That night, when the man from Vanessa's basement regained consciousness, he could do nothing but regret his mistake two days earlier.

"I sent the money. But there is a change of the plan," he recalled his phone call to someone two days ago. "I want to take care of him personally. You take care of the girl. I'll send you the rest of the money when you're done."

If he hadn't had this conversation, he probably wouldn't have met this woman, who had no idea who she was, and he wouldn't be in this basement. All his attempts to get out of there were unsuccessful, and he no longer had the strength to try again.

Vanessa, meanwhile, had to take other steps to find out who the man was. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. After just one signal, a male voice was heard.

"I'm listening."

Sergey Karevsky—the nightmare of all programmers and IT professionals. With his unsurpassed hacking skills, he was hired by banking institutions and government departments to test their firewalls in cyberspace. There were very few who remained impenetrable after his attacks.

Sergey Karevsky—the dream of many women and even men. With his typically Russian features, light blue eyes, pale skin, and brown hair, he attracted the attention of everyone he met.

Sergey Karevsky—Vanessa's only trusted person.

"I want to know everything about this man." Vanessa began, sending him a picture of the man from her basement.

"Couldn't you take a picture of him before you beat him like that?" Karevsky asked her, laughing at the same time.

But Vanessa answered him with a question. "How long will it take?"

"A few days, maybe..."

"Okay, I count on you."

"Always. Take care of yourself, Blake."

"I do."

***

The following day, after quick jogging, Vanessa got ready for work. When she arrived at the building and greeted the guard, she spotted Mike and Rebecca at the back of the lobby. Mike seemed to be explaining something serious, but Vanessa noticed that Rebecca hardly listened to what she was being told. The way she was looking at Mike revealed more than friendly feelings.

"Hey, guys. Why are you here?" Both were startled by Vanessa's words. "Wow, I didn't want to scare you."

"You didn't scare us," Rebecca replied as if apologizing for something. "We just met here."

"O-okay... I will go." Vanessa winked at Mike and walked away from them.

But Rebecca followed her. "Nessa, wait! I'm coming with you."

The two climbed into the elevator, and as the doors closed, Vanessa looked at Rebecca questioningly.

"What?"

"I'm just wondering... Is there something between you and Mike?"

"No. Why are you thinking like that, Nessa?"

"Because of the way you looked at him."

"How did I look at him?"

"In love," Vanessa whispered to her with a slight smile while exiting the elevator.

"I am not—" Rebecca tried to deny it, but Vanessa headed straight for her office. "...in love with Mike," she finished. "I am not."

***

Vanessa sat in front of her desk. As soon as she turned on her computer, an unread email message appeared on the screen.

07:58

From: Cole Willker

Subject: Task

To: Vanessa Blake

---

After you arrive at work, come to my office.

---

Cole Willker, CEO

Willker Enterprises Holdings

08:00

From: Vanessa Blake

Subject: Re: Task

To: Cole Willker

---

Good morning to you, too.

Okay, I am coming.

---

Vanessa Blake, CEO Assistant

Willker Enterprises Holdings

Seconds after Cole received Vanessa's email, there was a knock on his door.

"Come in."

"Good morning, Cole."

"Good morning, Vanessa. Tell Marissa to bring us two coffees."

"Seriously?"

"Is there something you didn't understand?"

"No, I understood correctly."

Instead of leaving the office to order Marissa's coffee, Vanessa walked over to Cole, stood beside him behind his desk, and pressed the phone button.

Cole was once again impressed by her discreet audacity. But he said nothing and kept typing on his computer.

"Yes, Boss." Marissa's voice came from the speaker.

"Hello, secretary. Bring us two coffees."

After her brief order, Vanessa hung up, not allowing Marissa to answer.

Cole barely hid his giggle. Something that hadn't happened to him in a long time. But after Vanessa still stood there for a few seconds, he broke the silence. "You can sit in the chair opposite." Then, he continued typing on his computer.

Not long after Vanessa settled in, Marissa entered the office but carrying only one coffee. She walked over to Cole and handed it to him. "Here's your coffee, Cole."

"Did you forget to whom you are talking, Marissa?" Cole turned to her with a sharp tone and an icy look. "And Vanessa told you two coffees, not just one." Immediately afterward, he handed his coffee to Vanessa. "I will wait for the other one."

"I'll bring another coffee right away, Boss," Marissa said sadly, leaving the office.

Vanessa watched with interest. She found the jealousy of the secretary somewhat amusing and pathetic.

"From today, Mike will manage the company's activity outside the country." Cole interrupted Vanessa's thoughts, talking as if nothing had happened. "But as for the business here, I want you to be directly aware of all the processes. We have three main departments—production, distribution, and trade. You will be responsible for communicating with employees in each department."

Again, ignoring Marissa, who came in to bring the second coffee, Cole continued introducing Vanessa to work.

"I don't want anyone to disturb us," was the only thing he said while the secretary was leaving the office.

