Matthias shoves me off, leaving me in a daze. Damn. I can still feel his lips on mine,
still taste his tongue down my throat. A soft involuntary moan escapes me as I open my eyes
to see Matthias returning to his desk. He sinks into his chair, reaching for his gun like nothing
happened. Like he didn't just steal something from me. How can he be so unfazed by what we just
did? I blink at him, my thoughts scrambling, searching for something, anything to say.
My mind is still trying to wrap itself around the fact that I kissed Matthias. No, not just
kissed. I was consumed by him, devoured in a way I had only imagined in my worst, most desperate
moments. It's something I yearned for, something I wished for in the dark. And now, now that it's
happened, I can't even think straight. I adjust myself, clearing my throat, trying to ground myself.
But I'm scared. Matthias leans back into his chair, slipping his gun into the drawer with a calmness
that makes my stomach twist. There's no sign of lust in his expression. No trace of desire.
No indication that he enjoyed what just happened between us. Instead, I feel used.
Moments like this are supposed to make me feel something, something good. But all I feel is rage.
I open my mouth to speak, but Matthias cuts me off.
Now that you've gotten what you wanted, he says smoothly,
I expect you to be a good girl and report to work tomorrow morning, bright and early.
I scowl.
You think I wanted that?
My voice shakes, but not from weakness, from fury.
You think I wanted your tongue down my fucking throat?
Of course I did, but not like that. And I'll be damned if I let him think he gave me something I craved.
Matthias smirks, boredom flickering across his face. He flicks his wrist dismissively.
Say whatever you want, but I know very well, by the way you moaned and welcomed my tongue,
that you enjoyed every second of it.
I huff. Matthias watches me with that same detached, disinterested look,
like I'm nothing more than an inconvenience.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do.
My jaw tightens. My nails dig into my palms.
You don't care, do you? You've been avoiding me for months.
And when I finally do something to get your attention, you kiss me?
What kind of fucked up game is this?
He doesn't even flinch.
He just picks up a pen, flipping open a notebook, his diary maybe, and starts writing as if I don't exist.
When he finally finishes, he looks up at me with the same cool detachment.
I don't have time for childish games, Katia.
You've made your feelings for me very clear.
I'm sorry to say they aren't mutual.
A knife to the gut would have hurt less.
I gave you what you wanted.
He continues.
Now return the favor by getting back to fucking work.
I don't know why I even bother.
I shake my head, swallowing the lump in my throat.
I am not a child.
Matthias shrugs.
Maybe not anymore.
But you sure as fuck act like it.
Grow up. Start taking responsibility.
Not everything is about you.
Whatever.
I snap.
You're an asshole.
I don't wait for his response.
I turn and storm out, slamming the door behind me.
But the worst part?
I can still feel his goddamn lips on mine.
And I hate it.
I hate that it'll linger.
That it'll haunt me until the next time he decides to use me like a pawn in his twisted game.
I hate that I won't be able to stop thinking about it.
Because Matthias knew exactly what he was doing.
For him, everything is about control.
And by kissing me, he thinks he's won.
But he hasn't.
I step outside.
My movements controlled, measured, and head towards the waiting car to take me home.
I was supposed to make a scene.
Throw a fit.
Anything but this.
I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about it.
Anything but this.
But instead, I force a smile.
Slipping inside like a well-trained dog.
Obedient.
Passive.
A lie.
Matthias thinks he holds the power.
But he's wrong.
He kissed me.
He may act indifferent, but I see through him.
When I return to my apartment, I call Fens, an old friend from college.
He once wanted more.
Wanted us to be something real.
But I refused.
I couldn't let Matthias' wrath touch him.
I'd rather have Fens alive and distant than risk him being erased.
Dead.
He was my best project partner.
The one person I could rely on.
And I wasn't going to let Matthias ruin that, too.
But things are different now.
I'm free.
Free to live.
To breathe.
To take back what was stolen from me.
I'm free.
To take back what was stolen from me.
And that means dating again.
I haven't been with anyone in two years.
Not since my last boyfriend disappeared two days after we slept together.
I stopped dating.
Stopped fucking.
But tonight, that changes.
I slip into a short purple sparkly dress and head downstairs when Fens texts that he's outside.
The nightclub is only a few minutes away.
Just enough time for Matthias to be alerted of my whereabouts.
I'm free.
Matthias is always in the mood to be alerted of my whereabouts.
He always knows.
Even without cameras or a bodyguard,
he finds a way.
