Alexander arrived early in the morning, just after breakfast, looking fresh, shaved, well-groomed, and evidently determined. The familiar spicy-woody scent of Clive Christian filled the air as he placed a paper bag on the nightstand and handed the printed sheets to Daniel. Daniel slowly finished his decaf, not immediately reaching for the sheets but instead studying them intently. Setting aside the empty cup, he finally picked them up and read them over several times before speaking.

"I... I'm not ready to delve into the specifics right now because this shit is crazy, but promise me you'll disclose everything when I'm prepared. Wow, now I realize you have no limits whatsoever. You're... you're insane. God, you're a monster."

"I'll tell you, I promise," Alexander responded solemnly. "As you can see, the evidence against me is as serious as ever. I've practically handed my head to you."

"And do you have the camera footage?" Daniel asked, pushing the sheets aside and wiping his fingers on the blanket as if they'd gotten dirty.

"Yes, it's on my laptop, along with a digital copy of this document where I detail everything," Alexander confirmed.

"Pass me the computer, please."

"Sure, here," Alexander readily handed over the laptop and the electronic signature from the bag. "No password. The internet's connected, feel free to access it. The files are on the desktop."

Daniel placed his fingers on the keyboard, closing his eyes briefly to calm himself - his heart raced as if his decaf americano had been infused with pure caffeine. Exhaling deeply, he opened the files, reviewed the videos, electronically signed them, took a picture of the hard copy with Alexander's phone, and uploaded them to several cloud services. He considered keeping the laptop and destroying it to avoid leaving traces of the cloud accounts, but decided against it - for now, Alexander would likely avoid agitating him.

"Do you have a flash drive?" Daniel asked.

"Yes," Alexander replied unhappily, producing the flash drive. "Are you worried I might delete everything today?"

Daniel remained silent, the implication clear. He copied the files onto the flash drive and carefully tucked it into his pants pocket.

"I'll take your actions as a 'yes'," Alexander said impatiently, taking back the laptop. "You promise not to do anything that jeopardizes your health, move in with me, and peacefully coexist for a year. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Daniel replied quietly, his hand resting on his pocket with the valuable flash drive, providing him strength during this new transaction. "Counting from today, the year will run out on March28. I don't plan to pursue further education this year; it's better to consider it later when..." He trailed off as Alexander grinned wistfully.

"Basically, I prefer to focus on working as I intended. A year of meaningful projects without constraints, followed by the erasure of all traces of my case, notification of my consulate by the authorities of the miscarriage of justice, and my departure," Daniel clarified.

"And you'll erase that file too," Alexander reminded him. "Otherwise, if you decide to use the material against me, I'll be forced to defend myself, potentially involving my father. I wouldn't advise it; unlike me, he doesn't have a soft spot for you."

"I wasn't planning to," Daniel said dryly. "Yes, you'll pay off my student loan, which I'll consider compensation for the emotional damage I've endured. I don't require any further assistance from you."

"You will be in an open relationship with me the next year, you speak openly, interact with my friends, accompany me in public, and behave as my partner. And you won't engage in any scandalous revelations for public attention," Alexander stipulated.

"You acknowledge my right to decline if I'm fatigued or uninterested, to avoid your friends, and to refrain from pretense. You won't pressure me incessantly, demand the impossible - such as reciprocal affection - or resort to physical violence," Daniel countered.

"It happened only once," Alexander interjected. "And it was a serious matter. You won't betray my trust, do you understand? I won't tolerate any infidelity."

"I wouldn't mind if you dated someone else," Daniel replied calmly, then rolled his eyes when Alexander growled in response. "Yeah, yeah, I'm not being unfaithful to you. Just so you know, I had friendly feelings for Sonya. I enjoyed talking to her because she didn't pressure me into sex, she didn't blackmail me, she didn't throw me in jail..."

"You don't need to continue," Alexander hissed, twitching nervously. "And did you kiss her out of these 'friendly feelings'?"

"She kissed me first," Daniel admitted honestly. "And I didn't want to push her away. Besides, it felt like kissing someone who..."

