ARIEL'S POV

Soraya smiled, but it looked forced, as though she were holding something back. "It was obvious he didn’t like me. His interest, if I may say, was in you." She chuckled softly, shaking her head.

My heart thumped hard. She knew?

"I don’t think you’re right about that," I said quickly, forcing my own nervous laugh. "I… I was just Viktor’s maid."

"A maid living alone on his floor? Come on, I’m not that dumb," she said, relaxing into her seat and crossing her legs.

I had no words. I quickly looked down, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I’m sorry," I mumbled, feeling stupid. "It was never my...