Chapter 2
Marlene’s strength was no match for Dewey’s hulking frame. Just as despair began to swallow her, her fingers closed around a beer bottle on the table
With a surge of adrenaline, she swung it with all her might, smashing it against Dewey’s head.
Blood gushed instantly, and Dewey collapsed with a muffled groan, crumpling to the floor.
Marlene’s breath hitched, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She stumbled back, collapsing onto the floor.
It took several agonizing minutes before she could drag herself out of the restaurant, her legs barely holding her up.
Outside a convenience store, she fumbled for a pack of cigarettes, her hands shaking so badly she couldn’t get the lighter to catch.
“Smoking after drinking like that? You’re going to feel like hell tomorrow,” a voice drawled.
A man in a hoodie leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her with an easy grin.
“I’m a doctor, and here’s some free advice: chug some honey water. It’ll help.”
“Get lost, creep!” Marlene muttered, slipping away in her high heels without looking back.
The next morning, the shrill blare of her alarm jolted her awake. Her head
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throbbed like it was splitting open, but she forced herself through a full face of makeup before heading to the office.
Marlene had barely stepped through the door when a young woman,
barely out of her teens, charged at her, flinging a splash of red ink across Marlene’s face.
“You filthy homewrecker! How dare you seduce my dad!”
The office froze, every eye on them. The red ink dripped down Marlene’s cheeks.
Before Marlene could process what was happening, the girl grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking viciously.
“Look at this shameless slut, trying to steal my dad and play mistress! Well, it’s not happening.
“She works here, doesn’t she? Sleeping her way to the top, huh? She’s tried to seduce my father!”
It didn’t last long before security rushed over and dragged the girl away, though she kept hurling insults until she was forced out.
Marlene stumbled to the bathroom to clean up. Red ink smeared across her skin and clothes, painting a pitiful picture in the mirror.
She pulled out her phone, her fingers quivering as she started to dial the police. But a hand shot out, pressing down on the screen.
“Dewey’s in the hospital because of you,” Kenyon said, his voice devoid of warmth.
His expression was all sharp edges, brimming with irritation over the botched deal.
Marlene met his gaze, her mind flashing to the way his eyes used to
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soften in moments of passion. Now, however, they were cold and distant, like she was a stranger.
“Our deal with Dewey’s dead,” Kenyon continued, his tone clipped.
“If you go to the police, you’ll drag the company into a PR nightmare.
“In the adult world, everything comes down to gains and losses. And you didn’t exactly lose anything last night. Let’s just drop it.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
Marlene stared at him and said, clear and cutting, “Get out.”
Back at her desk, she pulled her resignation letter from the drawer, double–checking every detail.
Not before long, she’d tricked Kenyon into signing a contract. He hadn’t even bothered to glance at the details, so he didn’t know that it was her resignation letter.
This would be her final month here. Once she wrapped up all her handovers, she would be free.
In his office, Kenyon tossed a black bank card onto the desk, his eyes glued to his computer screen.
“I messed up yesterday;” he said coolly. “There’s 30 thousand dollars on that card. Go treat yourself to a new bag.”
He paused, then added, “Meet me at the usual spot tonight.”
Marlene picked up the card, her fingers tracing its sleek edges. This was Kenyon’s way–hurt her, then toss her a shiny trinket to smooth it over.
To him, a secretary who could warm his bed without causing trouble was convenient, nothing more.
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She stared at the card for a few seconds before snapping it in half with a sharp crack.
“Mr. Burt, the game’s over. You said it yourself that we’re in a free relationship. I believe I can end it whenever I want.”
Marlene strode out of his office, her phone buzzing incessantly in her pocket. She checked the screen and saw a string of bank transfers from Kenyon.
He said nothing, just giving her more money to fix the problem. A humorless smile touched her lips.
For the first time, Marlene saw herself for what she had been to him all along. She was just a well–kept pet.
No matter what had happened, Marlene remained responsible for her work. Two hours later, she had pulled herself together, delivering her presentation with flawless precision.
“This proposal focuses on two key areas for implementation…”
Gasps cut through her words.
Marlene whipped around to the screen and saw her meticulously prepared slides replaced by a series of explicit photos. A video played, filling the room with sultry moans of a sexy woman.
Every drop of blood in her body seemed to freeze. She was staring at hérself.
In five years, Kenyon had been her only lover. He’d always been wicked in bed, coaxing her into letting him snap intimate photos, claiming they were keepsakes for himself.
“Holy crap, isn’t that Marlene?” someone whispered, barely containing
their shock.
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“Who’d have thought? She’s so wild.”
“She’s got some nerve, playing the good girl while pulling that off. Gotta say, her body’s killer.”
“Explains her promotions,” another voice sneered.
“Guess she’s been putting in overtime between the sheets. She’s clearly no stranger to this game.”
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
