After those three tense, suffocating days passed, Sofia decided in the dead of night that she needed a reliable, skilled bodyguard of her own for protection. To ensure she never fell victim to past mistakes again, she secretly hired a new protector from an elite security agency.
The man exudes a chilling confidence and a sharp, piercing gaze. With his jet-black hair, the wireless earpiece coiled down his neck, and those striking amber-gold eyes, he looks far more dangerous than any ordinary guard. The slight smirk at the corner of his lips hints that he is ready to handle any threat thrown his way.
As Sofia looked over his profile, she realized instantly the arrival of this man could completely flip the board on Dmitri and Victor's games. With a resolute mind, she officially assigned him as her personal shield for the dark days ahead.Staring into the sharp, confident gaze of her new bodyguard, Sofia was left speechless for a moment. Then, steadying her voice, she looked right into his eyes and asked—
"What is your name? And where on earth do you come from?"
In response to her calm yet probing tone, the man gave a faint smile. The coiled wire of the earpiece around his neck shifted slightly as he tilted his head. Keeping his voice steady, calm, and composed, he replied
"My name... and wherever I come from, rest assured of one thing, Sofia from this moment on, only my protection will be your shadow. There's no need to dwell on the past; from here on out, every single step you take is under my watch." Seeing the curious and resolute look in Sofia's eyes, a mysterious smile played at the corner of the new bodyguard's lips. Yielding to her demand to know more, he finally revealed his identity.
Standing before Sofia in the dim, midnight light, the mysterious bodyguard spoke in a calm yet commanding voice
"You want to hear it? Very well... my name is Artem. The shadows I come from will turn out to be a nightmare for your enemies. From here on out, keeping every single step of yours safe is my responsibility."Hearing Artem's name and his confident words brought an unexpected wave of relief to Sofia. The suffocating tension and terror of the past three days seemed to lift in an instant. She smiled softly and nodded.
Just then, a heavy downpour started outside. The sound of raindrops lashing against the glass windows and the cool breeze transformed the atmosphere entirely. For the first time in days, Sofia's heart felt a bit lighter, and a quiet happiness lit up her face. Unable to stay cooped up inside amid this heavy rain, she slowly stepped out toward the balcony or the porch, as if craving to breathe in the open air after being trapped for so long. Stepping out into the heavy downpour, Sofia wore a stunning red off-shoulder gown paired with a luxurious white fur stole, her striking beauty casting a mesmerizing glow against the dark, rainy night.
With a gun in hand and an earpiece plugged in, Artem stood vigilantly by her side like a true shadow. Moments later, Sofia slipped off her expensive high heels and asked Artem to hold them for her. Without a single hesitation, Artem respectfully took her shoes and held them.
Walking barefoot across the wet, glistening pavement, Sofia felt the cool rainwater against her bare soles, bringing a sense of freedom. Glancing back, Artem stared at her with a soft, enchanting, and deeply captivated gaze his eyes brimming with a silent, growing fondness for her. As Sofia continued walking barefoot through the rain, Artem followed closely behind her, holding her shoes in one hand and his gun in the other with utmost vigilance. Even with the rain blurring the surroundings, his eyes didn't leave her for a single second.
Walking a few paces ahead, Sofia suddenly noticed the intense gaze locked onto her. Startled, she abruptly stopped, turned around to lock eyes with him, and asked with a mix of surprise and curiosity
"Hey? Why are you staring at me like that?"Taken aback slightly by Sofia's sudden turn and question, Artem paused for a fraction of a second. Yet, the captivating look in his eyes didn't fade at all. Looking straight into her eyes with a calm, steady voice and a faint smile, he replied
"I'm staring because my duty isn't just to ensure your safety, Sofia... keeping an eye on your every single step is my job. And to be honest, guarding someone like you walking barefoot on a rainy night like this... creates a rather strange, quiet kind of fascination."Suddenly, a fierce, howling gust of wind swept through the night! The ferocious gale whipped Sofia's long black hair across her face, while the icy raindrops pelted against her skin like sharp needles. Fighting against the immense force of the wind, Sofia couldn't take another step forward—she completely lost her balance and was about to collapse!
Without wasting a single microsecond, Artem lunged forward with lightning speed. Dropping the shoes and gun to the side, he wrapped his strong, reliable arms tightly around Sofia, pulling her safely against his chest. Amidst the roaring thunder and the howling winds, Sofia, unable to steady herself, clung closely to Artem in a shiver. Amidst the howling storm and the torrential rain, as Sofia found herself trapped safely within the strong embrace of Artem's arms, the chaotic noise of the world around them suddenly faded away in an instant. The roaring wind fell silent, and their eyes locked in a breathless moment of stillness.
Sofia slowly looked up, her gaze meeting Artem's. In that dark night, standing face-to-face with his wet hair clinging to his face and raindrops glistening on his skin, Sofia lost herself in the deep, mesmerizing depths of those amber-gold eyes. And Artem stared back, completely spellbound by Sofia's enchanting eyes which held no trace of fear or panic, only a silent astonishment and a strange, quiet warmth. Right in the middle of the raging storm, that profound gaze exchanged between them seemed to make the entire world stand still.Amidst the chilling raindrops and the howling wind, time seemed to stand completely still right there. Without realizing it, Sofia felt an unexpected warmth radiating from Artem's touch, spreading across her shivering body. Meanwhile, Artem could feel his own heartbeat racing a man who had always lived by cold professionalism and strict boundaries was, for a single moment, completely lost in Sofia's spell.
