I open the door, and my worst fear is confirmed.
Maksim sits behind Jakob’s desk like he owns it. Like he owns everything in this room, including the man standing nervously in the corner.
Jakob won't meet my eyes.
"Kira." Maksim leans back in the chair, completely at ease. "What a pleasant surprise."
This couldn’t be happening.
“What are you doing here?” I snap.
Maksim’s smile was cold. Ruthless. "We were just finishing up some business. Weren't we, Jakob?"
"Yeah." Jakob’s voice is thick with guilt. "Just finishing up."
"Jakob." I turn to him, ignoring Maksim for the moment. "We've worked together for four years. I've always treated you fairly. Given you opportunities to grow. Protected you when others wanted you gone. That counts for something."
"It does," he says quietly. "But Maksim has explained the way things will change after the transition. I'll lose everything I've built. Unless I make other arrangements now. I can’t afford toexpose myself. Maksim has promised I can remain anonymous in this world."
"So you're abandoning me." The words come out flat. "Like everyone else."
"I'm surviving." He finally meets my eyes. "Like you would do."
The irony would be funny if it didn't hurt so much.
Jakob walks to the door. “You two clearly have things to talk about. Feel free to use my office.”
He walks out, closing the door and leaving me alone with the man I know is my enemy.
"Well played," I say. "It took you days to steal something that took me years to build.”
"Not stolen." He stands, moving around the desk with predatory grace. "They're choosing the winning side."
"The winning side." I laugh, and it sounds bitter. "Is that what you call working for the man who wants to destroy me?"
"I prefer to think of it as justice." He's circling me now. I turn to keep him in view. "Everything you built, you built on my grave. Now I'm taking it back."
"I didn't—" I cut myself off. We've had this argument. Nothing I say will convince him. "Believe what you want. Clearly you've already decided I'm guilty."
"The evidence decided." He moves closer. I hold my ground even though every instinct screams to retreat.
“So, now you’re working with Roman or are you taking my organization for yourself?”
"Roman wants to consolidate power. I want revenge." Maksim shrugs. "Our goals align."
"For now." I take a step toward him, ignoring the danger. "But what happens after? Do you really think Roman will just let you hold onto something that he believes is his?”
"That's my problem to solve."
"Is it?" Another step. We're too close now, but I can't stop. "Because from where I'm standing, you're being used. Roman is letting you destroy me, and once I'm out of the picture, you'll be next."
"Careful, Kira." His voice drops to something dangerous. "Trying to turn me against Roman won't save you."
"I'm not trying to save myself." The truth slips out. "I'm trying to save you. Because despite everything—despite the fact that you hate me, that you want to destroy me, that you've takeneverything I built—I still love you enough to want you to survive this."
The confession hangs between us like a live wire.
"Your love means nothing." But his voice lacks conviction.
