Chapter 1

That night after Nikolai had gotten his wish, he didn't waste a second before securing the private contact of my manager into his phone’s ‘Private contacts’.

In a victorious mood, he wrapped his arm around my waist, dragging me back toward his chest.

I pressed both palms firmly against his solid, custom-tailored vest and shoved him back with everything I had.

Stepping out of the bed, I picked up my silk blouse scattered across the dark mahogany floor and pulled it on.

My mind was buzzing, drowning in the echoing weight of his reckless words. My fingertips trembled uncontrollably, making me misalign the mother-of-pearl buttons three times.

Nikolai leaned back against the headboard at ease, watching me with a raised, dark eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

The sheet covering him had slipped down, revealing his broad, tattoo-inked chest and defined abs. Fresh scratch marks on his shoulder—left in the heat of passion—were painfully glaring beneath the dim, amber light of the penthouse chandelier.

I averted my gaze, coldness settling in my veins.

"I'm returning to my family's compound."

"Maria, stop acting out. It's past midnight, and the streets are crawling with rival scouts."

"I have a board meeting with the syndicate heads at eight in the morning."

Nikolai clicked his tongue in irritation. Sitting up, he reached out a long, heavily ringed arm and caught my wrist in a vice grip. "Be reasonable. It’s not like the whole syndicate will fall in your absence.” He smirked, “Even a newly appointed assistant can do your job without any effort.”

“I’ll send my armored motorcade to escort you to the table tomorrow morning."

His words felt like a knife to my chest. So, In his eyes, my efforts were worthless, much inferior to the assistants he hired for me?

I pressed my lips into a tight, hard line, remaining dead silent as I forcefully twisted my wrist and broke free from his grip.

Walking over to the heavy glass nightstand, I swept my encrypted tablet, leather gloves, and sidearm into my bag all at once, zipping it shut with a sharp snap.

Nikolai had never possessed much patience. He had only bothered to coax me earlier because he was in a mood satisfied by dominance and conquest.

Seeing that I wasn't falling into line, his face hardened instantly into the cold.

He leaned back against the carved leather headboard, casually striking a match to light a black clove cigarette.

"Suit yourself."

He blew a thick cloud of grey smoke toward the ornate ceiling, his eyes ice cold. "I’m not ordering my guards to cover your transport. You're the one throwing a fit—if an enemy ambush catches you out there tonight, don't expect my men to step in."

It felt as if a bucket of ice cold water had been dumped straight over my head. The chill settled deep into my bones.

Clenching my jaw until it ached, I swallowed down the bitter, coppery taste rising in my throat along with the violent tremor in my chest.

I slung the bag over my shoulder and looked him straight in the eye.

"Don't worry, Don Nikolai. I won't ever need your protection again.”