chapter 62-18+

The knock on the door barely had time to register before it swung open.

"I'm coming in," Alexei's voice rang out as he stepped inside.

The room was thick with tension—no, not just tension. Something heavier, something suffocating. The air was laced with Caesar's pheromones, an almost tangible force pressing down on Eun-jae's skin. His breath felt stuck in his throat, and he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain still, to not let his own body betray him.

Alexei's gaze flickered between them, his sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his stare. His gaze lingered just a little too long.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, his voice calm, yet there was an undertone of suspicion laced within it.

Eun-jae barely held back a scoff.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

He forced his face into something neutral, despite the fact that his entire body was still recovering from the way Caesar had just manhandled him. The warmth of unwanted hands lingered on his skin, and his pulse hadn't quite settled. His breath was still uneven, his body rigid as if bracing for something that wasn't coming.

"Oh, no, not at all," Eun-jae said, his voice coming out softer than he intended. He met Alexei's gaze with tired eyes, fighting to keep his expression from revealing the mess he felt inside.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Caesar smirking. That goddamn smirk, full of amusement and something else, something darker.

"I just came to borrow a book," Caesar said smoothly, stepping away as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't just—

Eun-jae clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

"I shall take my leave now," Caesar added, that smirk never leaving his lips as he cast one final glance at Eun-jae before slipping past Alexei and out the door.

The moment he was gone, Eun-jae exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening.

That asshole. That absolute son of a—

"Mr. Bitgaram, are you okay?"

Alexei's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts.

Eun-jae snapped his head up, eyes wide for a split second before he forced himself to relax.

"Oh, uh… Mr. Karpov—I mean, Alexei. What do you need?" he stammered, cursing internally at the way his voice wavered. Get a grip, damn it.

Alexei didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze flickered downward.

Eun-jae frowned.

Why is he looking down?

Then it hit him.

The blood drained from his face.

He followed Alexei's line of sight—

His zipper was open.

His goddamn zipper was open.

That son of a bitch Caesar didn't even bother to close it?!

Heat shot up Eun-jae's neck, humiliation and rage warring inside him. His hands twitched at his sides, caught between slamming the door in Alexei's face and marching after Caesar to strangle him on the spot.

Alexei's gaze lifted, meeting his eyes again.

Eun-jae stood stiffly, his hazel eyes narrowing as he observed the older man before him. Alexei, ever the picture of refinement in his cream-colored suit, exuded a calm arrogance, the kind that came with decades of experience in both business and deception.

"Actually…" Alexei chuckled, his voice rich with amusement. "I have something under my care at the moment."

Eun-jae's expression remained unreadable, but a single bead of sweat trailed down his temple. His instincts screamed at him—whatever Alexei had wasn't ordinary.

The old man leaned back slightly, taking pleasure in drawing out the tension. "Everybody in Russia, including all the big shots, seems to be quite interested in it these days." His smirk deepened, eyes glinting with something dangerously close to glee. "And people say it'll fetch a fortune if I were to consider putting it on the market…"

Eun-jae clenched his jaw. He hated men like Alexei—those who saw power and influence as mere currency, playing with lives as if they were pieces on a chessboard. But this was no game.

"What exactly," Eun-jae said, voice low and measured, "do you have under your care?"

Alexei's smile didn't waver. If anything, it widened.

Eun-jae stood with his arms crossed, his posture deceptively relaxed, but his sharp eyes remained locked onto Alexei. The older man leaned back slightly, his smile thin and knowing, as if he were testing the waters—pushing, prodding, waiting for a crack to show.

"Just imagine all the possibilities," Alexei mused, his voice carrying an easy amusement. "And the thing is…" He tilted his head, watching Eun-jae carefully. "I'd like to get your expert opinion on this. On whether that piece of solid iron is worth that much."

Eun-jae's expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze. He wasn't naive—this wasn't a casual inquiry. Alexei wasn't the type to ask questions without already knowing the answer.

A pause. A shift in the air.

Alexei's smirk widened slightly. "What do you think…?" His voice was quieter now, carrying a deliberate weight. "It's not something you could come across in your everyday life."

Eun-jae exhaled slowly, tilting his head as if considering. But inside, he already knew—this was a game. And Alexei was waiting to see whether he'd play along or call his bluff.

Eun-jae followed Alexei down the hallway, his mind racing as he observed every detail around him. The soft hum of the security system, the faint clicking sound when Alexei placed his palm against the scanner, the way the red light flickered green in approval before the heavy door slid open. The corridor stretched ahead, sleek and modern, lined with hidden cameras embedded so seamlessly into the walls that one might miss them if they weren't paying attention.

But Eun-jae was paying attention.

His sharp gaze swept over the area, taking in every detail with silent calculation.

Hmm… two bedrooms before Alexei's. Noted. Multiple cameras, meaning I can't make a move without being seen. And that lock—it's biometric.

That was going to be a problem.

Eun-jae kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, a smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. What the hell is so important in here that it needs this much security?

The door finally opened, and Eun-jae stepped inside, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly masked his surprise.

The bedroom was… extravagant.

No, extravagant wasn't the word. It was pure indulgence.

A massive oval bed dominated the space, larger than any bed Eun-jae had ever seen. The sheets were rich, deep red satin, shimmering under the dim glow of recessed lighting. But that wasn't what caught his attention.

Mirrors.

Everywhere.

The walls, the ceiling, even the floor. Every angle, every inch of the room seemed designed to reflect and amplify the view of whoever stood in it. The effect was dizzying, making the room seem even larger, more intimate—an endless loop of reflections that felt almost surreal.

