Sadie
The taxi pulled up to the curb, and I stared up at the skyscraper. It was a monolith of glass and steel, a monument to corporate power and wealth. My heart hammered against my ribs, a strange mix of fear and excitement. It was the tallest building in the city, and the name "Gonzalez Industries" was emblazoned on the top in stark, metallic letters. The entire building seemed to hum with a dark, silent energy, a reflection of the man who owned it.
I paid the driver and stepped out, my legs feeling a little wobbly. I walked through the revolving doors, past a silent, stony-faced security guard who nodded me toward the private elevator. As the doors slid shut, I felt a sense of finality. I was stepping into his world, into the shadows he had warned me about. The elevator ascended in a swift, silent rush, the numbers on the panel ticking up until it finally stopped on the penthouse floor.
The doors opened to a breathtaking sight. The entire floor was a massive, open space, a symphony of minimalist design and high-tech luxury. The walls were all glass, offering a stunning panoramic view of the city, and the furniture was sleek and modern. In the centre of the room, a lone figure stood with his back to me, staring out at the cityscape. He was dressed in a dark suit, his broad shoulders filling out the expensive fabric, and I felt a wave of breathless anticipation.
"Hello, princess," he said, his voice a low rumble. He didn't turn around, but I knew he knew I was there. "I wasn't expecting you."
I swallowed, my throat dry. "I… I know. I'm sorry to interrupt your work, but I needed to see you."
He finally turned, his obsidian eyes like twin black holes, drawing me in. There was a darkness in them, a cold, ruthless power that made my knees tremble, but there was also something else, a flicker of concern. "What is it, Sadie? You're agitated. Did someone hurt you?"
The question was not a question, but a command, and all my composure shattered. The fear, the anger, the humiliation of the day came flooding out in a torrent of words. "My boss. He... he kept touching me. He made these awful comments. He's a pervert. I felt so... so dirty."
As I spoke, the flicker of concern in his eyes was replaced by a cold, murderous rage so powerful it seemed to radiate off him in waves. His jaw clenched, a muscle in his cheek twitching, and his hands, which had been resting casually in his pockets, curled into fists. He didn't say a word, but the silence was more terrifying than any threat. I had come looking for his darkness, and I had found it.
"He... his name is Bill Collins," I whispered, the words trembling on my lips.
He finally spoke, his voice dangerously low and calm, a stark contrast to the storm in his eyes. "I know." The two words were a cold promise, a finality that made my heart pound in my chest. He walked toward me, a predator stalking his prey, and I found myself unable to move. He stopped a few inches from me, his scent filling my senses, a strange mix of expensive cologne and something primal and dangerous.
"Did he touch you? Did he make you cry?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
I shook my head, my eyes welling up with tears. "N-no. Not cry. But he made me... scared."
He reached out, his hand gently cupping my face. His thumb stroked my cheek, a soft, comforting gesture that was at odds with the rage in his eyes. "He won't hurt you again, princess. I promise." He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. "I'll make him understand what it means to mess with what is mine."
The words were both a terrifying threat and a strange, comforting declaration of ownership. I had come here a scared, powerless girl, and I was leaving in the hands of a monster. A beautiful, powerful, terrifying monster who was going to burn the world for me. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't scared. I felt… safe.