Babies Of The Don+18

Chapter 4

•|• Thessira POV •|•

The hallway outside felt like air returning to my lungs too fast.

Too sharp.

Nathan didn’t speak until the conference doors closed behind us.

Then he turned to me.

“Explain,” he said simply.

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because how do you explain something like that?

A man from five years ago. A man you ran from. A man who looks at you like time doesn’t apply to him.

“I don’t have an explanation,” I said quietly.

Nathan studied me for a long moment.

Then, unexpectedly, his voice softened.

That alone startled me.

“You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

I looked away.

Because I hated that he could see it.

Nathan exhaled slowly. “You don’t need to handle this alone in there.”

I frowned slightly. “It’s a business deal.”

“It stopped being that the moment he looked at you.”

I didn’t answer.

Because he was right.

And that terrified me more than Aleksandr did.

Nathan’s voice dropped slightly. “Do you want me to end the partnership?”

I looked up sharply. “No.”

A pause.

“Why?”

Because I needed control.

Because running again would mean admitting he still had power over me.

Because I refused to let Aleksandr Volkov dictate my life twice.

“I can handle it,” I said instead.

Nathan didn’t look convinced.

But he nodded once.

“Alright,” he said quietly. “But I’m not blind, Valerie.”

Then he turned and walked back into the conference room.

•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•|•

I left Bennett Enterprises as the city started shifting into golden-hour chaos.

New York never slowed down.

But I did.

Just slightly.

Just enough to feel the weight of everything pressing in on me.

The subway entrance was a few blocks away.

I walked quickly.

Head down.

Focused only on getting through the day.

That’s when I felt it.

The change in atmosphere.

Again.

I slowed.

Frowned.

Then looked up.

And there he was.

Aleksandr.

Standing at the front of Bennett Enterprises like he hadn’t moved since I left.

Like he had been waiting the entire time.

My stomach dropped instantly.

“No,” I muttered under my breath.

I walked straight toward him.

I didn’t stop until I was in front of him.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

He looked at me like I had just arrived instead of him.

“I was waiting.”

“For what?” My voice sharpened.

“For you.”

That answer hit too cleanly.

Too simply.

I shook my head. “You can’t just show up here.”

“I already did.”

I exhaled sharply. “Aleksandr, I have a life. I have a job. I don’t have time for whatever this is.”

His expression shifted slightly at that.

“Why,” he asked.

My heart jumped.

“I’m not discussing that with you.”

“You already did.”

“I didn’t—”

“Yes,” he interrupted quietly. “You did.”

My chest tightened.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice.

“Listen to me very carefully,” I said. “You need to stay away from me.”

His eyes didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t change.

“I can’t.”

That simple answer made something inside me snap.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“I already did.”

I shook my head harder. “You don’t understand. I left for a reason.”

“Tell me.”

My breath caught.

For a second, I almost did.

Almost.

But instead I stepped back.

“I can’t be near you,” I said firmly. “You’re dangerous. You’re intense. You destroy everything you touch without even trying.”

A pause.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Fear.

I blinked it was gone like it was never there.

“J-just we can't work,” I repeated shakily.

He didn’t answer.

Just watched me.

Like he was holding himself back from something I couldn’t see.

I stepped back again.

“I'm sorry,” I said firmly. “I have to go.”

Then I turned.

And walked away.

Fast.

Without looking back.

But even as I disappeared into the crowd of New York streets, I could feel it—

His eyes still on me.

And this time, it felt like the world itself had just shifted slightly out of place.