OWNED BY SILENCE

Job

s's

r end is smooth, maybe too smooth, and

my pants. I move around in my chair anxiously

t we have an urgent position open." An aide to an extremely significant

's empire is the kind of business where individuals work for years and never get to the top. "Wait," I stammer, "Are you

't worry, Lois. We know exactly who you are. I

don't get it

ays in a bizarre way. "Come to the top floor at 11

ook at it as if it could have a secret message. Wynn Global? A job I didn't a

ck into a sloppy ponytail, and I am wearing a faded blouse. This is not

on my chest. I want to call it off, but the part of me

r level. The tall glass windows and muted color scheme make

ely styled blonde hair and sharp ey

'm here for an interv

, and then she stands up to show me t

doesn't knock; she just opens the door without notice, showing a huge office. It has

en I s

houlders block the entryway. He looks at me with pierci

nd empire. The dark fabric of his suit looks great on him and makes his beautiful blue eyes

a quiet, measured, and pow

getting longer, and I can't help but notice that he is watching me and that his stare n

s, seeming casual yet with an au

ts together. I've always been good at t

g temporary work for a few months now, mostly office work like filing and ans

as silk yet harsh as glass. He leans forward a little, and his

ner." "I'm... organized, and I do well under pressur

s silence is so heavy that every second feels like an eternity. I don't know what h

eyes on mine. "Okay. But I didn't ask f

hing about him-his presence, his q

g a little. "I've been through some tough times, but I'm working o

; he just watches me. You can

he would be, and his presence is astounding. He d

s, pointing t

t actually asked me to do anything. Still, th

e and smiles slightly, nev

obal, Lois," he say

hen he talks. The way he says it... the sound of hi

But here I am, sitting across from a man who has more

e been chosen for a very special job, Lois. An assistant for

ought I was here for something different. You must be looking for someone el

light, the gold-embossed Wynn Global logo shines. "This is what you're offering: three times your curr

t even begin to understand what that implies. I'm still shocked t

stammer.

is face. "Lois, I need someone like you." Someone who

and his gaze makes every brea

ugh my throat is dry, I can'

his voice winding around me like a threa

ike it's shining under the lights in the office. "Sign it," he says, and his tone

ds are hard to read, but I know what I nee

I'm already too far in. I touch the smooth surface of the contract with my

h the air: "You're mine now." He is staring at me,

e flows out like an automatic motion. The pe

f he knew what was coming. The air is tighter

erene and pleasant. "But don't get this wrong. You will need to do mo

but I can sense him in every corner of the room. He feels like the air

to take up the whole room. He doesn't say anything

est or the weird excitement that runs through me. No m

my former life crashes shut be