"His Obsession, Her Curse" The Transaction

Aiden had disappeared. His dorm room was empty, laptop gone, phone switched off. No one had seen him in 48 hours.

When Evelyn reached there she saw devastated state of his brother room. Evelyn paced the floor of their shared apartment, hands shaking, panic rising. She receive a phone call on her mobile. She received it

Unknown

Your brother owes us a debt.

Evelyn Veronica

Who the hell is this?

Unknown

(calm, chilling): You have something more valuable than money. Come alone.

They gave her an address — an old banking hall in the city’s abandoned financial district. She should’ve called the cops. Should’ve run. But Aiden was all she had. So she went.

When she reached at the address. The building looked empty. Dusty chandelier, marbled floors, too clean. Two men in suits greeted her with no words, only nods. One of them had her brother’s hoodie in his hand.

Evelyn Veronica

(whispers): Where is he?

Only a door. Only stairs. She followed — heart hammering in her chest. Then... the room. Bright, sterile. Like a showroom. Mirrors on every wall. Or were they windows? She realized too late: She was on display.

Unknown

Lot Forty-Seven. Unmarked. Collateral from Veronica—debt owed.

Her head whipped toward the ceiling. A voice crackled through unseen speakers.

Evelyn Veronica

(panicked): No! You said I’d see my brother! You said this was a negotiation!

Behind the glass, Kael Vasiliev leaned back in his leather chair, staring at the girl in the white dress. Not frightened. Furious. Wild.

Kael Vasiliev

That fire... Look at her

Marcus Blackthorn

Her brother cracked our encryption. This was the trade. She knew the risk.

Kael Vasiliev

(Voice darkened): No. She didn’t.

Marcus Blackthorn

Still want her?

Kael Vasiliev

(holds possessiveness in his voice): She’s mine

Evelyn backed into the corner of the room as the side door hissed open. Two guards stepped inside.

Evelyn Veronica

(screaming): “Don’t touch me! I want answers—AIDEN!”

But her cries meant nothing. They grabbed her wrists. Lifted her off the floor.

Evelyn Veronica

LET ME GO!

Minutes later Evelyn’s wrists were cold against the steel cuffs, the thin chain connecting them barely brushing her waist. Her breath fogged in the air-conditioned darkness of the room, where the glass walls were one-sided—she couldn’t see them, but they could see her.

The door slammed open. Evelyn startled as two men in black stepped in. One grabbed her arm.

Evelyn Veronica

W-Wait—what are you doing? Where are you taking me?

No answer. She struggled, but the man only tightened his grip as they pulled her out through the side door—through the darkness—until they brought her into a warmer room, lined in leather and low lighting. And then he walked in. Tall. Immaculate. Ice in human form. His eyes met hers, and something inside her spine locked into place.

Evelyn Veronica

(her voice a thread of breath):Let me go

He said nothing at first, only stepped closer.

Kael Vasiliev

You’re Evelyn.

She doesn’t respond. She stares at him like she’s memorizing his face for the police report.

Kael Vasiliev

You were never supposed to be here

Evelyn Veronica

(voice shaking): Where is my brother?

Kael Vasiliev

Alive. For now.

Evelyn Veronica

Why me?

He leans forward, elbows on knees, gaze piercing.

Kael Vasiliev

Because you matter to him. Because he ran. And because now… I’ve seen you.

A beat. Her pulse roars in her ears.

Kael Vasiliev

(calmly): And now that I’ve seen you…

He brushes a finger along her jaw.

Evelyn Veronica

I'm here Because of a lie. Because my brother—

Kael Vasiliev

—Made a mistake, A very expensive one.

Evelyn Veronica

( narrowed her eyes): So what? You’re here to punish me for it?

He tilted his head.His expression barely shifted. A twitch at the corner of his mouth. Amusement?

Kael Vasiliev

No. I’m here to protect what’s mine

Evelyn Veronica

“I’m not yours.”

The words hit her like a slap. Kael stepped closer, close enough for her to smell him—smoke and something sharper, metallic, like danger itself.

Kael Vasiliev

You are now.

Evelyn Veronica

( shook her head, trembling): This is insane. You can’t just take people.

Kael Vasiliev

I didn’t take you (he said softly):I paid for you

Evelyn flinched. Her knees threatened to buckle.

Evelyn Veronica

What do you want from me?

Kael’s voice dropped into something cold, something that wrapped around her like silk-covered chains.

Kael Vasiliev

I want you safe. I want your silence. And eventually... I want your loyalty.

Evelyn Veronica

I’ll never give it to you

Kael Vasiliev

(he murmured): That’s what they all say

Kael Vasiliev

( whispers): until they do and I’m never letting you go