Tuesday. 9:07 p.m.
Room 1408.
Same suite.
Same city lights.
Zofia arrived at 9:11.
Black dress. Short. Tight. Same one from the photo.
Hair down.
Makeup heavy.
She stepped inside.
Saw Alex.
Froze.
"You really did it."
Alex stood by the window.
Hands in pockets.
"Sit."
She didn't.
"Why me?"
"Because you laughed."
She swallowed.
"Ten thousand?"
"Cash. No recordings. No faces."
He pulled the envelope from his coat.
Set it on the table.
She stared at it.
Then at him.
"You're paying me to fuck you?"
"I'm paying you to remember."
She laughed—short, bitter.
"You're still a creep."
Alex stepped closer.
Took her chin.
Tilted her face up.
"You used to call me weirdo."
He kissed her.
Hard.
She kissed back.
After a moment.
Hands on his chest.
Then lower.
Clothes came off.
Dress. Bra. Panties.
His coat. Shirt. Trousers.
He bent her over the bed.
Entered her from behind.
Slow at first.
Then harder.
She moaned.
Loud.
Real.
