Chapter 43: Chapter Fourty Three.
Xena’s pulse quickened as the door creaked open slightly. She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. If she was caught snooping around, Viktor would not be pleased. But her curiosity burned too brightly to ignore.
She stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the massive floor-to-ceiling windows covered by heavy curtains that allowed thin streaks of sunlight to filter in. The scent of leather and whiskey lingered in the air, and she could immediately tell—this was **his** space.
Viktor’s office.
Her eyes roamed over the large mahogany desk in the center of the room, papers scattered across its surface. A crystal glass with traces of amber liquid sat beside an open file. Behind the desk was a high-backed leather chair, sleek and intimidating, much like the man who sat in it every day.
She took slow steps forward, her fingers brushing over the polished wood.
Xena hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Viktor’s office door before shaking her head.
*I shouldn’t be here…* she thought. Her heart pounded in her chest as she carefully stepped out, making sure the coast was clear.
Just as she turned the corner, she heard the heavy thud of approaching footsteps.
Her breath hitched.
*Shit.*
Without thinking, she pressed herself against the wall, hoping the shadows would conceal her. A bodyguard in a crisp black suit walked past, his face impassive as he continued down the hallway, completely unaware of her presence.
Xena let out a quiet sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest. That had been too close.
She quickly composed herself and continued walking, determined to act natural in case anyone else appeared. But as she wandered deeper into the mansion, she found herself standing in front of a set of massive double doors.
She frowned. *What’s in here?*
Curiosity got the better of her, and she carefully pushed the heavy wooden door open.
The moment she stepped inside, her lips parted slightly in awe.
It was a library.
A grand, breathtaking library with towering shelves stacked with books of every kind. The scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air, and the warm glow of a chandelier illuminated the space in soft golden light.
For the first time since arriving at this place, a small smile tugged at Xena’s lips seeing what she like.
She closed the door behind her and took a few tentative steps inside. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, their edges carved with intricate designs. A large fireplace sat in the center of the room, unlit but elegant. There were plush armchairs and a grand leather sofa, perfect for getting lost in a book.
Xena’s fingers traced the spines of the books as she walked along the shelves. There were classics, poetry collections, even foreign literature. She paused when she spotted a familiar title—*Wuthering Heights.*
A wave of nostalgia washed over her.
She carefully pulled the book from the shelf, her mind briefly drifting to her childhood in Italy. She used to love sitting by the window, reading for hours while her mother hummed in the background. It was one of the few things that had brought her comfort.
*Maybe this place won’t be so unbearable after all,* she thought, settling onto the sofa.
As she flipped open the first page, the world around her slowly melted away.
For the first time since Viktor had taken her, she finally felt at peace.
♧♧♧
The moment Viktor’s car screeched to a stop in the driveway, the entire mansion seemed to tense. The tires left skid marks on the pavement as he stepped out, his movements sharp and full of unrestrained fury.
Inside, a few maids exchanged nervous glances, sensing the storm brewing in their master’s eyes.
Viktor didn’t waste a second. He pushed the grand doors open with such force that they slammed against the walls.
"Xena!" His deep, thunderous voice echoed through the halls, demanding an answer.
Silence.
His jaw clenched. He strode toward the bedroom, the air around him thick with tension. He threw the door open and stormed inside.
No sign of her.
His breath came out ragged as he yanked the bathroom door open, expecting to find her there.
Nothing.
His blood boiled.
The call from Marco replayed in his mind, every word fueling his anger like gasoline on fire.
*Does she know who Marco is?*
*Was Marco telling the truth?*
But the most maddening thought of all—the one that made his vision blur with rage—*Does she like him?*
The very idea of it sent a sharp, unbearable sting through his chest.
No.
No matter what Marco claimed, no matter what past ties Xena had with him—she belonged to *him.*
Whether she liked it or not.
Viktor growled, the sound deep and primal, and stormed out of the room. His heavy footsteps thundered down the stairs, making the entire household tremble in fear.
"Where the *fuck* is Xena?!" he roared.
Every worker within earshot froze, their faces turning pale.
Alina swallowed hard before stepping forward, her hands clenched nervously. "S-sir… Madam went back to her room after breakfast. That was the last time I saw her." she stammered.
