Between Shadows And Justice

on the newly arrived paintings. The exhibit was a week away, and the pressure to ensure every detail was perfect weighed heavily on her. For Bianca, the gallery was her sanctuary; a pla

alone with the priceless collection she had worked so hard to secure. She moved through the main exhibit hall, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor, and paused in front of

was faint, just the slightest creak of a floorboard, but in the silence of the gallery, it might as well h

, her voice steady despite the

e light with the kind of deliberate confidence that sent a shiver down her spine: Maksimillian Vorobev. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, his dark hair slightl

ep voice smooth and unhurried

hough her pulse continued to race. "Mr. Vorobev," she replied, her tone

the paintings and sculptures that surrounded them. "I wanted to see how my collection is being ha

ould schedule a tour during business hours," she said pointedl

ile. "I did not break in. Your security gua

an standing before her. There was something about Maksimillian that set her on edge, not in the way a threat might, but in a way that was more disc

e said, her voice cool. "Now, if you w

gaze never leaving hers. "You work too hard, Ms. Petit," he said, his ton

" she shot back, her c

d, his voice lo

hem, the distance between them narrowing with every passing second. She knew she should tell him to leave, to call security and repor

she asked, her voice quiet

ight tell her the truth, whatever that was, but then he smiled, a practiced, enigmatic cur

he wasn't going to get any more answers tonight. Turning away from him, she returned her attention to

" Maksimillian said suddenly, his voice breaking the quiet.

e. There it was, the hint of something darker lurking beneath his s

in mock surrender. "Just an observation. I like to en

of those things?" she asked

saw something raw flicker in his eyes, something that sen

tep back or leap forward. Maksimillian Vorobev was dangerous, of that she had no doubt. But there was something else about hi

them. "I should let you get back to work," he said, his voice li

g moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what game Maksimillian Vorobev was playing, but one thing was certain