Shame

Aurora’s POV_

I had arrived at exactly 7:00 AM on the dot.

My grip on my bag tightened as I marched towards his office, my jaw set.

I had come here fully prepared for everything and anything he would throw at me, determined to show him I wasn’t a brat and I could work.

Father had shown just how important this job was to him, and he refused to unfreeze my accounts.

He said I had to keep this job for at least six months and learn how hard it was to make money.

So six months of absolute hell in the hands of his best friend.

I expected Damien to be at his office, especially since he had asked me to be there by 7 on the dot.

But the moment his office came into sight, I paused mid-step.

It was locked.

Damien wasn’t in his office.

The corner of my lips pulled downward as I checked my phone, 7:07.

Anger sparked first, but then it turned into confusion.

Was this another test? He had asked me to be here by 7, but he never said anything about his being there.

And I definitely didn’t expect the boss to be here at the same time I’d be here.

So it was understandable and I had to calm myself down.

Looking around, I found a sofa at the far end with a charger next to it, plugging my phone in I decided to wait.

By 10:00 AM, my patience was hanging by a thread.

My feet hurt, I was hungry and tired and Damien was nowhere to be seen.

People had started arriving. Assistants. Executives. People who belonged here. They walked past me with curious glances, their eyes lingering just long enough to sting.

Whispers followed soon after.

I caught my reflection in the glass wall across the hall—sitting stiffly outside a locked office like an obedient little dog waiting for its owner to come home.

Pathetic.

My fingers curled into my bag strap as the urge to leave crept in.

But I can’t. I really needed this, or else it’s all over for me.

Father was sure to tell me the implications of not getting this job.

It was either this or I had to work as a waitress to make ends meet until I found something better.

So you understand why I needed this.

By 12:05 PM, I was pacing.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Each footstep I heard made my head snap up, in hopes that he had shown up, but I was disappointed each time.

My stomach growled, my feet throbbed, and irritation burned hot enough to make my eyes sting. I was done. Completely done.

I have been here for four hours. Four good hours, and Damien hadn’t even set foot into this place.

I had never felt so humiliated and angry in my life.

I reached for my bag, ready to leave—ready to tell my father exactly how his precious friend had wasted my time—

When footsteps approached.

I spun around immediately, eyes widened in hopes that Damien had decided to show up, but I was disappointed.

Again.

Standing before me was a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties, hair sleeked up in a perfect bun and her lips pulled into a frown.

She gave me a condescending look, her eyes scanning me over in annoyance.

I didn’t know who she was, but I already knew I wouldn’t like her.

The tag on her shirt read ‘chief of staff.’ And I knew we wouldn’t get along at all.

Her gaze lingered on the Yves Saint Laurent heels I had on and her frown deepened.

“You must be the new assistant.”

The way she said it made my skin crawl, like I was beneath her and she wanted me to know it.

I scoffed. “You think I’d be sitting here if I wasn’t?”

Her lips twitched.

“Take this to him.” She hissed, slapping a file into my hand.

Her rude tone shocked me, and I pushed the folder back into her hands.

“If I knew where he was, do you think I’d still be here?”

It was crazy how she thought she could step up here and order me to do something.

“Then congratulations,” she said flatly. “You’d finally be useful around here.” She pushed the folder back into my hands.

Heat rushed to my face, and I opened my mouth to snap back, to argue.

But she already started walking away.

“You are the assistant.” She tossed over her shoulder. “Assist.”

The arrogance in her tone made me clench my teeth in anger, but I knew I had to behave myself. If I wanted to keep this job, doing everything they wanted of me was the right thing to do.

But that didn’t mean I would let anyone walk all over me.

Letting out a huff, I looked down at the folder to see an address attached to it.

This should be the location he is at.

I wanted to reject this. Throw it back at her. But that would be proving Damien right.

So I grabbed my bag and walked out with my teeth clenched together.

The building before me wasn’t even remotely professional.

It wasn’t an office but a private penthouse.

When I thought Damien had skipped work, I thought it had been for something far more important.

I could feel the anger I had felt earlier rising to the top once more.

I would definitely give this man a piece of mind when I see him.

The doorman was cautious as I walked up, giving me a once-over.

“Mr. Blackwood doesn’t like disturbances.” He said the moment I was within earshot.

I lifted my chin, “He’s expecting me.”

The lie came easily, but the folder in my hands was enough to make him waver.

“Name?” He asked.

“Aurora Kingston.” My name slides off my tongue with pride. Everyone knew he was best friends with my daddy's best friend.

His eyes instantly widened in shock as he recognized the name, and then he hurriedly opened up the door.

The hallway inside was dim, quiet in a way that felt intentional.

It felt as if I was intruding and some part of me wanted to turn around and leave.

But I was here already, might as well give him the folder and leave.

My heels echoed too loudly as I walked, each step feeding the growing unease in my chest.

“Hello!” I called out, hoping he would hear me and come out.

It didn’t seem as if anyone was home, but I knew the doorman wouldn’t have let me in if he wasn’t.

I stopped outside the door, hand hovering.

I knocked and waited.

But no one answered. I tried again, and once again.

And then I assumed he just couldn’t hear me.

My fingers hovered over the doorknob, hesitation creeping in as I wondered if I really should be doing this.

Pride pushed me forward before doubt could stop me and I opened the door.

And froze.

The room was dark, intimate, heavy with something I didn’t have a name for yet.

Damien stood near the center, relaxed with his hands in his pockets, perfectly composed—fully clothed, unbothered. He had his back to me, but I knew he was the one.

But that wasn’t what made me freeze.

In front of him was a woman.

Stark naked and on her knees. She had a gag in her mouth and a running vibrator deep inside her.

Her posture was flawless. Head bowed with her hands resting obediently on her thighs.

She didn’t move.

She didn’t even speak.

Submission radiated from her like heat.

The realization of the scene in front of me made my breath catch painfully in my throat.

That was his sub.

Shock slammed into me first.

Then disgust.

And then—

something else.

Something hot and unwelcome twisted low in my stomach.

This wasn’t crude.

It wasn’t messy.

It was controlled.

Was this what he meant when he said he would tame me?

My mind screamed that I should look away. That I should be offended. Furious. Gone.

But my body didn’t listen.

And I felt heat pool at the bottom of my stomach.

The woman’s face lifted and she was looking directly at me.

Our eyes met.

She didn’t flinch. She didn’t even look remotely embarrassed.

It looked as if I had walked into something already far too gone to stop.

My face burned

I shouldn’t be seeing this.

I shouldn’t be standing here.

Seconds stretched, long enough for shame to crawl up my spine, but I was too shocked to even move.

Then Damien spoke. “How long,” he asked plainly, not even bothering to turn and look at me, “were you planning on watching?”