"Enough, I've heard enough," Alexander rubbed his forehead wearily. "You know, this is the first time we've calmly discussed the terms of our relationship."

"A relationship based on sex and money, I might add," Daniel wrinkled his nose in distaste. "So it's far from normal, don't get any ideas."

"I'm fine with that," Alexander said peacefully, sitting down on the edge of the bed and studying Daniel's expression carefully. "We're entering a new phase of our relationship, regardless of how you choose to view it - fact remains. It's time to solidify this phase," he leaned in slowly, keeping his gaze locked on Daniel's, and kissed him softly before pulling away. Daniel licked his lips, feeling no negative reaction - whether due to yesterday's moral preparation or the sedatives in the IVs remained unclear. Alexander repeated the gesture, licked his lips, and reluctantly stood up as a knock sounded on the door.

"It's a shame to leave now, Danny. I wish you could have been discharged sooner," he stroked Daniel's cheek and sighed unhappily as the knock was repeated. "Now! See you tomorrow, Danny."

Daniel was discharged three days later, passing all the psychological tests satisfactorily and answering Dmitri Vasilievich and Ksenia's questions correctly - though it was impossible to read anything from the senior Astakhov's inscrutable expression. Alexander met him in the lobby, hugged him tightly, kissed his cheek chastely, and led him to a Rolls Royce Phantom waiting in the courtyard. Inside, Alexander quickly transformed the atmosphere by raising the partition between them and the driver and the bodyguard. Breathing more heavily, he pushed Daniel onto the seat, climbed on top of him, and began kissing him greedily between words.

"Don't worry, Danny. We'll be fine now. I wanted to bring you to this point last year, but it didn't work out. I'm so glad, you have no idea how glad I am."

Daniel responded sluggishly to the kisses, avoiding Alexander's exuberant gaze, and remained silent. Expressing joy would be dishonest, but leaving the clinic wasn't discouraging either. A slight anxiety lingered, as always, but he had grown accustomed to it long ago, and the flash drive in his pocket gave him strength. The smacking sounds of their kisses filled the confined space, but it was all bearable - Daniel had endured worse.

Alexander eased away, taking a seat and drawing him close, placing a gentle kiss on the forehead, devoid of any passion, but filled with reverence.

"I'm not planning to... Please don't think of me as a monster, okay?" he said softly. "We'll head back home; your things have already been moved to my apartment. We'll take a look around, have lunch, and then enjoy a movie. The acoustics in the home theater are incredible - you won't experience anything like it elsewhere. I've installed Wamm Master Chronosonic speakers for the front channels, powered by D'Agustino Relentless monoblocks. I'm sure you'll love it - you appreciate good sound."

"In headphones, though," Daniel replied indifferently, turning away from the window.

"We all find ways to shut ourselves off," Alexander added, gently tousling Daniel's hair. "You immerse yourself in music and distance yourself from me. Why not try enjoying music without headphones, together with me? And about running - I've set up two treadmills side by side. Would you be willing to give it a try?"

"One day," Daniel tilted his head, moving away from the insistent fingers. "My personal escapes are important to me, Sasha. They help me manage stress. I can't change all my habits because of you; I feel like I've already given up so much."

"I'm not asking you to change," Alexander whispered hurriedly. "I'm asking for occasional exceptions. I'd like to share your music tastes, your hobbies - to feel a bit closer to you, you know? But when you immediately resort to headphones and treadmill runs, I sense you pulling away from me as much as possible. I love yachting, as I've mentioned, but I don't expect you to share my enthusiasm. I'm willing to adapt to you - to take a step closer."

"I didn't outright refuse," Daniel grumbled with irritation, pushing himself away from the window. "Sometimes I can listen to music with you while you run. But I feel like that's just scratching the surface. If I agree to this, you'll immediately expect something more."

"I'll try to hold back," Alexander floated up carefully on the leather seat, placing his fingers on Daniel's thigh. Sensing no resistance, he began to stroke it gently. "Thank you, Danny. It means a lot to me. I won't be as pushy as before; this time, our life together will be different."

