Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty Eight.

Anya blinked, her expression shifting slightly, though it was hard to tell exactly what she was thinking. 

“Your boss.” Xena continued, her voice growing stronger, “kidnapped me. I don’t care about any of this—these clothes, the mansion, or whatever he’s trying to give me. I just want to go home. Back to my hometown, back to my life.” 

Anya frowned deeply, her playful demeanor fading as she studied Xena.

“Kidnapped?” she repeated, her voice quieter this time, as if she was trying to process what Xena was saying. 

Xena felt her heart race. Maybe Anya didn’t know the full extent of Viktor’s actions. Maybe she could be reasoned with.

And then she remembered—Anya had a phone. 

“Can I use your phone, please?” Xena asked, her tone shifting to one of desperation. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her eyes pleading. 

Anya hesitated, glancing toward the phone she’d tossed onto the sofa earlier. For a brief moment, she looked conflicted, her gaze flickering between Xena and the phone. 

“I…” Anya began, but she trailed off. She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Look, Xena, I wish I could help you, but…” She shook her head, her voice softening. “I can’t do that. You don’t understand how things work here.” 

Xena’s heart sank, her shoulders slumping. “Why not?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

Anya gave her an apologetic look, leaning forward slightly.

“It’s not about what I want. It’s about what Viktor would do if he found out I gave you my phone. Trust me, you don’t want to test his patience. And I don’t want to be on the receiving end of his anger.” 

Xena clenched her jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She looked down at her lap, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. If Anya wouldn’t help her, she’d have to figure something else out. 

“Listen.” Anya said gently, placing a hand on Xena’s shoulder. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Viktor, but he doesn’t do things without a reason. Just… give it time. Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.” 

Xena didn’t respond. She couldn’t. All she wanted was to get out of this gilded cage, and every moment she spent here felt like another chain locking her in place.

♧♧♧

Just as the air between Anya and Xena grew heavier with unspoken words, Viktor strode into the room.

His imposing presence immediately dominated the space, and Xena’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing into a glare.

Viktor, ever the provocateur, met her defiance with a smug smirk that only seemed to fuel her frustration. 

But Xena's attention was soon drawn to the man walking behind Viktor—a tall, handsome figure with an easy grin plastered across his face. She frowned slightly, her curiosity piqued. 

“Wow! She really *is* a beauty.” the man said, his tone light and teasing. He sidestepped Viktor and approached Xena directly, his grin widening as he extended a hand. 

“Hi.” he said warmly. “Name’s Mikhail.” 

Xena hesitated, glancing between the stranger and Viktor, who stood still as a statue, his sharp eyes locked on the interaction.

Slowly, she managed a small, polite smile and extended her hand to shake his. 

The moment their hands touched, Viktor’s patience snapped.

His large hand shot out, gripping Mikhail’s wrist in a vice-like hold. The cold glare Viktor leveled at him spoke volumes, but his words were sharp and clipped. 

“That’s enough.” Viktor growled. 

Mikhail, unfazed by Viktor’s possessive display, simply chuckled and shook off his grip.

“Relax, Boss. I’m just being friendly.” 

Xena, sensing the tension, quickly rose from the sofa.

“My name is Xena.” she said softly, offering a small nod in Mikhail’s direction, trying to diffuse the situation. 

Mikhail turned his attention back to her, his grin returning. “Xena. What a lovely name for an even lovelier girl.” 

His charm caught her off guard, and despite herself, Xena let out a soft giggle. It wasn’t much, but it was genuine.

For a moment, the tension in the room seemed to lessen—until she noticed the way Viktor’s entire demeanor darkened. 

That laugh, that smile—*she had never given him that.* 

A low growl rumbled from Viktor’s throat as he closed the distance between them. In one swift move, he grabbed Xena and pulled her against him, his arm locking possessively around her waist. 

Xena gasped, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest in an attempt to create space between them.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” she protested, struggling against his iron grip. 

Viktor ignored her protests, his jaw clenched and his voice cold as steel.

