Control me.

Chapter 8 - Irina.

The clock on the dashboard of my Range Rover read 5:52 when I turned into the long uphill driveway of my villa.

The day at the clinic had been exhausting. Numbers, financial reports, meetings with the PR team, and the constant feeling that nothing ever truly ended. All I wanted was to step inside the house, take off the heels that had been squeezing my feet all day, and disappear under the warm water of the shower.

The gate opened with its familiar electronic sound, and I slowly drove toward the garage.

The white structure of the villa, with its glass surfaces and clean geometric lines, greeted me like a frozen queen. Beautiful. Perfect. And distant.

I turned off the engine, left my bag on the back seat, and walked toward the interior door.

The silence of the house wrapped around me immediately — the kind of silence that can be comforting one moment and heavy the next.

I slipped off my jacket in the hallway, walked into the bedroom, and stopped in front of the mirror.

My face looked tired, though still carefully composed. I gathered my hair into a loose bun, ready to head to the bathroom.

And then my phone rang.

Paul's name appeared on the screen.

I closed my eyes for a second, took a breath, and answered.

I lifted the phone to my ear.

"Paul."

His voice sounded different than usual. It overflowed with energy, almost too fast to follow.

"Irina! You won't believe it! I couldn't wait—I had to tell you in person!"

I stood frozen in the middle of the room.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.

"You'll see, you'll see... I'm already on my way to your house. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Before I could react, the line went dead.

I remained there, phone still in my hand, listening to the quiet hum of the silence around me.

A mix of curiosity and unease spread through my chest.

What could possibly have made him sound like that?

Paul was usually careful. Measured. Controlled.

This electric excitement in his voice was something new.

I placed the phone on the nightstand and sat at the edge of the bed.

The shower would have to wait.

In a few minutes, Paul would be ringing the doorbell.

And somehow, without being able to explain why, I already knew that whatever he had to tell me would change something — not only in his life, but in mine as well.

The sound of tires turning sharply through the gate made me jump.

I stood up from the bed, quickly slipped into a thin silk robe, and walked toward the entrance.

Within seconds, Paul's car rolled into the garage.

He didn't even bother with the doorbell.

The door swung open with the excitement of a child who couldn't contain himself, and he found me waiting for him in the hallway.

Paul rushed inside, almost breathless.

"Irina!"

"Paul... what the hell is going on?" I asked. "You scared me."

He closed the door behind him, tossed his jacket onto the couch, and stood in front of me, his eyes shining with excitement.

"You're not going to believe this. Remember the interview I told you about? They called me again this afternoon. Nick Martinez himself spoke to me."

He paused, barely able to contain his excitement.

"And Irina... he invited me to the opening of his new club tonight."

His eyes were glowing like he had just touched the dream he had been chasing for years.

But inside me, something tightened.

"To the opening? Tonight?" I repeated slowly.

"Yes! He told me to come... and that I could bring whoever I wanted with me. Irina, this is huge. If everything goes well, I'll get into his circle. I'll work with him."

I looked at him silently for a few seconds.

Paul was still so... innocent.

A talented, ambitious young lawyer, but with eyes that hadn't yet seen the darkness hiding behind the bright lights of Los Angeles.

I stepped closer and gently touched his shoulder.

"Paul... you know how much I admire your ambition. And you know how much I believe in you. But... you don't really know who this man is."

His smile flickered for a moment.

"You think I shouldn't go?"

I took his hands.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't go. Just... be careful. Men like Nick don't give anything away for free. And many times, the price is heavier than you expect."

He smiled again, trying to reassure me.

"I know how to protect myself, Irina. I won't let anyone manipulate me. I want this opportunity, and I'm going to take it."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"But... I want you to come with me tonight. Be there. I'll feel more confident with you by my side."

I looked at him in silence.

Inside me, two forces were colliding.

One part of me wanted to support him, to believe in his dreams.

But another voice was warning me loudly.

Be careful, Irina.

Be careful where you're stepping.

The only thing I managed to say was:

"We'll see..."

But deep down, I already knew that one way or another, that night was going to change something fundamental in our lives.