MEETING THE DARKNESS

23

That night, after the whirlwind of the wedding festivities, Dia stepped into their suite, her mind buzzing with exhaustion and annoyance rather than excitement. The room was lavishly decorated, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over everything, rose petals scattered on the bed, and the fragrance of jasmine hanging heavily in the air. It all felt too intimate for what this was—a cold, calculated arrangement rather than anything remotely romantic.

She changed into her nightwear—a sleek, black silk robe—and emerged from the bathroom, feeling more composed, though her irritation lingered. As she stepped out, she noticed Viktor leaning against the dresser, his shirt undone just enough to reveal the sculpted muscles beneath, his hair slightly mussed as if he hadn't bothered to fully compose himself after the day's events. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, a smirk playing on his lips.

"You look... comfortable," Viktor drawled, his tone thick with sarcasm, his gaze sweeping over her lazily.

Dia shot him a withering look. "Comfortable is all I need to be tonight."

He chuckled, pushing off the dresser with a casual confidence that set her teeth on edge. "I don't know, Dia," he said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You don't strike me as someone who does anything without a little purpose behind it."

She crossed her arms, her patience thinning. "Don't flatter yourself. I didn't dress for you, Viktor."

He stepped closer, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "You sure about that? Because it looks to me like you're trying to make an impression."

"Impression?" she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You think everything's about you, don't you?"

His smirk deepened as he closed the distance between them, his presence both irritating and electric. "Not everything. Just this," he said, gesturing vaguely between them. "I think you're trying too hard not to admit it."

Dia's jaw clenched. He always had a way of getting under her skin, and she hated it. "This is just a business arrangement, Viktor. Nothing more."

"Is it?" he challenged, his tone carrying a sharp edge. "Because we both know how things can shift. What happens when you can't keep pretending this is only business?"

Her frustration flared. "I don't need to pretend. You don't affect me as much as you think."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression mocking. "Sure, keep telling yourself that." He leaned in slightly, his breath warm on her skin, making her nerves bristle. "But we both know you're lying."

Dia held her ground, refusing to let him see how rattled she felt. "Stop acting like you know me," she snapped. "You don't."

"Don't I?" Viktor's voice was low, teasing, his eyes boring into hers. "You're stubborn. Proud. Always ready to put up a fight. But you can't fight this forever."

She narrowed her eyes, her temper rising. "Watch me."

For a moment, the tension between them thickened, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. Dia could feel her irritation boiling over, yet beneath it, there was an undeniable pull, one she despised acknowledging.

Viktor smirked again, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Goodnight, Dia," he said, stepping back just as the tension peaked. "Try not to lose too much sleep over me."

She huffed, crossing her arms. "As if I would."

He gave a low chuckle as he sauntered toward the balcony, leaving her standing there, simmering with frustration. Dia hated how effortlessly he got under her skin, how his confidence rubbed her the wrong way—and yet, there was something about him that was impossible to ignore.

As she climbed into bed that night, trying to will herself into sleep, her irritation only deepened. This was supposed to be simple. A marriage of convenience, nothing more. But the way Viktor looked at her, the way he seemed to enjoy pushing her buttons—it was infuriating. She rolled onto her side, staring at the wall, determined to keep her distance, determined not to let him affect her.

But even as she closed her eyes, she knew that keeping the lines between business and pleasure wouldn't be as easy as she'd hoped. The irritation between them was real, but so was the undeniable tension lurking beneath it.

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I swear to god these two will be the death of me!

Viktor keeps on acting fucking bipolar. Like at one moment he is the one to initiate something intimate and then in another moment he reminds her that it is nothing more than business.

Anyways love you all!

With love,

CARA