A DANGEROUS GAME

Chloe woke up with the taste of last night still on her lips—Milan's control, his dominance, the way he played her body like a finely tuned instrument. She should have been disgusted with herself. Instead, a dangerous thrill curled in her stomach.

No. She couldn't keep letting him pull her under.

She swung her legs over the bed, pressing her palms against her temples. Focus, Chloe. You have a mission. Milan was not a man to be trusted, no matter how he made her feel. She needed to regain control before it was too late.

Determined, she spent the day gathering intel. She subtly pried into Milan's business dealings, keeping an ear to the conversations of his men. A familiar itch crawled at the back of her mind—should she risk reaching out to her government contact? But something stopped her. A whisper of paranoia. Milan had eyes everywhere.

By nightfall, she decided to clear her mind with a walk through the city. But as she stepped into the dimly lit streets, a presence shadowed her. Chloe's heartbeat quickened.

"Walking alone at night? Dangerous for someone like you."

The voice sent a shiver down her spine. Viktor.

She turned, keeping her expression neutral. He leaned casually against the wall, cigarette smoke curling around his face, but his eyes were anything but relaxed.

"I can handle myself," she said smoothly.

Viktor chuckled. "Can you? You're playing a very risky game, little journalist." He exhaled a slow breath. "You should be more careful about what you ask around for."

Chloe's pulse pounded. Did he know?

"I don't know what you mean."

Viktor stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "I think you do. And I think Milan is watching you more carefully than you realize." His voice dropped, words laced with quiet menace. "Do you trust him?"

Chloe swallowed hard. "I don't need to trust him. I just need to do my job."

Viktor smirked. "Good answer. But tell me, Chloe… if Milan found out your secrets, do you think he'd let you live?"

The air between them crackled with tension. Chloe held his gaze, refusing to flinch.

Viktor tilted his head, studying her. "You know, I've seen people like you before. You come in thinking you're in control. Thinking you can handle the fire without getting burned." He took a slow step forward. "But Milan isn't a man you can outplay."

Chloe forced a smirk. "And yet, here you are warning me instead of telling him whatever it is you think you know."

Viktor let out a dark laugh. "Oh, believe me, I haven't decided what to do with you yet. Maybe I'll tell him. Maybe I won't." He flicked the ashes from his cigarette, watching her reaction. "Or maybe I'll sit back and watch you destroy yourself."

Chloe's stomach twisted. She knew men like Viktor didn't play fair. He was testing her, searching for cracks.

"I'm just a journalist, Viktor," she said carefully.

Viktor grinned. "Sure you are. But let's say, hypothetically, that you weren't." He stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you think Milan would hesitate to put a bullet between your pretty little eyes?"

Chloe kept her breath steady. "If you have something to say, say it."

Viktor hummed, amused. "Just giving you some friendly advice. Watch your step. Because in this game, trust is an illusion." He let the words sink in before adding, "And Milan? He's not the type to forgive betrayal."

He flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot.

Then, with a slow, knowing smirk, he walked away, disappearing into the night.

Chloe stood there, her heart hammering against her ribs.

She had thought she was playing Milan. But for the first time, she wondered—was he playing her, too?