Chapter 5

The morning instructions arrived at 7 AM.

I was already awake. Already dressed. Already dreading what he might ask.

I opened the message with trembling hands.

During your presentation today, you will not wear underwear. You will think about my hands on you every time you say the word 'projections.' You will clench your thighs together when you feel yourself getting wet. No one will know but you—and me.

I stared at the screen.

No underwear. In the office. During a presentation. In front of Alexander and the board.

This was insane.

This was too far.

I typed back: I can't do this.

His response was immediate: You can. And you will. This is about trust, Velvet. Trusting yourself. Trusting me. Trusting that you can carry this secret without anyone knowing.

But someone will know. You will know.

Yes. And that's what will make it so delicious. Knowing that while you're standing there, being professional, being perfect, you're also mine. Wet for me. Following my commands. Our secret in a room full of people.

My body was already responding. Heat pooling between my thighs. Nipples tightening under my blouse.

What if someone finds out?

No one will find out. Unless you tell them. Do you want to tell someone, Velvet?

No. God, no.

Then you have nothing to worry about. Except how hard it will be to concentrate when all you can think about is what I'm going to do to you tonight.

I sat on my bed, phone in hand, mind racing.

I should refuse. This crossed lines I'd never crossed before. Work was supposed to be separate. Safe.

But nothing felt safe anymore. Not since Sir had started knowing things he shouldn't know.

Maybe this was a test. Maybe he wanted to see how far I'd go.

I thought about the alternative. Saying no. Disappointing him.

The thought made my chest hurt.

What are you going to do to me tonight? I typed.

That depends on how well you follow instructions today. If you're a good girl, I'll reward you. If you're not...

He left the threat unfinished. My imagination filled in the gaps.

I took a deep breath. Made my choice.

I'll do it.

Good girl. I knew you would.

I stood up. Walked to my dresser. Pulled out the lace panties I'd been planning to wear.

Then I put them back.

The office felt different today. Charged, somehow. Like everyone could see what I wasn't wearing.

They couldn't, of course. My skirt was modest. Professional. Knee-length with no hint of what lay beneath.

But I knew.

Every step I took, I felt the absence of fabric. The brush of air against my most intimate parts. The vulnerability.

It was terrifying.

It was intoxicating.

I sat at my desk and tried to work. Emails. Reports. The usual. But my mind kept drifting.

Projections.

The word echoed in my brain. I'd have to say it multiple times during my presentation. And every time I did...

My thighs clenched involuntarily.

Already. Already wet. And I hadn't even started yet.

The morning crawled by. Every second stretched into an hour. I was hyperaware of my body in a way I'd never been before.

At noon, I locked myself in a bathroom stall and pressed my hands against the cool tile wall. Breathed deeply.

What was I doing?

This was reckless. Dangerous. If anyone found out...

But no one would find out. That was the point. The secret. The power of knowing something no one else knew.

Our secret in a room full of people.

At 2:45, I gathered my presentation materials. Walked to the boardroom. Set up my slides.

The executives filed in. Took their seats.

Alexander entered last.

He sat at the head of the table. His eyes swept the room, landing on me.

"Whenever you're ready, Vivian."

I swallowed hard. Nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Kane. Today I'll be presenting our quarterly projections—"

The word hit me like electricity.

Projections. Sir's hands on me. Touching me. Claiming me.

My thighs clenched. Wetness gathered between them.

Focus. Keep going.

"—which show significant growth in key markets. If you'll direct your attention to the first slide, you'll see the regional breakdown."

I made it through slide one. Slide two.

But the presentation contained the word seven times. I'd counted.

Seven times I'd have to say it. Seven times I'd have to think about his hands.

"Our projections for Q3—"

There it was again. I felt myself getting wetter. My face grew warm.

My thighs pressed together hard.

"—indicate an upward trend."

I caught Alexander's eye. He was watching me intently. His expression was unreadable.

