The Assistant's Awakening

nal. He gave me a beautiful room in his minimalist penthouse, a space that overlooked the city lights. He mentored me, letting me contribute to his projects, and showered me with gifts-a first-editi

re brilliant," he' d say, his hand resting briefly

nds, the constant catering to his whims all felt worth it. He was buildin

e on a blueprint, and I heard his voice coming from the balcony of his office. He was tal

gns look better by comparison." Liam' s voice was casual, dismissive, laced

hat grated on my ears. He said s

so dependent on this job, she'd never leave, even

very professional opportunity he' d ever given me replayed in my mind, now tainted, twisted in

, and stared at the screen, but the words were just a blur. From that moment

he usual knot of anxiety. I just looked up at him and said, "Of course, Liam." No frustration, no hint of the all-nighter I'd have to pull. I simply stopped taking his condescending remarks p

on a dog. "You're finally maturing, Chloe. Learning to handle the pressure." He saw my newfound stoicism n

ls, whispering critiques into my ear, expecting me to nod in agreement. He bought me expensive, avant-garde art pieces, sculptures of twisted metal and canvases of chaotic paint splatters that he

ting for me to gush, "You're so generous, Liam. Thank you." And I would deliver the line, my voice a

nt man, placed a new contract on my desk. It was for another three years, with a negligible raise.

end of the week," David said, his eyes holding a fl

Thank you, David.

al day of my employment, I walked into Liam' s office. He was on the phone, waving me in impatient

. I placed a single sheet of paper on his p

on shifted from annoyance to disbelief, and then

my two weeks' notice. Though, since my contract is officially over

rother, full of bright-eyed ambition, needed seed money for a tech startup that was his entire world. The pressure from my family was immense. "Chloe, y

red flags-the 24/7 availability, the vaguely worded duties. Liam had been charming, painting a picture of a mentorship, a partnership. He had researched my family'

signing bonus" he called it. It wasn't a gift. It was a

is words from that day on the balcony echoed in my mind again, a final, c

hitect, but a small man who needed to diminish others to feel bi

et a man tell me what I was worth. Now, I wa