The depth of the path

Marina stood frozen in the silence of the room after Viktor's departure. His words lingered in her mind, blending with the heaviness of her situation. The weight of her desperation made sleep impossible tonight, or at least, if it came, it would be restless and brief.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a cool silver light over the Castellano estate. But serenity was a distant concept for Marina. She paced, thoughts swirling between her father's betrayal and Viktor's cryptic demeanor. He was a man who ruled with a cold, ruthless hand, yet beneath his icy exterior, there was a flicker of something human—a complexity she couldn't quite place.

She sank onto the edge of the bed, leaning her forehead against her palms. She needed a plan. A way out. But every potential strategy unraveled before it could even take shape.

A soft knock echoed at her door, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Miss Vasiliev," a woman's voice called from the other side.

Marina hesitated for a moment before opening the door. A woman in her late forties stood there, her face guarded. She held a tray, steam rising from a bowl of soup, and placed it carefully on a small table near the window.

"Mr. Castellano insists you eat," she said, her tone even but firm. "You'll need your strength for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Marina echoed, her voice shaking. "What happens tomorrow?"

The woman's lips tightened, offering no explanation. "Eat, Miss Vasiliev. It'll do you no good to refuse."

Before Marina could ask anything further, the woman turned to leave. "Vivian," she called over her shoulder when Marina asked for her name.

The door clicked shut behind her, locking Marina inside with only the sound of her own racing heart. She stared at the tray, but her appetite was buried under the weight of the uncertainty surrounding her.

The Morning After

The first rays of sunlight pulled Marina from a restless sleep. She had dozed off on the edge of the bed, her head tilted awkwardly against the headboard. The tray of food sat untouched beside her.

A sharp knock at the door broke the silence.

"Be ready in ten minutes," Dimitri's voice rang out from the other side. "Viktor doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Marina scrambled to her feet, muscles stiff from the uncomfortable position she'd slept in. She rushed to the bathroom, her eyes taking in the lavish space for the first time. The jacuzzi, with its gleaming marble, stared back at her as though daring her to forget the gravity of her situation.

Luxury surrounded her at every turn, and she couldn't help but feel both awed and alienated. Even though she came from wealth, nothing had prepared her for the opulence that Viktor Castellano's estate exuded.

When Dimitri returned, he ushered her down a winding staircase into a sunlit room where Viktor stood near a long table, maps and folders scattered across its surface.

"Good morning," Viktor's voice was neutral, his gaze never leaving the papers before him.

Marina hesitated in the doorway until Dimitri gave her a nudge forward. She stepped inside, palms clammy, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Sit," Viktor commanded, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Marina obeyed, her nerves on edge as Viktor finally looked up and locked his gaze with hers. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Let's talk about this secret of yours," Viktor began, his voice sharp but patient. "I need details, Marina. No vague statements. No embellishments. If you want my help, you'll give me everything."

Marina's throat tightened as she nodded. "It's... it's a file. A dossier. It contains information about illegal dealings between my father and key members of the opposition party."

Viktor's gaze darkened. "And this file, where is it?"

Her hands twisted in her lap. "I... I hid it. Before I found out my father wanted me dead. It's safe, but I didn't want to bring it here in case I was followed."

Viktor's eyes narrowed, his scrutiny intense. "Do you understand the position this puts me in? You've handed me a promise, but no tangible proof."

"I swear, it's real!" Marina said quickly, leaning forward. "I'll tell you where it is—just not yet. I need to know you'll keep your end of the deal first."

The tension between them thickened. Viktor's jaw tightened, and for a long moment, he said nothing. Then, he leaned back in his chair.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Marina," he muttered, his voice dangerously calm. "But I'll indulge you—for now."

Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived as Viktor added, "Dimitri will accompany you when you retrieve it. If this is a trap, it will be the last trap you ever set."

Marina's heart sank, but she nodded. "It's not a trap. I promise."

Meanwhile, at the Vasiliev Estate

Anton's rage boiled over as he listened to his man's report.

"We've searched the estate, inside and out, but there's no sign of her," the man said, his voice tight with frustration.

"Did she really think she could escape from me?" Anton's voice was low, dangerously controlled. He slammed his fist on the table. "Find her. Even if you have to turn this whole country upside down. If she's dead, so be it—but I want this done before tomorrow. Use all the surveillance cameras in the estate and in the city!"

He knew she was trouble. He should have taken care of her the moment he realized she was a threat. Anton downed a glass of wine, his mind racing. He had to handle this before the media or the opposition party caught wind of it.

Later That Day, at the Castellano Estate

Marina stood on the grand steps of the Castellano estate, the wind tugging at her hair. Dimitri stood beside a sleek black car, his face as impassive as ever. Viktor lingered just inside the doorway, his gaze never leaving her.

"You have one chance to prove your worth," Viktor reminded her, his voice cold. "Prove yourself, or face the consequences."

Marina's heart hammered in her chest. She nodded quickly, sliding into the car. Dimitri followed, and the doors closed with a decisive thud. The car pulled away, and Marina couldn't suppress the tremble in her hands as she silently prayed that the file was still where she had hidden it.