SIGNED TO SUFFER

easily controlled as she initially thought gnawed at her. He was a mystery, and that unsettled her in a way she wasn't accustomed to. She had always been the one pull

afford to let

to finish this deal. She needed him to stay in line, to understand his place in her world. But deep down, she felt

Lucas's name. He had been strangely distant lately, not even looking at her directly during the few conver

, her heart beating fas

red, trying to kee

ough, his tone colder than she

rritation creeping into

s spoke again, his words were laced with somethin

uilding even through the phone. It was as if he was prep

" Madia snapped, trying to regain co

e dropped lower, the words lingering in the air between them. "Yo

er throat. He couldn't

e responded, her voice betraying

, his tone flat and final. "But you're wrong, Madia

at? The unease she had been feeling for days flared into a sharp spike

she demanded, her vo

keep pretending this is just about business. There's more to it. We both know it. And when the tim

way he framed his words that made her feel cornered. He was trying to make her d

though her voice faltered slightly. "Yo

softly, almost too softly. "You'l

ng the phone, the weight of his words pressing down on her. Her heart

-

le as he looked up from his coffee, but there was something different in the air, a quiet, simmering tension that hung

her eyes narrowing slightly as sh

ment, as though studying her. It made her uncomfortable, but she refused

e're on the same page, Madia. I think you're still trying to force this into so

tion. "What are you talking abou

w and steady. "You keep thinking you can manipulate everything around you

neutral. He couldn't be serious.He was just try

voice cool. "You're a tool in my plan. Nothing more. Yo

aze never leaving hers. "You think you're in control," he said softly. "But you're n

herself to push it down. She wouldn't let him see how much his

-

ery move she made. Every interaction with Lucas felt like a calculated chess move, a

cial reports. She had learned long ago how to bury her feelings beneath a

the room, his presence as imposing as

to you," he said

er fingers tapping rhythmically

teps closer, standing at the edge of her desk, his eye

d, his voice quiet but laced with finality. "You're in too deep now. You d

moment, the world around them seemed to freez

urned and walked out, leaving her

ng was changing. And for the first time in a lo