Viktor sneered, his mind already jumping to the worst possibility.
*Did she run away?*
His muscles tensed, his fingers twitching.
*Did she go back to Marco?*
The thought alone made him want to tear everything apart.
His fury reached its peak, and without a second thought, he turned on his heel and stormed outside. His sharp voice cut through the cold air as he barked orders to his guards.
"Search the *entire* place!" he commanded. "If she’s not found by tonight—none of you will live to see tomorrow."
The guards stiffened, their expressions shifting to sheer terror before they scrambled to obey, dispersing in all directions.
Viktor marched back inside, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, trying—and failing—to keep his possessiveness at bay.
At the top of the staircase, Svetlana watched, her face unreadable.
"This is bad." Zoya murmured, her hands clasped together. "We’ve *never* seen the boss like this before."
Svetlana’s eyes narrowed.
"She hasn’t left the mansion." she said with certainty. "The guards at every entrance would have noticed. She’s still here—somewhere."
She turned to the maids.
"Search the entire house. Now. Quickly!"
The maids scattered in different directions, their fear making them move fast.
Meanwhile…
Xena sat curled up on the plush sofa in the library, completely engrossed in her book.
Oblivious to the storm brewing just beyond those walls.
♧♧♧
Another bottle crashed against the marble floor, shards scattering across the dimly lit room. The scent of expensive whiskey filled the air as Viktor growled, his grip tightening around the remaining bottle in his hand. His knuckles were white, his jaw clenched so hard it could snap.
"Where the *fuck* is she?!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the walls, sending a chilling wave through the mansion.
His rage had long surpassed its limit. He had turned the entire house upside down, interrogated every guard, every worker. Yet, no one had seen her. No one knew where the hell she had disappeared to.
With a dangerous glare, he downed another gulp of whiskey, but it did little to quell the fire burning inside him.
*Xena.*
The thought of her name alone made his muscles tighten.
If she had dared to run—if she had even *thought* about escaping him—he would burn the entire city to find her.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the storm awaiting her, Xena stepped out of the library, a small satisfied smile playing on her lips. A book rested in her arms, the pages already folded where she had paused her reading.
She hadn’t realized how much time had passed. The library had been quiet, comforting—a small escape from everything. It was the first time she had felt some sort of peace since she arrived here.
But as she walked through the corridors, something felt… off.
The air was tense, unnervingly still.
Her steps slowed as her eyes flickered around. The usual chatter among the workers was absent. No maids scurrying about, no guards exchanging casual conversations in the halls.
She frowned, glancing at the nearest clock.
**5 PM.**
Her stomach clenched in realization—she had missed lunch. *That* explained the emptiness in her stomach, but it didn’t explain the eerie silence hanging over the mansion.
Brushing the uneasy feeling aside, she made her way toward the kitchen, thinking she could grab something small to eat. But just as she turned a corner, she collided with someone.
"Ouch!" she gasped, stumbling back slightly.
Svetlana.
Xena quickly straightened. "Oh, I’m so sorry!" she apologized, but before she could say more, she noticed the way Svetlana’s eyes widened—her face a mixture of shock and relief.
"Madam?" Svetlana breathed out, as if she had just seen a ghost.
Xena blinked, confused by her reaction. "Uh… yes, it’s me?"
But before she could question it, Svetlana suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Madam, no time! You need to go *now!*" she said urgently.
Xena frowned, taken aback. "What? Go where?"
"To *Sir!*"
Xena’s heart skipped a beat. "Viktor’s back?" she asked hesitantly.
Svetlana nodded, her face pale. "And he is *furious.* Madam, we’ve all been looking for you! He’s been tearing through the house like a madman!"
Xena swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the weight of the silence around her.
"W-why?" she asked cautiously.
Svetlana exhaled sharply. "The more you stand here asking questions, the more he loses his self-control. Please, *go now!*"
Xena hesitated, feeling the apprehension creeping into her bones. But when she saw the genuine worry in Svetlana’s expression, she nodded stiffly.
Clutching the book in her hands, she turned and slowly climbed the stairs, her heart thudding louder with each step.
The moment she reached the bedroom door, she could feel it—his *presence.*
And it sent a shiver down her spine.