Probably my phone.
I don't care.
He can go fuck himself while I focus on getting fucked by Fens tonight.
We settle at the bar,
drinks in hand,
talking about finance, life,
the usual.
It's mundane, almost boring.
But there's something comforting in the normalcy.
Still, I half expected Fens to get us a booth.
The bar is crowded,
loud,
not exactly what I had in mind.
Fens is mid-joke when a man in a suit
and sunglasses steps up to me.
Ma'am?
The guy says,
my stomach twists.
Annoyance must be written all over my face because Fens stiffens
beside me.
His jaw locking as he eyes the man with
barely concealed hostility.
Can I help you?
Fens snaps?
We're in the middle of something, if you want to drink the bars that way.
I raise a hand before this gets ugly.
I know what happens if he pushes this too far.
Fens doesn't.
He's not part of this world.
He doesn't understand the kind of men Matthias keeps around him.
It's fine.
I say, forcing calm into my voice.
I know him.
Fens doesn't relax,
but he doesn't push either.
What do you want?
I want to be a man.
What do you want?
I ask the man.
You need to come with me.
No, I'm good here.
The boss says,
Fens is already on his feet, sizing the guy up,
rolling his sleeves like he's ready to start
something he won't be able to finish.
Fens.
I warn.
This guy doesn't seem to understand what no means.
Thanks, but it's fine.
I place a hand on his shoulder,
and he hesitates before finally
sinking back onto the stool.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
Is this a joke?
His voice is sharp, suspicious.
Are you in trouble, and who the fuck is this guy?
No.
I lie.
Just work stuff.
A client.
His frown deepens.
I thought you quit.
I force a nervous chuckle.
I'll explain later. Give me five minutes.
He doesn't believe me.
But he lets me go.
And of course, Matthias is here.
There's no other reason why I'm being led
upstairs, past the pulsing
lights and deafening music,
into the VVIP
section where he waits.
The elevator doors slide open,
revealing a dimly lit hallway
bathed in eerie blue light.
The air is thick, suffocating.
My pulse quickens as we take
the second door on the right.
Inside,
the room is massive.
Carpeted, decadent,
and silent, save for
the muffled base from below.
A glass balcony overlooks
the chaos of the nightclub.
But up here, it's different.
Darker, quieter,
a perfect layer for Matthias the bat.
I sigh when I spot him.
Sprawled across a velvet couch
like he owns the place.
He probably does.
I sigh when I spot him.
He probably does.
He doesn't move when I enter.
Doesn't even acknowledge me at first.
Just takes a slow sip of his drink.
Eyes locked on nothing.
Annoyed, I step into his
line of sight, folding my arms.
What do you want?
My voice is sharp.
Don't you see I'm on a date?
Matthias scoffs,
the corner of his mouth lifting
in something between amusement and disgust.
You just love ruining things.
Is that what you call a date?
His voice drips with condescension.
A lousy club?
A drink by the bar?
Not even a booth? I'm embarrassed for you.
What I do with my life,
who I date, has nothing to do with you.
His expression hardens.
It has everything to do with me, princess.
What you do is a reflection of me.
I blink.
A reflection of you?
Yes.
The loudest sound of the nightclub
Yes.
The last thing I need is to hear the talk.
Oh, is that Matthias Ford's woman?
A reckless little thing with poor taste in men?
I laugh.
Loud.
Your woman?
His jaw clenches.
Good. I've finally gotten under his skin.
What did you think this was?
Some fairy tale?
You playing house while I play along?
I stare at him.
My breath steady, but my blood boiling.
I am not your woman.
Then his voice turns ice cold.
Your father sold you to me.
I own you, Katia.
That means I can do whatever I want with you.
Fuck you, Matthias.
I barely have time to react before he moves.
In one swift motion,
he grabs my hips,
pulling me toward him.
The bass from the club below
thuds in my chest.
But up here,
everything feels like a dream.
But up here, everything feels still.
Too still.
My heart is pounding.
My thoughts are racing.
Shit.
What did you just say?
I lift my chin.
I said fuck you.
A slow smirk spreads across his lips.
Dangerous.
Predatory.
Matthias' hands skim down my bare thigh.
Then he releases me just as suddenly.
Take it off.
I stare.
Sorry.
Come again?
His expression doesn't change.
I don't have all night, Katia.
I have bodies to burn.
Take it off.
My stomach knots.
What are you...
Before I can finish, his fingers slip under my dress.