Speaking very softly, cutting through the roar of the wind, Artem whispered in a tender and deeply emotional voice
"Be careful, Sofia... I told you before, every single step you take is under my watch. But if you don't take care of yourself like this, I won't be able to keep my promise."
Sofia couldn't find her voice to reply. The language in her eyes and the intense yearning in Artem's gaze carried on a silent conversation all on their own.
Standing so close to Artem, caught in the mesmerizing pull of his gaze, Sofia completely lost all control over herself. Amidst the roaring storm, his touch and the furious pounding of her heart dragged her into another world entirely. Tiltling her head slightly, with a reckless and emotionally charged voice, she whispered directly—
"Fuck me..."
Hearing such an unexpected and bold statement slip from Sofia's lips, Artem froze completely. His jaw tightened, and the calm look in his eyes instantly shifted into a wave of intense, palpable tension. Unable to believe his own ears, he stared down at her in absolute shock and asked
"What... what did you just say, Sofia? Say that again!"Amidst the raging storm, the chilling raindrops, and the fast-paced rhythm of their heartbeats, Sofia didn't back down for a second. Looking straight into Artem's eyes, she repeated her words this time with even more clarity, intensity, and unwavering confidence:
"Yes, you heard me right... Fuck me, Artem." Hearing such a direct and bold statement from Sofia, Artem could no longer keep his composure. Every wall of his professional restraint shattered in an instant. Overwhelmed by sheer astonishment and a sudden, intense yearning, the words slipped past his lips—
"What... what do you actually mean by that, Sofia? Do you even realize who you're talking to?"
With a faint, captivating smile, Sofia stepped even closer to Artem. Cutting right through the roar of the storm, her calm yet resolute voice rang out clearly
"I know very well who I'm talking to, and I know exactly what I'm saying. I've paid for enough mistakes in the past and lived through enough strict boundaries... but no more holding back. Can't you really tell what I want?" The man who had kept himself locked behind a wall of strict discipline and professionalism was completely thrown off balance by Sofia's direct and bold words. His cold and confident demeanor vanished in an instant. Amidst the raindrops and the howling wind, Artem lost his voice; his chest rose and fell rapidly.
Stammering, struggling to get the words out, he managed to stutter
"I... I mean... Sofia, you... you don't understand... I'm your bodyguard, I'm just your... I mean, our professional boundaries..."
He couldn't even finish his sentence properly. Staring directly at Sofia felt like an impossible task as the storm raging inside him became far more powerful than the rain outside. Suddenly, a deafening bolt of lightning tore across the sky, and with it, an even more violent and torrential downpour crashed down! Everything around them blurred beneath the heavy sheets of rain. The velocity of the gale grew so fierce that simply staying upright became a struggle.
The sudden surge of heavy rain completely drenched Sofia's red gown and soaked right through Artem. This abrupt fury of nature washed away all the hesitation and stammering in a single heartbeat. The chilling rhythm of the rain put an abrupt, definitive end to any remaining doubt or hesitation between them.With the torrent of rain and all hesitation washed away in an instant, Sofia didn't wait another second. Cutting short Artem's stammering, she stepped closer in a swift motion.
Completely drenched in the rain, Sofia reached up to wrap her arms around Artem's neck and pressed her lips directly to his, initiating a deep, passionate kiss. Amidst the fierce fury of nature and the raging storm, their kiss was a raw, unfiltered explosion that broke through every boundary.
Though Artem was startled for a split second, he completely forgot all about his professionalism the very next moment. Every ounce of his restraint shattered; wrapping his strong arms around Sofia's waist, he completely surrendered himself to the intensity of the kiss.Standing on the rain-soaked, dark street, surrounded by the endless downpour, that single moment seemed to stand still just for the two of them. In the intensity and warmth of that kiss, the surrounding cold wind and storm lost all their meaning.
Wrapped securely in Artem's strong embrace, Sofia surrendered herself even more deeply. Tearing down all walls of years of professional discipline and self-restraint, Artem could no longer hold back all the passion, yearning, and intensity locked inside him blended seamlessly into that single kiss. Against the backdrop of their rain-drenched bodies, the rapid pounding of their hearts, and the silent night, a brand-new chapter of their relationship began. The sound of the rain had softened by then, leaving behind a quiet and serene atmosphere inside the room. In a corner of the bed, Sofia and Artem lay side-by-side, wrapped together beneath a soft blanket.
After the fierce storm outside, a deep sense of peace and warmth now filled the room. Artem lay bare-chested, with Sofia resting her head comfortably against his broad, open chest. One of Artem's arms gently wrapped around Sofia's shoulder, while his fingers softly ran through her hair. All professional boundaries and hesitation were completely gone between them replaced entirely by a silent, intimate closeness and a profound bond of the heart. Artem's Says Okay, Sophia, we'll contact you if your husband finds out.Resting her head against Artem's bare chest, Sofia stirred slightly for a moment. In the soft light of the room, there was no trace of worry on her face; instead, her voice carried a tone of sheer indifference and confidence.
Slowly lifting her head to look into Artem's eyes, she smiled faintly and whispered
"My husband? He's too busy in his own world, and he has never had the time or interest to keep track of ours. Besides... even if he finds out, I couldn't care less."
Hearing Sofia's words, a slight frown of concern appeared on Artem's forehead. Pulling her a bit closer against him, he said in a serious tone
"Still, Sofia, caution is always necessary. Things might not be as simple as they seem..."