"Sure," Daniel replied incredulously, closing his eyes. He didn't believe it for a moment - Alexander was too possessive, unwilling to recognize personal boundaries.

In the underground parking lot, they proceeded to the elevator as usual. Daniel kept his hands in his pockets to prevent Alexander from grabbing them, skillfully walking between the bodyguards. He sensed from their discreet looks that the dynamics had indeed shifted. Whatever Alexander had said to them seemed to have had an impact - they no longer treated Daniel like an object, but with the same respect as they did their master. When they reached the familiar seventh floor, Daniel habitually moved towards the doors. But instead of stopping, the elevator continued silently upwards, toward the penthouse.

Daniel sighed heavily, pulling away from Alexander's attentive stare that sought to understand the source of his distress. Reluctantly, he stepped out when the doors opened with a chime. He noticed the new color scheme in the hallway - unlike the neutral pastels of the other floors, this one boasted deep, dark hues that absorbed the light from the wall lamps. He cast a despondent glance at the massive black door opposite the elevator - the next destination for Daniel King, wrongfully convicted under Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Alexander opened the door cautiously, ushering Daniel inside before following suit and cradling him in a hug, visibly relaxing. The quiet click of the high-quality door triggered a nerve, the sensation of discomfort intensifying as if a heavy hand weighed down on Daniel's chest. He squirmed slightly, obediently trailing behind Alexander as they moved from the spacious hallway into the living room. Opening his eyes, Daniel took in the room.

Initially, everything appeared black, but gradually, shades emerged, cloaking the gloomy yet oddly charming space - a room that could pass for a miniature ballroom - in depth and character. Daniel had never encountered such opulent furnishings before and would have preferred not to. Every corner exuded taste and luxury, from the stone floors of ancient marble to the elegant stone-and-dark-wood table, the walls dressed in velvety green, the numerous metal chandeliers dangling from the high ceiling, and the unsettlingly striking artwork. The interior was remarkably self-sufficient, almost as if it didn't require an occupant. It might serve well for an exhibition, but to live in such a place...

"My pad," Alexander declared proudly, gesturing around the space with a sweep of his hand. "It took me ages to put it together, I poured my soul into working with the designers. What do you think?"

"Grim," Daniel replied honestly, jerking the neck of his polo with a sharp tug, causing a button to fly off and clatter lightly on the black marble with white veins.

Anxious, Alexander searched his face, blinking in confusion, and sighed in a deflated tone.

"You don't like it, do you?"

Instead of responding, Daniel shivered - his expressive reaction should have sufficed. The prospect of spending another year in this environment only heightened the looming threat of insanity. Silently unbuttoning his coat, he maladroitly worked the bone buttons out of the soft camel's hair. Alexander took the coat from him, tossing it to the floor, and began pacing.

"Come, I'll show you the other rooms. The living room can be a bit overwhelming at times; the other spaces follow a similar design but are lighter. And I've allocated one room entirely for you to furnish as you please, alright? The designers will be here tomorrow."

"Thank you. I'm thrilled about the opportunity. If at least one room didn't resemble Dracula's castle, I might manage to live here. Maybe," Daniel remarked dryly.

The stairs amplified the tension - despite the already irksome brightness of the light fixtures, the walls grew even darker, covered in shades of almost-black and green. Daniel's fingers brushed over the surface fleetingly, confirming it was indeed velvet - how impractical! He'd likely need to change the wallpaper often. His hand grazed the sharp edge of a dark golden frame and recoiled. Moving his eyes away from the painting - a cluster of tiny naked figures tangled in a bewildering, lascivious heap - Daniel quickened his pace, relieved to reach the top of the stairs. Here, a different rug greeted him - one not as disgustingly shaggy as the one on the stairs, evoking images of moss clinging to his feet.

Ascending to the second floor, Daniel noted a slight brightening in the living room - Alexander had not lied. A softer green undertone prevailed here. Looking back up, Daniel froze. Approaching from behind, puzzled Alexander stumbled, attempting to understand what had caused the sudden pause.

"D-Danny?" Alexander's hand tapped lightly on the railing. "Do you want to come down?"

