Meanwhile, in the middle of New York City, car horns blared and people chatted down on the streets. Inside his penthouse, Victor stood by the window, looking out at the city glowing under the soft light of the setting sun. After avoiding it for days, he finally took a deep breath and made the call he'd been dreading.
He held his breath, his thumb hovering over the call button before finally pressing it. The phone rang once… twice… then someone picked up.
"Hello?"
Victor let out a slow breath. "Hi… Elena." His voice was quiet and unsure. "I know you're probably upset… maybe even disappointed about how I acted the other night when you came by. I just… I've never lost to a woman before. Usually, it's the other way around—they chase me, they beg, they hold on. But you? You've always been different. Even back in college."
