Chapter 47: A Trap Behind Closed Doors

Crash.

An expensive glass shattered across the office floor as Hans flung it in a fit of rage.

"Damn it! FUCK! FUCK! That Tony Stark has gone too far! All I did was make a small deal with Congress, and now he's losing his mind over it!"

The suave, well-composed man seen earlier at the Capitol was nowhere to be found. Hans now resembled a furious beast, his face contorted with anger.

"Pen holder?"

Smashed.

"Monitor?"

Smashed.

A porcelain vase from the Yuan dynasty?

He paused. That one, he gently placed back down.

Jack, the anxious assistant standing off to the side, dared not say a word. When Hans lost his temper, anyone in his path could get scorched. Jack still wanted a few more years to live and hopefully, a healthy savings account courtesy of his hot-headed, clueless boss.

"That damn Stark dares humiliate me like this? Who does he think he is?" Hans growled. He had recently taken to quoting from ancient Eastern texts, though he clearly didn't grasp them.

"What's that Russian, Ivan, up to lately?"

Now that he had vented some of his fury, Hans sat down, more at ease.

"He's still buried in the lab, boss—tinkering with robotics and fiddling with those crystal components. You know me, I'm good with my fists, but when it comes to science, I'm useless."

"Exactly. Useless. I pay you a fortune and what do you do with your time? Smoke, drink, hit up salons for perms. I swear, you've partied through every damn nightclub in New York!" Hans snapped.

"Heh, Boss, you know me too well. But my loyalty to you? It's like the sun and the moon—unshakable. I'd charge through blades or walk through fire for you!"

Hans rolled his eyes but gave a half-smile. "Fine, fine. Call Maria in."

Jack, seeing Hans's mood improve, sighed in relief. His shameless flattery had paid off.

This boss wasn't that hard to please after all.

Maria was a recent hire. With her striking beauty and graceful figure, she'd immediately drawn attention from the office's male employees.

Jack was no exception. As Hans's trusted aide, he often harassed her openly. Maria, a recently divorced single mother, was too vulnerable to protest.

When she saw Jack approaching, her chest tightened. The bruises from yesterday's rough encounter still lingered faintly on her skin.

She feared this violent man who didn't know his own strength.

"The boss wants to see you," Jack said, his eyes flicking down to the exposed neckline of her blouse.

"I'll go now," Maria replied quietly, visibly relieved to hear it was Hans calling her.

She stood and attempted to walk past him, but Jack shifted to block part of the path, forcing her to brush past.

"Don't be shy, Maria. I'm not going to bite."

Face flushed, Maria hurried forward. Her graceful movement left Jack momentarily dazed.

Knock knock knock.

"Come in," Hans called, his voice slightly trembling like a hungry man awaiting a feast.

"Boss, you asked for me?" Maria entered.

"Close the door," he said.

Click.

The lock turned.

Hans opened his computer and played a pop song in the background.

He stared at her white blouse, white heels, white stockings and swallowed hard.

"Don't stand so far away. Come closer," he said, feeling the heat rise in his chest.

Maria had joined the company earlier that year. Word around the office was that she was divorced and raising a child. Though already in her thirties, she was impeccably maintained her golden hair, blue eyes, and fair skin gave her the elegance of a classic Western beauty.

Her toned figure and graceful posture were evidence of her discipline.

"If there's something you need, Boss, please let me know," Maria said, taking a careful step closer.

Hans tried to look up at her face, but her chest blocked the view. The rising desire within him became harder to contain.

"How long have you been working here, Maria?"

"Two months," she answered, standing straight. Her long, slender legs were tightly pressed together, her form-fitting skirt emphasizing every curve.

Hans couldn't help imagining how it might feel to sit on her lap.

"Are you getting used to the job?"

"It's been alright. Everyone has been kind to me. And I still manage to go home and breastfeed my child."

"You're still breastfeeding?" Hans blinked, surprised. He'd known she was a mother but hadn't realized the child was that young.

"She's just one year old. I believe breast milk is the best for her," Maria replied with a soft smile, her face glowing with maternal pride.

"That must be hard to raising a child all on your own," Hans said. His thoughts were far from compassionate. All he could picture was her breastfeeding, an image that aroused rather than humbled him.

"It is," Maria admitted, her expression darkening at the painful memories.

"Let me help you," Hans said, rising from his chair. "I can give you everything you need. You and your child will want for nothing."

He moved in and pulled her into an embrace.

"Ah!" Maria stiffened, frozen. It was the first time she had experienced workplace harassment and she didn't know how to respond.

"Mr. Hans, please don't. I'm not worthy of this. I'm just... damaged goods."

Rip.

Hans's eyes gleamed red. Her words meant nothing to him. His mind was consumed by lust.

He caught sight of a torn piece of purple lace and all he could think about was how large it was.

What a waste of resources! Shameful! As an outspoken environmental advocate, Hans felt morally obligated to condemn this extravagance.

Maria stood there, flushed with shame. Her conservative upbringing had kept her body pure—until now. If her ex-husband hadn't betrayed her, she might have stayed married for life.

But that betrayal had destroyed her trust in love.

Now, her body—once reserved only for her spouse—had been exposed to her boss, even if only partially. To Maria, this felt like a violation of her deepest values.

"Please, Boss, stop looking," she pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes. But Hans remained unmoved.

Her trembling figure consumed his vision. He saw nothing else.

He had seen large before but never like this.

"Now, I order you to come to me willingly!" he barked, though her terrified expression slightly calmed his frenzy.

"No. I won't," Maria said firmly.

"Then I'll fire you," Hans sneered. "And I'll make sure no one in New York hires you."

"You ...." Maria was speechless. Where could she go? How could she survive?

She was a single mother with no advanced skills, only capable of clerical work. And she had a breastfeeding child to raise.

Anyone who's raised a child knows the costs—formula, diapers, medical bills for fevers. They pile up fast.

"I ..." Tears streamed down her cheeks as humiliation engulfed her.

(End of Chapter)

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