Is this destiny?

Maksim didn't seem to be phased by Sarah's rejection. "How can you refuse me before you even taste the food I prepared for you."

Sarah glanced at the table that had soups, several types of salads, there was a variety of roasted and grilled meat that included chicken (or maybe a smaller turkey), pig, fish, and some other cuts of meats Sarah didn't recognize, but they looked well decorated with lemon, rosemary, and other herbs.

"You prepared all this or an army of chefs?"

"Does it matter?"

Sarah stifled a laugh. "We are back to sincerity. Even a bowl of porridge is better than all this if it's made by a person who puts his feelings into the dish."

"Is the pretty boy cooking for you?"

Sarah didn't like that Maksim brought up Aiden. She wants Maksim to understand that she would reject him regardless of Aiden's presence with a goal to get the target off from Aiden's back. "Do you see him as a competition?"

Maksim shrugged. "Not really. I believe that I can surpass him in every possible way. I have an army of chefs because I can afford them. Instead of wasting my time in the kitchen, I can be with you… taking care of your needs." He ended with a sly smile which definitely insinuated carnal pleasures.

Sarah looked at Maksim blankly knowing that if she shows a smile or a frown or anything in-between, it will only instigate him further.

"Why don't you start with the soup?", Maksim offered and when Sarah didn't react, he started pouring the golden liquid speckled with herbs and vegetable bits into the bowl that was in front of her. "Allow me… a lovely lady like you deserves to be pampered."

Sarah was exasperated. How cheesy can this man get? And how far she needs to go for him to give up? She would rather not snap his neck, but the more they talk, the more she is convinced how that is the only way out. What on Earth overinflated his ego so much?

A second later, Sarah got her response when Eve showed her results of the facial recognition. There were matches from different databases, military, police, and various underground networks.

Sarah's expression froze as she read the information, and Maksim didn't miss the change in Sarah's demeanor. She looked tense, like a bow on a string that is pulled back and ready to snap.

"Is something not to your liking? Or would you rather start with a salad?", he assumed that her reaction was food-related because he had no idea what is truly going on in Sarah's mind.

Sarah inhaled forcibly and blinked herself out of her daze. This was unexpected. She remembered that Hong concluded how Maksim is someone with high status. Sarah wondered, if Hong knew about Maksim's true identity, would he tell her 'I told you so', or 'get out of there'? Probably both, but she was not sure in which order.

However, knowing that he is Simeon's son does not change the fact that right now he is in Sarah's way. His actions reduced him to a fly who is trying to get between her and Aiden, but the difference is that this fly has a lot of resources at his disposal, and his dark past drenched in blood and violence is not looking very peachy either.

Suddenly, Sarah had a bad feeling. Is it possible that he knows who she is? Did he know in Moscow? Considering his network, it would not be surprising if he watched live her fight with Konstantin, or if he has photos of her with Kitty, Atlas, and Vega, leading a team of members from the army of Chaos. But if he knows who she is, why the games? Shouldn't he throw her in a dungeon or torture her into obedience so that she gives him access to her resources? Why go to the length of kidnapping her while leaving Aiden unscathed, and then arranging this charade of dinner? It does not make sense. Well, there is only one way to find out.

"Why are you being nice to me?", Sarah asked. If he knows who she is, there is no point in feigning ignorance. And she wants to finish this as soon as possible, maybe even before Aiden wakes up because when he comes around and she is not there, he will be livid.

Maksim was visibly surprised by this question. "Would you prefer it if I am not nice?"

"This is not about what I would prefer, but about who you are.", Sarah responded.

Maksim smiled, showing off his white teeth. "I see you know a thing or two about me."

"Yes. And that is the reason why I don't want to have anything to do with you. I was clear about that from the start, yet here you are… trying to be nice and hoping that serving me soup will make me somehow forget that you kidnapped me and that you are keeping me captive."

"I am not keeping you captive.", Maksim said without missing a beat.

Sarah didn't believe him. Through Eve-lens Sarah got access to the cameras in the vicinity (thanks to Eve) and Sarah confirmed numerous guards. Sarah concluded that Maksim told them to stay out of sight, but Sarah's exit paths are blocked.

"Really? Are you saying that if I stand up and walk out, no one will stop me?"

Maksim leaned back into his chair and narrowed his eyes at Sarah. Eventually, he responded: "You can leave after dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

Maksim's eyebrows shoot up at Sarah's words. He gestured toward the table. "Look at all this food. It will be a waste not to eat any. Or are you afraid that it's poisoned? Here…" Maksim swapped their bowls of soup, took a spoonful from the bowl that used to be in front of Sarah, and put it in his mouth.

"Happy?", Maksim asked after swallowing.

"Seeing you eat soup does not make me happy."

"What would make you happy?"

Sarah doubted that Maksim is interested in making her happy, but she still responded: "Honesty. Why are you putting on a show for me? And don't tell me that you fell in love at first sight because I will not believe it."

Maksim smiled. "This… I can see that you are smart, and you can tell the real things from bullshit. Your eyes are wild, and they are telling me that I can't win you over, and I love a good challenge."

"You can read eyes. But some challenges are not meant to be conquered."

"I don't believe in failures, Divna."

"Sure. Your background is full of wins.", Sarah said sarcastically. "But not this time. And don't think about using Alex against me. You should know that he is just a mission. Why don't you try using my family? Or my friends?"

Maksim clicked his tongue. "I looked into you, Divna. Your past is full of ghosts and that confirms you are not Olga from Natalia's camp."

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