Against the mossy gloom, Alexander's fair-haired, swarthy figure seemed to glow, appearing brighter and more textured: his eyes took on an emerald hue, his hair harmonized with the dark gold in the trim - almost golden. It was no wonder the interior was selected in such a palette—it suited Alexander both in appearance and character: a striking facade masking deeper, darker depths.

"No, it's fine. Let's continue exploring," Daniel tore his gaze away from Alexander. "Show me your Kunstkammer. Any tortured lover corpses in the closets?"

"Your sense of humor is quite something!" Alexander responded cheerfully, bridging the gap with two brisk steps. "I prefer disposing of lover's corpses. If you're not fond of the decor, you're welcome to revamp everything to your liking."

"Why bother? I'll be here a year," Daniel shrugged nonchalantly. Alexander's enthusiasm waned as he guided him toward the first door.

"There's a home theater in here."

Anticipating a scarlet-purple chamber, Daniel took a breath, but the home theater boasted pleasantly malachite hues, and the subtly illuminated lights emitted a calming green glow. Cozy massage chairs, a semi-circular wine-colored couch, a couple of beanbag chairs on a fluffy brown carpeted floor. Daniel touched the wall and arched an eyebrow - was this really stone?

"Malachite, indeed," Alexander confirmed. "We can explore the rest later, but for now, I'll arrange for lunch to be served here."

"Thank you, but I'd rather see the bedroom first; I can check out the rest later. I was given some medication this morning, and I'm feeling drowsy," Daniel rubbed his face wearily.

"You can sleep after lunch," Alexander cut in promptly, retrieving his phone from his pocket and gesturing toward the adjacent room with his other hand. "Gyuzel, hello. Lunch for us on the second floor, please. Thank you," he pocketed the phone and pushed open the door with a firm shove. "So, what do you think of this room?"

The bedroom was impressively spacious - larger than half of Daniel's seventh-floor apartment. It exuded a cozy ambiance - Alexander had wisely avoided turning it into an oppressive spectacle: subdued emerald-blue tones, minimalistic paintings depicting soothing images of nature, a vast four-poster bed, bedside tables, an elegant coffee table, and chairs.

"Where's my bedroom?" Daniel blurted out without much thought. Alexander tensed visibly.

"It's our shared bedroom, Danny. Your room is adjacent to the bedroom. It's completely unfurnished, with bare walls."

"Shared..." Daniel paused before stepping into the bedroom, contemplating whether to assert his right to a separate bedroom now or later.

"I'm not going to fuck you to death, Danechka," Alexander said pensively. "Please don't deprive me of the joy of sleeping beside you. The bed is sizable, as you can see; there's ample space for both of us. I want us to sleep together like boyfriends."

"Well, if that's the case..." Daniel said drearily, sinking onto the bed and yawning. The tension dissipated, exhaustion from the past few days mingling with the anticipation of this new phase in his life, making it difficult to resist sleep. "I'll let you know if I'm not up for it - remember? And if I ask you not to cuddle me, you won't. And you can't intrude on me while I sleep. And..."

"We'll establish everything gradually," Alexander knelt down slowly in front of him, rubbing his chin against Daniel's knee and removing his shoe. "I'll help you undress, alright? I won't intrude on you, don't worry. I'll just assist you with undressing, then we can have dinner in bed, and you can get some rest. Sound good?"

"Alright," Daniel sank into the bed, which yielded gently, and yawned once more as skillful fingers removed his socks, loosened his belt, unzipped his trousers, and slid them off. Warm lips planted kisses on his shin, his knee, and trailed along the underside of his thigh. Daniel winced, emitting a groan, and then the lips vanished. He was lifted by his arms, his polo shirt pulled off, and he was settled back onto the pillow. Alexander hovered above him, eyes gleaming with delight and a smile gracing his lips.

"You're here with me now, Danny. I..." he paused, breathless with excitement, drowning unwaveringly in Daniel's drowsy eyes, before lying down beside him, snuggling close against his shoulder, covering them both with a silky, incredibly comfortable blanket, and falling silent.