A few hours later, after Cole explained in detail to Vanessa everything about her work, he introduced her to the employees of the three departments with which she had to maintain direct communication, located on the lower floors of the building. Just as they were about to return to his office, Vanessa received a message from Rebecca, who invited her to lunch.

"Sorry, it was Rebecca," Vanessa said, checking her phone. "We'll have lunch together. Can I take a break?"

"Of course. Just don't be late," Cole replied indifferently.

Something in his eyes told her he might not like her quick friendship with his sister. Or maybe he didn't really care.

Hell, this man is so hard to read, Vanessa thought while she headed to the restaurant.

"Nessa, here," Rebecca shouted from the table by the window where she was sitting.

"Hello, Rebecca."

Vanessa sat down in the chair opposite her.

The two made their order.

"I knew you'd love these toasts!"

"You sound like you're taking a commission on every toast sold," Vanessa said with a smile. "But then, it's probably unnecessary, as your family owns the restaurant."

"This is a pretty good business proposition that I will make to Cole." Rebecca giggled. "But enough for me. How are you feeling, Nessa?"

"Pretty well. It's a lot of work, but I love challenges. Also, I've already managed to piss Marissa off, so I think I can define my day as perfect."

Rebecca burst out laughing. "Well done, girl! I'm delighted to hear you're feeling good here. By the way, how does my brother behave?"

"Good... I think. Aside from how gloomy he is—I still haven't seen him smile even once. And the weird change of moods... I think it's okay. Will he ever be in a good mood?"

Rebecca shook her head. "I wouldn't hope much of that."

Both giggled while probably in front of both's eyes appeared Cole's stern look.

The one-hour break passed in conversations on various topics. But then it was time for work again.

"I'm back, Cole," Vanessa said as she entered his office. "Aren't you taking a break for lunch?"

"I ordered Attorney Swan to email you a preliminary contract with a potential client. I want you to review it and, if you don't have any remarks, to send it." Cole was talking to Vanessa without even looking at her. "You can go back to your office now."

Vanessa narrowed her eyes, annoyed, but replied calmly. "Of course." And left the office.

She walked past the secretary's desk without even looking at Marissa, but just a few steps down, the secretary's voice sounded arrogant. "I don't know what you two were doing, but it obviously wasn't enough for him because he's calling me to him now. To finish your work, maybe..."

Vanessa stopped and returned to Marissa's desk. "If we had fucked, if that's what you're implying, then he wouldn't remember who you are now. Let alone to have the strength or desire for another woman. Be sure." Without allowing Marissa to answer anything, Vanessa continued. "But, darling, my ambitions are much higher than to fuck my boss. Have a good time."

Vanessa entered her office, leaving Marissa in a rage.

But inexplicable anxiety distracted her no matter how hard she tried to focus on the work until the end of the working day. An inexplicable thought. What was Cole doing with his secretary?

Damn it! Why the hell do I even think about them and their intimate relationship?

When the clock showed 5 p.m., Vanessa grabbed her bag and returned to her hotel room. She took a shower and immediately after that came out again.

She needed a distraction, and she knew where to find it.

"Tell me you want me." Vanessa stood behind Matt, who was in the gym, as she was hoping he would be.

Matt turned to her, ran one hand through her hair, and with the other, he pressed her to him. "So madly." He ran his hand down her body to her thigh, pulled it up, grabbed her by the throat, and pressed her against the wall. "So crazy." His tongue raged in Vanessa's mouth, and he didn't care if anyone was watching them. "Let's go to my place."

"No. I want you now." Vanessa grabbed him by his t-shirt and led him to the door nearby.

Both entered a small changing room and locked the door behind them. Matt took off Vanessa's pants, took his ones down to his knees, and lifted her into the air. She closed her legs around his waist and immediately took him in her.

That was exactly what she needed—someone who could get Cole out of her head. And Matt did a good job. An excellent job.

Although only for a short time.

***

Later that night

Bang. Bang. Bang. Sounds of bullets. Echoing in the silence. Echoing in the darkness. And the faces of all the victims appearing and disappearing for a moment.

Flashlights.

Two bodies. Lying in the living room, covered in blood. Two bullet holes.

"Nooooo!"

Vanessa opened her eyes sharply, all drenched in sweat.

"It was a nightmare." She sighed and reached for her glass of water from the nightstand.

The next moment, her phone rang.

"I'm listening," Vanessa said as soon as she picked up the phone, seeing Karevsky's name on the screen.

"His name is Tom Patterson—no criminal record. There isn't anything suspicious about him except that he was admitted to the hospital brutally beaten a month ago. But there isn't any information about who the perpetrator is."

"Thank you. Something about the other question?"

"I'm still working on it."

"Please, Karevsky, give me something! You have no idea how hard it was for me to steal that footage. Don't tell me it was in vain!"

"The face can't be recognized, but I am trying to read something on his lips when he turns to the camera."

"I count on you!"

"Always! Take care of yourself!"

"You too."