Volkov

Chapter 15

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows over the room as I slowly began to wake. Maksim's arm was still draped across me, his body pressed against mine. I could feel the warmth of his skin, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed deeply in his sleep. Despite everything that had happened the night before—despite the lingering uncertainty about what we were to each other—there was something comforting about his presence, something grounding.

I stretched beneath the covers, careful not to disturb him, my mind racing with thoughts of what had transpired. What did last night mean for us? We hadn't talked about it. We hadn't discussed the boundaries we'd crossed, or the new territory we'd ventured into. And while I was glad we hadn't rushed into it, the questions were still there, waiting to be addressed.

As I turned my head to look at him, the silence between us felt almost palpable. He was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. He looked so different from the man I'd first met—the stoic businessman, the hard-edged leader of a powerful empire. Now, in the quiet morning light, he was just a man, vulnerable and calm, without the walls he usually built around himself.

I took a deep breath and allowed myself a moment of peace. It wasn't often that I let myself get caught up in the unknown, but this time, I wasn't as scared. I wasn't sure what would happen between us, but I knew I was willing to see where it could go.

It was then that I heard the soft ringing of my phone from across the room, breaking the stillness. I reluctantly pulled myself out of the cocoon of warmth and shifted to reach for it. As soon as I grabbed the phone, I saw the caller ID.

It was my team at the office.

I sighed and glanced at Maksim, who was still asleep, completely unaware of the impending work calls I had to take. The timing was terrible. I hadn't been expecting to get caught up in the whirlwind of my responsibilities so soon, but I knew I had to address a few things.

The phone rang a second time, more insistent this time, and I answered it with a sigh.

"Raven? We need you to come in today. The new campaign's been delayed, and there are a few things we need to sort out," Mathew's voice came through, tight and stressed.

I rubbed my temples, trying to suppress the growing headache that had begun to form. "I wasn't planning on coming in today, Mathew. Can't it wait?"

"We've got a meeting in two hours with the marketing team, and we're behind schedule. We need your input."

I groaned. I really wasn't in the mood for work today—not after everything that had happened. But I knew I couldn't ignore it.

"I'll be there in an hour," I said, resigned. "Get the team ready. I'll bring my laptop and try to get up to speed."

"I'll see you soon then. And Raven..." Mathew hesitated, sounding almost sheepish. "It's going to be tough without you there."

"Don't worry, I'll make it work," I replied, ending the call and throwing my phone onto the bed. I stood up, trying to shake off the sleepiness still lingering in my bones, and quickly dressed in something more suitable for the office.

When I glanced back at Maksim, he was still deep in sleep, his features softened in a way that made him seem almost unrecognizable. I hesitated for a moment, torn between the need to get back to the reality of my job and the desire to stay with him just a little longer.

But I knew it was time to face the music.

I grabbed my bag and headed toward the door, leaving him behind, though part of me didn't want to. Before I left, I paused in the doorway, casting one last glance back at the bed. His presence had become a fixture in my life, even though we'd only known each other for a short time. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something about him had a way of drawing me in. And despite my best efforts to remain detached, I had to admit—I was falling for him.