you reach an agreement

The man almost **** you along with him to the parking garage. He led you to a very expensive-looking silver Mercedes. He opened the door to the passenger side for you to get in but you hesitate.

"Get in, Yulia!" he ordered in a gruff tone.

You still couldn't quite believe what was happening. Everything felt so unreal. But you resisted giving in to all this. "No," you said weakly. "My name is Steve, not Yulia. And you can't do this to me. I won't give up my life."

A look of rage passed across his face and, grabbing your wrists, he forcefully pushed you up against the car.

"Give up!" he spat. "What have YOU given up!? You are alive because of Yulia's sacrifice. You are a beautiful, young woman with many more years of life now. And soon to have a very rich husband." His English became increasingly worse as his frustration grew. "I even agree to let you see your old wife and children often. But I!" he nearly screamed. "I have lost my woman, my wife to be. Before we even ..." he paused momentarily as if searching for the word " ...before we consumate our relationship. I grow to love Yulia greatly over this last year, even though we apart. I pay the matchmake site to meet her. I pay for Yulia to live well. I pay for her to come her. "

He looked you up and down as he caught his breath. "I pay for her body, her new beauty." He squeezed your wrists as he spat the words in your face. "I pay for Yulia, and it is Yulia I will have!"

You were filled with an uncharacteristic fear. This man was incredibly intimidating to you - and starting to hurt. Perhaps it because your whole world has been pulled out from under you, but you couldn't think straight. Your fear was overwhelming and you burst into tears. You tried to cry out "Don't hurt me! Please!" - but instead you said the words "Ne obizhay menya! pazhalusta, Victor!"

Immediately he loosened his grip. His expression softened and you looked at you in wonder. "Yulia? Can it be true?" he muttered. He lifted his hand to your face and, in a surprisingly gentle move, carressed your cheek. "The doctors said that there might be something left of you - in the parts of the brain they kept."

You just stared at him, stunned by his complete change in behavior. Your emotions were in turmoil - you didn't know what to say or to think. You barely registered what he was saying, so you couldn't yet process what he meant."

"Perhaps I haven't lost you..." he said in a low tone, speaking to himself.

He lifted your chin so that your gaze met his. He spoke directly to you in a soft, caring tone - not at all what you expected given the behavior you'd seen so far. "I am a hard man - I have had to be to succeed here. But I am not cruel. I will keep my word. I will let you see your old family. And I will do more. I will support you in gaining citizenship, though it may take you several years - after that, you will be free to leave me if you wish."

He saw the look of relief that came to your eyes, but he continued before you could speak. "But I demand this in return. You will be Yulia for that time. You will live as her, act as her to me and others. I will show you our, uh, communications - email, video chat sessions, all that so that you know and understand her better. And me too. And you will learn Russian."

His calmer demeanor and more pleasant behavior had given you a chance to regain your composure. You thought about what your wife and the doctor had told you, and considered his words. It didn't seem like you had any choice - at least if you didn't want to be sent to Russia. And Victor was going to allow you to spend time with your family - and even offering you eventual 'freedom', it seemed.

You slowly nodded, indicating your agreement.

A light came to his eyes. "Good, good," he said. "I see you understand. And I show you that Victor Abramov is not bad man. I be very good husband. But you must be very good wife, understand?" He looked into your eyes as if searching for something. After a few moments he was apparently satisfied. "Now, I give you some time to adjust. Our wedding is in 10 days. You spend this time learning about Yulia and our relationship. You become, ah, accepted? Adjusted to your new life. I will not demand anything else for now."

He gave you a firm, unyielding stare. "But on our wedding night, I expect you to be my wife. And from then on, yes? If you cannot do this, say so now and you must leave, go back to Russia."

"I understand," you answered in a low voice. "I agree to the bargain..."

Victor broke into a wide grin and laughed loudly. "Bargain? Yes, hah! A bargain it is then. Let us go and I will show you your new home."