Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

LELLAWalking through the glass entrance of the cafeteria were two people who commanded the entire room's attention. It was none other than our strict senior researcher, Dr. Aris. Walking beside her was a man I didn't recognize but who was handsome in a very polished and corporate way.​"The handsome one is also a senior researcher, Dr. Jacob Thompson,” Hannah whispered loudly, leaning across the table. I just nodded and watched Dr. Aris and Dr. Thompson fill their tray with food. Then I looked around only to find the employees distancing themselves from the two.Are they that scared of the seniors? How can those seniors lead the team if they are unapproachable?Gosh! This is the reality of being at the bottom."Oh my gosh," Hannah suddenly whispered in panic as her French fry was suspended halfway to her mouth. "Lella, look down. Don't stare!"​"What is it?" I whispered back.​"It’s Mr. Viktor Volkonsky!" Hannah hissed and immediately ducked her head slightly. ​My heart stuttered n

LELLA​"Valerius Pharmaceuticals!" Joaquin snapped.​ "I just got off the phone with my contact in the city. You applied for a job there, and you're working directly under the Volkonsky holding company! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"Dangerous? Why does he think Viktor is dangerous? If he says, ‘Conrad is dangerous,' then I won't argue with him. But for me, I don't think Viktor is as bad as Conrad."It’s just a medical research job, Joaquin. I'm using my degree," I countered, crossing my arms defensively. "And besides, Viktor promised to keep me hidden from Conrad."“Viktor?!” Joaquin scoffed, rubbing a hand over his face in sheer frustration. "Do you actually trust Viktor Volkonsky? Lella, that man is a shark. He doesn't do favors out of the goodness of his heart. If he's helping you hide from his nephew, he's doing it because he wants leverage on our family, or on Conrad, or on you!" ​He took a step closer. "You are playing with fire. Conrad is a loose cannon, but Vikto

LELLAI felt the sweat begin to bead at the base of my neck. Dr. Aris's sharp eyes scanned my face for the slightest hint of a lie. She was looking at me like I was a specimen she was ready to dissect. ​I couldn't tell her the truth. If she found out I was a runaway hiding from Viktor's nephew, she’d have me fired in a second to protect Viktor’s reputation, or worse, she’d call Conrad herself.​I took a slow breath, channeling every ounce of the detached composure I had learned to use whenever Conrad threw a tantrum.​"I didn't know it was his favorite," I responded, meeting her gaze with forced calm. "I made a Spanish tortilla because it's what I know how to cook. It was a complete coincidence."​"A coincidence." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "You expect me to believe that a billionaire CEO, who is famous for his strict, high-end privacy, just happened to stroll into my office to eat a random lunchbox meal brought by a junior researcher?"Wh

LELLAI let out a deep breath as the metal table was ice-cold against my cheek, laying my head down while staring blankly at the gray walls of the police interrogation room. I was completely alone, and the silence was deafening.The interrogation was done and obviously, I had told the detectives the absolute truth. That Conrad had ambushed and kidnapped me, that I was acting in pure self-defense to escape a moving car. But they needed hard evidence to back up my story. Until they could pull the mall surveillance footage or get a statement from a still-unconscious Conrad, they were holding me here.​I closed my eyes as a wave of dread washed over me.​If Joaquin found out about this, he was going to absolutely kill me. He had specifically warned me that playing chess with the Volkonsky family would get me burned. And my father? If the news reached him in Spain that I was sitting in a New York holding cell for tasering a billionaire heir, he would drag me back home in chains just to sa

LELLA​We weren't at my apartment. We weren't even at the Valerius Pharmaceuticals headquarters.​The car was idling in front of a familiar building and everything that happened that night flashed in my head in an instant. I swallowed nervously.“W-Why are we here?” I turned to him with my flushed face. "Viktor, wh-what are we doing here? Yo-You said you were taking me back," I stuttered.​Viktor was busy tapping a final command into his phone before sliding it into his pocket. ​"I said I'm driving you back," he corrected smoothly. "I never specified whose home."​"Viktor–”​"I need to make sure you're fine, Lella.”“I am well, Viktor.”He pointed at my wounded temple. “You are not well.” Before I could protest, he stepped out of the car, rounding the back to open my door himself and extending a hand toward me. ​"I have a private physician on the way to check that wound properly. No arguments, so now get out."My hands clenched at the strap of my seatbelt as ​I stared at his outst