mere pawn in his plan for revenge. Yet he could not afford to be reckless. She was not his father, it was evident in the way she s

, almost boring. No scandals, no questionable acquaintances, no trace of extravagant wealth. She paid her rent on time, managed her finan

, the sense that she didn't belong in the brutal world his father had thrived in. It made his approach more comp

lost in thought. Her personal finances were still precarious. The gallery rent weighed heavily on her shoulders, an

k suit called out to her. He was tall, imposing,

s Pe

tant. "Yes, it's

a professional smile. "I'm William Harris, a lawyer represe

er distance from Viktor Petrov's business, to distance hers

ying to remain calm. "My father is dead

and unfortunately, that is enough. The debts he left are substantial,

ath her feet. "I can't pay. I have

ondescendingly. "But I advise you to cooperate. Ot

ght of having to answer for her father's crimes, of

hat a familiar voice in

ow you tre

is eyes of a fearsome intensity. He approached with a sure s

back slightly. "Sir, this mat

replied with sharp coldness. He turned his head toward he

ed slightly. "He says I hav

n't owe anything. And if you have any complaints, yo

negotiation. The lawyer eventually walked away, visibly

g to hide her confusion. "Y

ly. "You don't have to face

relief. "Thank you. I don't know why he thinks I'm respo

y soft. "But these people will grab at anything

whom she barely knew, was being so protective. "Why

refully calculating his words. "Because I can't stan

kind of attention, let alone such selfless kindness.

er talk, tell of her struggle to move on from the past, her fight to keep the gall

insisted they stop. "You need

in his presence. Alessandro had a way of talking to her that made her feel like

word. He knew he had just taken a crucial step. By positioning himself as her

part of him wondered if he wasn't pl