Elena’s fingers slowed on the keyboard, her eyes narrowing as she skimmed through the encrypted data. Something felt off, but it wasn’t just the job. Valentina had been hovering behind her for the last ten minutes, the familiar scent of expensive perfume filling the small room, and it was starting to grate on Elena’s nerves.
“Do you always have to stand that close?” Elena muttered, her voice clipped as she glanced over her shoulder.
Valentina, unfazed, leaned casually against the doorframe, her lips curving into a lazy smile. “Is my presence that distracting, Elena?”
Elena rolled her eyes, focusing back on the screen. “You wish.”
“I’m not the one who can’t seem to type straight when someone’s watching,” Valentina drawled, pushing off the frame and moving closer, the sound of her heels soft but deliberate. The room seemed smaller with every step Valentina took, the air thicker.
Elena stiffened, refusing to let her heartbeat betray her. “Maybe I’m just bored of having someone breathing down my neck.”
“Funny,” Valentina said smoothly, leaning down until her lips were dangerously close to Elena’s ear. “You never seem to complain when it’s in the middle of a job.”
Elena’s fingers faltered on the keyboard. “You’re mistaken if you think your smug attitude gets to me.”
Valentina chuckled, the sound low and sultry. “Oh, I know it does. The way you tense up every time I get close? It’s cute.”
“I don’t ‘tense up,’” Elena shot back, more defensively than she intended. She hated that Valentina could read her so easily. She hated even more that she could feel the heat radiating from Valentina’s body, her breath teasing the side of her neck.
“You’re doing it right now,” Valentina whispered, her voice a warm caress against Elena’s skin. “Admit it—you like it when I get under your skin.”
Elena gritted her teeth, her fingers flying over the keys again in a desperate attempt to focus. “What I’d like is to finish this job without your commentary.”
Valentina straightened up, laughing softly as she walked back toward the window. “Suit yourself. But you can’t ignore the fact that this transfer has ties to my family. I’m still curious why you took it, knowing that.”
“Maybe I like danger,” Elena said coolly, her eyes locked on the screen.
Valentina’s smirk was audible in her voice. “Or maybe you like me.”
Elena snorted. “If you were my type, I’d be worried.”
Valentina arched a brow, crossing her arms as she leaned against the window sill. “And what exactly is your type? Let me guess—quiet, nerdy, and someone who doesn’t talk back?”
“I don’t have a type,” Elena muttered. “I’m just not into arrogant mafia enforcers who think they own the room.”
“Oh, you wound me,” Valentina teased, though her eyes glittered with amusement. “Good thing I don’t need you to be into me.”
Elena’s hands froze over the keyboard for a moment, her jaw tightening. She refused to look back, but she could feel the weight of Valentina’s gaze. The banter between them had always been a way to deflect, to push down the growing tension that neither of them seemed willing to confront. But it was getting harder to ignore.
She cleared her throat, pushing forward. “You should probably find something to do that’s actually useful instead of standing there smirking.”
Valentina tilted her head, feigning deep thought. “Let’s see… I could help you. Or, I could stand here and distract you. You seem more fun when you’re irritated.”
Elena shot her a sidelong glance, her lips twitching in annoyance. “You’re unbelievable.”
Valentina grinned, stepping closer again until she was standing directly behind Elena’s chair. “And yet, here we are. Working together. Again.”
“Unfortunately,” Elena muttered under her breath, though she didn’t move away when Valentina’s fingers lightly brushed against the back of her chair. “Why do you even care about this job? It’s not like you to show concern.”
Valentina’s smile faded, her gaze turning serious for the first time since they’d started talking. “Because this involves my family,” she said quietly. “And I don’t like surprises.”
Elena’s hands stilled once more, her shoulders tensing. She knew Valentina didn’t talk about her family often, and when she did, it was usually with a tight-lipped expression and a change of subject. It was one of the few vulnerabilities Valentina let slip, and Elena wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Well, if it’s any comfort, I’m not planning on dragging your family into anything,” Elena said, her voice softer. “I’m here for the job, same as you.”
“And if the job becomes personal?” Valentina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elena hesitated, the weight of the question pressing down on her. She wasn’t used to seeing this side of Valentina—the side that was calculating, yes, but also deeply protective. There was more to Valentina than the sharp-edged enforcer she showed the world, and for a moment, Elena caught a glimpse of it.
“I’ll deal with it when it comes,” Elena said finally, her voice steady. “But right now, I need to finish this.”
Valentina’s eyes lingered on her for a long moment before she nodded, stepping back. “Just be careful, Elena. You know as well as I do—this world doesn’t forgive mistakes.”
“I know,” Elena replied, her focus shifting back to the screen. “But I’ve never made one.”
Valentina chuckled softly, though the sound was laced with something darker. “There’s a first time for everything.”
The tension hung heavy in the air as they both fell silent. Elena worked through the encrypted files, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Valentina, to the way she had let her guard down, even for just a second.
It was rare to see Valentina’s mask slip. Elena had spent years building her own walls, keeping everyone at a distance, especially in a world where betrayal was around every corner. But Valentina—Valentina was different. She was dangerous, yes, but there was something undeniably magnetic about her, something Elena found herself drawn to despite her better judgment.
As the minutes ticked by, Elena finally broke through the last firewall, and the transfer file popped open. Her eyes scanned the list of offshore accounts, names, and transactions. The numbers were staggering—more than she’d ever seen in one place.
But one name stood out, glaring back at her from the screen.
“Elena?”
She didn’t answer, her breath catching in her throat. She felt Valentina move closer, the air between them shifting again. “What is it?” Valentina’s voice was low, but there was an edge of concern.
Elena’s fingers hovered over the keys, her heart pounding in her chest. “I found the account.”
Valentina leaned over her shoulder, her breath warm against Elena’s neck. “And?”
“And it’s not just any account,” Elena said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s yours.”
Valentina went still, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the screen. The tension between them shifted from playful to something far more serious.
“You were right,” Elena said, her throat tight. “This job just got personal.”
