The clock ticked as it felt like there was no time to think. Elena's heart panted swiftly like a deer panting for water. Her legs couldn't keep up with her indecisiveness and hastily followed him as if it knew the plan depended on it.
The elevator doors glided open with a soft chime, and Elena stepped in right behind him before it could close. The space felt strangely smaller now, as though his presence had stolen the air and filled it with something heavier—authority, power, and an aura that made her heart beat erratically.
Mr. Andrei didn’t spare her a glance at first. His attention was fixed on the phone pressed to his ear. His voice, low and urgent, reverberated against the mirrored walls of the elevator.
“Yes, keep me updated,” he said curtly. His tone carried a weight that made h
