Chapter 37: Chapter Thirty Seven
Xena had spent the entire day in the confines of Viktor's opulent bedroom. While the room itself was breathtaking, with its intricately carved furniture and expansive windows that offered a stunning view of the sprawling estate, she felt utterly trapped.
To make matters worse, Viktor had confiscated her phone, leaving her disconnected from the outside world. It was maddening.
With a frustrated sigh, she climbed off the bed and walked toward the glass doors leading to the balcony.
Sliding them open, she stepped outside, letting the cool evening breeze wash over her face. She closed her eyes, savoring the brief sense of freedom the air provided.
When she opened her eyes, she took in the scene below her. The estate was massive, with perfectly manicured lawns and fountains that sparkled in the fading sunlight.
But what truly caught her attention was the security—guards were stationed at every corner, patrolling diligently. Their presence made one thing clear: escaping wouldn’t be easy. Not without a solid plan.
Her gaze shifted to the driveway just as a sleek blue Lamborghini pulled through the massive gates and rolled toward the front entrance. Xena squinted, intrigued. The car came to a smooth halt, and moments later, the door swung open.
A woman stepped out, and Xena's curiosity piqued. She was stunning. Her fiery red hair was styled to perfection, cascading down her back, and her figure-hugging gown emphasized her elegance.
Even from a distance, the woman radiated confidence and beauty. Her dark glasses added to her allure, making her seem untouchable.
“Who is that?” Xena murmured to herself, leaning on the balcony railing for a better view.
The woman didn’t come empty-handed. As she moved to the trunk, she began pulling out a variety of shopping bags, and even the guards rushed over to assist her. Xena frowned, confused.
*Is she someone important? A guest? Or… something more to Viktor?*
Before she could spiral into more thoughts, a knock at the door startled her. She quickly stepped back inside, her heart racing slightly.
Approaching the door cautiously, she cracked it open to peek outside. Standing there was Svetlana, the older maid who she saw here the first day she arrived.
“Lovely evening, madam.” Svetlana said with a polite smile, dipping her head slightly in greeting. “Your presence is requested downstairs.”
“Requested?” Xena repeated, her voice soft but hesitant.
“Yes. Please come with me.” Svetlana replied kindly before turning and walking away down the corridor.
Xena stared after her for a moment, unsure of what awaited her.
A sense of unease settled in her chest, but curiosity soon overpowered it. She couldn’t stay hidden in this room forever.
She opened the door fully, stepping out into the hall. Taking a steadying breath, she followed Svetlana’s path, her mind racing with possibilities of what—or who—was waiting for her downstairs.
♧♧♧
Xena descended the grand staircase slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know why she felt so uneasy, but something about the earlier knock on her door had unsettled her. As she reached the bottom step, the spacious living room came into view.
There, seated on one of the luxurious leather sofas, was the red-haired woman she had seen earlier from the balcony.
Up close, she was even more breathtaking, exuding a confidence that was both alluring and intimidating.
The woman was speaking on the phone, her voice smooth but edged with sarcasm.
“I’m here already.” the woman said, rolling her eyes at whatever the person on the other end was saying.
Xena hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, unsure if she should interrupt. The woman’s gaze shifted, locking onto her.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and something else Xena couldn’t quite place.
“Oh, damn.” the woman said, pulling the phone away from her ear slightly. She stared at Xena with an appraising look, her red lips curving into a smirk.
“She’s even prettier in person.”
Xena froze under her gaze, her fingers clutching the railing.
“I mean, seriously, Viktor. Did you kidnap her? No offense, but there’s no way you could bag someone so timid—”
The woman didn’t finish her sentence. She suddenly pulled the phone fully away from her ear, and Xena could faintly hear an angry male voice shouting through the speaker.
The voice was unmistakable—it was Viktor.
Xena swallowed hard.
The woman rolled her eyes dramatically and hung up the call mid-rant. She tossed the phone onto the sofa, then turned her full attention to Xena, her smirk widening into an almost predatory grin.
“Sorry about that.” the woman said casually, standing and approaching Xena. Her movements were fluid, like a cat stalking its prey. Xena instinctively took a step back.
