Page 16 of Ensnared
Chapter 10
ItwasdarkinDimitri's office. Only the soft buttery light from a lamp at the corner of his desk offered any reprieve from the dark.
Behind him, the sleepless city sparkled down below. Digital billboards along the Las Vegas Strip moved and flashed with their endless ads while lights shimmered and dazzled patrons, each glittering delight crafted to perfectly mask the sordid deeds of the city of sin. When he first took over, Dimitri had felt like a king surveying his domain from the heights of his penthouse office, relishing in the sense of control he had finally gained. Everywhere his eyes passed, he could see the invisible hand of his power.
His hotel was the gilded throne, the seat where a sizable portion of his organization's money was laundered and redistributed. Beyond him spread across the city like pinpoints on a map, he could see the other buildings he owned, the other pots his hands were in. To the east of the city was a discreet building holding their private lending services. A very lucrative business that supplied some of the wealthier gambling patrons around the city with extra capital. West of that were a few more buildings scattered here and there holding the real power behind his throne—data. Everything from data farming, crypto, and cybersecurity, he handled it. Money was one thing, but valuable data was so much more. A couple of million dollars might hold some sway in some circles, but the ability to shut down a power grid or compromise the West Coast's internet exchange point was absolute control.
And it still wasn't enough for the old bastard.
Annoyed, Dimitri glanced at his computer before turning back to the window. Thepakhan,the boss, the old man who controlled the entire bratva, from where he sat in Moscow was still on his ass. All for eight measly million dollars. The old fuck's sons pissed a quarter of a billion each day and yet the bastard was worried about Dimitri's miniscule loss. It was absurd. The bastard didn't care about the money, he was just trying to make a point. To remind Dimitri that he would always be watching him.
Dimitri sneered. He would get the old man his money, with interest.
Turning away from the window, Dimitri looked at his computer. There were two windows open. One showing a sleek black and gold website. While the other screen showed the camera view on Eve's laptop.
All day his attention had been divided. He answered emails and took calls all while waiting for the notification of her movement.
He had seen her the moment she opened her laptop. Her wild curls, still a mess from her sleep, were hanging around her pretty round face as she typed the code from the package onto the website. Dimitri enjoyed the wary expression on her face as she checked her bank account. The access Andrey gave him to her computer and phone gave Dimitri everything. He could see what she saw and what exactly was in her account.
Six hundred and two dollars. That was it.
She was just given half of the promised one thousand dollars, which meant she had only had a hundred and two dollars before. Not nearly enough to survive without a job, without family, and without a car.
Dimitri smiled. He could see the turmoil on her face. Her soft features were beautifully marred by tearful desperation. Nervously, she ran a hand through her hair as she examined the ornate cat mask. Slowly, she rotated the mask, a line forming between her brows as she noted the black encrusted Swarovski crystal amidst the gold. Carefully, she turned it until the black velvet lining inside was facing her.
Dimitri did not move as he watched. Despite all her misgivings about the situation, he could see her curiosity compel her to lift the mask to her face.
The mask had barely touched her face before she snatched it away and shut her laptop.
It had been a few hours since then. Sitting back in his chair, he spun his phone impatiently in one hand and checked the time on his computer. It was ten minutes before the deadline. She had until ten to sign in to the site and take her first client—a site made solely for her.
Despite the intricate detail of the site showing beautiful models wearing masks, there was no one else. It was all just an illusion created just for her. There would be no other women, only her. And more importantly, there would be no other man except himself.
If she would log the hell in, Dimitri thought with a scowl. The clock read nine fifty-eight.
A muscle twitched at his temple as he glared at the blank screen.
If she didn't log in it would make no great impact on his overall plans, but he couldn't say the same for his mood. He had been more than looking forward to this. Yesterday, Andrey had taken painstaking time reeling her in with well placed ads all throughout her internet searches. Each one honed in on her hopelessness. He even went so far as to send a man out to remove a few key components in her car giving her no choice but to click on the dangling bait.
Dimitri knew the pressure was too much for her. He could see it in her tears. He watched the hope in her eyes dim as she came to grips with her situation. She would wear the mask. His fist tightened around his phone until he could feel the metal case shift. She had no choice.
Suddenly the screen lit up. Like a soothing balm, the dark flame in his chest lowered to its usual smolder once more and Dimitri sat up in his seat. It was time.
Chapter 11
Evedecidedtosetup the laptop on the floor near her bed, so all the camera could see of her room was the side of her bed, the corner wall behind the bed, a part of the ceiling, and of course—her. Sitting on the floor in front of the laptop, she reluctantly reached for the keyboard and pressed enter on the private chat room button.
Immediately a man appeared on the screen making her stomach twist in fear. She had hoped, prayed even, that whoever wouldn't show up or would have technical difficulties, but no such luck. Sitting at what looked to be a desk, a man sat a few feet from the camera draped in shadows. Eve could see the night sky through the tall windows behind him and imagined him in a fancy high-rise apartment. Wherever he was, his room was dark. Only a dim shaft of light ran across his desk barely highlighting the sleek black keyboard and some of his chest and arms. His face and neck were completely obscured by the darkness. Every now and then she could see a glimpse of his hands when he moved. They looked big. She hoped he wouldn't start touching himself during the call.
"Hello TemptingEvening." Was that a smile in his voice? His voice was pitched so low and so soft she couldn't tell.
She thought about the play on her name. The site would only let her choose from ten different options, all playing on her name. From MidnightEve to EvieAfterDark, Eve just settled for TemptingEvening since it was the only one that didn't practically say her name outright. The last thing she needed was some weird man online having her real name.
"Hello." Her voice was so quiet she could hardly hear herself. She knew she was going to have to speak up before he said something, or worse, complained about her. She had to finish this, get the rest of her money, and log out. Then she would just push this whole thing away like a traumatic memory.
"Are you nervous?" his velvety voice wrapped around her causing goosebumps.
"Yes," she answered tremulously.
