rment I endured at work, yet my mind refused to settle. I had stayed late to fini
ready mad
was m
ded him the final key
ctly what I felt like
roken sob crawled up my throat. My fist slammed into the wall agai
hy couldn't I stand
had shaped
ame his enemy. From the day he first struck me, I became his puppet. From the day
d controlled me for years. He struck me countless times, threatening to erase me from existenc
e. No one did. I never told anyone. I didn't want people
e straight back into the same nightmare, and once
ne. A smile flickered when I saw the name on the screen; Jane, my attorney and dear friend.
ered, my voice r
ice faded, making my
rything
een able to do anything yet." She tried to sound casual, but t
was one of the strongest lawyers in the city, yet
to pile more s
e even worse if y
two pieces of news for you, one good
good
She burst into laughter, pulli
aded quickly. "A
the call had dropped. Then her voice returned, low
ha
hat to the elders. Their minds wer
ng without permission. He even cut
ugh my veins. The room around me seemed to fall silent, swallowed by
you later, Jan
ina, do
efore she c
saw wa
, furi
after I had done ev
waiting through the s
ans
ied
ag
ag
hone onto the mattress with all my strength. It was late. That bastard was probably
ough my mind before sleep f
he darkness that had held me. I blinked groggily, immediately shie
right. T
ast the room spun violently. There were only twenty minutes lef
r fuck
orning routine, showered at lightning speed, and threw on the first
time, I could've secured
I climbed into my ca
you? The meeting begi
on; it was practically human nature. Praying I wouldn't be late, I tore th
the girl at the elevator to move aside. I slipped in ahead of her, muttered an apologetic smile, and jabbed the b
art resumed its frantic sprint right before I sl
with his, my face smacking directly into his
c. Just
st rammed into Jaxon Thorne. His gray eyes narrowed frostily beneath tau
!" I s
ued glaring daggers at me. Not
us swung open and Mr. Cortez appeared. "Ms. Vale, you mad
lked in though not without str
ment I lifted my eyes, my heart dropped a
ntourage. My gaze darted to Mr. Thorne, who calmly shook
ted me. He wasn't here just for business. He
t beside Mr. Cortez. My heart hammered, but more than fear, the urge to punch Creed ma
horne, I believe you know Mr. Creed. He
orne gave Creed the slightest
. Mr. Thorne, you
e front with confidence. I had done this countless t
our bac
ucing myself, I began. The next ten minutes flowed smoothly. When the lights brig
ce held the fain
however,
" Mr. Vanco
at. As Creed's assistant walked past me to present, my chair jerked suddenly
e actua
ean to," she squealed in that shrill voice, but
tc
rtez and wiping myself dry. Just wait until Thorne won th
clearly d
ce cut through the room.
Why?
ea
argument. No
tabbed me. I bit my lip and walked out,
s no better than Creed. Ung
shroom he stared at me far too eagerly, which should've been my
fr
d turned completely transparent.
lamed. My e
hell did I
ne had sent me out. And why that
wanted to fall through th
n't help much in this summer heat. Eventually, I managed to
when someone yanked my arm
eth clenched. "
ike you don't care about those po
t raced. Still, I knew he wouldn't dare touch me here. I
r it takes to secure my empire, some
have you done? You locked those elders away after promising
on them. But..." His tone darkened. "...if you keep acting the w
before he walked off, leaving
led. Sweat dot
at one slip of temper could get people hurt? Why cou
h, I straightened myself and stepped out
Th
rugged off his suit jacket and draped it across my shoulders. He pulled both
s minty breath and masculine scent washe
, "remember not to wear
, he turned a
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