Tatiana's fingers wrapped around Alex's wrist, her grip firm but not forceful. "Come, darling," she said, her voice carrying that edge that made it clear this wasn't a request. "I think we need to talk somewhere more private."
Alex let her lead him away from the blackjack table. The crowd parted for them, conversations pausing as people watched them pass. Tatiana moved through the mansion like she owned it - which, of course, she did.
They walked down a quieter hallway, past rooms filled with art that probably cost more than most people made in a lifetime. Her heels clicked against the marble, the only sound besides the distant hum of the party behind them.
She stopped at a door, opened it, and gestured inside.
The study was different from the rest of the mansion. Less showy. Bookshelves lined the walls with volumes that looked actually read, not just for decoration. A desk sat near the window, papers neatly organized. The furniture was elegant but comfortable - this was where real work happened.
Tatiana closed the door. The soft click of the lock made Alex's pulse spike.
She walked to a small bar in the corner and poured two glasses of whiskey. Neat. No ice. She handed one to Alex and took a sip of her own before settling into one of the leather chairs.
"Sit," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her.
Alex sat, holding his glass but not drinking yet. He watched her, trying to read her expression.
Tatiana smiled, crossing her legs. The red dress shifted, and Alex forced himself to keep his eyes on her face.
"So," she said, swirling her whiskey slowly. "You're on a mission. One that involves me."
"That's what I said."
"Yes, it is." Tatiana took another sip, her eyes never leaving his. "Here's the thing, Alex. I've been playing games with people for a very long time. Reading them. Understanding what they want before they even know themselves." She tilted her head. "And you? You're a terrible liar."
Alex kept his face neutral. "Is that so?"
"Oh, don't look so offended." Tatiana laughed, the sound genuine. "It's actually refreshing. Most people in my world lie so smoothly you can't tell where the truth ends and the fiction begins. But you?" She leaned forward slightly. "You wear your lies like clothes that don't quite fit."
Alex took a sip of his whiskey, the burn giving him a moment to think. "If I'm such a bad liar, why let me stay?"
"Because you're interesting." Tatiana set her glass down on the table between them. "When I saw you at that auction, you looked like you wanted to be sick. Everyone else was bidding, laughing, treating it like entertainment. But you?" Her eyes narrowed. "You looked horrified."
'Shit.'
"And yet you stayed," she continued. "You played your part. You came to my party tonight. You played blackjack and told me some ridiculous story about having a mission." She smiled. "So now I'm curious. What do you really want, Alex Mercer?"
Alex set his glass down. "You said I'm a bad liar. So maybe I was telling the truth."
"About the mission?" Tatiana's eyebrow arched. "Oh, I believe that part. What I don't believe is all the rest of it. People don't crash exclusive parties for noble reasons."
"Maybe I'm different."
"Maybe." Tatiana stood, walking to the window. Paris glowed beyond the glass, the city alive with light. "Or maybe you want something specific. Something you think I have."
Alex watched her silhouette against the window. This was it. He could keep dancing around it, or he could take the risk.
"Lisa Bonet," he said.
Tatiana went still for a moment. Then she turned, and she was smiling.
"There it is." She walked back to her chair, her hips swaying with each step. The dress moved like water against her body. "The truth. Finally."
"You're not surprised."
"Not particularly." Tatiana sat down, picking up her glass again. "A journalist who gets sold at an auction attracts attention. So which are you, Alex? Someone trying to rescue her? Use her? Or something else entirely?"
Alex leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What if I told you I work for an organization that extracts people from difficult situations?"
Tatiana burst out laughing. Not polite laughter - genuine amusement that made her throw her head back slightly. "Oh, darling, no. Please don't insult my intelligence with spy novel nonsense."
"It's the truth."
"It's a lie wrapped in truth." Her smile faded slightly, though her eyes still held amusement. "But I'll give you credit for creativity. Most people would have stuck with whatever story they started with."
Alex sat back. "Alright. You want honesty? I need Lisa. That's it."
"Why?"
"Does it matter?"
"To me? Yes." Tatiana swirled her whiskey. "Because Lisa Bonet served her purpose. I got what I needed from her."
Alex felt his stomach tighten. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing permanent." Tatiana's tone was casual, like they were discussing the weather. "I simply had a conversation with her. She was very cooperative once she understood the alternatives."
"And now?"
"Now she's useless to me." Tatiana finished her whiskey and set the glass down with a soft click. "So if you want her, we can discuss terms."
Alex blinked. "You're just going to give her to me?"
"I didn't say it was free." Tatiana stood, walking toward him slowly. "But yes. She's served her purpose."
She stopped directly in front of his chair, close enough that Alex could smell her perfume - something expensive that made his head swim slightly.
"What do you want?" Alex asked, his voice coming out rougher than he intended.
"Dinner." Tatiana reached out, her fingers trailing along his jaw. Her touch was light, almost gentle. "Tomorrow night. Here. Just the two of us."
The moment her fingers touched his skin, Alex's vision flickered.
