In the restroom, Lillian leaned over the sink, dry heaving but unable to throw up.
The thought of that greasy old man made her feel sick. She turned on the faucet and began scrubbing her hands furiously with soap.
"Were you just at a matchmaking dinner?"
Lillian froze, looking up to see Evelyn walking toward her in the mirror. The initial awkwardness had mostly faded from her appearance. Though her outfit was expensive and stylish, she hadn't yet figured out how to carry it, giving off an air of trying too hard.
"Hey, want me to ask Conrad to find you someone better? Isn't this guy a bit… old?" Evelyn smirked.
Lillian's face stayed blank. "Older men have their perks. You're still young-some things you'll only get with experience."
"Oh, really? I don't see what's so great about him," Evelyn scoffed.
Lillian leaned closer, sizing her up. "You know why I had to leave your precious Conrad?" She paused, then smiled and whispered, "Because he is impotent~~"
She watched as Evelyn's face flushed with embarrassment. That little jab instantly lifted Lillian's mood. But as she reached the doorway, she locked eyes with Conrad, freezing like a deer in headlights.
"Mr. Conrad, did you come looking for me?" Evelyn quickly stepped past Lillian to stand in front of him.
Lillian, eager to get away, brushed past them.
Evelyn tugged at Conrad's arm. "I'm worried about her. Shouldn't we help?"
Conrad let out a cold laugh. "You think she needs your concern?"
Lillian stopped in her tracks, lips pressed together as she hurried around the corner. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She didn't know why, but seeing Conrad, catching even a whiff of his scent, had stirred something in her, almost making her want to throw herself into his arms and kiss him. She was relieved she hadn't acted on it, but her breath was shallow, her vision starting to blur.
"Oh, there you are." Mark appeared at the stairway, grinning as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Not feeling well? Don't worry-you'll feel better soon."
"I'm fine!" She shoved his hand off, but he grabbed her again, dragging her toward the elevator and pressing the button for the floor.
She pushed him once more, trying to escape, but he caught her again, forcing her back against the elevator rail. She watched helplessly as the elevator doors slowly closed.
And just then, she saw Conrad walk past with Evelyn.
"Conrad!" she yelled without a second thought. She'd rather embarrass herself than be taken by this lecherous old man.
But Conrad merely turned, his expression icy as he watched her struggle, as Mark clamped a hand over her mouth, and the elevator doors slid shut.
"Let's go. Didn't you say you wanted dessert?" Conrad said to Evelyn.
"Thank you, Conrad." Evelyn's voice was sweet as the elevator closed.
Lillian stared at the closed doors, Mark gripping her tight, laughing. "Calling for Conrad? You think he cares? Tonight, you're all mine! Remember my name-Mark!"
Hopelessness and rage swallowed Lillian whole. Conrad, you bastard!
Her eyes blurred with sweat and tears, but she could still picture his cold and indifferent expression.
The hotel room door clicked open, and with no strength left, she was thrown onto the bed. Mark's eyes roamed over her as he unbuttoned his shirt, tying her hands to the bedpost with his tie.
"Bet your dad, Alvin, would turn over in his grave if he knew his daughter ended up with the likes of me-someone he once had shining his shoes." Mark laughed, pressing closer.
"Get off me! Go away!" she cried, but her voice barely came out louder than a whimper.
The phone rang suddenly, and Mark cursed, "What? I'm in the middle of something here, don't bother me!"
All Lillian could hear were rustling sounds. She barely opened her eyes, but her vision was blurry.
Just when she thought Mark might be leaving, her clothes were suddenly ripped apart. Her dress, now nothing but torn fabric, lay on the floor as his heavy body pressed down on her.
"Get off! I'll kill you, I swear!" she screamed, fury and despair choking her voice.
She shut her eyes, hoping to block out the horror, but it didn't help. His rough hands roamed over her, and tears slipped down her cheeks.
Suddenly, her jaw was yanked open, and she tasted blood as her tongue was bitten hard. She went cold with despair.
The man gripped her chin fiercely. "Trying to suicide already? We're just getting started."
Lillian's mind reeled-was she hallucinating? She thought she heard Conrad's voice.
"Speak!"
Her eyes shot open, and she saw his smug, arrogant face. A face she'd seen countless times from this same angle, right here on the bed.
"Conrad! You're out of your mind!" she yelled, rage and humiliation finally bursting out as she fought back, struggling wildly.
"Shh, behave!" Conrad sneered. "What's wrong? Not happy to see me?"
"You jerk..."
He pressed her face into the mattress, and she spat out every insult she could think of, her voice seething with rage.
But no matter how fiercely she cursed, he thrust into her even harder, unrelenting. She clenched the sheets tightly, her gaze fixed on the dark wolf tattoo that twisted over his red, sweat-slicked chest.
The entire night passed like that.
He was relentless, barely giving her room to breathe.
"Still got something to say?" he taunted.
"What…" Her mind was hazy, barely able to register his words.
His voice was a dark whisper behind her, traveling slowly up her spine. "I'm asking… still want to run?"
Lillian clenched her teeth. She wasn't a fool; pushing back against him now could very well be the end of her. Not saying anything, she remained silent, and he chuckled coldly.
Her last thought before she drifted off was that sex had a way of making the whole world narrowed down to just the two of you. Feelings didn't even have to be involved; sometimes all it took was one body fueling the other's craving.
But the cruelest trap a woman could set for herself was believing he might actually love her.
She refused to let herself fall into that trap again, not when it could destroy her completely.
When dawn finally broke, he seemed satisfied at last. He covered her worn-out body with the blanket, lying there with a sense of peace and satisfaction.
Money satisfied his ambition, and Lillian satisfied his desire.
He plugged in his phone to charge and called his assistant before heading to the bathroom to shower, ready to get back to business and deal with the woman who had kept him up for five nights straight.
She woke with a start, hearing him talking to someone in the bathroom. Without thinking, she scrambled to the floor to find her shredded clothes, but they were nothing but scraps. No way she could wear those!
Just as Lillian was panicking, the door opened, and Alice Pink walked in, only to see Lillian wrapped in nothing but a bedsheet, her slender legs trembling.
Alice's face showed surprise, then a flash of disgust. "Why is it you?" she sneered.
As Conrad's assistant, Alice held a high position, only second to Ford. From the start, Alice had clashed with Lillian, but later Lillian learned why-Alice was the daughter of the Pink family, placed in Conrad's company by Conrad's father. She had bigger ambitions than just being an assistant.
"Do you have any clothes for me?" Lillian asked, realizing Alice wouldn't be here unless Conrad had allowed it; Alice wouldn't dare enter his space on her own.
Alice tossed a bag onto a nearby chair. Lillian didn't care what Alice thought of her. She dropped the sheet, letting her sore body from last night's ordeal show in full view.
Alice's expression darkened, eyes fixed on the marks covering Lillian. She clenched her jaw-just from those marks, it was obvious how much Conrad had enjoyed himself with this woman.
She couldn't understand what it was about Lillian that kept Conrad interested after all these years.
The clothes Alice had brought were a bit tight on Lillian, but they'd have to do. In fact, they hugged her figure in a way that only highlighted her curves.
Alice couldn't help but comment, "So after all these years, it's still money you're after, huh? Now you're playing hard to get just for a bigger payoff?"
"This outfit doesn't fit, huh? You know, it wasn't bought in your size. Now that Mr. Conrad's got someone new, you might want to have a little self-respect and stop throwing yourself at him."