mi'

the thick silence as I entered the room and said, it

eiling window with his big shoulders creating a black shadow against the pale light coming in. He

e." I stammered, hating how

ly, finally turning to face me. His sharp blue eyes pinned me i

because the weight of his eyes was t

to do," His voice was chill

eather chair on the other side of the elegant glass table as h

were wet against the cool leather as I sunk into it. The room had an overpowering

ike a countdown to my demise as he strolled toward the table. He pl

he said, tapping the first

ot concentrate on the words. My heart r

ried to sound steady, but

ns your life as you knew it is over," he s

at he had said hit me like a to

with a gaze that could exti

my fingers grabbed the chair's e

ed forward. I recoiled at the intensity i

the word hung in midair. "I

ered in a forebodin

he contract's top sheet in

le, I gazed at the p

s head slightly. "Details," he said in a mysterio

echoed, my gut c

you think I'd let your father's mistakes go unpuni

just how powerless I was. "But why me?"

se you're the perfect collateral

and tears pricked the corners of m

ered, but my voice bet

umor. You're trembling in my presen

as harsh, so I bit my lip. "

stated calmly. "And if you're smart, you'

legal jargon was incomprehensible as the letters flas

t a friendly grin. "You don't want to fin

"You can't keep me here," I said, even though as t

d with something pr

ing in my ears. "This isn't a

a contract. And like any

his presence by closing my eyes.

hout missing a beat. "But Naomi, do

cream bubbling in my chest. But I couldn't

ical. "You have until tomorrow morning to sign it

uestion was hardly aud

es stared into mine. "Pray

he turned and strode for the door. But just befor

and N

in my throat

," he said with a smirk. "It's whe

me alone with the contract and t

with outcomes and fears. The silence pressed d

it over the signature line with a shaking hand. The decision befor

hought struck me, fr

man wasn't