Viktor kept her pinned against the wall, his gaze filled with intense possessiveness. Alia had no way to move. Suddenly, Viktor tightened his grip and, with one powerful hand, firmly held onto Alia's thigh. He pulled her even closer, leaving no space between them.
Before Alia could say anything, Viktor leaned down. His lips crashed onto hers in a deep, intense, and demanding kiss. This kiss carried a heated passion strong enough to defy the biting cold of Moscow. Under the weight of Viktor's body and his deep touch, Alia forgot everything for a moment; it felt as if she had become an integral part of Viktor's dark world. In the silence of that rooftop, nothing could be heard but the sound of the falling snow and their heavy breaths. The lingering sensation of that deep kiss was still on Alia's lips. Gasping for air, she asked in a trembling voice, "Viktor... are we going home now?"
Viktor did not remove his hand from her chin; he kept his intense gaze fixed on Alia's eyes. Even amidst the snowy gusts, his voice remained rock-solid. He didn't move his body away from hers for even a second, instead leaning slightly toward her neck and whispering in a cold tone, "No."
His one-word answer sounded even more ominous, mingling with the wind. This refusal from Viktor stirred both terror and an unknown thrill in Alia's mind. She realized that Viktor wouldn't let her return home so easily tonight.After the suffocating moment on the roof, Alia somehow managed to break free and drive home. Upon entering, she couldn't hold herself back anymore; overwhelmed by the mixture of suppressed ego, anger, and tension, she burst into tears. The sound of her sobbing grew heavy in the silence of the room.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. When Alia wiped her eyes and opened it, she saw Viktor standing there. In one hand, he held a bouquet of rare roses, and in the other, the keys to a luxury car not just any vehicle, but a custom-made Pagani.
Today, Viktor's eyes held more of a sense of possessiveness than his usual authority. Without saying a word, he extended the flowers and the keys toward Alia. Still shaken and wiping away her tears, Alia said in a trembling voice, "Viktor, why? And this car... I already have this."
Viktor stepped toward her in his towering frame, his shadow looming over her and making the room feel smaller. In a low, deep voice, he said, "What you already possess is ordinary. What I am giving you is a symbol of our connection. This is not just a car; it is a promise from me no matter where you try to run, I will always find you."Viktor gently cupped her chin and pulled her closer. His voice, now speaking in Russian, was no longer cold or authoritative, but filled with deep affection and mesmerism. He whispered, "Моя любимая, ты всегда будешь моей, даже если попытаешься сбежать." "My beloved, you will always be mine, even if you try to escape."
Alia was captivated by the enchanting cadence of his Russian. Under his touch, all her resentment seemed to melt away instantly. Viktor then pressed his lips softly against her forehead and added in a calm voice, "Я никогда не отпущу тебя." I will never let you go."
The warmth of these Russian words created a strange sense of dependence within Alia's heart. She realized that Viktor's intense dominance and his deep attraction toward her were all part of an invisible bond, pulling them both toward an inevitable fate on this freezing, snowy night in Russia. Alia looked into Viktor's eyes and sighed. Memories of the old Russian tales she had repeatedly drafted for her novels resurfaced. She whispered into Viktor's ear, "Do you know, Viktor, is all love in this land of ice so difficult? Just like the story of Andrei and Ivana."
Alia continued:
Andrei's Vow: In that story, the boy named Andrei was the son of a powerful aristocratic family in Moscow who fell in love with a common girl named Ivana.
The Game of Fate: The Andrei in the story was much like you stubborn, dominant, and unwilling to let his love go under any circumstances.
The Inevitable Bond: Just as that Andrei in the novel kept Ivana trapped in the darkness of his empire, you, too, have wrapped me in your web.
Alia added with a soft smile, "Do you know what happened to that Andrei in the end? He burned his entire empire to ash for the sake of his love. Are you walking that same path, Viktor?" Viktor's words left the room silent for a moment. There was no doubt in his deep gaze, only unwavering conviction. He cupped her chin more gently and said, "You are not an ordinary girl, Alia. The moment I first saw you, I knew there is an intoxicating aura of the unknown and a mark of courage in every step you take."
Alia looked straight into Viktor's eyes and smiled softly. Her smile was mysterious and filled with self-assurance. Placing her hand over his, she said in a steady voice, "You are right, Viktor. I am not ordinary, because I know how to write my own destiny. You think of keeping me trapped in the darkness of your empire, but do you know? I know how to turn that very darkness into my own light."
After a brief pause, she leaned even closer to Viktor and added, "If you are Andrei, remember Ivana was never just a doll. I am not your plaything; I can be your companion, but never your submissive servant. My essence runs deep, and it demands much more than your expensive cars or roses." Hearing Alia's firm voice, the look in Viktor's eyes became even deeper and more mysterious. Brushing a few strands of hair away from Alia's forehead, he began to speak steadily, "When you spoke of Andrei and Ivana, I was wondering you only see those characters from the novel. But do you know the reality behind that story?"
Looking out into the snow-covered darkness beyond the window, Viktor began to narrate:
Forgotten Past: Andrei was not just a fictional name; it was the pseudonym of a ruler of that empire who truly reduced himself to nothing in order to find his beloved.
Balance of Power: Ivana was not ordinary; she was a brilliant strategist of that time who conquered every corner of Andrei's impenetrable empire with her wit.
Real Consequence: Their love was not a fairy tale; it was a bloody and dramatic journey of two powerful souls discovering each other.
Viktor turned back to Alia and said in a grave voice, "Andrei did not burn his empire; he sacrificed his empire just to measure the depth of Ivana's heart. If you consider yourself Ivana, remember she was not just a companion; she was the only point of light in Andrei's darkness. I have not come to buy you with cars or gifts; I have come to make you understand that in this story of ours, I am Andrei and you are Ivana we are each other's counterparts."