Love Beyond Boundaries

Chapter 7 Tension Between Two Worlds

With my heart hammering in my chest, I stepped into the restaurant. Immediately, I caught the astonished, bewildered look of the administrator.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed the moment she got close to me.

"I need to speak with Vladimir," I said firmly.

"Are you out of your mind, Liza?" Veronica exclaimed. "He was furious yesterday! What did you say to him?"

"It doesn't matter," I swallowed hard. "I came… to apologize."

The woman looked at me as if I were insane. Then she sighed heavily.

"I can't let you see him," she cut me off.

"So he's here?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Does it make a difference?" the administrator frowned. "I said no. One more step and I'll call security."

"Please," I begged. "It's really important. I won't say you let me through! I'll just say I came on my own."

"No, Liza," Veronica shook her head tiredly. "You had your chance and you missed it."

I hadn't missed anything. I had been used to grabbing what was mine since childhood.

With a gloomy nod, I pretended to leave. But as soon as the woman turned away, I bolted down the corridor and hurried up the stairs, the clatter of my heels ringing constantly. Heavy, fast footsteps of the security guards followed behind, but I didn't care. The most important thing was to reach Lenka's father's office in time. Once there, I'd figure out what to do.

There was no time to knock, I flung the door open and stepped inside, my heel catching on the threshold. I flailed my arms and fell toward the floor, but at the last moment, strong hands caught me, gripping my waist and warming me through the thin fabric of my long-sleeve shirt.

I looked up, met Vladimir's eyes, and instantly froze. Because looking into his eyes for too long was impossible. They revealed everything; nothing could be hidden.

"Vladimir, I'm sorry," I heard the deep voice of a guard behind me. "We'll escort her out now."

"No!" I shook off the man's hands, took a step back, and fixed my hair. "I came to talk."

Vladimir frowned, crossed his arms over his chest, and smirked.

"For audacity, a five; for manners, a two minus," he chuckled. "If you insist, speak. But know this—I don't have much time."

I glanced at the guards, then back at Vladimir. He understood what I wanted and nodded to them, signaling that they could leave.

Now it was just the two of us in the office. We stared at each other, tense and silent. I didn't know how to start, so I took a deep breath and said the first thing that came to mind, "Hire me."

"Hire you?" He raised an eyebrow, leaning on the desk behind him with both hands and lifting his chin. "Yesterday, you made it clear that you weren't going to work here."

"I changed my mind," I blurted, nervously tugging at the hem of my skirt. "I'm sorry."

For a few seconds, the room was silent. Every fiber of my body felt the tension between us grow to unimaginable heights. My heart was about to leap out of my chest, my knees trembling.

I heard the sharp screech of the desk and flinched. When I looked up, I instinctively stepped back, because Vladimir was moving toward me. He stopped only when I pressed myself fearfully against the wall. My confidence vanished the instant I inhaled his scent, which was bitter, with faint hints of menthol and tobacco.

"Who do you think you are?" Vladimir grabbed my chin and looked me straight in the eyes, his expression angry, harsh, and dominating. "Who do you think you are, little girl? You think you can call me an asshole, skip your shift, barge into my office, and then just say 'I'm sorry'?"

"I was wrong," I stammered, my voice trembling, and I looked away. But the man tugged my chin and forced me to meet his gaze again.

"What happened?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. I opened my mouth in surprise.

"What?"

"Are you stupid?" he leaned his head to the side. "I'm asking the reason you came back here."

"It doesn't matter," tears welled up in my eyes as memories of yesterday flooded back. "I understand everything now. Please, just let me go."

"You're not leaving until I hear an explanation," Vladimir cut me off. "I'm waiting."

'Tell him the truth? That my mother got drunk, stole a hefty sum, and now the debt is pinned on me? No way. That bastard will humiliate me immediately. He'd already said enough cruel things.'

"I need money," I decided to answer, keeping the details to myself. "Immediately."

"How much?" Vladimir asked.

"One hundred…" I exhaled, lowering my gaze. "One hundred thousand."

He released my chin, and I relaxed slightly. But because my body was still trembling, I stayed pressed against the wall.

"You've gotten yourself into new trouble," the man said, sitting on the edge of his desk and lighting a cigarette. "You live a fun life."

"I live fine!" I blurted. "I don't go looking for problems! They just… find me."

I heard an ironic chuckle and blushed. Being near Vladimir always made me feel dumber than I really was, and I experienced a jumble of confusing, mixed feelings.

"No wonder I forbade you to get close to my daughter," he said. "You're trouble, Liza."

"That's it?" I asked flatly. "If you're done with your commentary, I'll leave."

It was already clear; he'd just gloat and wouldn't offer me work.

'Bastard.'

"Too proud for a girl from a rough neighborhood," Vladimir noted.

"And you thought I'd let you wipe your feet on me?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady. I shivered again at the way he looked at me. "I came to apologize. And try to make things right."

The man took a long drag of his cigarette, frowned, and studied me carefully, giving me long, thoughtful looks.

"You say you need money," Vladimir exhaled a cloud of semi-transparent smoke. "Then you'll work without days off. Every day."

"I agree," I said immediately.

"And what about school?" he asked. "You're studying."

"I… I'll figure something out," I licked my dry lips. "I'm ready to start right now."

"You won't earn one hundred thousand here in a week," Vladimir warned.

I felt my chest tighten from nerves. I knew what would happen if I didn't pay the debt on time.

"Can I get an advance then?" I asked, knowing it was bold, but I had no choice. "I'll work it off. Please."

Instead of answering, the man laughed in a loud, raspy, velvet-like voice that filled the office.

"Did you hit your head while running?" he asked. "Even my administrator doesn't earn this much in a week."

"It's urgent," I insisted. "I'll work it off."

"What do you need so much money for, girl?" Vladimir asked, extinguishing his cigarette in a glass ashtray. "What did you do?"

"That's none of your business," I cut him off, recalling all his insults about where I lived and who my mother was. "Just let me earn the money. I know what to do; I already know everything."

"You're bold, rude, and insolent," he listed, then rose from the edge of the desk and rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt. "And I don't like you. But your stubbornness commands respect."

"And?" I asked, hope rising.

"I'll give you a second chance," Vladimir nodded. I almost cried with relief. "Work this week properly; you'll get your money in advance. No days off; you'll work for two months straight. At least then you won't have time to influence Lenka into any foolishness."

I wouldn't have time for anything else. But the main thing was that I did it. I had returned to work. Yes, I didn't like the job, and I already knew what kind of chaos would happen here. But right now, I had no other choice.

"Thank you," I said happily. "You really helped me out."

"I haven't helped you yet," Vladimir replied. "Go change and get to work."

I nodded, left his office, and exhaled in relief. The problem was almost solved. I wasn't afraid of the work; I was resilient. I would have to figure out something with university, but I'd manage. The important thing was that those thugs wouldn't bother me anymore. Everything else could be handled.