Volkov

Chapter 4

The morning came too soon.

I woke up to my phone buzzing relentlessly, dragging me out of the precious few hours of sleep I'd managed. My head felt foggy, and my neck protested as I sat up. Falling asleep on the couch hunched over my laptop had been a bad idea.

The screen of my phone lit up again, displaying Elijah's name.

"Hello?" I croaked, rubbing my eyes.

"Good morning, sunshine," Elijah said brightly. "Did you forget we have the project meeting in thirty minutes?"

Thirty minutes? I shot up, nearly knocking over my laptop. "What? No. Of course not."

Elijah snorted. "You sound half-dead. Did you pull an all-nighter or something?"

I glanced at the mess of papers and my laptop on the coffee table. "Something like that. I'll be there."

"Don't worry," he teased. "Maksim only bites a little."

"Elijah," I warned, already regretting answering the call.

He laughed and hung up, leaving me scrambling to pull myself together.

By the time I got to the office, the meeting room was nearly full. Elijah gave me a subtle thumbs-up as I slid into a seat at the table, trying to make myself invisible. Maksim wasn't here yet, and part of me hoped he was running late.

But the universe wasn't that kind.

The door opened, and he strode in, commanding the room without saying a word. He wore another impeccably tailored suit, this time charcoal gray, and he looked...well, as infuriatingly magnetic as always. His gaze swept over the room, lingering on me for a fraction too long before he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Good morning," he said, his voice smooth but authoritative. "Let's begin."

The meeting started smoothly enough, with everyone presenting updates on their respective roles in the project. I tried to focus, jotting down notes and nodding when appropriate, but my mind kept wandering to my revised strategy.

When it was my turn, I took a deep breath and stood.

"As you know, I'm overseeing the marketing campaign for this project," I began, keeping my tone calm and professional. "After our last meeting, I revisited some of the concepts to ensure they align more closely with the overall vision."

I glanced at Maksim as I spoke, and his expression was unreadable. It only made me more nervous.

I walked them through the updated strategy, highlighting key changes and emphasizing the bolder, more personal approach I'd taken. When I finished, the room was silent for a beat, and my heart pounded in the pause.

"Interesting," Maksim said finally, his gaze locked on me.

Interesting? That could mean anything.

"It's a step in the right direction," he continued, leaning back in his chair. "But I think you're still holding back."

I blinked, thrown off. "Holding back?"

"Yes," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Your ideas are creative, but they're not fully realized. You're playing it safe again."

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I kept my expression neutral. "With all due respect, Maksim, the campaign needs to appeal to a broad audience. Taking too many risks could backfire."

"A fair point," he conceded, his lips curving into a faint smile. "But great marketing isn't just about appealing to everyone—it's about leaving an impression. You have the potential to do that, Ms. Tremble. Don't waste it."

The room was silent again, and I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me. I nodded, forcing a polite smile. "Thank you for the feedback."

He nodded once, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before moving on to the next presenter.

I sank back into my seat, my stomach churning with a mix of frustration and determination. I couldn't decide if I wanted to impress him or prove him wrong—or maybe both.

After the meeting, I stayed behind, gathering my notes while everyone else filtered out of the room. I told myself I was just being thorough, but the truth was, I needed a moment to compose myself.

"You handled that well," Elijah said, appearing at my side.

I glanced at him, surprised he was still here. "Did I?"

"Yeah," he said with a grin. "Maksim doesn't give compliments easily, so take that as a win."

"Did that sound like a compliment to you?" I asked dryly.

Elijah laughed. "In Maksim-speak, it was practically a standing ovation."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling.

As we left the meeting room, I noticed Maksim standing near his office, speaking with Christine. He glanced in our direction, his expression unreadable, and I quickly looked away.

Elijah nudged me. "You know, he's not as scary as he looks."

"Really? Because he seems pretty terrifying to me."

"Nah," Elijah said, grinning. "He's just...intense. He expects a lot from people, but it's because he wants them to succeed. He's not the kind of guy who wastes time on someone he doesn't think is worth it."

His words echoed what he'd said yesterday, but hearing it again didn't make it any easier to process.

"Well, I'd prefer it if he expected a little less from me," I muttered.

Elijah laughed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Maksim's expectations weren't just about work.

Later that evening, I stayed late at the office, determined to refine the campaign even further. Most of the floor was empty by now, the hum of computers and fluorescent lights the only sounds.

I was so focused on my work that I didn't notice Maksim approaching until he spoke.

"Burning the midnight oil?"

I jumped, nearly knocking over my coffee. "Oh—Maksim. I didn't hear you."

His lips twitched in what might have been amusement. "Clearly."

"What are you still doing here?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"I could ask you the same question," he said, stepping closer. "But I already know the answer."

I frowned. "And what's that?"

"You're trying to prove me wrong," he said, his voice low and calm.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand.

"Don't misunderstand," he said. "I respect that. Most people would've gone home by now, content with doing the minimum. But not you."

There was something in his tone that made my pulse quicken, but I forced myself to keep my composure. "Well, I wouldn't want to waste my potential," I said, echoing his earlier words.

His lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile. "Good. Keep that fire, Ms. Tremble. You're going to need it."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and the undeniable realization that I was in way over my head.