[Side Quest Assigned: Conquer the Auctioneer]
[Objective: Have intimate relations with Tatiana Dijakovic]
[Reward: 50,000 dollars + New Skill Unlock]
[Time Limit: 24 hours]
[Status: Active]
'What the fuck?!'
Alex's eyes widened slightly before he could stop himself. Tatiana noticed, her head tilting curiously.
"Something wrong?" she asked, her hand still on his jaw.
"No," Alex managed, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just... surprised by your offer."
'June, what the hell is this?!'
But there was no response. The quest just hung there in his vision, unavoidable and mandatory.
Tatiana's thumb traced his jawline slowly. "Surprised? Why? You came here for something. I'm offering you a trade. Seems simple enough."
Alex's breath caught. Up close, he could see every detail - the curve of her neck, the way the dress hugged her waist and hips, the red fabric clinging to her body like a second skin. Her breasts were barely contained by the low neckline, and this close, he could see the rise and fall of her breathing.
'Focus, Mercer. Don't let her see you rattled.'
"That's it?" he asked. "Just dinner?"
"Just dinner." Her hand moved from his jaw to his collar, adjusting it even though it didn't need adjusting. Her fingers lingered on his chest, right over his heart. "You could say no, of course. But then we don't have a deal."
The quest notification pulsed in his vision, reminding him it was there. 24 hours. He had to sleep with this woman in 24 hours or... what? What happened if he failed a quest?
'Probably nothing good.'
Alex looked up at her. "Where is she?"
"So we have a deal?"
"We have a deal."
Tatiana's smile widened. "Good." Her hand slid down his chest slowly before she stepped back. "East wing, third floor. Room at the end of the hall."
"I want to see her."
"Of course you do." Tatiana walked back to her desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out her phone. She tapped the screen a few times, then turned it toward Alex. "Here."
The screen showed a video feed. A room - comfortable, well-furnished. A bed, a chair, a small table with food on it. And sitting on the bed, reading a book, was Lisa Bonet.
She looked... fine. Tired, maybe, but not hurt. Not chained. Not in a cage. Just sitting in a room that looked more like a hotel than a prison.
"I don't mistreat my assets," Tatiana said, her tone matter-of-fact. "There's no profit in damaged goods."
Alex stared at the screen. Lisa turned a page in her book, completely unaware she was being watched.
"She has food, water, books. Everything she needs." Tatiana set the phone down on the desk. "I'm many things, Alex, but I'm not cruel without reason."
'She's fine. Lisa is actually fine.'
The relief that washed over Alex surprised him. He'd been imagining her chained up, beaten, broken. But she was just... sitting there. Reading.
"When can I get her?" Alex asked.
"After dinner." Tatiana walked back toward him. "Tomorrow night, seven o'clock. We have dinner, we talk, and then I give you the key."
"Why not now?"
"Because I want to know more about you, Alex Mercer." She stopped in front of him again, this time even closer than before. Her body was almost touching his. "You're not like the people I usually deal with. You actually seem to care about things." Her hand reached up, fingers brushing his cheek. "It's... intriguing."
Alex's pulse was racing. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, could see the way her lips curved into that knowing smile. The quest notification was still there in his peripheral vision, a constant reminder of what the system expected him to do.
'So that's the game. I need to get Lisa, but the system wants me to sleep with Tatiana. Two birds, one stone.'
But something about it felt wrong. Like he was being manipulated from both sides.
"Tomorrow night," Tatiana said softly, her thumb tracing his jawline again. Her touch sent involuntary shivers down his spine. "Don't be late. And don't disappoint me." Her hand dropped, trailing down his neck before she stepped back. "I so rarely give people second chances."
"I'll be here," Alex said, his voice steadier than he felt.
"Good." She walked to the door and opened it. The sounds of the party drifted in from the hallway. "You should get back before people start wondering where we went."
Alex stood, his legs feeling unsteady. As he walked toward the door, Tatiana's hand caught his wrist. Her grip was firm, stronger than he expected.
"One more thing." Her eyes locked onto his. "Whatever you're really planning, I suggest you think very carefully. I don't react well to betrayal."
"Noted."
She released him, and Alex stepped into the hallway.
# Chapter 13 (Revised Ending - Cut Short)
...
She released him, and Alex stepped into the hallway.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Alex stood there for a moment, the quest notification burning in his vision.
[Side Quest: Conquer the Auctioneer - 23 hours, 47 minutes remaining]
'Perfect. Just perfect.'
He started walking back toward the party, running his hand through his hair.
'So I need to rescue Lisa AND sleep with Tatiana. In 24 hours. Great.'
Alex grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and downed it in one go.
The quest timer ticked down silently.
[23 hours, 45 minutes remaining]
'Tomorrow night. Dinner. Then everything else.'
He headed for the exit, done with the party for tonight.
'One problem at a time, Mercer. One problem at a time.'
---
[Author's Note: Thank you for reading. Support with power stones and comments!]