Did he know? Could he tell?

No. Impossible. I looked perfectly professional. No one could see beneath my skirt.

But the fear added to the arousal. The danger made it sharper.

"Moving on to our international projections—"

God. I was soaked now. Could practically feel it dripping down my thighs.

I stumbled over a word. Recovered. Kept going.

By slide four, I was a mess inside. Calm and controlled on the surface, but beneath my skin, I was burning. Every nerve ending was alive. Every sensation magnified.

"The projections team has identified several areas for improvement—"

Four times now. Four times I'd felt that jolt of forbidden pleasure.

My hands were shaking slightly. I gripped the edge of the table to steady them.

Alexander noticed. His eyes narrowed.

Keep going. Almost done.

"To summarize our projections—" Five. "—the outlook is positive, pending successful execution of our strategic initiatives."

One more. One more use of the word, and I was finished.

"Finally, these projections—" Six. Seven. "—are contingent on market conditions remaining stable."

Done.

I'd done it.

I stood there, breathing harder than I should have been, thighs pressed together, absolutely drenched beneath my professional exterior.

And no one knew.

Except Sir. Wherever he was.

"Thank you, Vivian." Alexander's voice cut through my fog. "A thorough presentation, as always."

The other executives murmured agreement. Asked questions. I answered them on autopilot, my real mind elsewhere.

I'd followed his instructions. In front of everyone. In front of Alexander.

And it had been the most erotic experience of my life.

The meeting ended. The executives filed out, chatting amongst themselves.

I started gathering my things. Hands still shaking.

"Vivian."

I froze. Alexander hadn't left.

"Close the door."

My heart slammed against my ribs. I closed the door.

He stood. Walked toward me. Stopped closer than appropriate.

"Your presentation was adequate."

Adequate. The same word as always.

"But you seemed distracted."

I opened my mouth to deny it.

"Flushed," he continued. "Unfocused at times. Almost like your mind was elsewhere."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kane. I didn't sleep well—"

"Don't." His voice hardened. "Don't insult my intelligence."

I fell silent.

He studied me. That intense, knowing gaze.

"Is there something you need to tell me, Vivian?"

The question hung in the air.

What could I possibly say? I'm not wearing underwear because a man I've never met told me not to? I spent your entire presentation imagining his hands on my body? I'm so wet right now I can barely stand?

"No, Mr. Kane." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Nothing to tell."

He watched me for a long moment.

Then he stepped back.

"Go home, Vivian. Get some rest. You look like you need it."

I grabbed my things. Headed for the door.

"And Vivian?"

I paused. Didn't turn around.

"Whatever game you're playing... be careful. Games have consequences."

I fled.

Back at my desk, I grabbed my bag. Left the office as fast as my shaking legs could carry me.

Games have consequences.

Did he know? How could he know?

I made it home. Locked the door. Collapsed against it.

My phone buzzed.

Sir.

You did wonderfully. I watched you hold yourself together. Felt your struggle through the screen. I'm proud of you, Velvet.

Through the screen?

What do you mean, through the screen?

A pause.

Then: Tonight. Midnight. I'll explain everything.

The phone buzzed again. A separate message.

And Velvet? Whatever you hear tonight... remember that everything I've done has been for you. For us. Even if it doesn't seem that way at first.

My blood ran cold.

Everything suddenly clicked into place. The knowledge he had. The coincidences that weren't coincidences. Alexander's strange comments. The feeling of being watched.

No.

It couldn't be.

But even as I denied it, I knew.

Sir wasn't a stranger.

Sir was someone who saw me every day. Someone who knew my schedule because he made my schedule. Someone who watched my presentation because he was sitting at the head of the table.

I sank to the floor. My hands shook as I typed one final message.

Are you Alexander Kane?

The response came immediately. Just two words.

Midnight, Velvet.

The world I knew shattered around me.

My boss. My Dom.

They were the same man.

And in six hours, I would have to face him.