“Enough.” he barked, his eyes flicking to Mikhail, who had raised an eyebrow at his boss’s behavior. 

“Boss, easy.” Anya’s voice cut in as she stepped forward. Her sharp gaze shifted to Xena, who was clearly uncomfortable. “You’re hurting her.” 

Viktor turned his head slightly, his glare now directed at Anya. For a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of his authority pressing down on everyone. 

Then, without warning, he spoke, his tone final. “Both of you—leave. Now.” 

Anya’s brows knitted together, clearly irritated by the abrupt dismissal, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she glanced at Mikhail, who seemed equally confused by Viktor’s behavior. 

“Come on, Mikhail.” she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the door. 

As they walked away, Mikhail threw one last glance over his shoulder, his eyes flicking to Xena.

“Nice to meet you, Xena.” he called out, his grin still intact, though it now carried a hint of curiosity. 

The door shut behind them, leaving Viktor and Xena alone. The air was thick with tension as Viktor’s grip on her waist remained firm, his face unreadable. 

“Viktor, let go of me.” Xena said firmly, her voice laced with defiance. 

But Viktor didn’t move. Instead, his piercing eyes searched hers, as though he was trying to decipher something he couldn’t quite understand.

Finally, his grip loosened just enough for her to step back, though his gaze never left her face. 

“You don’t smile like that for me.” he said quietly, his voice low and almost accusatory. 

Xena blinked, caught off guard by the raw vulnerability hidden beneath his otherwise cold tone.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. But before she could respond, Viktor turned his back to her, his shoulders tense. 

“Go to the room, Xena.” he said, his voice regaining its usual commanding edge. 

Xena opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. There was no use fighting him—not now, at least. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps soft against the marble floor. 

As the door to Viktor’s room closed behind her, Xena leaned against it, her heart pounding.

♧♧♧

As Mikhail and Anya approached her sleek blue Lamborghini, he couldn’t help but notice the fiery expression on her face. Anya Volkova, the ever-playful seductress, rarely looked anything but amused. But right now? She was fuming. 

“Whoa, chill.” Mikhail said cautiously, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Anya, you look angry. What’s up?” 

“What’s up?” she repeated incredulously, her heels clicking against the pavement as she stormed toward her car. She turned sharply to face him, her hands gesturing in frustration. “Did you *see* how Viktor acted back there? That girl—she’s terrified! And he acts like she’s some prize he can just lock away.” 

Mikhail frowned, leaning casually against the hood of the car. “Yeah, I noticed she looked uncomfortable.” he admitted. “But why is this getting to you so much?” 

Anya let out a sharp exhale, running a hand through her red hair. “Because..” she started, her voice tight, “that girl told me things before you and Viktor came in. She’s not here by choice, Mikhail. She was *kidnapped*—abducted by your dear boss.” 

Mikhail’s brows shot up. “Wait, what? She told you that?” 

“Yes! She begged me to let her use my phone. She wanted to call someone—probably to escape. Can you imagine what it’s like for her? Stuck in a place like this, surrounded by armed guards and a man who claims to own her?” Anya’s voice was thick with anger. “Why the hell would Viktor do something like that?” 

Mikhail shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his head. “I mean… it’s Viktor we’re talking about. He doesn’t exactly do things the conventional way.” 

“Conventional?” Anya scoffed, her voice rising. “He’s acting like she’s some object. He kidnapped her, Mikhail. Kidnapped her!” She threw up her hands in disbelief. “And for what? To make her his pet? His… his trophy?” 

Mikhail hesitated, lowering his voice. “Well, I’d joke and say it’s because he wants her as some kind of sex toy, but we both know Viktor’s not that kind of guy. He barely tolerates women touching him, let alone—” 

“Exactly!” Anya cut him off, jabbing a finger in his direction. “So why her? Why kidnap *this* girl? She’s scared out of her mind, and all he’s doing is making it worse!” 

Before Mikhail could respond, a low, gravelly voice cut through the tense air. 

“Because she’s mine.”