59

Chapter 59

Adrian’s POV

When Leo drove us back after the shopping, I heard my phone ringing. I couldn't pick up in front of them, I wanted to take it in private.

Then the call came in again when I was assisting Pink to hang her new dress in her closet. When I decided to check, the name on the screen made my stomach twist. It was one of the parole officers, Officer Chen.

"Miss Martinez," she said in her usual stern voice. "Adrian, your six-month review is coming up."

I stepped into the hallway. “Yes, ma’am?”

“You need to stay out of trouble. No incidents, no complaints. Understand?”

“I understand, officer Chen .”

“Good. Because if you lose your job — if Mr. Rodrigo fires you — you’ll be violating your parole. That means straight back to Rikers. No warnings, no appeals. Do you get that?”

Her words hit me like ice water. “Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“One mistake, and it’s over. Don’t waste your second chance.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. I’ll call you to schedule your review.”

She hung up. Just like that — no warmth, no comfort.

I stood there for a while listening to the dial tone. "If I mess things up. I'm done for!" I said as my hands were shaking.

One mistake and everything was gone, this includes: my freedom, my job, Pink.

That’s why I hadn’t told anyone about the woman at the mall,the one who warned me about Saturday. She had vanished before Leo and Pink came back, leaving me full of questions and fear.

But talking about it would sound crazy. No one would believe me. They’d think I was paranoid, unstable or still mixed up in the trouble that sent me to prison.

So I kept quiet. Smiled. Pretended everything was fine. Even though I was scared , I remained composed.

---

That night, I wore a short night gown. Pink was already sleeping after I read her night stories. He was holding her new unicorn plush. The house was quiet.

Darcy was not home yet. He was supposed to follow us for the gala shopping but he couldn't make it. He’d called me earlier saying that the Tokyo business meeting was taking longer than expected.

Then, I went to the kitchen for tea, I couldn't sleep, my thoughts drifted back to the call I'd with the Parole office and then what's keeping Darcy so late.

When I reached for a spoon, to stir my tea with it, the spoon fell off from my hand and rolled behind the counter.

“Perfect,” I said, crouching down to get it.

The space was tight. I had to stretch far, almost lying on the floor, my face pressed against the cold tiles. My gown rode up, but I was alone, so I didn’t care.

Just as I grabbed the spoon, I felt it — someone behind me.

My heart jumped. I turned my head and froze.

Darcy was standing right there. Close. Too close.

Before I could move myself, he leaned over and his chest touched my back when he tried to get the spoon.

Just a slight touch maybe it happened mistakenly but that contact sent a rush of heat through me.

He picked it up easily and stepped back.

I stood quickly, trying to act normal though my heart was pounding. My face was hot. My hair scattered.

He gave me the spoon, he had a straight face so I couldn't read his emotions. But his dark eyes were sharp and it flicked over me for just a second.

“Here,” he said with a calm voice.

“Thank you,” I whispered. Taking the spoon from him.

His touch still had effects on me.

He nodded once. “ So tell me, I hope Pink liked her dress.”

“She loved it,” I said too quickly. “She’s already planning to wear it for the school picture day.”

“Good,” he said, his tone tight, almost controlled.

As he turned and walked away from the kitchen, I stood there, looking at him, go, trying to breathe.

Questions ran through my mind.How could he stay so calm after being so close to me while I was falling apart inside?

I made my tea with trembling hands. Every moment with him was getting harder to handle. One slip, one wrong move in Darcy’s house and I’d ruin everything.

---

Heading to my room, my phone beeped. A message.

Your package you'd ordered has been delivered safely. Please retrieve it from the front entrance.

Oh no. The package.

The one I had ordered two days ago — in a moment of weakness.

I crept downstairs and saw the small brown box by the front door. It's a plain box, unmarked. I didn't want anybody to know what was inside. I didn't know it would get here this late but it did,at the right time.

I took it quickly and went back to my room. In a hurry, I closed the doors. I'll drop my tea cup later. I just need to take a check.

Sitting on my bed, I just looked at the box.

Inside this box was the thing I thought I would use to help me to satisfy my urge and also help me to stop thinking about him.

The vibrator.

My hands shook as I opened the box. It was smaller than I expected — soft purple, smooth silicone, quiet. The reviews said it helped people “release tension.”

That’s what I needed. To release. Relief. Control.

Because I couldn’t keep wanting Darcy. Couldn’t keep imagining him every night. He was my boss. Off-limits. Dangerous.

I sat on the bed, and read the small manual. Even though I was alone. I feel awkward about this.

Since I can't tell Darcy to get intimate with me. This is the only way to stop myself from being crazy.

On the bed, I laid down trying to use it. My hands trembled as I turned it on.

I told myself it was normal. Harmless. Just to quiet my thoughts.

But then I opened my nightstand and pulled out the magazine page I’d hidden, the one with Darcy’s photo. The one he was shirtless and breathtaking.

As I looked at his body. His strong arms, his six packs then his eyes that seemed to look right to me. I was turned on.

The fantasy came too easily.

I imagined us in the shower tub. NAKED. He was beside me, all over me. His hands tracing every part of my skin, his lips at my neck, biting and kissing it.

“Adrian,” he’d whisper. “Look at me.”

I bit my lower lip, my heartbeat increased.

Every thought, every image made the heat grow stronger. I inserted the vibrator and held the sheets, trying to stay quiet, but small sounds escaped my lips.

I touched my hair then traced my hands to my neck and then to my breast, pinched my nipples and fondled my breast while the vibrator stroked me to give me the pleasure I wanted from Darcy.

All I picture him doing to me. I moaned.

“Darcy…” I breathed his name like a secret.

"Darcy..."

The pressure built inside me, overwhelming. I felt myself trembling, so close to letting go—

A knock. Sharp and sudden.

“Adrian? Adrian?”

Darcy’s voice. Right outside my door.

My whole body went cold.

Oh God. No.

I scrambled up, heart pounding wildly. The device fell to the bed. The magazine slipped under my pillow — half visible.

I pulled down my gown, tried to fix my hair. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

The door handle turned.

“No, wait...” I said. It was too late.

Darcy stepped in, saying something. “Adrian, I...”

He stopped. Completely.

Time froze.

His eyes swept over the scene — me flushed and breathless. My clothes that fell off my shoulder, with my scattered. His own picture, half-hidden under my pillow. The purple device lying on the bed.

Understanding hit him instantly. His jaw dropped.

I felt ashamed of myself in his presence That my boss had found that I was fucking myself with his picture.

“I...Darcy...” I stammered.

He didn’t speak. Just there looking at me. Surprised.

The silence between us was just too much for me to bear.

The air felt thick, electric.

He knew.

He knew what I’d been doing. What I’d been thinking about. Who I’d been thinking about.

About him.

Every secret feeling, every unspoken desire, all exposed in one awful second.

My cheeks burned. My throat ached. I wanted the ground to open then I jumped inside it.

Darcy was there but didn’t look away. He came closer. Still looking at me.

We stood like that — locked in silence. Neither of us know what to do.

I’d ruined my job, everything or so I thought.

My job. My peace. My self-control.

He knew everything now.

And I had no idea what he would do next.

His hands moved to my pillow side and took out his picture.

I swallowed hard.

"Adrian. What's going on?..."