The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains of Yoongi’s room, casting soft golden beams across the bed. Valentina stirred first, her body still nestled against Yoongi’s, the warmth of his chest and the steady rhythm of his breathing lulling her into a state of calm. Her mind wandered back to their conversation from the night before. Though the air between them had grown thick with unspoken emotions, neither had pushed further than what they admitted. It was enough for now.

Yoongi shifted beside her, and she felt his arm tighten around her waist. A soft grunt escaped his lips as he slowly woke up. Valentina glanced up at him, her eyes tracing the lines of his face. Even in sleep, he looked composed, calm—yet there was something vulnerable about him now, something that made her heart ache.

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the light. A lazy smile tugged at the corner of his lips when he saw her watching him. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice husky from sleep.

"Morning," she replied, feeling a small flutter in her chest at the sound of his voice.

For a moment, they stayed like that—wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside forgotten. It felt like a fleeting moment of normalcy, something beyond the boundaries of their contract or the games they played in the pleasure room. It felt… real.

But reality always had a way of creeping back in.

Yoongi pulled himself up, propping on his elbow as he looked down at her. "We should get up," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "There’s work to be done."

Valentina nodded, though she didn’t want to move. She felt safe here, wrapped up in his warmth. But she knew better than to hold on too tightly. Whatever this was between them, it was fragile—something neither of them fully understood yet.

As they dressed, the atmosphere between them shifted back to something more familiar. Yoongi’s gaze was calculating, watching her with an intensity that reminded her of the man she’d met during their initial interview. The CEO, the Dom. The playful intimacy from earlier was replaced with the unspoken understanding of the roles they had fallen into.

By the time they arrived at work, the weight of the previous night was still hanging over them, but both of them were professionals. Valentina got to work, as efficient as always, organizing Yoongi’s schedule and handling his calls. She focused on her tasks, trying to push the lingering thoughts of their conversation from her mind.

It was harder than she expected. She felt Yoongi’s presence more acutely today, as if the connection they had shared had deepened in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Every time he walked by her desk or spoke to her, there was an underlying tension—a reminder of the emotions they hadn’t fully addressed.

In the late morning, Yoongi called her into his office. His tone was business-like, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes as she stepped inside. She approached his desk, standing before him with her hands clasped in front of her, waiting for him to speak.

"I need you to reschedule the meeting with the marketing team," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "I’ve decided to push it to next week."

Valentina nodded, making a note in her planner. "Consider it done," she replied.

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving her. There was a pause, and then, in a much softer tone, he added, "You seem distracted today."

Valentina’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t realized she’d been so obvious, but of course, Yoongi could always read her like a book. "I’m fine," she said quickly, hoping to brush it off. "Just thinking about last night, I guess."

Yoongi’s expression shifted ever so slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. "It’s okay if you’re not fine," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You don’t have to pretend."

She looked down at her hands, her heart pounding in her chest. He was right—she wasn’t fine. She was confused, torn between the growing feelings she had for him and the boundaries they had set from the beginning. This was supposed to be a transactional relationship. She was his submissive, he was her Dom. But now? Now, it was so much more complicated than that.

"I’m not sure what this is anymore," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know where I stand with you."

Yoongi stood up, slowly rounding his desk until he was standing directly in front of her. He reached out, tilting her chin up so she was forced to look at him. His eyes were dark, intense, but there was a softness there too—a vulnerability he rarely showed.

"Neither do I," he said softly. "But we’ll figure it out together."

His words were a balm to the chaos in her heart, but they didn’t erase the uncertainty. Valentina nodded, biting her lower lip as she tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

Before she could respond, Yoongi’s phone buzzed on his desk, interrupting the moment. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening instantly. Valentina could see the change in him, the way his shoulders tensed and his jaw clenched. Something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice.

Yoongi didn’t answer right away. He turned the phone so she couldn’t see the screen, but his eyes were narrowed, his mood suddenly darker. "Nothing for you to worry about," he muttered, but she could tell that wasn’t true.

Valentina frowned, stepping closer to him. "Is it Mayra again?" she asked, the name tasting bitter on her tongue. The ex-submissive who had been relentlessly harassing him for weeks now, sending threatening messages, demanding his attention.

Yoongi’s eyes flicked to hers, and she knew she was right. He didn’t need to say anything for her to understand. "I’ll handle it," he said curtly, his voice tight. "She’s not your concern."

But how could she not be concerned? Every time Mayra’s name came up, it was like a cloud hanging over them, a reminder of the danger that lurked just beneath the surface of their relationship. Valentina hated the way it made her feel—jealous, insecure, and fearful of the past coming back to haunt them.

Yoongi turned his attention back to his phone, typing out a quick response before tossing it onto his desk with a frustrated sigh. Valentina watched him, her heart aching for him. She knew that dealing with Mayra was taking a toll on him, even if he tried to hide it.

"Yoongi," she said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "You don’t have to go through this alone."

He looked at her then, his expression softening ever so slightly. "I know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to protect you from this."

Valentina frowned, her fingers tightening around his arm. "We’re in this together," she reminded him. "Whatever happens, I’m not going anywhere."

Yoongi stared at her for a long moment, his dark eyes searching hers. Finally, he let out a long breath, pulling her into his arms. She sank into his embrace, feeling the tension in his body slowly melt away as he held her.

For now, this was enough. They didn’t have all the answers, but they had each other. And in this moment, that was all that mattered.