๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ.
724 Words
Snow covered Moscow in a blanket of white as Aria's car pulled into the underground parking garage of Sunset Beauty.
She took a slow breath before stepping out.
Work had always been her sanctuary.
Today, it felt like another battlefield.
Her assistant, Sophia, hurried to meet her.
"Good morning, Ms. Moretti."
"Morning."
"You have three meetings this morning, lunch with the marketing division, and your father would like to see you in his office."
Aria nodded.
"Anything else?"
Sophia hesitated.
"Mr. Voss has already arrived."
Aria's heart skipped a beat.
"He's early."
"He said he wanted time to review the partnership proposal."
"I'll join him shortly."
---
Alessandro Moretti's office overlooked the Moscow skyline.
He smiled proudly as Aria entered.
"Sit down."
She obeyed.
"I've been thinking."
She waited.
"If the partnership with Voss Holdings succeeds, I'd like you to oversee all of our European operations."
Her eyes widened.
"Dad..."
"You've earned it."
He leaned back in his chair.
"One day, Sunset Beauty will be yours."
Emotion flickered across her face.
She loved this company.
It was the one place where she wasn't simply someone's wife.
"Thank you."
Alessandro smiled.
"You deserve it."
Neither of them noticed the sadness hidden behind her grateful smile.
---
An hour later, Aria entered the executive conference room.
Lior stood beside the windows, studying the city below.
He turned as she entered.
"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."
She smiled faintly.
"My father has a habit of scheduling meetings before meetings."
He chuckled.
"Some things never change."
They spent the next hour discussing product launches, advertising strategies, and expansion plans.
Business came naturally to both of them.
They challenged each other's ideas, laughed over old memories, and found themselves slipping into the easy rhythm they had shared years ago.
For the first time in a long while, Aria forgot to be afraid.
When the meeting ended, Lior gathered his papers.
"I have something for you."
He handed her a small gift bag.
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
Inside was a leather-bound notebook.
Its cover was embossed with delicate gold flowers.
She opened it.
On the first page were just six words.
For the dreams you never abandoned.
Aria stared at the message.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"It's beautiful."
"I remembered you used to fill notebooks with ideas."
She laughed softly.
"I still do."
"I'm glad."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lior gently said,
"You deserve to be happy, Aria."
The words lingered in the silence.
Before she could respond, the conference room door opened.
Dmitri.
One of Nikolai's bodyguards.
His expression remained unreadable.
"Mrs. Volkov."
Aria immediately stepped back.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Volkov is waiting downstairs."
She frowned.
"He wasn't supposed to pick me up today."
"He changed his schedule."
Lior watched the exchange carefully.
The bodyguard wasn't asking.
He was informing her.
"I'll be right there," Aria said quietly.
Dmitri nodded once and left.
Lior looked at her.
"You don't have to leave immediately."
She offered him a sad smile.
"Yes..."
She whispered.
"I do."
---
Outside, a black Rolls-Royce waited beside the entrance.
Nikolai stood beside the open door.
His face revealed nothing.
As Aria approached, he looked briefly toward the glass entrance of Sunset Beauty.
Lior was still standing inside.
Watching.
Nikolai's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
He helped Aria into the car with perfect manners.
Only after the door closed did he speak.
"You've been spending a great deal of time with Mr. Voss."
"We're negotiating a business partnership."
"Business."
His tone was unreadable.
"Is that all it is?"
Aria met his gaze.
"Yes."
For several long seconds, Nikolai simply looked at her.
Then he smiled.
It was calm.
Controlled.
And somehow, that frightened her more than anger ever had.
"I hope," he said quietly, "you're telling me the truth."
The Rolls-Royce disappeared into the snowy streets, while, from the steps of Sunset Beauty, Lior watched it go.
He had seen the fear in Aria's eyes as she climbed into the car.
It wasn't the fear of disappointing a husband.
It was the fear of someone who believed one wrong move could destroy everything.
Lior clenched his jaw.
He made a silent promise to himself.
No matter how dangerous Nikolai Volkov was...
He would uncover the truth.
And if Aria wanted freedom...
He would help her find it.
- Writer
