na'

artment was small and nothing like the spacious apartme

e with the air of someone repeating herself for the hundredth ti

too much into it. He felt guilty, that's all. His sister stole my boy

pson don't do guilt. They don't do favors for fun, eit

d not

he way he'd looked at me as if he could devour me without touching me. That had felt l

even if it is guilt, use it. Thank him. Seduce him,

d. "No. Abso

nked. "

nge games. I want my life back-a job, stability. I don't want Eric'

ly noble. Do you have any idea how long it'

e catering to powerful men. Done being someone's convenient entert

y backing down. "Y

see it in her expression-she thought

k about him. About the way Eric smelled, the warmth of his touch, ho

*

d there. Four years I'd given this company-weekends, holidays, sleeples

spoke clearly. "I need to p

ping. She frowned at her screen, clicked a few more times, an

Grey. I repo

ed to explain. Just give me

nch. She turned her monitor slightly towa

asked, leaning f

ur name isn't showing up anywh

. "That's not possible. I

e. "No employment contract. No payroll hist

ared. "Then how

o this, all payments associated with your n

ungs. "Wait. What

ever officially employed by this company.

disbelieving. "So you're sayin

gged. "C

as my supervisor," I said, tr

thing cruel. "Sounds more

ed against her desk. "I'm not here begging

Grey, from the company's perspective, you weren't fir

arrangement

re demanding compensation

gripped the edge of her desk. "So you're t

d say you have some nerve

finally understood-this wasn't a mis

roposal you touched had Mark's name first," she

ck. "I drafted those proposals. I ran t

And how would w

id. "Emails. Meeting minu

tem access has been revo

isted. "You'll see me here every day. Early mornings. Late

ned. "Security foota

meone's labor is

together. "Be car

about what? That I gave four years to this comp

d and precise, she said, "Perhaps your... contribut

. I stared at her. "

t on every project. Who's to say w

ok. "Say it,

ng. "People might assume your i

e accusing me of sleeping my way thro

hat from the company's perspective,

ed. "I'm taking this publ

esk. "Security," she spoke in

red in the doorw

employed here," she said,

ck. "You can

gaze. "We a

t. Couldn't. As they steered me ou

ing dragged out like an intruder

of the office, I stumbled

amiliar

rthy, laced with something dangerous-wrapped around m

rolled over me, l

u... You look like the world just finish