“Damn.” the woman said again, stopping just a few feet from Xena.
“You’re so hot. I mean, seriously, if you were a seductress, men would probably throw themselves at your feet or kiss the ground you walked on.”
Xena blinked, caught off guard by the bold comment. “W-who are you?” she stammered.
The woman chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Oh, where are my manners? My name’s Anya. I’m Viktor’s personal... seductress.” she said with a wink.
Xena’s brows furrowed, her confusion evident. “Seductress?”
Anya laughed, a light, melodic sound.
“Relax, I’m kidding. Well, sort of. I *am* a seductress, but it’s part of my job. I work for Viktor, my Boss and also the Dick head is my friend.”
Xena didn’t know how to respond to that. Anya reached out and gently took Xena’s hand, pulling her toward the sofa.
“Come, sit with me. I promise I don’t bite.” Anya said with an amused smile.
Hesitantly, Xena allowed herself to be guided to the sofa, sitting awkwardly beside Anya. The older woman’s confidence was almost overwhelming, but there was something oddly disarming about her presence.
“I can tell what you’re thinking.” Anya said after a moment, her sharp eyes studying Xena intently.
Xena looked down at her lap, nervously twisting her fingers. “What do you mean?”
Anya reached out and tilted Xena’s chin up, forcing her to meet her gaze. Her touch was surprisingly gentle.
“You’re timid.” Anya said, her voice soft but firm. “But there’s fire in you. I can see it.”
“Fire?” Xena echoed, blinking in confusion.
Anya smirked, releasing Xena’s chin. “It’s a power that comes naturally to women like us. I’ve trained myself to read people—to see their potential just by observing their body language and expressions. And you, my dear, have potential.”
Xena’s lips parted in surprise. She wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“I... I don’t think I’m anything like you.” she finally muttered.
Anya leaned back, crossing her legs elegantly. “Maybe not yet. But you’d be surprised how life has a way of bringing out parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.”
Xena looked away, her thoughts spinning. She didn’t want to think about the possibility of becoming like Anya—or like Viktor.
But something about the way Anya spoke made her feel... seen, in a way she hadn’t expected.
Xena’s eyes roamed the lavish living room, but they inevitably landed on the mountain of expensive shopping bags stacked neatly near the corner.
The sheer number of them was overwhelming, and she could already tell they were filled with things far beyond anything she could ever afford.
Her brows furrowed as she stared at the bags, her thoughts racing.
Anya followed her gaze, and when she noticed what Xena was staring at, a sly smile tugged at her lips.
“Ah, you’re curious, huh?” she said, folding her arms. “Those are yours, you know.”
Xena’s head snapped toward Anya, her eyes wide in disbelief.
“Mine?” she asked, her voice rising slightly with incredulity.
“Yep.” Anya said nonchalantly, waving a hand toward the bags as though they were nothing.
“Boss sent me shopping for you. Honestly, I’m still a little confused about how he managed to know your sizes so perfectly. Makes me wonder…” She gave Xena a teasing look, but her words trailed off when she noticed the slight glare forming on Xena’s face.
“Don’t get mad at me.” Anya said with a light chuckle, raising her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just the messenger.”
Without waiting for a reply, she called over a few maids. Four women, including Zoya and Alina, entered the room.
“Take these upstairs and arrange them in her room.” Anya instructed.
The maids quickly began gathering the bags, each one moving with practiced precision.
Xena stood frozen, watching as they carried the expensive packages up the grand staircase. She felt a wave of discomfort wash over her.
It wasn’t just the gifts—she didn’t want to accept anything from Viktor, not when she was trapped here against her will.
Once the maids were gone, Anya turned back to Xena with an arched brow.
“So, tell me, what’s your name?” she asked, her tone light and casual.
Xena hesitated. Her mind was in chaos, and she wasn’t sure what to make of this woman. Anya seemed friendly enough, but could she be trusted? And if she did trust her, would she be willing to help her?
Taking a deep breath, Xena decided to take a leap of faith.
“My name is Xena.” she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. She looked directly into Anya’s piercing eyes. “And I don’t want to be here.”