Masuk_Aurora’s POV_My smile vanished the second I saw the number on my screen. I didn’t need it to be saved to recognize it. For a moment, everything around me seemed to blur.The music. The voices. The laughter coming from the crowded bar.All of it faded into the background and my stomach twisted painfully. How did he get my number?“Aurora?” Elena’s voice sounded distant as she stared at me, trying to figure out what was wrong.I swallowed hard before snatching the phone from her hand.There was no way.No fucking way. This was him, maybe it was my father. I’d even be better off believing my father was calling me than he was. Not after everything he had done. My pulse hammered violently against my ribs as the screen continued lighting up.I could feel Nikolai’s eyes pinned on me the entire time. The shift in my expression must have been obvious because the amusement on his face disappeared completely.“Aurora?” He called out, but my eyes were pinned on the phone and I forced my l
_Aurora’s POV_Shit.I thought as u stared at the man who looked like he was few seconds away from ending me. My lips parted and closed as I thought of an apology, but nothing was willing to come out. I’m screwed.He turned to look at me, and I swear to God I almost gasped. This man looked sexy. His hair was cut, tattoos drawn all over his head. His dark eyes burned into me, threatening to read deep into my soul. And I swallowed hard. “Are you just going to stare at me?” He asked, his deep voice sending vibrations through my body. “Your ckothes isnt the only thing wet right now.”The words were out of my mouth befpre I could stop it. Silence.The silence rhat followed after, was completely horrifying. I felt my soul leave my body as I wondered what the fuck I had just said. A loud gasp echoed from somewhere in the room and I was certain it didnt come drom me. What the fuck did I just say? My eyes widened so fucking wide thay they started to hurt.No. No, no. I did not jus
Damien’s POV“The number you are trying to call does not exist.”The robotic voice echoed through my penthouse again, like it wasn’t currently driving me insane.I stared at the phone pressed against my ear for a few seconds after the call disconnected, my jaw tightening harder with every second of silence.Then I dialed her number again.Because maybe this time it would ring.Maybe this time Aurora would answer and immediately start yelling at me for calling her too much.Maybe this time I would hear her voice again.Instead, the same message repeated itself.“The number you are trying to call does not exist.”Something ugly twisted inside my chest.I ended the call and dialed again anyway.I knew how pathetic this looked. I knew a sane person would stop after the first attempt. But every time that automated voice answered instead of Aurora, it felt wrong in a way I couldn’t explain.Aurora was loud when she was angry.She was emotional when she was hurt.She slammed doors, rolled he
_Aurora’s POV_The music became louder the deeper I moved into the crowd.People laughed around me while servers rushed between tables carrying drinks and food with terrifying speed.How did they do this without falling?I nearly collided with someone twice within thirty seconds.One man smiled at me as I passed.Another openly stared at my legs.I immediately hated him.Actually, I hated most men in bars.Too many wandering hands.Too much confidence.Too much alcohol making them think women existed for entertainment.By the time I reached table six, I was already irritated.Four men sat around the booth laughing loudly while empty glasses covered the table.One of them looked up when I approached.And whistled. Oh absolutely not.I smiled tightly.“What can I get you?”The blond man leaned back slowly, eyes dragging down my body in a way that instantly made my skin crawl.“What do you recommend?”Therapy.I recommend therapy.Instead, I kept smiling through the irritation.“The vodk
_Aurora’s POV_I stared at my reflection in complete betrayal.There was absolutely no way this was considered a normal work uniform.This looked like something I would wear to a club, when I wanted to hoe around. Not when I was expected to move around people with trays on my hand. “No,” I said flatly for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. “I refuse.”Elena stood behind me inside the employee dressing room, trying very hard not to laugh.“You already agreed to work here.”“I agreed to work in a bar,” I corrected, glaring at myself in the mirror again. “Nobody mentioned I’d be dressed like a sexy pirate.”The outfit was criminal. It was hot. But no. The black fitted top hugged my chest way too tightly while the skirt stopped at a length that could barely be considered legal for work. The material clung to my waist and hips like it personally wanted to ruin my dignity.And the boots? The boots had heels.Fucking HEELS.Heels in a crowded bar?Where the floors probably became sl
Aurora’s POV Russia was trying to kill me. That was the only explanation I had for why the air outside felt like tiny knives stabbing my face every morning. I stood near the apartment window wrapped in two hoodies while staring at the snow outside with deep suspicion. “This country hates joy,” I muttered. Behind me, Elena gasped dramatically from the kitchen. She has done rhis so much and now I’ve gotten used to it. “That is offensive.” She said. I turned slowly, tightening my arms around myself. “You people live inside a freezer voluntarily.” It was so fucking cold. Bro. “We have culture.” Elena shrugged and I stared at her as I dead panned. “You have hypothermia.” Elena rolled her eyes while stirring something on the stove. “It’s been three weeks. You need to stop acting like winter personally victimized you.” “It did.” I hugged myself tighter before glaring at the gray sky outside again. Three weeks in Russia. Three weeks without Damien. Three







