Cristine sat in her room, the early morning light casting soft shadows across the floor as she wrapped herself in a warm blanket, her mind circling through a whirl of thoughts. She was still processing the previous night’s attempt, how intimate and vulnerable it had felt, even though she’d told herself over and over that it was strictly professional, just another part of the arrangement. But there was something about Andrei, something beyond the formality of their deal that unsettled her emotions.
This whole arrangement had initially seemed cut and dry—a professional agreement, a business contract. Yet now, after experiencing the closeness with him, she found herself entangled in feelings she’d never expected. The lines between duty and desire were blurring, and she felt lost. Part of her
