All to damage me more.

LOU

For a second, I honestly thought I misheard him.

“Excuse me?” My brows furrowed even further, “That isn't possible.” I argued, but Jaxon's smile simply brightened.

“It is indeed possible. You are now my personal stripper, you belong to me alone, and no one else.” He said, sounding weirdly possessive.

His words didn’t just sound wrong, they felt wrong, like something sour settling at the back of my throat and no matter how I try, I can't get it off.

“You can't do this,” I said slowly, my voice dangerously quiet.

Jaxon didn’t respond immediately, Instead, he leaned back in his chair like he had all the time in the world, fingers resting beneath his chin, watching me.

“You heard me, Lou,” he finally said. “Your position here has been… adjusted.”

Adjusted? That's what he calls this?

My hands curled into fists at my sides. “No,” I said flatly, shaking my head. “No, I don’t think I heard you properly. Because I refuse to believe you just said I would no longer be working the floor and instead…” I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Instead I’m assigned to you?”

His eyes darkened slightly, amusement settling in them. “Yes,” he said casually, as though he wasn't messing with an actual human life, my life.

Something inside me snapped, my jaws clenching. I took a step forward, my anger finally boiling over. “You don’t get to just decide that!” I snapped. “That’s not how this works. I signed up to work here, not whatever twisted arrangement you are trying to force on me.”

Jaxon didn’t flinch, not a reaction in sight, he looked rather entertained, like this was some great show he was enjoying.

“That’s exactly how this works,” he replied coolly, tapping the file on the desk. “Everything you agreed to is in there.”

“I never agreed to this!” I shot back immediately.

“Are you sure?” he asked, an annoying certainty clinging to his tone.

I hesitated, trying to recall everything I read in the contract, to be sure I hadn't skipped anything crucial when I was desperately signing myself over.

Jaxon used my silence as an opportunity to reach for the file, opening it. He flipped through a few pages before stopping and turning it toward me.

“Clause fourteen,” he said, tapping the paper. “Employers reserve the right to reassign roles and responsibilities as deemed necessary.”

My heart dropped, a sour taste settling on my tongue.

“No,” I muttered, stepping closer, I grabbed the file from him, scanning the page myself. My eyes moved quickly over the lines, my breathing growing uneven as the words blurred together.

It was true, he was right.

I had read every page of this file, but if I had known Jaxon was the owner of the club, I would never have bothered.

Now it was too late, I brought this upon myself, with my own hands.

“This is insane,” I whispered, my hands trembling slightly as I looked up at him. “You can’t seriously expect me to just go along with this.”

“I don’t expect,” he corrected calmly. “I require it.”

I scoffed, “And if I refuse?”

His gaze sharpened. “You breach the contract, and we both know what that implies.”

The words landed heavily, forcing me to swallow the lump forming in my throat.

Jaxon leaned forward slightly, his tone dropping into something colder, more dangerous. “If you are ready to pay the penalty f*e, then I am more than ready to let you go.”

I already knew that.was coming, but hearing it still made my chest tighten.

“How much?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t answer right away, savouring the time, before he finally spoke. “Enough to ruin you.”

A thick suffocating silence filled the room, and my stomach twisted violently as reality began to settle in.

Every penny I made went straight to hospital bills, medication, and food survival. Even with the miracle that had just happened, I was still barely holding things together. There was no way I could pay any kind of penalty.

I didn’t have the money, and Jaxon knew that all too well. He did this on purpose, to torment my life even further, to ruin all that's left of me.

Suddenly I couldn't feel even an ounce of the immense joy that had clouded my soul at the hospital. Jaxon had snatched it all in one go all for his selfish gain.

“You planned this,” I said slowly, my voice shaking despite my effort to steady it.

Jaxon’s lips curved slightly. “I plan everything.”

My hate for him intensified,all I wanted was to leave again, crawl under the shadows, and never be seen again, but this is what Jaxon wants, and I cannot and will not give in to it.

Feeling defeated, but resilient, I spat. “I’m not your property,”

“No,” he agreed smoothly. “But you are under my contract.”

