Bound by deception

ice, my heels clicking a

-to-ceiling windows stretch behind a black glass

wns. A world I

care about the wealth o

e about

he's keepi

hell are y

harcoal suit is crisp, his tie slightly loose

he expe

ift. No surprise, no guilt,

s steepled together. Ca

His voice is smooth, like

hard enough to make the papers trembl

turn th

n a ghost of amusem

My voice shakes, but not fro

ke I'm a child th

n he

. Deli

my pulse jumps as

ne

Tw

away, his presence swall

him, the faint scent of his cologne

his eyes are t

like a puzzle

e he'

oice dips lower. Darker. "Yo

se to ba

url into fis

at of

. But it doesn't

my wrist feeling light, teasing. Threatening. "The contrac

Li

my ribs. "And when does

tens for a frac

nd his next words send

n I sa

reath

t time, I see it-a cra

f something c

Fe

one in a

I sa

I can't

ss him, the office

encil skirt rushes inside, cl

assi

me, but quickly schools her fa

u need to

sn't break

ot n

ncomfortably.

jaw

k, my pulse

secrets or the fact that I know I

rply, then nods

"O

on't

leave and pretend I don't feel

t I

something

just the

e Wa

n's office, my

need

Sp

d to figure out what the

und garage. My car waits, sleek and untouched,

top thinkin

y he loo

his mask

nto my bag

e flashes acro

R: Get out whil

tomach

essage a

rd, forcing my

n't a coi

e is wat

ts me to know

ull out of the garage, head

t need

t need

Ho

partment, locking

thing i

o qu

n the counter, ru

overreacti

Cr

fr

air

hammers i

, I turn

t door is

w I loc

idn

iver runs d

y fingers trembling as I r

n I s

its on my kitchen co

t to

t dr

lac

w hard and

iting is sha

sent

to-be isn't who

ds turn

ters to the grou

h is loud.

n the a

allway. The shadows stre

one wa

atc

ait

y left me

ng I can'

s shaking as I dial the one

Et

rings

Tw

Th

sabe

e is calm.

tighter. "Someone bro

at of

low. Da

n't m

itches.The li

whatever game I've been