Mixed Emotions

Nikolai Zhukov stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse, a glass of scotch in hand, his steely gaze fixed on the twinkling city lights below. His mind, however, was occupied with thoughts of a certain defiant doctor.

Alessia Russo. The name alone sent a thrill through him, igniting a mix of emotions he wasn't accustomed to feeling. Her audacity in threatening him earlier should have infuriated him. In his world, such insolence typically warranted swift and brutal retribution.

And yet...

A smile played at the corners of his lips as he recalled the fire in her eyes, the steel in her voice. "One day, you're going to need me to save your life. And on that day, Nikolai, I'm going to remember this moment."

He should be angry. He should put her in her place, remind her of the power he held over her and her loved ones. Instead, he found himself... amused. Intrigued. Aroused, even.

Nikolai took a sip of his scotch, savoring the burn as he conjured an image of Alessia in his mind.