ELENA'S POV.
I FELT uncomfortable while sipping coffee at the cafeteria with my co-worker, Darcy. I didn’t know why, but I felt that somebody was watching my every move. I looked out the window but saw nothing unusual. People walking and minding their own business, except for the man in a black hoodie on the other side of the road. The man was not looking at me, but I still felt uncomfortable. His presence alone was enough to make my heart rattle like this, and it was weird.
“Hey, Elena, what are you thinking?” Darcy asked with a knotted forehead and followed my gaze.
The man on the other side of the road had left, but the odd feeling lingered in me. “Nothing,” I answered. “I just remembered something.”
Darcy nodded, but her eyes were already glued to the man on the counter. “You must be really working hard as the new secretary of Sir French. Don’t forget to chill out, okay?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I know. Let’s go. I bet Grace is waiting for her frappe now.”
I completely forgot about the man outside our office building when we returned to our desk. My mind was immediately occupied by Peter’s text message to me, telling me that he was excited to see me after work.
“Let’s party after duty. Are you in, Elena? Darcy will come with us,” Grace, my colleague, asked me when she saw me fixing my things on the table. “I discovered a new club a few blocks away from here. What do you think?”
“I’d love to, Grace. But I can’t,” I said and smiled. “My boyfriend and I have plans tonight. Maybe next time?”
Grace curled her lips and pretended that she was not okay with it. “You haven’t introduced your boyfriend to us. Why don’t you take him with us?”
“I’ll ask him next time,” I said and smiled hesitantly. “He’s a bit busy at work, but I will try.”
“What’s your boyfriend’s profession? Is he a CEO? A chef? An engineer?” Grace asked and narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m curious who was that boyfriend of yours that you’re not introducing to us, but always conflicting on our after-hours schedule.”
I hesitated, but I knew that Grace wouldn’t stop until I gave her an answer. “He’s a businessman…” I answered and prayed that Grace wouldn’t ask more.
“Really?” Grace asked and nudged me in the waist. “If you have a businessman boyfriend, you don’t have to work here as a secretary, you know? Tell me, what’s his name? I’ll look him up on the internet.”
I sighed and nervously scratched the corner of my brow. I looked at our boss’s office door and felt relieved that it opened because Grace shut her mouth immediately and greeted our boss with respect as he passed by us.
“I see you’re into a serious conversation?” Mr. French asked us, but looking at me directly.
“Ahm, w-we’re just—”
“I’m asking Elena to come with us after work, sir,” Grace answered and winked at me as if she saved me. “But she refused because she already has plans with her boyfriend.”
“Oh, is that so?” Mr. French looked at me intensely, and I could feel myself melting under my skirt. “That’s too bad.”
“I know, right, sir. She’s always turning down our offer because of her boyfriend,” Grace said sarcastically, stressing the word ‘boyfriend’. “And, take note, sir. We haven’t met that boy—”
“Grace, you don’t have to tell it to Sir French,” I interrupted her by squeezing her arm. “That’s embarrassing. Mr. French might not want to know it.”
“Of course, I do,” the man said, making me and Grace look up at him. “I mean, as your boss, I should care for what every one of you keeps busy, so I’ll know when to dismiss your duty early.”
I almost caught my breath with what he said. I nodded slowly and looked away from him, while Grace just laughed and thought that it’s sweet for a boss to speak to his employees.
“Thank you for being considerate in our personal lives, Mr. French,” Grace added and giggled. “But that wouldn’t change her mind, right, Elena?”
I rolled my eyes ceilingwards. “Grace, please,” I warned her, but it didn’t affect her. “I think you should go to your table now. I saw Darcy is looking for you.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Okay, but promise me that you’ll introduce your boyfriend to us next time, okay?”
As soon as Grace left my desk, I looked at Mr. French and smiled apologetically. “I already told her that I can’t—”
“It’s okay, honey,” Peter whispered so no one would hear him. “You can go with them next time, but tonight, you’re mine.”
I could feel my cheeks turning red. I lowered my head and waited for Peter to leave my desk. My heart was racing in so much excitement. I couldn’t believe that a sought-after bachelor as handsome as him would fall for me. I grabbed my bag and left excitedly. I have to go home and change my dress before meeting Peter.
It was already dark outside when I stepped out of my apartment. I took out my phone to book a cab, but before opening the app, a large man emerged from nowhere and grabbed me. I tried to scream, but he was fast to cover my mouth.
I felt dizzy in an instant and lost consciousness.
***
The next time I opened my eyes, I found myself tied in bed with a stranger next to me, my phone was in his hand and I could see that he was reading all my conversations with Peter.
“You’re awake now, Elena,” the man hoarsely said.
Chill ran through my spine when he stirred on the bed and stared at me with intense lust in his eyes. Now, I remember he was the man in front of our office building. “W-who are you? Please, let me go—”
“No,” the man cut off and started touching my skin. His jaw clenched as soon as his hand touched my neck. “Not until you broke up with Peter.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “W-who are you? H-how did you know—ah!” I screamed when his hand touched my dress. “Please, don't touch me!”
I heard him curse under his breath as he stared at the exposed skin on my neck. His eyes met mine, and I instantly felt a strange connection. But it quickly vanished when he looked away and got off the bed as if he burned in my gaze.
I whimpered and tried to break free from the shackles, but I couldn’t move properly. My ankles were tied on the foot of the bed. Then the man suddenly rose and took pictures of me.
“Please…” I begged. “Please, let me go—”
“I wonder what will your friends say when they find out that you're having an affair with an engaged man?” he asked as he breathed heavily. He sat beside me and leaned closer. His warm breath was scorching hot against my skin. “And, I wonder why you’re sticking on him even though he’s already engaged.”
My lips parted in shock. “W-what? Peter is engaged?”