"After ninety days," he said, "if you still want to disappear, I won't stop you."
If.
Like he thought I might change my mind. Arrogant didn't even begin to cover it.
"Then we have a deal," I heard myself say.
Olek smiled. It was the most dangerous thing I'd ever seen.
"Not yet, we don't." He returned to his desk and pulled out a folder. "I need it in writing."
Of course, he did. He handed me the folder. Inside was a contract—actual legal paperwork, printed on expensive stock, complete with terms and conditions laid out in precise black text.
"You had this drawn up already," I said.
I scanned it. Everything he'd said in the pantry was there, plus a space to add everything I'd just negotiated. I filled them in, then continued reading. Confidentiality clauses. Compensation terms–split into two payments. The ninety-day limit. At the bottom, two signature lines.
"I told you. I'm prepared."
"You were that sure I'd say yes?"
"I'm that sure you need what I'm offering." He held out a pen. "Sign it, and half the money transfers tonight. The other half will be sent to you after thirty days. You'll have the identities by Friday."
I stared at the contract. At my name typed neatly above the signature line. This was insane. Reckless. Dangerous. This was also the only way I'd keep Zara safe. I took the pen. Signed my name. And felt the trap close around me like velvet-lined steel.Olek countersigned, then pulled out his phone. Three taps and he turned the screen toward me.
Transfer complete: $7,500.00
"Tomorrow night," he said. "My bedroom. Ten PM."
"What?"
"You signed the contract, Katrina. That means you're mine starting now." He stood and buttoned his jacket, suddenly all business. "But I'm going to give you twenty-four hours to get used to the idea. Tomorrow night, you come to me. Voluntarily. No fear. No hesitation."
"And if I do hesitate?"
His smile was slow and wicked. "Then I'll fuck the hesitation right out of you." He walked to the door, opened it, and paused. "Get some sleep," he said. "You're going to need it."
Then he was gone, leaving me alone with a signed contract and the sinking realization of what I'd just agreed to. I looked down at the paper in my hands. Ninety days. I could survive anything for ninety days.
Right?
Katrina
Ididn't sleep. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Olek's face. That predatory smile. Those cold eyes heating up when I signed my name on the dotted line.
You're mine starting now.
I'd spent the last three years making sure I belonged to no one. Not Marcus. Not any man. I'd clawed my way to independence, to safety, to something that almost resembled peace. And I'd just signed it all away in under five minutes.
By 6 AM, I gave up on sleep entirely and headed to the kitchen. The house was still dark, still quiet. I liked this time of morning—before everyone else woke up, before the mansion filled with noise and expectations. Just me and the work and the illusion of control.
I tied my apron on and started the coffee. Not the fancy French press Olek preferred, but the industrial-sized pot that would fuel the staff through the morning. Muscle memory tookover—measuring grounds, checking water temperature, setting out mugs.
Normal. I could pretend this was a normal day. My phone buzzed.
SHANICE
Got your Venmo. What the hell, Kat? Where did you get $7500?
