Chapter 2: Worlds Collide

Hina could feel Dexter Volkov's eyes on her as she made her way through the gallery, but she refused to acknowledge it. She knew who he was—the whispers of his reputation reached far and wide. He was the kind of man her parents had warned her about, the kind of man who thrived on power and fear. Yet, there was something about his presence that unnerved her in a way she couldn't explain. After their brief exchange, Hina had tried to shake off the strange feeling lingering in the pit of her stomach. But no matter where she went that evening, Dexter always seemed to be nearby, watching her from the shadows. She wasn't frightened, but she was curious. Who was this man beneath the reputation? What drove him? Days passed, and Hina returned to her normal routine as the head curator at the Museum of Modern Art. Her work had always been her sanctuary, a world where beauty and meaning collided in ways that comforted her restless soul. She had spent years building a life for herself in Moscow, far from her family's expectations, and away from the weight of her mixed heritage. But she wasn't prepared for Dexter's persistence. He appeared at her exhibitions, always hovering at the edges of her world. At first, she thought it was a coincidence, but soon, it became clear—Dexter Volkov was pursuing her. It was both thrilling and terrifying. One evening, as she locked up the museum after a late event, she found herself face-to-face with him again. He stood leaning against his sleek black car, his expression unreadable. "You've been following me," Hina said, crossing her arms. "I don't follow," Dexter replied, his voice deep and controlled. "I observe."

***"Why?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure. "Because you're different," he answered without hesitation. "You're not like the others." Hina's heart raced at his words, but she didn't allow herself to be swept away. "Different how?" "You don't fear me." "I know what you are, Dexter. I know what you've done." A silence fell between them, heavy and full of meaning. Dexter stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a dangerous intensity. "Then why aren't you running?" Hina didn't have an answer. She could feel the weight of his presence, the danger that came with it. But for reasons she couldn't explain, she stayed rooted to the spot. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind. Dexter smiled faintly, the kind of smile that held secrets. "I want to know you, Hina."

"Like Hell You Do">:o "so is it a dateeee?"; 3 uhhhhh 500 letters.... is......................... Cpt 3.................................................................................................................................so..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ....... .... M.U.c.h........................................................................... H... E....... L............ L.......... L........... L.......... L.......... L........................ .......... . . . ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... . . . . ...................................... . . . . .................. . . . . ..................................................................... . . . . . ...................... C.............. A........... N................ T..................... S.... ...... T........ O....... P.. . . . . . ........... I... T........... T..... H... O........... H.. E..... H... E.... H.. E. . . . . . ..............*W. I. N.K*.......... L.M.A.O.................................... . . . .................................................................. "Capslock..."***