And slowly, carefully, she began to study the security setup.
Two dozen guards were working in rotating shifts, a mix of seasoned veterans and younger men eager to prove themselves. The surveillance system was state-of-the-art, but not impossible to circumvent if one knew what they were doing.The gate system, while sophisticated, had to include manual overrides for emergencies.
The weak link in any security system was always the human element, and it didn’t take long for her to identify her target.
Simon Petrov was twenty-two years old, fresh out of some military program, and clearly smitten with his boss’s new wife. He was assigned to the afternoon shift, which meant he was one of the guards who accompanied her on her walks around the grounds.
He was sweet in the way young soldiers often were, all earnest dedication and barely contained energy. He answered her questions about the security protocols with more detail than he should have, clearly trying to impress her with his knowledge and access.
Perfect.
She started paying special attention to Simon during their interactions, complimenting his uniform, asking about his background, and treating him as if he were the most interesting man she’d ever met. It wasn’t entirely an act—he was handsome in a clean-cut, all-American way, with sandy hair and green eyes that reminded her of her youngest brother.
But he was also her ticket to freedom.
“The motion sensors along the north wall are the most sensitive,” he was explaining as they walked through the garden on Friday afternoon. “But there’s a blind spot near the old oak tree where the branches interfere with the signal.”
She filed that information away, smiling at him like he’d just told her the most fascinating thing in the world. “You really know your job, don’t you?”
He flushed red to the tips of his ears. “Mr. Nikolai demands perfection from his security team. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
“I’m sure you’re one of his best men,” she said, letting her fingers brush his arm as they walked. The contact was brief, innocent enough to be explained away, but she saw the way his pupils dilated at the touch.
“I try my best, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Anka.” She gave him her most dazzling smile. “We’re practically neighbors now, aren’t we?”
They’d reached the gatehouse, and she could see the control panel through the window. A complex array of switches and monitors that controlled access to the compound. She was trying to figure out how to get a closer look when Simon started explaining the system unprompted.
“The main gate operates on a dual-key system,” he said, clearly showing off now. “Two guards have to authorize any opening, and there’s a manual override in case of system failure.”
“That sounds very secure,” she murmured, stepping closer to him. Close enough that he could smell her perfume, close enough that her breast brushed against his arm as she pretended to stumble slightly on the uneven path.
He steadied her with his hands, his touch lingering longer than strictly necessary. “Are you alright, Mrs... I mean, Anka?”
“I’m fine. Just a little dizzy.” She pressed her hand to his chest, feeling his heart hammering beneath his uniform shirt. “You’re very strong.”
“I work out,” he said stupidly, his gaze dropping to her lips.
This was almost too easy. A few more conversations like this, maybe a carefully orchestrated moment alone, and she’d have everything she needed to slip out of this gilded cage whenever she wanted.
“Simon.” The voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and sharp and absolutely fucking furious.
They sprang apart like guilty teenagers, and she turned to see Viktor striding toward them across the lawn. He was dressed in a black suit that emphasized his lean frame, his ice-blue eyes locked on the space between Simon and her with an expression that could have melted steel.
He wasn’t supposed to be back yet. Elena had said he’d be gone all week, but there he was, looking like he wanted to commit murder.
“Mr. Nikolai,” Simon stammered, snapping to attention. “I was just escorting your wife around the grounds as ordered.”
“I can see that.” Viktor’s voice was deadly quiet as he approached. “Tell me, Simon, does escorting my wife typically involve putting your hands on her?”
Simon’s face went white. “Sir, she stumbled, I was just—”
“You were just forgetting your place.” Viktor stepped between them, his back to her, his attention focused entirely on the younger man. “My wife is not your concern beyond ensuring her safety. She is not your friend, she is not your confidante, and she sure as fuck isn’t someone you should be touching.”
The threat in his voice was unmistakable, and she saw Simon swallow hard.
“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again.”