My fists tightened again, nails digging into my palms as I forced the words out.

“…Fine.”The word tasted bitter on my tongue. “You win.”

“I always do,” he replied, cockily.

And I exhaled sharply, looking away from him before my anger pushed me into saying something that would make things worse.

Because right now, I couldn’t afford the worst, not when my grandmother needed me.

Tomorrow is her surgery, tomorrow will change everything. And I needed to be there, with my attention undivided.

“I need time off,” I said suddenly, my voice more controlled now.

Jaxon’s brows lifted slightly. “Time off?”

“Yes,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze again. “Three days.”

His expression didn’t change, but I could see the shift in his eyes.

“For what?”

“My grandmother,” I said. “She’s having her surgery tomorrow.”

For a brief moment…just a flicker, something unreadable crossed his face, and then it was gone.

“How touching,” he said, though there was no real emotion in his tone.

I ignored the comment, rolling my eyes. “I’m not asking,” I added. “I’m telling you. I need to be there.”

“Fine.” he voiced out, “You get your three days and nothing more,” he said simply.

Suspicion flickered through me immediately. “Just like that?”

He smirked slightly. “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m not completely unreasonable.”

I didn’t believe that for a second, but I wasn’t about to argue. “Thank you,” I said, though the words felt forced.

“Enjoy your time off Lou.”

“Because when you return,” he continued smoothly, “your first session will be at my house.”

My heart skipped a beat, “What?”

His gaze locked onto mine, unblinking.“ You heard me loud and clear,” he said. “ A private setting, no distractions.”

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to yell, refuse, and fight back, yet I didn't, knowing how it would end.

“I will be expecting you,” he added. “Don’t be late.” The finality in his tone left no room for argument.

I didn't respond, just turned towards the door and walked out. A heavy weight settled on my shoulders, pressing down so hard it felt like I might collapse under it.

I stopped in the hallway, pressing a hand against the wall as I tried to steady my breathing.

What just happened?

What did I just agree to?

****************

THREE DAYS LATER

I stood before the gate of Jaxon's mansion, clutching my handbag as if my life depended on it.

While I hoped my three-day leave would last longer, it came to an abrupt halt. My grandmother's surgery had gone just right, though she remained at the hospital, she was finally out of danger and I couldn't be more grateful to God and the Anonymous donor.

Unfortunately, I still couldn't get Dr Henshaw to give me even the slightest detail of the good Samaritan. Still, I made a secret vow to never stop searching so I could offer my thanks.

The groaning of the gate opening pulled me out of my thoughts and I stared ahead to see a man dressed in a suit approaching me.

“Ms Lou?” He asked and I gave him a small nod.

“I am Harry, the butler, Mr Ryder informed me of your presence.” He said, his polite tone somehow felt surprising. Maybe I had secretly expected everyone who worked under Jaxon would be a total douche bag like him.

“Come with me, Ms Lou.” Harry offered as he began moving forward, leading me towards the gigantic mansion ahead. As I followed behind him, every step I took, pricked and pulled at the memory I had long buried.

*Welcome to my humble abode, Lou.*

*Let's check out my room, it's really cool up there.*

I bit my lips, grounding myself to reality, to the wretched life I have been subjected to, because I fell in love with the wrong person.

We stepped into the grand foyer, and the elegant beauty that stood before me, the words in my vocabulary wouldn't do justice.

“Wait here Ms Lou, I need to inform the boss of your presence,” he said, slightly bowing, before disappearing up the stairs.

*Once I am done with college, I will get a house like this, and it will be for both of us.*

*…..we will start our own family.*

I swallowed hard, my hand reaching for my throat. The memories burning in my mind made my skin itch, and I just wanted to scratch and rip it off.

Jaxon had done enough damage to my life, I couldn't stand seeing myself in these memories, foolishly believing every word that left his mouth.

I had long stopped questioning my foolishness, Jaxon doesn't exist to me. I am simply here to fulfill my end of the contract and leave, so getting it done is all that matters.

“You are late.”