He hooks onto the thin lace of my thong
and snaps it,
the sting burning into my skin.
Shock paralyzes me.
But Matthias just points at his watch
and taps the face.
Silent and waiting.
I scan the room.
It's just us.
Him. His three men.
A few staff members.
I should walk away.
Tell him to go fuck himself.
But I don't.
Because this man has me in a chokehold and he fucking knows it.
My fingers tremble as I peel the fabric down my legs.
Matthias takes it.
Setting it beside him.
Then his hand moves between my thighs.
A single push on my inner leg.
And I open for him.
I exhale.
He eyes me.
I eye him.
His brown eyes.
Dark, sinful, void of anything human.
Lock onto mine.
If a priest looked into them,
he'd call Matthias the devil himself.
And then...
I gasp.
His finger dips inside me.
Are you always this wet for me?
I grit my teeth.
No.
I spit the word at him.
But it lacks conviction.
Matthias smiles.
I stay still.
Stiff as a board.
Refusing to give him the satisfaction.
But it feels so good.
Too fucking good.
I press my lips together.
Stifling my breath.
But he moves faster.
Deeper.
Fingers curling just right.
Wicked girl.
He murmurs.
You'd rather deny yourself than let me have the satisfaction.
But seeing you like this,
that's my satisfaction.
His thumb brushes my clit and I break.
A whimper escapes before I can stop it.
My hands fly to his shoulders.
Gripping him as my body betrays me.
I'm not a wimp.
I'm a wimp.
He betrays me.
That's it.
Fuck.
I gasp, struggling to breathe.
My voice trembles.
Why are you...
Matthias tilts his head.
Fingers pressing deeper.
Doing what?
I lose myself.
Legs wide.
Mouth open.
Whatever this is, I'm too frazzled to care.
My body isn't mine anymore.
I'm going to be like him, to his touch.
To whatever spell he has over me.
You like that?
Fuck.
I moan out loud.
Close to oblivion.
Then, a voice cuts through the haze.
What the fuck is this?
The world slams back into focus.
I freeze.
I turn to the door.
Fends.
His face is a mix of shock.
Disgust.
I jump off Matthias,
yanking my dress down.
Is this what you came up here for?
His voice is sharp.
Venomous.
I was worried, and now I find you what?
Writing another man on our date?
Fends, I'm sorry.
His laugh is bitter.
Do you always fuck your clients?
Is that how you got that position?
No.
He shakes his head.
I thought you were better than this.
He walks out.
Fends, wait!
I rush after him, but he's already gone.
I whip around to Matthias,
fury burning through my veins.
You did this.
He leans back,
relaxed, lazy.
Slowly, he lifts his hand.
The same hand he had inside me
minutes ago,
and inhales it.
He smiles.
I only did what you wanted me to do, Princess.
I grit my teeth and bolt.
Fends barely looks at me
when I find him at the bar.
Fends, I'm sorry.
His voice is quiet.
Hurt.
I liked you, a whole fucking lot.
And when you called, I thought...
I thought this was something real.
His voice cracks.
But you had me fooled.
No.
I sigh.
Please, can you just take me away from here?
I'll explain everything in the car.
Silence.
Then he nods.
Fine.
I pull my phone from my dress
and toss it onto the bar.
Fends raises an eyebrow.
You're leaving it?
I glare at the device.
Yep, let's go.
I don't tell Fends the entire truth.
Just that I owed the client
a lot of money and had to pay it back.
He doesn't take it lightly,
wants to go to the police.
But after convincing him that I'm fine,
he settles.
I make him promise not to say
or do anything.
The last thing I need is him confronting Mathias.
Mathias won't hesitate to snap his neck.
After an hour-long talk at the park,
Fends brings me home.
And that's it.
For the first time, I feel free.
No tracking, no surveillance,
no looming shadow dictating my every move.
I know there will be consequences,
but for now, I'll take what I can get.
I settle into bed and set my alarm for 10 in the morning.
I'm going to sleep in.
If Mathias thinks I'll listen to him after what he did to me,
he's a fool.
Using me like some cheap toy to satisfy his fucked-up mind?
He'll have to do a lot more than that to get me back to work.
My alarm blares,
yanking me out of sleep.
I groan,
slamming the snooze button.
It's morning already?
Before I can drift off again,
another alarm sounds.
I frown.
I don't remember.
My heart slams into my ribs and I scramble back,
pressing against the headboard.
What the fuck, Mathias?