Page 77 of Dangerous Beginnings

I’ve made her beg for me before, in situations far more compromising than this. She knows the power dynamic between us better than anyone. She’s playing a dangerous game, and she’s playing it with fire. But being a brat doesn’t suit her, and I can’t wait to remind her of that. The moment she’s mine again, I’ll make sure she understands exactly where she stands—beneath me, at my mercy.

Taking a slow, measured breath, I set my jaw and meet her gaze with an intensity that I know unsettles her. Her eyes, wide and fixated on mine, betray her inexperience. She’s staring at me as if I’m the most captivating thing she’s ever seen. And at this moment, I am. The innocence in her parted lips is almost enough to make me laugh.

But instead, I lean in slightly, letting the tension stretch between us like a taut wire.

“Khorosho,”Alright,I say, my voice tight with barely contained restraint. Fine. If this is how she wants to play it, I’ll indulge her—for now. “Please, Isabella,” I continue, the words foreign and distasteful on my tongue, but necessary for the game. “I’m begging you. Give me a second chance.”

My voice is smooth, almost too calm, a predator soothing its prey. Her eyes flicker with something—surprise, maybe, or disbelief—but I can see that she’s faltering. She doesn’t trust me, and she shouldn’t. But she wants to. That’s her weakness, andit’s one I’ll exploit until she has nothing left to give.

Isabella

He speaks clearly, lethally. Never expected he would do such a thing. He must be desperate to prove something. Red flashes ignite in my face, rising from my neck to my cheeks. Who thought commanding a powerful man would make me feel so good? It’s like all his darkness slips into me and makes me feel powerful.

“How desperate would you want me exactly?” He almost spits out those words, making me form a little smile. He holds up his hands, the chain rattling as his back remains against the wall.

“However desperate you are.”

A dark smirk twists his lips, sending shivers down my spine. He leans against the wall, his presence is overwhelming even though he is far away, “Oh, I’m desperate, Isabella. More desperate than you can imagine.”

The intensity in his gaze sends a thrill coursing through me, mingling with the fear that simmers just beneath the surface. There’s a dangerous allure to his words, a magnetic pull that I can’t seem to resist. His icy tone wavers through me like fire, “Make no mistake, I’d go to extreme lengths for you.” He never dismisses his gaze. “Are you happy now?” He asks, his voice a low danger. “You’ve got the man everybody fears on his knees, begging for you.”

My heart skips multiple beats. The sincerity drips off his words, meaning every single one of them. And I’m not sure if this needs to come over as a sweet note or a threat. How is it possible that even in this position, in this scene he still intimidates me? My mouth opens but no words come out and my throat is dry. I’m not that brave, yet. I clutch the paper in my hand, standing my ground.

“I’ve written down my terms,” I state nearly faintly at the sightand his words.‘Extreme lengths.’The words linger through my veins.

And right before his eyes can start to sparkle with hope and accomplishment,myvoice cuts the silence this time.

‘‘But I will guarantee you that you’ll have to beg way longer for myforgivenessthan I’ve had to beg for yours.’’

Chapter 45

A Man Without Love

Cannot Live

Isabella

Aslanov’s smirk widens at my response, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something darker. It’s as if he’s relishing the power he holds over me, reveling in my vulnerability.

“Is that so?” he replies, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?”

I swallow hard, trying to push down the fear that threatens to overwhelm me. I’m just acting. And he can see right through me. Aslanov’s presence is suffocating, his words like a weight pressing down on my chest. A wolf is a wolf, even in a cage, and even dressed in a black suit. Yet my body moves for me. Settling down the terms I have. Making a deal with the Devil.

“First term is to stop intimidating me,” I say while trying to sound brave. Yet the uncertainty drips off me, and I hope it’s not obvious to him.

I open the contract and lower my gaze towards the paper. I swallow before speaking.

“Second thing is I want my freedom back. I want to leave the house whenever I want to and explore some of the city. Next, I want to sleep in my room, and if I want to stay anywhere else that’s my own decision. I also want to be treated with respect, no more manipulation. Also, your honesty. If you can’t be honest then please say nothing at all. No more lies.” I look at Aslanov to see if he’s still listening.

“I want boundaries unless I give permission myself. Nomore forcing yourself on me and lastly, stop with that stupid nickname.” An oh-so-evil yet handsome smile creeps itself on his lips.

“As you wish.”

But as I meet his gaze, there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—vulnerability, perhaps, or maybe even a hint of desperation. It’s enough to give me pause, to make me question whether I can truly trust him.

His smile falters for a moment, his eyes narrowing with an intense, almost pained curiosity. “Stupid nickname?” he repeats, a dark edge to his voice. The chain rattles in the air, his gaze locking onto mine with a penetrating intensity.

“Do you even know what‘Solnyshko’means?” he asks, his tone suddenly serious. “It means ‘Sunshine’ in Russian. It’s not a trivial term—it’s a designation of something precious, something that stands out in the dark. It was my way of acknowledging something rare in you.”

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