"Of course, I haven't forgotten my task."
Leonid rolled his eyes, ignoring his father's sharp gaze.
"The coffee and tiramisu were just a small gesture… I used to have a bad temper, remember?"
Suddenly, a heavy file flew toward him.
Leonid avoided it coldly, without even bothering to glance at it.
"Alright, alright… I apologize for being in a good mood."
He brushed off imaginary dust from his shoulder and added with indifference:
"Perhaps I should be in a bad mood my whole life."
He paused for a moment, then remembered, as if casually:
"Anyway… I have good news. Charlotte has finally decided to move out of the building."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Even Kozlov froze in place, stunned.
Leonid tilted his head, surprised by the sudden quiet.
His eyes scanned the shocked faces, seeing only grim expressions.
Suddenly, he raised his hand coldly, as if swearing nonchalantly, and said:
"It's none of my business… she simply decided that."
His words didn't seem to break the silence; eyes were still fixed on him in disbelief, as if they were looking at a stranger in his clothes.
Leonid was neither the iceberg they were used to, nor the dark sarcasm they had come to expect. This time, he truly seemed different; his tone was steady, carrying a hint of spontaneity mixed with irony, and his movements suggested good intentions… and that very contradiction was enough to leave them puzzled.
"I think he's lost his mind over the past three days."
"Do you think so? Well, I agree with you."
Alia and Vasili whispered their gossip quietly, barely audible.
The meeting ended after Leonid announced Charlotte's controversial decision, with Kozlov emphasizing the need to work harder before the end of the month.
Before another innocent victim could fall.
"I bet she's the reason."
Alia muttered.
Vasili looked at her thoughtfully and said:
"You mean love can change someone for the better? Well, I should thank the lady… he's become less harsh with us."
"What?! You mean you're encouraging their relationship?"
"Seriously, whether he encourages them or not, it's none of your business."
Dmitri intervened quietly, his voice barely above the rustling of papers on his desk.
"Dmitri! Don't tell me you support their relationship too!"
Alia asked, annoyed.
Dmitri smiled as he finished the last bite of tiramisu:
"I've always supported them from the start."
"You're only in a good mood because you got a bribe."
"What bribe?"
He gave her an innocent look as he tossed the paper plate and fork into the trash, as if disposing of evidence.
"Anyway, leave now… I won't tolerate any more disturbances near my desk."
"Alright~"
Vasili nodded with a half-smile as he got up, followed by Alia in annoyed steps.
For him, Leonid immediately isolated himself in his office, flipping through new files in search of any leads related to the mysterious tenant.
He wasn't good at remembering names, especially for those with provocative appearances, so he relied on Daniel, who took care of the task and sent him the name immediately after a brief description.
He found nothing noteworthy in the lease, except for the short agreed-upon duration, so he moved coldly to search a wider network.
"Devin Zorin…"
An arrogant smile appeared on his lips as he typed the name into the search engine.
"A man with black hair and green eyes… it wasn't this hard, Daniel,"
he muttered sarcastically.
But the results that flooded the screen gradually erased his smile: awards… ice dancing shows… scandals splashed with sensational headlines… and then a sudden retirement due to alcoholism.
"Quite a record."
He muttered indifferently, then clicked on the first scandal link, scanning it with a cold eye.
Until he suddenly froze; his eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed dangerously, as if he had just caught a mysterious thread.
At that moment, Charlotte had just collapsed onto the couch, exhausted after a battle against the dust that had gathered during her absence on every corner and surface of her apartment.
She let out a long sigh, as if celebrating a well-deserved moment of rest. The bright side was that she hadn't gotten herself dirty while cleaning, and that alone was enough to bring a radiant smile to her face.
Suddenly, her stomach growled. She blinked in surprise as she slowly sat up; it had been a long time since she'd heard such a sound.
Charlotte immediately rose and headed toward the kitchen, opening the fridge.
But she stopped with a sigh; everything was there, yet nothing appealed to her breakfast appetite.
Closing it as though she hadn't opened it at all, she crossed her arms, thought for a moment, then waved her hand and muttered:
"No other choice… I'll have to go out and buy some food."
Despite her fatigue, Charlotte slipped on her coat and grabbed her phone and wallet, while her chestnut hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed gently with her movements.
She hummed happily as she put on her shoes and opened the door, forgetting her worries for a brief moment until a soft, ominous, familiar voice intruded:
"What perfect timing…"
Charlotte froze on the doorstep, her heartbeat racing to the verge of bursting.
