BOUND: Blood and Desire

zed, Lila's name lig

olland Inc.? Place gives me cult vib

ed, thumbs flyin

: *I'll survive.

ge planted a seed of unease. Something about Tolland Inc. did feel... off. The internet offered lit

ing the frantic pulse of the city. Rochelle adjusted her blazer and stepped into the lobby, heels sinki

cutive assistant to the CEO, but now, in a s

t? I need this job. sh

ut through the bust

her, clipboard in hand, every

tartled to be called first. She

," the woman said, already turning. "F

, her nerves spiking with every step. This wasn't ju

a fractured view of the city, white walls gleamed under unforgiving lights, and

r?" Olivia asked,

t's... evocative." The jagged lines seemed alm

approval, maybe? "We expect our executive assistants to han

his time. She'd prepared for this-mock interviews, resume

obal impact," Olivia said briskly.

impact. In pushing boundaries. Tolland's mission aligns with

tched. "Mr. Tolland

ouble doors opened

red, and the

rmor, his movements were very

s sculpture, but it was his eyes that held he

ice smooth as shadow. "

only just

d the discussion. He turned

roat dri

e as if it were a puzzle he already knew the

it like a chord

job?" she answer

-something sharper. "I didn't ask wh

ruth slip through. "Control. Ov

her file. "Community college. Harvard MBA. GoodSpace

ng. Thrilling

readable. "Can you handle

keep a

rk ni

ctically n

angerous. "Good." He leaned

ants three wishes. The first, for wealth, poisons his village.

tilled. The

said finally. "He didn't realiz

Damien's face: satis

u're

it, w

as she stood. "Damien, th

's the

ate. Olivia's mouth flattened into

, heart hammering.

n rose.

evator, sleek, silent. No bu

or?" she asked, t

ps me mov

a lone butt

t pretentious

le. "Not enoug

-walls steel-gray, chrome details gleaming. A

r work

ade her pulse skip. She nodde

g associates to

you prepare?", R

ew things I'd need you to get for them."

ipped, grasping for her humor shie

basement. A clerk will assist you." His voice d

hat that meant, he hit t

mien's presence lingered. Rochelle exh

ping paper and wine bottles, she was

she steeled hersel

was

urning