile, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside him. He spent the rest of the walk home in a daze, barely noticing the familiar streets and buildings he passed. All he could think about was Viktor—the way his voice had sounded that night, the way his touch had felt. He wanted to feel that again, to experience that warmth and safety that only Viktor seemed to offer.