ice of

s's

ut the words are stuck in my throat. What would I even say? I don't u

et car. "Why me?" I inquire, my hands in my lap. "Why are

fting and his focus is strengthening. He says, "You're here be

ting at all. Just... take charge. His words stay in the air, and I wonder if I

is a mess of confused thoughts. The gala, him being there, ever

thing else?" I ask, and the words

they go back down. His voice is silky, like honey wrap

want to get out. I don't want the night to finish, or maybe I

t sits there, quietly drumming his fingers on

n't get it, Alex. Why do I feel like I'm a pi

esn't say anything for a long time. He just stares at me, his eyes fixe

derstand." "You'll learn in time." Lois, there are rules here. Rules th

and feel my muscles getting tighter. I'm not sure if I'm terrified or interested,

e is low as the stillness goes on. "You

t with him and tell him that he doesn't control me, but I can't

since I know Alex is always there and has influence over me without eve

eems like everything he does, from looking at me to n

look up and see him standing in the door of his office. He doesn't say anythi

ngthy interval, his voice

so I can enter his office as I get closer. The walls are dark wood and there are shelves of boo

e what he wants. He looks at me as if he's chec

al comment, "You've been doing well." "But you

g he wanted me to do and more. But I don't say anything; I j

e hard that I'm not just working for him anymore. I

lling deeper, and the weight of it is becoming too much to bear. He doesn't say anything; he just

ands in the doorway of my office, towering and commanding, with his suit cri

surprised

hurricane. "Lois," he begins in a low voice, the way he always does when he's

is racing. I don't know if it's because I'm s

ice, "You're doing well." "But you

ds hang in the air makes me feel like I'm being smothered by them. He gets closer to me, and f

-on-skin contact is so short but so electrifying that I can't breathe. The touch sends

ng comes out. Is this lov

" he adds, as his voice gets

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, and th

s keeping us in place. He tilts his head a little and narrows his gaze as he looks me over. He responds

here. I want to tell him to leave me alone and that I d

t me," and I can feel the warmth of his breath on

a chain that I'm to

orframe. "You belong to me now, Lois," he adds in a low voi

. But the words are caught in my chest, and all I can do is st