LOGINSIENNAShe's still asleep curled on her side. The collar catches the dim light from the window. My mark, my possession. I told myself this was about revenge, making her understand what she did to me, what her family did to mine. I told myself I'd break her, rebuild her, teach her what it feels like to be powerless.And I have… but somewhere along the way, the script changed. Somewhere between the first night at the gilded cage and last night when she chose to stay, this stopped being about revenge and started being about something dangerously close to need.I feel the need to pour myself a drink even though it's not up to 6 AM yet. The whiskey burns but it doesn't help, because I've been here before.I remember Emily Richardson, 24 years old. She looked so much like Cassy it was unsettling. I told myself that's why I bought her… because she reminded me of the girl who destroyed me in that cafeteria.But Emily wasn't Cassy. Emily was soft and eager to please. She fell in love with me w
CASSYBridget turns and walks away. She doesn't even look back. I watch her go, then I turn to Sienna."You knew," I say. "You knew she was in Singapore and you didn't tell me.""No," Sienna says. "I didn't.""Why?""Because I wanted you to hear it from her." Sienna said with a blank expression. "I wanted you to see who she really is.""You manipulated me.""Yes."I stare at this woman who just systematically destroyed the last shred of my old life."I need to see Delilah, I need to think," I say.Sienna nods. "I'll arrange it.""Alone..."She hesitates. "Cassy, the contract…""Fuck the contract!" I can't hold back my tears. "Every damn thing keeps falling apart in MY LIFE and you think I care about a piece of paper right now?”For a long moment, we just looked at each other, while I keep shedding angry tears.Then Sienna pulls out her phone and makes a call."It's done," she says. "You have two hours. The car will take you."I start walking toward the street where the Mercedes is wai
CASSYWashington Square Park is crowded for a Tuesday afternoon. I'm standing near the fountain, my hands shoved in the pockets of the Burberry coat Sienna insisted I wear.My phone buzzes.Sienna: I'm here. You're not alone.I don't respond. I'm scanning faces, looking for a stranger, probably someone from my past who wants to twist the knife Sienna has already buried in my chest.Then I see someone who looks familiar… Mum? She looks different, even younger. Her hair is different… lighter, styled in soft waves instead of the severe bob she used to wear. And she looks HAPPY? What the hell is going on???I can't process what I'm seeing right now. "Mum?"Bridget Beaumont lowers her sunglasses. "Cassy?" she breathes. "Oh god, Cassy."She rushes toward me, her arms outstretched to hug me like we're in some movie reunion scene. Like she didn't disappear six months ago without a word leaving me and Delilah to bear the consequences.I step back. "What do you want?"She stops a few inches fro
CASSYFor one blissful moment, I forget where I am, then I feel the silk sheets against my skin. Reality crashes back, she lets me sleep in her bed. After everything that happened last night, it felt like something, maybe…"You're awake." Sienna's voice cuts through my thoughts. She's standing in the doorway of the bedroom, already dressed for the day in charcoal slacks and a cream silk blouse. She looks untouchable, nothing like the woman who held me last night, who allowed me to touch her."Good morning, Ma'am," I say. My voice is rough from sleep and screaming."It's nine o'clock," she says, checking her watch. "You've slept in. I expected you to be up by seven.""I'm sorry, I didn't know…""Rule eight: You wake when I wake. I don't care how late we were out. When I get up, you get up. Understood?"The warmth from last night has evaporated. She's back to being my torturer."Yes, Ma'am.""Good. Shower. You have fifteen minutes. Your clothes are laid out. Meet me in the kitchen."She
CASSYThe camera captures it. "Perfect," the photographer says. "Absolutely perfect."Sienna dismisses the photographer. We're alone. "Come here," she says.I crawl across the bed. She pulls me down next to her, wraps an arm around my waist. "You did well tonight," she says. "I'm proud of you.""Thank you, Ma'am," I'm not sure why I felt good. "You're welcome." Her hand strokes my hair. "Do you understand yet? What I'm doing to you?""You're breaking me.""Yes. But not just that." She turns me to face her. "I'm rebuilding you into someone better. Someone that understands consequences. That understands other people's pain.""By making me suffer?""By making you FEEL." Her hand cups my face. "You spent your whole life not feeling anything for anyone beneath you. Now you're beneath me. And you're going to learn exactly what that costs."She kisses me deeply. It is so hot, I almost forget where I am, and what this is. When she pulls back, we're both breathing hard."We're going home," sh
"No," Sienna says, her voice is hard. "She's exclusively mine. I don't share.""Pity." But he doesn't seem offended. "Well, if you change your mind...""I won't."He nods, and moves on.I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Sienna's hand drops to my head, and strokes my hair like I'm a pet."Breathe," she says softly. "I told you. I don't share. You're mine and mine alone."It should be comforting. It's not, because being exclusively hers means belonging to someone who hates me and wants to break me.---At ten o'clock, lights dim throughout the venue. A voice over the speaker system announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, please make your way to the main hall. Tonight's demonstrations will begin shortly."The crowd move as one. Sienna stands, and I stand with her."This should be interesting," she says.The main hall is enormous. A stage at one end. Seating arranged around it like a theater. But unlike a theater, there are also elevated platforms, pieces of equipment I recognize







