Chapter 7: A Dangerous Offer (And the Price She Might Pay)

Cady's POV

The days blend into each other, each one darker than the last. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. Ashwin. His hands. His breath. The feeling of being trapped, powerless, unable to scream. I wake up choking on air, my body covered in cold sweat, heart racing, throat raw.

I don't sleep much anymore.

I can't afford to.

But the days aren't any easier. Every time I see Tate, it feels like the walls close in a little more. He's watching me, always watching, his gaze heavy, invasive, like he's peeling back layers I didn't even know I had.

Today is no different.

I'm in the breakroom, refilling my water bottle, trying to push back the haze of exhaustion. I can feel him before I see him—the shift in the air, the way my skin prickles like it knows he's near. I don't even have to turn around.

"Thirsty, Sparky?" His voice slithers into the room like smoke, curling around me, suffocating.

I don't respond. I can't. Not without losing whatever tiny shred of control I still have left.

He steps closer, his presence looming behind me. Too close. "You look like hell. It suits you."

I grip the water bottle tighter, my knuckles white. I want to turn, to tell him off, to fight back. But I can't. The memory of Ashwin's hands, of being pinned, is too fresh, too raw. I can feel the panic rising in my chest, threatening to swallow me whole.

"Did I say something wrong?" His voice is low, taunting. He's enjoying this, the power he holds over me.

And yet... beneath the cruelty, I can feel it. The way his breath hitches slightly, the tension in his words. He's close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off him. It's suffocating, and yet—confusing. Because he's always near, always hovering just close enough to make me feel trapped but never touching.

I spin around, finally meeting his gaze. "What do you want, Tate?"

He smirks, but there's something in his eyes, something dark and twisted that makes my stomach flip. "Want? Who says I want anything from you, Sparky?"

He leans in, so close I can feel his breath on my skin. My heart hammers against my ribs, my entire body on high alert. But instead of doing anything, he just steps back, his smirk widening. "Don't worry, sweetheart. You're not worth the trouble."

His words sting, sharper than I expect, and I hate how they cut deep. But as he turns and walks away, I know he's lying. Because if I wasn't worth the trouble, he wouldn't be watching me the way he does.

$$$—$$$

Tate's POV

I can't stop thinking about her. It's driving me insane. She's there, in every corner of my mind, crawling under my skin. I see her in places she shouldn't be—like now.

I'm standing on the golf course, watching one of the workers retrieve a ball, and for a second, I think it's her. The way her hair falls across her face, the curve of her shoulders. My heart skips a beat. It's pathetic, really.

But then she turns, and it's not Cady. Of course, it's not. Why would she be here?

I shake it off, trying to focus on the game, but it's no use. She's in my head, twisting things around. Every time I look at her, I'm torn between wanting to push her further, to break her, and... something else. Something I don't want to admit.

She's nothing. I keep telling myself that. She's dirty, a poor girl, someone I could ruin with a snap of my fingers. But I haven't. Not yet. Because there's something about her, something that makes me hesitate.

I swing the club, sending the ball soaring across the green. It lands with a satisfying thud, but I barely notice. My thoughts are already back on her.

Why does she matter? Why does she haunt me like this?

I've had plenty of women in my life. Some I barely remember. Some I've forgotten altogether. But her? She's different. She's not supposed to be. She's just a janitor, a girl who got in way over her head. But every time I see her, I want more. I want to tear her apart, just to see if she'll fight back.

And that's what scares me.

$$$—$$$

Cady's POV

The bills are piling up. Every day, a new one comes in, stamped in red, demanding more money than I have. My parents' medical expenses are suffocating me, draining every cent I earn at Mercer Industries. No matter how hard I work, it's never enough.

I'm stuck. Trapped in this job, in this building, because I have no other choice.

I can't quit. Not with Tate watching my every move. And now, with my parents depending on me, I'm drowning.

The stress is eating away at me, and the nightmares aren't helping. Every time I close my eyes, I see Ashwin. His hands. His face. The way he mocked me as he... no, I can't think about that. I can't let myself go there.

But it's always there, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting to pull me under.

I get through the day, somehow. Barely. And just when I think I can escape to the relative safety of my apartment, I'm called to Tate's office.

My stomach twists as I walk down the hallway. I don't want to see him. Not today. Not when I'm already on the edge.

I push the door open, stepping inside. He's sitting at his desk, watching me with that same, unreadable expression.

"Sit," he says, his voice flat.

I sit, my hands folded in my lap, trying not to fidget.

He doesn't waste time. "I know about your parents. Their medical bills."

My heart skips a beat. How does he know? Of course, he knows. He knows everything.

"I can help you," he continues, his tone almost casual. "I can pay off all of their medical expenses with one check. No more bills. No more stress."

I stare at him, my mind racing. It sounds too good to be true. And it is.

"But," he adds, leaning forward, "you'll have to do one thing for me."

I swallow hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. "What's that?"

He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."