جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 330

Cassandra's PovThe days after the shooting felt different. The danger was real now. It was not just something he talked about. We were bonded by it. He had saved my life. I had seen the violence he was capable of. It should have scared me more. But it didn't. It made something between us sharper. More addictive.He started to train me. "I will not always be there to shield you," he said one morning. He took me to a room in the penthouse I hadn't seen. It was a gym, but simpler. The floors were matted."Show me your stance," he said.I stood there awkwardly. He came up behind me. He put his hands on my hips. He adjusted my feet. "Wider," he said. His voice was close to my ear. "Balance is everything."He taught me how to throw a punch. He wrapped his hands around mine, showing me how to make a fist. "Thumb on the outside," he said. "Always." He showed me how to use my whole body, not just my arm. He stood in front of me and let me practice on his open palms. The sound of my fist hitti

Cassandra's PovThe peace didn't last for long. The retaliation began quietly and weird things started happening. Damien told me to not leave the penthouse. He told me that the security was doubled, and for some reason, I believed him. I felt safe.One afternoon, I was in the library, looking at a book. The lights suddenly went out and the hum of the air conditioner stopped. Everywhere was silent. Then, the emergency lights came on. I heard a shout from the hallway and it was cut off immediately.My heart jumped into my throat. I put the book down and walked to the door. I opened it slowly and checked the hallway. It was empty, but I could hear the sound of a struggle from near the front door. It was definitely not Damien's men because their fights were quiet and efficient. This one was messy and loud.I turned back into the library to find a phone and hide. A hand covered my mouth from behind. A hand wrapped around my waist, yanking me off my feet. I screamed against the gloved hand.

Cassandra's PovWeeks turned into months, and the city outside the windows changed from winter gray to the fresh greens of spring. I was free, I went to see my brother Leo, who cried the moment he saw me, apologizing a hundred times. I told him it was over, assured him I was safe, but I did not tell him everything, some things were meant only for me and Damien.Then Damien did something huge, something I was not expecting, using his money and power not in the way I was used to. He tracked down the men who ran the underground network, the ones responsible for the auctions. He did not fight them with violence, nor did he destroy them. Instead, he bought them out, paying an obscene amount of money that no one could refuse. He purchased the entire operation, and then he shut it down forever.One evening, as we stood on the balcony with the door wide open so I could come and go as I pleased, he told me about it. “It is gone,” he said. “The building has been sold, and the records destroyed.

Rachel's PovThe next morning I walked into the office trying to act normal. My body still remembered everything from last night with Jethro. Every time I moved, I felt a little sore between my legs and it made me think about his cock inside me again.I kept my head down and went straight to my desk. Jethro was already there at his cubicle across the floor. He looked up when I passed and our eyes met for a second. He gave me a small nod like nothing had happened but I saw the way he watched me sit down.All morning we worked on different things and avoided each other. In the team meeting, he sat on the opposite side of the table and spoke about the presentation we finished last night. He sounded professional and calm.I added a few comments when needed but my voice felt shaky. Nobody seemed to notice anything different. When the meeting ended everyone went back to their desks and I tried to focus on emails.By lunch time I could not take it anymore. The memory kept playing in my head.

Rachel's PovOne evening our team got an email about a late-night virtual call with an important client on the west coast. The call was set for nine at night our time because of the time difference. Our manager asked who could join and I volunteered right away. Jethro did too. A couple other people said yes but by eight thirty they backed out saying family stuff came up. That left just me and Jethro to handle the call.I felt excited knowing we would be alone again. I stayed at my desk finishing some work until it was time. Jethro messaged me around eight forty five. "Conference room three? I'll set up the laptop.""Sure see you there" I typed back.I grabbed my notebook and walked to the room. The floor was already empty and most lights were off. Jethro had the big screen on and the laptop connected. He sat at the long table with his tie loosened."Hey" he said when I came in. "Looks like it's just us.""Yeah the others bailed" I answered and sat next to him.He closed the door and t