Victor.

Viktor Sergeyevich Volkov was a man whose name made even the most fearless tremble. The influential head of a criminal empire, he ruled ruthlessly, precisely, coldly. His nickname in business circles - "North" - spoke for itself: you freeze even when he just looks at you. He never smiled, never showed weakness. Women next to him were part of the interior - beautiful, silent, quickly replaced. Victor's office was on the top floor of a skyscraper in the center of Moscow. Everything was perfect there - black marble, glass, the cold shine of metal. Perfect - until she came along. Her name was Eliana. He didn't remember who hired her. Most likely, his right hand - Pavel. Just one morning the door opened and she walked in - Beautiful, with a straight posture and eyes in which spring lived. There was no trace of fear or sycophancy in her. She sat at the table and began to work, as if she had always been there. At first he didn't notice her. He didn't notice anyone. But then little things started happening. The coffee was always the perfect temperature. The papers were laid out exactly the way he liked. In the elevator she greeted him with a slight smile, not intrusive, almost playful. He didn't know how to react. He wasn't used to someone not being afraid of him. Weeks turned into months. Emily was there every day. She kept out of things, but was aware of everything. She didn't ask questions, but understood at a glance. When his closest allies were wrong, she was never wrong. One night he returned to the office late. Rain was lashing the windows and thunder was rumbling in the city. He didn't expect to see anyone, but she was sitting at her desk, bent over papers. "Why are you here?" he asked. His voice was sharp as a gunshot. Emily looked up, a small smile crossing her face.

• Because you'll need this folder in the morning. I don't like it when you're irritated. For the first time, he found nothing to say. He simply looked at her. And at some point, he realized: his icy world began to crack. He was no longer expecting her, but he felt anxious if she was not there.*

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