"Are you really a corporate spy?" he asked in a soft voice. For a brief moment, Aleksis seemed to recognize his voice. It felt like a dream.
"No... no... I have nothing to do with any company or anything... Please put me down..."
Now is not the time to act like a tough woman, thought Aleksis. She had to use her crocodile tears to save herself. The masked man seemed to be more refined in attitude than his rude staff.
"Then why are you acting so suspiciously?" the man asked patiently.
"I... I..." Aleksis looked into his eyes and, and for some reason, she did not dare to lie. "I'm sorry I barged in... I'm looking for someone. That's why I crashed into your party..."
Her voice sounded weak and inviting pity, but he could judge that Aleksis was not lying.
"You have one minute to convince me that you are not a corporate spy," the man said again. He nodded to the man he called Pavel, "If you can't, he will throw you down..."