Chapter 3: "The Boss’s Rules"
Elena stayed standing, staring at Dominic. He didn’t say anything at first, just looked at her like he was trying to figure her out. She was starting to feel like a bug under a microscope, and it made her skin crawl.
Finally, Dominic spoke, his voice calm and cold. “Sit down.”
She shook her head. “I’m not sitting down.”
He didn’t get angry or anything. He just kept staring at her with that same look. It was like he didn’t even care. “You think you have a choice?” he asked, his voice quiet but so sure.
“I do,” she said, but even she didn’t believe it.
Dominic stood up, moving towards her. He wasn’t tall like most people, but there was something about him that made him seem bigger, and stronger, like he could crush anyone with just one move. Elena took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest.
“You don’t get it, Elena,” he said, standing way too close now. “I didn’t make the rules, but I enforce them. You’ll learn soon enough that there’s no way out.”
His words were like ice, freezing her from the inside. She wanted to say something back, but she couldn’t find the words. What could she even say? He was right. She had no power here. She was stuck.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she finally muttered, but it felt weak even to her.
Dominic chuckled, and it wasn’t a nice laugh. It was more like he was laughing at her. “You will be,” he said. Then, he stepped back and turned toward his desk.
“Now sit. I have things to discuss with you,” he said.
Reluctantly, Elena sat down. The chair was cold and uncomfortable, but she didn’t care. It was better than standing. She crossed her arms, trying to look tough, but inside, she was a mess.
Dominic sat behind his desk and looked at her like he was waiting for something.
“You have two options,” he said. “You can cooperate and make this easy, or you can make it hard on yourself. Either way, you’re mine now. And you will follow my rules.”
Elena wanted to argue, but the words caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure what she could do anymore. She hated this. She hated him.
“I’m not your slave,” she snapped.
He didn’t flinch. “No, you’re not. But you will learn that I don’t give you a choice in anything.”
Elena’s heart raced. She was trapped. The room felt even colder now, and she couldn’t escape.
“Now, let’s talk about your future,” he said, pulling out a stack of papers from his desk.
Her future? Elena felt sick. She didn’t want to think about it. Not in this place. Not with him.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
