This man really had been watching her. How could she not have noticed?
Or had she? Those nudges of unease when she walked places alone—maybe they hadn’t been her imagination.
If she’d paid more attention—given more heed to her instincts—maybe she wouldn’t be in this situation right now. If only she could go back . . .
“You stay late at work far too often.” He almost sounded as if he were scolding a child. “Eleventh floor. Corner office with the plant by the window.”
Her breath hitched.
He laughed softly—a low, pleased rumble. “You work for Morrison, Blake, and Associates. I especially enjoy watching you through those big glass panels. It’s like a stage, really.”
“How—how do you know all this?” she whispered.
He ignored the question. “Your firm takes on such interesting clients. Powerful ones. Dangerous ones. Tell me, Gina . . . why corporate law? Why contracts? Why lie to yourself that paper is safer than people? Why pretend you’re not involved in things far bigger than you understand?”
Her pulse thrummed painfully in her throat. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hmm.” His voice drifted closer, silk over steel. “I do, actually.”
Something brushed her shoulder.
His fingers, she realized. His fingers were trailing her arm, lingering near the zip ties.
She jerked away.
He chuckled as if her reaction amused him. “You’re doing beautifully, Gina. Terrified but obedient. You’re meeting my expectations. Bravo for that.”
Rustling sounded as he moved. Metal clinked. Then the soft zip of something opening.
His bag, she realized. What was inside? Something that would cause her pain?
She didn’t want to die!
“What are you doing?” Her voice cracked as nausea roiled inside her. She tried to shove worst-case scenarios out of her mind but couldn’t.
“Just . . . looking at my options.” A metal instrument glinted as he lifted it into the light.
She couldn’t tell what it was—pliers? Something sharper?
Something worse?
He let them dangle, the metallic clink echoing through the room.
She swallowed hard, nausea rising as unthinkable possibilities raced through her mind.
This man could hurt her.Reallyhurt her.
And she was powerless to stop him.
She should have fought back. Shouldn’t have dropped her phone. Should have been quicker on her feet.
But now it was too late.
She was at this man’s mercy.
She was going to end up as the subject on a crime documentary, wasn’t she?
Tears pressed at her eyes.
