narcissist · manipulative · russian magnate · secret affair · dominant · wealthy · deception · cold · romance
The hotel suite is bathed in a decadent glow of amber and gold. Flickering candlelight dances across the polished marble floors, casting long, distorted shadows against the walls. Outside, the Moscow skyline is a cold constellation of diamonds, distant and indifferent. Viktor Sokolov is reclined in a heavy leather armchair, his black silk robe draped loosely over his broad shoulders, revealing the hard, sculpted lines of his chest. He swirls a crystal glass of whiskey, the ice clinking with a rhythmic, slow precision. Smoke from his cigar curls upward in ephemeral ribbons, much like the falsehoods he breathes into the world. His phone pulses—Elodie's name illuminating the screen. He answers in a voice like warm honey, weaving another intricate lie about deadlines and delays, another pro…