Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen.

**Back in Italy.**

Xena, freshly showered and dressed in her comfortable nightwear, sat cross-legged on her bed. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders as she picked up her phone.

Worry etched across her face as she stared at the screen. She had tried calling Elena several times, but the calls wouldn’t go through.

"Is she okay?" Xena mumbled under her breath. Her mind raced with possibilities, none of which were comforting. Then she remembered Elena’s late-night flight.

"Maybe she’s on board." Xena whispered to herself, trying to ease her nerves. She sighed heavily and placed her phone on the bedside table.

Lying back on the bed, she stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts spiraling. The events of that night crept into her mind like shadows, refusing to let her rest.

**Viktor Sokolov.**

His name sent a chill down her spine. His presence alone had been overwhelming, but the scar tracing down his jawline made him look even more dangerous, almost inhuman. The way he had commanded the room, the cold fury in his eyes—it was terrifying. Xena shuddered as the memory replayed vividly.

"I think it’s best that I left" she murmured to herself. "God knows what would have happened if I had stayed... if we ever crossed paths again." She closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer. "Please, let Elena get to Paris safely."

After a few moments of staring at the blank ceiling, she sat up abruptly. The heaviness in her chest wouldn’t leave.

Deciding to distract herself, she moved to her small study table tucked into the corner of the room. She powered on her laptop, the familiar hum filling the quiet space.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard as she opened her browser. Without thinking much, she typed his name into the search bar:

**Viktor Sokolov.**

The results were immediate and overwhelming. Page after page of information popped up, each headline more dramatic than the last.

“*Viktor Sokolov: The Devilishly Handsome Bachelor.”*

*“Mr. Sokolov Acquires 80% Stake in Major Industrial Firm.”*

*“The Enigmatic Billionaire Everyone is Talking About.”*

Xena blinked in surprise. Article after article praised him for his business acumen and influence.

There were no hints of the dark world Elena had described. No headlines exposed him as a Mafia Don. To the public eye, he was simply a powerful, elusive billionaire.

"No wonder he’s so untouchable." Xena muttered, scrolling through the results. Then something else caught her attention—his lack of personal life.

Despite his striking appearance and wealth, not a single picture featured a woman by his side.

"So that’s why they label him a bachelor." she said, half to herself.

Curious, she clicked on the "Images" tab. Her breath hitched as dozens of photos of Viktor Sokolov filled her screen.

Each one showcased him in immaculate suits, his chiseled features framed by an air of authority. He was undeniably handsome, the kind of man who could make women fall at his feet with just one look.

As her eyes scanned the images, she stopped abruptly on one picture. It was a close-up shot of Viktor.

His gray eyes seemed to pierce through the screen, dark and intense, as if he was looking directly into her soul.

Xena's lips parted in shock. Even without a smile, there was something hypnotic about him.

Her heart raced, and she leaned closer, unable to tear her gaze away.

"Why does he have this effect on people?" she whispered.

Then a soft knock on her door broke her trance. She jolted, quickly slamming the laptop shut. Her fingers were trembling slightly as she tried to compose herself.

"Come in." she called, her voice unsteady.

The door creaked open, and her Nana stepped in, holding a glass of milk in one hand and a soft smile on her face. The older woman’s face was lined with concern, her eyes soft as they landed on Xena.

"Nana." Xena said, forcing a smile.

"I thought you might need this." she said, walking over to Xena.

Xena couldn’t help but smile at her grandmother's sweet gesture.

"Nana, I’m 22, not 12." she teased lightly, though she reached out and took the glass from her.

"Diego needs this more than I do." she added with a laugh, placing the glass on her bedside table near the jug of water.

"Maybe." Nana replied with a chuckle, but her eyes lingered on Xena for a moment too long. There was a hint of sadness in her gaze, and Xena immediately noticed it.

"Nana, are you okay?" Xena asked, her tone soft but filled with concern.

Nana sat down on the edge of the bed and took Xena’s hand in hers.

"Your mother would be so proud to see the woman you’ve become." she said, her voice filled with both pride and sorrow. "So strong, so independent... handling everything life throws at you."

Xena’s chest tightened at the mention of her mother. She missed her every day, but hearing her Nana speak of her always brought a lump to her throat.

"Nana..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her grandmother patted her hand gently. "I’m fine, my flower." she said, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Don’t worry about me. You need to rest—you’ve had a long day."

But Xena wasn’t convinced. She could see the weight in her grandmother’s eyes, a heaviness that wasn’t there before.

"Are you sure? You seem... distracted." she pressed.

Nana chuckled, quickly switching the subject. "I’m just getting old and sentimental." she said, waving her hand dismissively. Then, with a playful grin, she added, "And I’m worried about you not having a boyfriend yet. Honestly, Xena, what’s taking so long?"

Xena groaned, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, Nana, we’ve been over this. I don’t want a boyfriend right now."

"Not even one of the boys from the restaurant?" Nana teased, her smile widening. "When you left for your trip, half the customers stopped by just to ask about you. It made me realize most of them only come for you."

"Too bad for them, I’m not interested." Xena said firmly, crossing her arms.

"You have boys practically rolling on the floor for you, my dear." Nana teased as she stood up and headed toward the door. "Just pick one up!"

Xena laughed, shaking her head as her grandmother left the room, her soft laughter echoing down the hallway.

Once the door clicked shut, Xena leaned against it, letting out a heavy sigh. She stood there for a moment, her thoughts swirling.

"I’m not ready." she whispered to herself. Her life felt too chaotic, too unpredictable for something as complicated as love.

Her eyes wandered back to the laptop on her desk. The earlier Google search on Viktor Sokolov flashed in her mind, his intense gaze haunting her even now.

She shook her head, trying to push the image away.

With another deep sigh, she walked over to her bed, picked up the glass of milk, and took a few sips.

The cool liquid eased her dry throat, and she placed the glass back on the table.

Turning off the light, Xena climbed into bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin. As the room plunged into darkness, she tried to quiet her racing mind.

But no matter how hard she tried, thoughts of Viktor lingered, his piercing gray eyes and commanding presence refusing to leave her alone.

Eventually, sleep claimed her.