Chapter Ten: No Choice

Ruby’s POV

Because of that pervert, I had to come to work late. Not a good look for a girl who just started the job.

Sarah looked at me with worry written all over her face.

“Ruby, thank God you’re okay,” she said, letting out a sigh of relief. “You don’t know how worried I was. I wanted to take you home last night but the boss insisted…”

I quickly cut her off.

“I’m fine. Just forget about it,” I said. I really didn’t want to remember anything about that psychopath.

Sarah suddenly frowned and pointed at my neck.

“Ruby… what happened to your neck?”

I quickly covered it with my hand and forced a smile that felt more fake than my entire life right now.

Just then my phone buzzed.

Unknown Number:

Get me coffee.

Of course I knew who it was. Zane Blackwood.

I ignored the message and looked back at Sarah, thankful she didn’t see it.

“Mosquitoes,” I said quickly, pulling my scarf higher to cover the mark. “I got bitten.”

“Umm… okay,” she replied, still looking a little suspicious.

Please, no more questions.

“I’ll get back to work,” she said and returned to her desk. Thank God.

I tried to focus on my tasks, but a few minutes later James walked up to me.

“Mr. Zane wants you in his office,” he said.

Can’t I just have one moment of peace?

I nodded and followed him. When we reached the office, James opened the door for me and then left, closing it behind him. Great. Just great.

Zane was sitting behind his desk like he owned the place — which, unfortunately, he did. A file rested in his left hand. He dropped it slowly and looked up at me. I didn’t know if it was real or just my imagination, but the look he gave me felt deadly.

“Why didn’t you reply to me?” he asked.

“You asked for coffee, sir. That’s not my job. Only your assistant can do that,” I answered. I was literally right.

He smirked.

“And who are you to decide that?”

The words stung a little, but I kept my face blank.

He stood up slowly and started walking toward me. I stepped back until my back hit the wall. When I tried to move sideways, he placed both hands on either side of my head, caging me in.

Can this day get any worse?

“Ruby Carter,” he said in a low voice, “I make the rules here. And you obey them.”

Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten. His hand slid down to my waist and gripped it firmly. I sucked in a quiet breath.

“Starting today, you work as my personal assistant.”

I froze.

Hell no. I didn’t want that. I didn’t wish for that at all.

“No. I can’t,” I said.

“Give me one good reason why not.”

“There are people far more qualified than me. I can’t just be promoted to personal assistant like this,” I tried to reason with him.

He lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look straight into his eyes.

“I said a good reason.”

His other hand left my waist. Before I could react, he lifted one of my legs and hooked it around his hip, pressing himself against me. I could feel the solid wall of his chest… and the hard evidence of how shameless he was.

“You are going to work as my assistant, Ruby,” he said quietly. “If you’re not interested, then quit the job completely.”

He pressed closer.

“And trust me… once you leave this company, no one will dare hire you again.”

I swallowed hard.

He was right. He was rich and powerful. I was just Ruby Carter with barely twenty dollars in my account. I couldn’t afford to lose this job.

“…I’ll do it,” I said, my voice nervous.

He released me immediately and walked back to his chair like nothing had happened. My body felt strangely sensitive, and I hated that it was already reacting to him.

He picked up another folder and spoke without looking at me.

“Prepare yourself, Ruby. We leave for Italy tomorrow.”

My head snapped up.

What did he just say?

Italy.

I stared at him, the words repeating in my head. Another country. Alone with him. No escape.

He was taking me out of the city… out of the country… where no one would be able to help me from him.

“6 a.m.,” he added coldly. “A car will pick you up. Don’t be late.”

I stood there, unable to move, the reality of what just happened slowly start sinking in.

What did he really want from me?