Chapter 2

The moment I stepped out of the study, cold sweat drenched my back.

My uniform clung to my skin.

I ducked into the storage closet next door, locked the door, and finally let myself gasp for air.

My phone was already flooded with dozens of messages from yet another new account.

[Mistress, please don't leave me.]

[What did your puppy do wrong? Your puppy can change.]

[Mistress, please give your puppy another chance.]

This guy, the one I had blocked seventeen times and who kept wagging his tail right back, was the man I had been dating online for two years.

Two years ago, my father was planning to sponsor a school for troubled teens and brought me along for a site visit.

A handful of teenage boys had flipped over desks and cornered the young teacher against the wall.

My temper flared.

I snatched the pointer from the podium and sat down, my long legs sheathed in black stockings. With crimson-painted nails, I tapped the pointer impatiently.

"All of you. Against the wall. Stand up straight."

"No one moves or speaks without my permission."

"Whoever made this mess is cleaning it up."

"We're done when I say we're done."

"Then line up and apologize to the teacher one by one. If I can't hear you, it doesn't count."

That was exactly how I dealt with my cousin whenever my aunt came to visit.

Someone filmed the whole thing and posted it online. My face wasn't visible, but the video somehow went viral.

The comment section went wild:

[She could step on me and I'd say thank you.]

[I want that pointer to end me.]

One anonymous account was more outrageous than all the rest. He showered the video with gifts, then sent me a private message.

[Mistress, do you need an obedient puppy?]

[Mistress, I'll be good!]

I scoffed and almost blocked him.

But then I visited his profile, saw one photo of his abs, and my finger stopped dead in its tracks.

Hmm...?

Playing around a little couldn't hurt, right?

Normally, if any man came within fifteen feet of me, Dad would order his bodyguards to shoot.

But I was still... a normal woman.

Later, we set three rules: no real names, no faces, and no investigating each other's identities. We kept the relationship strictly online.

We used voice messages. We traded body photos.

Two years passed just like that.

We had never met or done anything physical, but we took very good care of each other's secret little kinks.

Then last month... a project my father had guaranteed collapsed, and he disappeared.

I wasn't in the mood for a relationship, so I ended things without giving him a say.

He chased me across seventeen new accounts.

Now, staring at the stack of friend requests, I suddenly lost the nerve to keep blocking him.

This was Cassian Vitale.

If he truly wanted to find someone, he could do it more easily than I could find shoe polish on this estate.

I immediately unblocked him and typed the most prudent response I could manage:

[Fine, puppy. If you want to come back, come back.]

The other side went silent for a full five seconds.

[Mistress? Really?!]

[Your puppy is so happy.]

[Can we play tonight?]

Seeing how obedient he was, all the frustration I had bottled up throughout the day exploded. [Not tonight.]

[I had a bad day. Here's a task for you. Help me trash-talk someone.]

He replied instantly.

[Who dared make you upset?]

[Is it that creditor of yours?]

[Yes.]

[He actually accused me of trying to seduce him, then warned me I wouldn't end well.]

Puppy went quiet for a few seconds.

[Can puppy ask one thing?]

[You really didn't flirt with him at all?]

I narrowed my eyes dangerously.

[Are you questioning me?]

[No!]

[I just think... you don't have to do anything. You look seductive just standing there...]

[Shut up.]

I snorted and continued my rant.

[I even wore the number-one scent on the 'Fragrances East Coast Alpha Males Hate' list, Limpwood, just to keep him away.]

[How could I possibly be flirting with him?]

Puppy immediately pledged loyalty.

[You did the right thing. You have to protect yourself.]

[If he bullies you again, come tell me.]

A brief pause, then he added with considerably less confidence,

[I'll... secretly curse him for you.]

Something warm stirred in my chest, and my mischievous side kicked in.

Perfect.

Then I was going to make him curse himself good and proper.

I hammered the keyboard hard enough to strike sparks:

[He bullied me all day! All day!]

[And the way he looked at me was terrifying, like I was prey that had already fallen into his trap.]

[But you know me.]

[In this world, I only allow myself to be the hunter.]

Puppy: [You're on his territory right now. Puppy doesn't want you to get hurt. Don't go head-to-head with him yet, okay?]

[He's keeping you at the estate probably just to make sure you can't run. When people are watching, he has to put on a tough front...]

I raised an eyebrow.

[Who said you could speak up for him?]

[I was wrong. Puppy will shut up.]

[When we finally meet, your puppy will make him pay for you in person.]

A guilty knot tightened in my stomach. There was no way I dared meet him in person!

But my fingers sent a "waiting for your revenge" sticker.

Puppy: [Mistress, can your puppy ask for one more thing?]

[Go ahead.]

[That Limpwood perfume you mentioned... when we meet someday, could you not wear it?]

[Puppy isn't one of those macho guys, and I would never bully you.]

[But that perfume...]

I blinked.

[What about it?]

Before, whenever I wore it, not a single man dared come near me, not even at boot camp.

The typing indicator blinked on the other end.

Half a minute later, his message finally appeared.

[Puppy might be allergic to it.]

[Be sweet to your puppy. When we meet, wear a little less, okay?]

[You already smell amazing on your own.]

So it was an allergy.

No wonder Cassian's expression had been so off when he smelled the perfume earlier.

I pictured that icy face, his eyes reddening as he begged me to show my puppy a little mercy.

My face blazed.

[Granted.]

[I have to get back to work. Be good on your own, puppy.]

[Yes, Mistress.]