Page 43 of Perfect Stalker

I open my mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stops me. This isn’t just about Stephen anymore. This is something far more dangerous. “Understood,” I say quietly, hating the way fear curls in my stomach.

He nods, seemingly satisfied. “Marcus, brief the team. I want a full report in an hour.”

“Got it, Ivan.” He leaves, and we’re alone again. The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Ivan…” I start, not sure what I’m going to say.

He closes the distance between us in two long strides, pulling me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmurs into my hair. “I swear it.”

I cling to him, inhaling his familiar scent. For a moment, I let myself believe everything will be okay. That Ivan can protect me from all the dangers lurking in the shadows, but as I pull back, meeting his intense gaze, reality crashes back in. This isn’t a fairy tale. He isn’t an invincible hero, and I’m not a damsel in distress waiting to be saved.

I trust him, but I can’t depend solely on him. I have to be ready to take care of myself too. “Teach me some self-defense moves,” I say impulsively.

His eyes widen, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, his office becomes an impromptu gym as he takes me through several ways to protect myself. They’re all dirty and underhanded, he assures me, and Stephen won’t expect them. I hope to never need them, but I’m glad to have the skills if I do.

I’ve workedfor him for more than a month now, and one area where Ivan truly needsme,at least in the office, is in organization. He keeps a neat office, but he’s a bit haphazard with filing and tracking.

I stare at the pile of papers on his desk, sorting them into neat piles. The clutter is driving me to distraction, so I plunge in. The chaos of his work life spreads before me, a challenge I’m eager to tackle. I glance up at Ivan, a teasing smile playing on my lips. “You know, for someone who runs a criminal empire, you sure let your paperwork get out of hand.”

Ivan leans against his desk, arms crossed. His eyes narrow slightly. “Jenny, this isn’t a game. The deeper you dig into my empire, the more danger you invite.”

I wave a hand dismissively. “Please. A little disorganization can topple a company faster than any external threat. Consider this my contribution to your protection efforts.”

He doesn’t smile. Instead, his expression grows serious. “Speaking of protection, and why you need it... Tell me about Stephen.”

The playful mood evaporates. I set down the stack of papers in my hands, my stomach clenching. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything. Start from the beginning.”

I square my shoulders. “Stephen was so charming in the beginning, just like they always are. I fell hard and didn’t realize he was isolating me from my friends at first. He’d make excuses for why we couldn’t go out, why I shouldn’t see certain people, or how he wanted me all to himself. By the end, I barely spoke to anyone but him.”

Ivan’s jaw tightens. “And the physical violence?”

I close my eyes briefly, memories flooding back. “It started small. A grip too tight on my arm, a shove that was just a little too hard, but it escalated, and it woke me up. I realized he was going to hurt me someday, and I had to end it. The night I broke up with him...” I trail off.

Ivan steps closer, his hand hovering near mine but not quite touching. “Tell me,” he urges gently.

“He was on a business trip when I texted him, ending things. I thought... I thought it would be safer that way, but he came to my apartment the next night. He broke in, Ivan. I had to run.”

Ivan’s eyes flash dangerously. “What happened next?”

“You know.” I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the office. “If you hadn’t been there... I don’t know what he would have done.”

He nods.

“The police got involved, but his father has money. He arranged a plea deal with probation and anger management and shipped Stephen off to London for a while. Of course, it wasn’t over. Stephen harassed me for a year. Anonymously, but I knew it was him. He used his graphic design skills to doctor photos of myfamily and friends. Sent them to me, trying to reel me back in with threats.” I look up at him. “I was scared. I’m still scared, Ivan. If Stephen gets hold of me again... I think he’ll kill me.”

The silence that follows is heavy and charged with unspoken emotions. Finally, he speaks. “I won’t let that happen. I swear it, Jenny.”

I nod, surprised by how firmly I believe that. No doubt at all that he’ll do anything to protect me. “I trust you to keep me safe.”

His eyes soften slightly. “Always,solnishko.”

I step closer to him, reaching out to touch his arm. “And when the day comes that you tell me Stephen can never hurt me again... That he’s dead… I’ll be grateful.”

He doesn’t respond immediately, but I see the promise in his eyes. It should frighten me, this tacit agreement to end a man’s life. Instead, I feel only relief. “Now,” I say, forcing lightness into my tone, “Let’s get back to organizing this mess of yours. Your empire won’t run itself, you know.”

Ivan allows a small smile. “By all means,solnishko. Work your magic.”

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