What the actual hell is this?

He felt like he'd just stepped into some kind of exhibitionist's fever dream.

Alexei smirked, clearly reading his reaction.

"You must be wondering why my room is like this," he said, his voice tinged with amusement.

Eun-jae hesitated, a prickle of unease creeping down his spine. He wasn't sure he actually wanted to know, but before he could stop himself, the words slipped out—

"Why, though?"

Alexei's smirk deepened, his icy eyes flashing with something almost predatory.

"When I'm having sex," he said smoothly, "I like to make my mate watch themselves as I pound them from behind."

Silence.

A thick, unbearable silence.

Eun-jae immediately regretted asking.

Fucking hell.

His brain went blank for a solid three seconds before his survival instincts kicked in. He forcibly kept his expression neutral, biting back every single curse threatening to spill out of his mouth. He refused—refused—to react to that.

Instead, he cleared his throat, forcing himself to casually look away as if he weren't reeling internally.

Focus. Stay focused. This is not the time to get distracted by this lunatic's kinks.

He let his gaze sweep across the room again, feigning disinterest as he slowly started piecing things together.

Where's the key?

His mind shifted gears instantly.

The blueprints he had studied before coming here hinted at a hidden chamber—spacious, tucked away somewhere in the depths of Alexei's suite. If the security in the hallway was that tight, whatever was in that room had to be important.

His eyes flickered toward the bookshelves, the intricate wall paneling, the seamless design of the mirrors.

Where would I hide a secret entrance if I were an arrogant, sex-obsessed bastard?

His fingers itched to start searching, but he couldn't move recklessly. Not here. Not while Alexei was watching him like a predator amused by its prey.

So he schooled his expression into something calm, neutral, almost bored, and turned back to Alexei with a raised brow.

"Nice room," he said flatly.

Alexei chuckled.

Eun-jae had the distinct feeling this was going to be very complicated.

Alexei poured two glasses of deep, rich red wine, his movements slow and deliberate. The liquid swirled inside the crystal glasses like dark velvet, catching the warm lighting of the room. He turned, a smirk playing on his lips as he extended one toward Eun-jae.

"Would you care for a drink?" Alexei purred, his voice carrying that lazy amusement of someone who already thought they had won. "This particular wine comes from Morocco—aged to perfection, smooth on the palate. Quite exquisite, really. You'll enjoy it."

Eun-jae took the glass, feeling the cold weight of it settle in his fingers. The scent of the wine drifted upward—rich, slightly spiced, and undeniably expensive. He glanced at Alexei, who had already taken his own glass, swirling it gently before taking a sip.

"Thanks," Eun-jae muttered, keeping his expression neutral as he lifted the glass slightly, as if he were about to drink. But just as the liquid neared his lips, he noticed something—

A faint swirl of white residue at the bottom.

The fuck is that?

His grip on the glass didn't waver, nor did his face betray even a flicker of reaction. But inside, his mind was moving fast.

Is this some kind of drug? A sedative? Something to make me more… compliant?

His stomach churned at the thought. Son of a bitch. Of course, someone like Alexei wouldn't just rely on words to get what he wanted. Fucking bastard thought he could drug me.

Keeping his composure, Eun-jae tilted the glass just enough to make it look like he was sipping, but let the wine barely brush against his lips before lowering it back down. A practiced, effortless deception.

"Mr. Alexei," he said smoothly, setting the glass onto the polished surface of a nearby table. "So where is this 'product' you wanted to show me?"

Alexei let out a soft chuckle, running a finger along the rim of his own glass. His green eyes gleamed with something too entertained, too smug.

"Not so fast, Mr. Bitgaram." He leaned forward slightly, resting an elbow on the back of the sofa as he swirled his drink. "Patience. Let's take things slow, alright?"

Eun-jae barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This is so fucking uncomfortable.

His whole body was on edge, every nerve alert to the way Alexei was watching him—like a predator circling prey.

There was a thickness in the air, a tension that made Eun-jae's skin crawl. He could feel the weight of Alexei's gaze raking over him, lingering too long, sizing him up like he was something to be consumed. It wasn't just interest—it was hunger.

Pure, unfiltered lust.

Disgusting.

Eun-jae clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep his posture relaxed. Breathe. Keep your cover. Don't react. Don't let him see that he's getting to you.

Meanwhile, Alexei wasn't even trying to hide it. His eyes roamed over Eun-jae's body shamelessly, tracing the lines of his frame with something disturbingly close to admiration.

He's fucking drooling.

And then, as if the moment wasn't unbearable enough, Alexei downed the rest of his wine in one go, slamming the empty glass onto the table with a satisfied sigh.

Eun-jae watched warily as Alexei stood up.

Something in the air shifted.

His smirk widened—lazily, confidently—too confident.

And then—he reached for the buttons of his shirt.

Wait. The fuck?

Eun-jae's stomach twisted as Alexei began unbuttoning his clothes, his fingers moving with a casual ease as he peeled away the fabric.

Oh, hell no.

Eun-jae instinctively took a step back, but Alexei was faster.

Before he could react, Alexei was behind him.

Close.

Too fucking close.

And then—

Hands.

Large, warm hands.

Grabbing his chest.

What the actual fuck—

Eun-jae froze. His breath hitched for just a fraction of a second, but he masked it instantly, forcing his body to remain still.

Don't react. Don't give him the satisfaction.

But holy fuck.

His entire body tensed, every muscle coiling with instinctive repulsion. His mind screamed at him to move, to shove this bastard off, to break every fucking bone in his hands.

Disgusting.