TAKE ME, RUIN ME: CHAPTER 10

TAKE ME, RUIN ME: CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10: PRICE OF SOLACE

I let out a long, shaky breath and relax back against my table. I’ve just finished typing the last of the contract documents, and my eyes feel heavy from staring at the glowing screen. But the moment my back makes contact with the padded chair, a sharp, stinging pain flares up in my spine. It registers in my brain like a bolt of lightning, making me wince and flinch. I groan into the empty air, my teeth gritted and my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turn white.

The movement reminds me of the agony that has been my constant companion since yesterday. I close my eyes, trying to find a rhythm to my breathing that doesn't hurt. Fuck, I think, my mind racing through the hazy memories of the previous night at the mansion.

The pain doesn't fade quickly; instead, it settles in, spreading across my back in a wave of heat. It feels like thousands of gigantic needles are piercing my skin all at once, forcing me to breathe in shallow, jagged gasps as I try to endure the sensation. After what feels like an eternity, the fire in my nerves finally begins to calm down. I open my eyes and realize that in my struggle, I’ve accidentally crumpled several important documents on my desk.

"Oh my God," I mutter, a fresh wave of panic hitting me. I quickly reach for the papers, my fingers trembling as I try to smooth out the creases and arrange them back into a neat pile. I’m so focused on fixing the mess that I don't notice the shadow falling over my desk until it’s too late.

I feel a presence in front of me and slowly look up. Selena is standing there, her arms folded tightly across her chest. She is looking down at me with a clear expression of displeasure. I exhale and shake my head, feeling too drained to handle another lecture.

"I am not doing this right now, Selena," I say, my voice sounding flat and tired.

"I never said anything," she replies, though her eyes remain fixed on me.

"You do not need to say anything. You are giving me that judgmental look again," I counter, gesturing toward her face.

She grinds her teeth together, her frustration finally breaking through her silence. "When are you ever going to redeem yourself, Aria? You can’t continue living like this. Honestly, I’m scared for you. The fact that he actually had the audacity to give you that mark—what more can he do to you? This man will probably kill you one day if you aren't careful. He doesn’t care about you at all. You need to figure out a way to save yourself."

I drop the paper I’m holding, the frustration at her constant pressure finally boiling over. "Okay, fine! Let us assume I leave right now. Where do you want me to go, Selena?"

She seems lost in thought for a moment, her mouth opening and then closing.

"I have nothing," I continue, my voice rising. "I have no home of my own. I have no family left except my mom, who is currently lying in a hospital bed. And Daniel is the one paying for every single one of her bills. Do you expect me to just walk out so he can stop the payments and let my mother die? I am in his hands right now. I can’t just leave. It’s not that easy."

Selena exhales, her shoulders slumping. "Well... at least you could come and stay with me. You wouldn't be alone."

I frown, the reality of my situation feeling like a cage. "And you think he’s just going to allow that? You think he won't come looking for me?"

Before she can answer, the intercom at the side of my table rings loudly. The sharp sound echoes in the small space, making me jolt in my seat. I close my eyes, taking one more deep breath to steady my nerves, and then I pick it up.

"Meet me in my office right now."

It’s Adrian. His voice is sharp and clipped, carrying that annoying, bossy tone that makes me want to punch the handsomeness right off his face. I can’t believe a part of my brain is even acknowledging that he is still cute, especially after the way he cornered me earlier.

"Yes, sir," I reply simply, and then I click the phone back into its cradle. I lean against the table for a second, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me.

"The boss is calling you over, right?" Selena asks. I look up at her, but I don't bother saying anything. She seems to read the exhaustion in my eyes. "Look, just go on ahead. We’ll talk about this later. But keep it in mind that this has reached a point where we can no longer ignore it. We are talking about your life and your health, and things are becoming dangerous. Just promise me that when we get back, we are going to talk about this seriously."

I am silent for a while. I really just need her out of my hair so I can go see Adrian. She means well, but she doesn't understand the complexity of the strings Daniel has tied around me.

"Yeah, fine," I say, just to end the conversation. "I will."

"Thank you." She looks genuinely relieved as she steps back, finally giving me some space.

I push myself up from the desk, careful not to twist my back too much, and walk across the office. I head toward the far end of the hall, toward the executive office that seems to dominate the entire floor. I reach the heavy wooden door and give it a firm knock.

"Come in." His voice is as sharp as ever.

I step inside and make sure to close the door quietly behind me. Adrian is leaning against the edge of his massive desk, looking calm and lost in thought. He doesn't look up at first, so I slowly approach him until I am standing a respectful distance away. I clasp my hands behind my back, trying to look like a perfect employee.

"You sent for me, sir?" I ask.

He doesn't say anything. He stays silent for nearly a full minute, staring at a spot on the floor. I feel my brow furrow in confusion. "You sent for me, sir?" I repeat, a bit louder this time.

"Of course I did," he snaps, finally looking up. "Would you be patient for once?"

His voice is harsh, and it makes me grit my teeth. I am slowly losing my patience with his mood swings, but there is nothing I can do. He is the boss, and I am the one who needs the paycheck. I remain quiet, waiting for him to get to the point.

He finally exhales, his expression softening just a fraction. "I want to give you a one-week leave," he says. "You will still be paid your full salary, but I want you to take the week off. Get some rest. You have obviously been stressing yourself for a very long time."

I stand there, stunned, as he continues.

"I went through your previous records," Adrian says. "You’ve never once had a day of rest, and you even worked during the holidays ever since you started here. I felt it was my obligation to reward you with some time off."

Panic instantly floods my body, cold and sharp. No. He cannot do this. If I’m not at work, I’m at home. And if I’m at home, I’m with Daniel. I frown and take a step closer to the desk, my heart racing. I clasp my palms together in a pleading gesture.

"Sir, no, please. Don’t do that," I say, my voice starting to shake. My hands are trembling so much I have to hide them. He doesn't understand. He doesn't realize that there is a very specific reason I’ve never taken a break. It’s because I can't spend a single day in that mansion peacefully. This office is my only place of solace. It is the only place I can breathe, the only escape I have from the man who hurts me.

And now Adrian is trying to take all of that away for a whole week.