"For you to open the door before I even knock… it seems luck is finally on my side."
Continuing in an empty, playful tone, Devin slowly extended a bouquet of red roses, savoring each movement, a faint smile gleaming in his eyes as though the real pleasure lay in the tension he provoked.
"Isn't that right, miss?"
Charlotte's breath caught, as if unseen hands were strangling her. Devin's gaze trailed over her pale skin, comparing it to the crimson roses, delighting in the mix of beauty and fear.
"I had a card prepared, but it looks like we're going to have a far more enjoyable conversation…"
From the bouquet, Devin pulled out a black card, no longer needed, and let it flutter to the floor, savoring the sight of the paper wavering before it landed, as though it, too, was part of his little game.
His eyes narrowed on her neck and the new ring adorning the finger of her right hand.
With a sudden motion, Charlotte tried to retreat and slam the door shut, but Devin thrust his arm forward and clamped down on the lower half of her face with brutal force.
"Ugh!"
Charlotte gasped as his grip tightened over her mouth, blocking any sound, any chance of movement.
A sadistic smile curved his lips.
"Oh, so you want to hide inside? What a shame… there's no more hiding now."
He tossed the bouquet carelessly into the hallway, scarlet petals scattering across the tiles like tiny drops of blood, then shoved Charlotte mercilessly back inside, pinning her against the nearest wall. Pain shot through her spine as the mingled scent of cigarettes and roses crept into her nose from his hand.
Devin kicked the door shut behind him with violent force, sealing off any escape.
"Alone at last."
Charlotte let out a muffled cry, her voice smothered beneath his merciless palm. She pushed desperately at his arm, but his hand was unyielding, immovable as stone.
The heat of his fingers scorched her skin. Her breaths came in ragged bursts, while he reveled in her trembling and the terrified look in her tear-filled eyes feeding off her fear as if it were his very lifeblood.
Devin laughed and moved closer, until his face was near Charlotte's, looking into her eyes with a faint smile:
"You know… I still adore the look of fear in your eyes."
Charlotte trembled. Panic and anger twisted her heart, and she felt as if she were slowly suffocating under his grip.
"You entertained me at first, but you've become insolent over time… You angered me last time. Seriously? Playing around with two men? That's bold… Yet, it's fine. I enjoy sharing my games it makes me even more creative in leaving my mark."
He babbled in front of her as if he owned her.
His fingers slowly slid over her skin, the pressure still firm, as if he savored her shivering.
"Ah… u…!"
Charlotte tried to scream, but he silenced her.
"Shhh… no need to shout."
Devin whispered with a twisted smile, while his grip tightened around her neck.
For a moment, the imprint of his hand appeared as a clear redness on her pale, delicate skin.
"All right… now it's time for some fun. I want to play with you, Charlotte. Agreed~?"
His words were not a question they were a command.
His firm grip made her moan, gasping for air as tears streamed endlessly down her cheeks.
"Ah—!"
"Just the beginning… no need to moan too early."
Devin smiled and leaned in slowly, intent on kissing her lips, which were starting to lose color from the lack of oxygen.
In her desperation, Charlotte tried to push his arm or face away, but his grip only grew firmer, pressing harder with each attempt, as if punishing her for resisting.
At that moment, time seemed to vanish around her, and Leonid's words echoed in her mind:
"When someone tries to hurt or subdue you, use your legs. Stomp hard on their foot, kick the area behind the knee… or simply kick their pride."
"His pride…?"
She remembered how she had blinked that day, repeating the word in confusion, unsure what he meant.
Leonid had smiled then, boldly taking her hand and placing it between his thighs, saying:
"This is a man's pride."
She had panicked, then screamed in embarrassment and quickly pulled her hand away, while he laughed at her reaction.
Now she returned to the present.
Tears slid down her cheeks, and her vision blurred under the pressure of his hand. In a mix of desperation and boldness, she suddenly lifted her foot and stomped with all her strength on his foot.
"Aah—!"
Devin gasped, a line of pain appearing on his face despite the shoe he wore. The shock pierced him for a moment, but he quickly silenced himself and pressed his lips stubbornly together.
"You fool…"
He growled with a nervous smile, then suddenly released her neck and slapped her harshly.
"Ah—!"
Charlotte's body shuddered, her eyes widened, and she staggered to the floor.