Chapter 149

I woke up early, got dressed in a simple blouse and trousers, and headed out. The walk to the office felt lighter than anything had in weeks. No more hiding behind a mask. No more late-night streams. No more wondering if Viktor of Vee was watching.

When I reached my desk, I sat down and powered on the computer. The screen lit up with spreadsheets and reports. My role was administrative support in a small logistics firm – nothing glamorous, but the pay was decent/the hours were stable, and my colleagues were kind. I opened the first file of the day, took a sip of coffee, and started working.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was moving forward.

But even as I typed, a small part of me still ached. I hadn’t seen or heard from Viktor since that night. He had respected my wish and stayed away. He seemed to have moved. Part of me was grateful. Another part still remembered his gentle kisses and the way he had held me. I missed him more than I wanted to admit.

I pushed the thought away and focused on the screen.

One day at a time.

The workday finally ended, and I let out a long breath of relief as I shut down my computer. The new job was steady and paid well enough to keep the loan sharks quiet for now. My colleagues were friendly, and today had been productive. As we packed up, a few of them suggested grabbing drinks at the bar down the street.