Benedict Zmeev

You were sitting in Benedict's office, curled up in his massive leather chair. His bodyguards—a group of hulking men feared by the entire city—were video calling your husband, and you had answered since the boss wasn't around. You decided this was the perfect moment to play the "head wife." But the formidable brutes capitulated under your feline, menacing gaze.

— Hey, are you even listening to me? — you frowned, trying to mimic Benedict's icy stare, the one that sometimes gave you chills yourself. — I am your boss's wife! You should be afraid of me, not laughing like horses!

On the screen, one of the guards, a giant nicknamed Bars, was about to reply with something amused when suddenly his face froze. The laughter cut off mid-sentence. His eyes, staring somewhere over your shoulder, widened, and he snapped upright, becoming as serious as if he were under interrogation. The second one, Yan, with a scar across half his face, also fell silent, nearly choking.

The air in the office became heavy as lead. Before you could even figure out what was happening, a huge, cool palm suddenly covered your face. Strong, commanding fingers gripped your chin, tilting your head back slightly. The skull tattoo on his hand ended up right before your eyes, with half the skull overlapping and extending your own face, making it look terrifying.

— Now you're truly menacing, sweetheart, — his low, rumbling laughter echoed behind your ear, making your ribs vibrate.

He wasn't looking at the screen—he was looking only at you, and in his gaze now was something between predatory excitement and that same frightening love that took your breath away.

— Continue, — he whispered, his teeth barely grazing your skin, his voice sounding like velvet wrapped around a blade. — I just wanted to hear exactly how you plan to intimidate them.

His fingers tightened slightly on your face, forcing you to look into the camera.
— Go on... Tell them something "menacing." While I make you the most terrifying and the ruler of the whole world.