First Command

Lila’s POV

The morning chores left me exhausted, but my mind would not settle. Every bend and stretch reminded me of last night’s shame. My jaw still ached, and my knees felt bruised from the hard floor. I kept my head down as I worked, pulling weeds between the vine rows under the warm sun. The ledger page burned in my pocket like a secret I could not ignore. Those big money transfers from my grandmother’s time, what did they really mean for this family?

I slipped away during a short break to examine it again behind the old storage building. The faded ink showed dates and large sums moving to the Vale accounts. “This is not normal helper pay,” I whispered to myself. My grandmother had been more involved than anyone let on. I folded the page carefully and hid it deeper in my bag. Part of me wanted to run to Sebastian with it, but after last night, trust felt impossible.

Back at the main house for a quick lunch, I tried to act normal again. Elena handed me a sandwich with a gentle smile. “You are working hard today, Lila. Take it easy this afternoon, okay?”

“I will try,” I replied, forcing a smile. “The vines are beautiful, but tiring.”

She nodded and lowered her voice. “If anything feels wrong, you come to me. This place has its shadows.”

Her words stayed with me as I ate quickly. Shadows indeed. Theo’s smirk at breakfast still haunted me, and Sebastian’s kind attention made everything more confusing.

After lunch, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was Theo. “Tool shed. Now. Or the video goes to everyone.” Attached was that awful screenshot. My hands shook as I read it. I remembered my earlier recording of his threats. That small act of resistance gave me a tiny bit of strength, but fear still won. I typed back with trembling fingers, “I’m coming. Please don’t send it.”

“Good girl,” he replied instantly. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

I walked toward the tool shed with heavy steps, my heart pounding louder with every yard. The building sat at the edge of the vineyard, half hidden by tall bushes. Theo waited in the shadows, leaning against a workbench with that same smug look.

“You took your time,” he said as I stepped in and closed the door behind me. “Scared someone might see?”

I crossed my arms, trying to look braver than I felt. “What do you want, Theo? This has to stop. I have work to do.”

He laughed softly and stepped closer. “Work? Your real job now is pleasing me. Get on your knees, Lila. Let’s pick up where we left off last night.”

My stomach twisted. “Please, not here. Someone could walk by.”

Theo grabbed my chin gently but firmly, tilting my face up. “That’s the fun part. Now, open that pretty mouth. You know how I like it.”

I hesitated, but the threat of the video hung over me like a dark cloud. Slowly, I knelt on the dusty floor. Theo unzipped his pants and guided himself to my lips. He started slow at first, but soon grew more aggressive, holding my head in place as he moved. “That’s it,” he groaned. “Just like that. Think about my father while you do it? I know you do.”

Tears pricked my eyes, but I stayed silent except for the sounds he forced out of me. He edged me with his words, taunting me the whole time. “You want Sebastian’s hands on you, don’t you? But you’re mine now. My little secret.”

The shed felt too small, too risky. Every creak outside made me tense. Theo kept control completely, pulling back when I tried to hurry it along. “Not yet,” he whispered. “You don’t get to finish your part until I say.”

Minutes stretched on. My knees hurt against the hard ground. Finally, he finished with a low moan, holding me there until he was satisfied. He stepped back, zipping up with a satisfied sigh.

“Good job,” he said, offering a hand to help me up. I ignored it and stood on my own, wiping my mouth. My legs felt weak.

Theo smirked again. “See? Not so bad. Next time, maybe I’ll let you feel more. But remember, one word to anyone, and that video spreads. Understand?”

I nodded, looking at the floor. “I understand.”

He leaned in close, his breath warm on my ear. “Run along now. Act normal. And think about me later when you’re alone.”

Theo slipped out first, checking if the coast was clear. I waited a minute before leaving, my body sore and my mind spinning. How was I supposed to go back to work like nothing happened? The confusing mix of degradation and that forbidden thrill made me hate myself even more.

I returned to the chores with shaking hands, trying to focus on the vines. Sebastian found me a short while later near the main path. He looked concerned, his tall frame casting a shadow over me.

“Lila, you’ve been quiet all day,” he said, his voice deep and gentle. “Everything alright? If the work is too much, we can adjust.”

I avoided his eyes, brushing dirt from my hands. “I’m fine, Sebastian. Really. Just learning the ropes.”

He stepped closer, offering me a water bottle. “Here. Drink. You look flushed. And about those photo albums I mentioned last night, we can look at them this evening if you want. Might help with your article on the family history.”

His kindness made my chest tight. “That would be great. Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Sebastian smiled, his hand brushing mine as he passed the bottle. “Good. I enjoy talking with you about the vineyard. You’re different from most visitors.”

We stood there for a moment in awkward silence. I could feel the pull toward him, the way his presence made me feel safe despite everything. But Theo’s threats echoed in my head.

“I should get back to work,” I said quickly.

“Of course,” he replied. “See you at dinner.”

As he walked away, I let out a long breath. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of chores. My body moved on autopilot while my thoughts raced. Theo’s control, Sebastian’s attention, the ledger secrets, it was all too much.

Later in my room, I tried drafting more notes for the article. “The Vale family has deep roots here…” But again, my writing drifted. I described Sebastian’s strong hands, the warmth in his voice when he spoke about the land. The way he looked at me like I mattered. I deleted the lines with a sigh, frustrated at myself.

A new text arrived just as I closed my laptop. It was Theo again, with another screenshot from the video and simple words: “Tool shed after lunch tomorrow if you want to keep this quiet.”

The demand stared back at me. My first small recording felt useless against this fresh threat. I was trapped, and the pull between fear and forbidden feelings grew stronger every hour.

What would happen if I kept going like this? Sebastian’s evening offer for the photo albums suddenly felt dangerous too. One wrong step, and everything could explode.

I needed a plan, fast. But as another message from Theo buzzed in, I knew the next visit might break me completely.