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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ZOEY
The tears, hot and silent, streamed down my face, carving salty trails through the soot stains of my mascara. It wasn't just the fear, the chilling reality of my situation, that choked me. It was the humiliation, the burning shame of being so easily subdued, my defiance crumpling like a dry leaf under Alexei's icy grip.
My gaze fell on the luxurious surroundings, the plush chair that felt like a throne of mockery, the sunbeams dancing on the polished floor like mocking laughter. This opulent cage, meant to be a haven, now felt like a gilded tomb for my freedom.
But amidst the despair, a tiny spark, a stubborn ember, flickered back to life. I wouldn't let him win. Not completely. Not yet.
Sniffling back the tears, I straightened in my chair, wiping the mascara smudges with a trembling hand. My voice, when I finally spoke, was shaky but firm.
"You can keep my job," I said, my words ringing out in the silence he had left behind.
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