Control me.

Chapter 10 - Irina.

I looked at myself in the large mirror of my bedroom and felt a weight settle in my chest.

I knew why.

It wasn't only the night ahead, or what it meant for Paul. It was the name that had been mentioned earlier.

Nick Martinez.

A man I didn't know, yet my instincts kept whispering that there was something far heavier behind that name than just "a successful businessman."

And still, I knew I had to be there tonight.

Paul had already made his decision, his eyes shining with excitement. I couldn't take that moment away from him. I had to support him—even if every instinct inside me warned that he was stepping into something he didn't fully understand.

My dress hugged my body like a second skin.

White. Short. With a neckline that revealed just enough to spark imagination—but not enough to make me disappear into the crowd.

The back was completely open, dipping low to my waist, and every movement made the fabric glide over my skin like a soft whisper.

I lifted my leg and fastened the strap of my Louboutin heels, covered in nude-colored crystals.

The height gave me that familiar sense of control I always craved. My silhouette looked longer. My legs endless.

Every step I took would echo like a promise.

My hair fell straight and glossy down my back, reaching my waist like black silk.

My makeup had been done with precision.

Foundation that left my skin flawless. Earth-toned shadows that deepened my gaze without overpowering it. Eyeliner drawn into a seductive line.

And a soft nude lipstick that matched my shoes perfectly.

My eyes were my weapon.

And tonight, I would have to use them.

I slipped on a delicate white-gold bracelet with tiny diamonds that caught the light.

My perfume was the final touch—intense, feminine, with notes of vanilla and jasmine that lingered in the air with every movement.

I glanced at the clock.

It was almost time.

Paul would be here soon.

At the thought of him, my stomach tightened slightly.

He was good. Honest. But the world he was about to step into didn't forgive innocence.

I walked toward the balcony and looked out over the lights of Beverly Hills, flickering on one by one.

A place so beautiful.

And so deceptive.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, I told myself.

Maybe Nick Martinez is just another powerful man who knows how to play the game.

And yet, something inside me whispered that nothing would ever be the same after tonight.

The doorbell rang.

I took a deep breath, straightened my dress, and walked toward the door.

The bell rang again, more insistently this time.

I caught my breath, fixed a strand of hair that had slipped forward, and opened the door.

Paul stood there in a well-tailored suit, a dark blue tie, his eyes glowing with anticipation.

A wide smile spread across his face when he saw me.

But his gaze slid slowly over me—from head to toe—lingering just a little longer on my neckline.

"You look stunning," he murmured, almost under his breath before clearing his throat.

"Thank you," I replied calmly. "You look ready for... big steps tonight."

A flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by excitement.

He stepped inside and I closed the door behind him.

"Irina, you can't imagine it," he said, his eyes shining. "Tonight is my night. That man—Martinez—he's not ordinary. I felt it the moment he looked at me. Like he knew whether I was worth something before I even opened my mouth."

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing slightly.

"If I manage to convince him... everything will change."

I listened to him, but inside me every word felt like another step deeper into a dark path.

"Paul... listen to me for a moment," I said quietly. "You barely know anything about him. Maybe he's not exactly what you imagine."

I paused.

"Aren't you afraid you might be stepping into waters deeper than you realize?"

He stopped.

For the first time that night, he looked at me seriously.

And for a moment, the boy I knew—the one full of dreams and ambition—looked vulnerable.

"I am afraid," he admitted.

"But if we never take risks, we stay stuck forever. I don't want to be the lawyer who handles small cases for the rest of his life."

His eyes burned with determination.

"I want to enter the real world. The world of the big players. And I need to know that you're with me."

I swallowed.

Every instinct inside me screamed stay away.

But my mouth said something else.

"I'm with you."

The smile he gave me felt like gratitude and promise at the same time.

He glanced at his watch.

"If we don't leave now, we'll be late."

I grabbed my bag and my keys and locked the door behind us.

The night had already fallen, the city lights glittering like tiny jewels across the sky.

We walked down the steps, and Paul's car was waiting for us outside.

I slipped into the passenger seat.

As he started the engine, I turned my head toward the window.

And once again, the name that had haunted my thoughts all day echoed in my mind.

Nick Martinez.

I didn't know what he looked like yet.

As Paul drove through the glowing streets of Beverly Hills, the city moved around us like a living thing—lights, music, people chasing power, pleasure, and promises.

I watched the road silently, my fingers resting on my clutch bag.

The closer we got to Sunset Strip, the heavier the air felt.

Paul was excited. I could see it in the way his hands tightened around the steering wheel.

For him, tonight was an opportunity.

For me... it felt like stepping into something unknown.

Then the car slowed down.

At the end of the street, bright lights exploded into view.

Crowds.

Cameras.

Red carpets.

And towering above the entrance of the club, glowing in red neon letters.

Paul parked the car and turned to me with a grin.

"Ready?"

I didn't answer immediately.

Because at that exact moment, something inside me whispered a quiet warning.

Once I walked through those doors...my life would never be the same again.