From Gilded Cage To Unchained Queen

Barnet

esigner dress rumpled and torn. She looked like a broke

e snickered. "She rea

ulating, burned with a raw fury I rarely saw. He turne

ed, like roaches

to her, a gesture of shared under

ice was a whip-crack. "D

humiliated me again, in front of the

in my eyes. As I walked, I heard their voices

she spat. "Don't

oice, softer, pleadi

rms around her. A desperate, raw embrace. It

voice was thick with an

he fire in my cheeks. I knew then. He had never

never being public. About my place. Don' t be foolish, Jo

blur through my tears. I was just a co

had rules. Rules about guests, about noise, about my very e

avernous space. The room felt colder, larger. I

ced escape. I was back at the

e couldn' t afford. I worked two jobs, studied late

means to an end. It sounded ugly. It fe

a gilded office, sterile and i

nt?" he'd asked

s life," I'

ssing gaze that stripped me b

ars blurring my v

A chilling, predato

s secret. His property.

me awake. The front

looked disheveled, his tie ask

you alright?" I as

m, pulling me up roughly. His mouth descended on mine, h

against his chest. My

g. "What's wrong, Josie? Not ea