The building was made of glass and steel, gleaming like a blade in the morning sun. It towered over the city, intimidating yet seductive, much like the woman who owned it.
Ava Hart stood at the bottom, clutching her worn leather handbag like a shield. Her heels were too cheap, her blouse too thin, and the butterflies in her stomach were practically screaming. This wasn't just any job. This was Blackwood Industries and she was about to become the assistant to the most powerful woman in the city.
Selene Blackwood.
The name alone was enough to make executives sweat. Cold. Calculated. Gorgeous. Rumor had it she had fired her last assistant for calling her by the wrong title. Another one apparently fainted after a single glare.
But Ava didn't have the luxury of fear. Rent was overdue. Her younger sister needed tuition money. And she had one suit that didn't scream broke and desperate. That would have to be enough.
As the elevator shot to the top floor, her heart pounded. The walls were mirrored, and for a moment she caught her reflection. Lip gloss: minimal. Hair: tied up neatly. Confidence: fake, but passable.
The doors opened with a soft chime.
The executive floor was silent. Sleek. Clean. The kind of quiet that felt expensive.
"Miss Hart?" a voice called. A man in a sharp suit and a Bluetooth earpiece approached. "Miss Blackwood is expecting you."
Expecting her.
Not looking forward to meeting you. Not welcome aboard. Just... expecting. The word made Ava's spine tingle.
She was led through a glass corridor, past assistants who didn't dare blink, into an office bigger than her entire apartment. The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, showing the city below like a conquered kingdom. And behind a massive obsidian desk sat the woman herself.
Selene Blackwood.
She didn't look up at first. Her fingers glided across a tablet, her expression unreadable. She wore a black silk blouse tucked into tailored pants, every inch of her speaking power and precision. Her dark hair fell over her shoulder like ink. Her lips were painted wine-red.
When her eyes finally met Ava's, everything stopped.
Those eyes were silver. Cold. Sharp enough to slice through skin. And yet, there was something in the way she looked at her like she already knew Ava. Like she was undressing her, not with lust, but curiosity. Dangerous curiosity.
"You're late," Selene said.
Ava checked her watch. She wasn't.
"I—I'm sorry, ma'am, I thought—"
"I don't need excuses," Selene interrupted, standing. "I need loyalty. I need silence. I need someone who understands boundaries. Do you understand boundaries, Miss Hart?"
Ava's throat dried.
"Yes, ma'am."
Selene walked toward her, slow and measured, each step echoing. She circled Ava like a lion sizing up prey.
"No personal calls during work hours. No gossip. You will accompany me to meetings, vet my messages, and manage my schedule to the second. And above all—" Her voice dropped as she leaned close, brushing past Ava's ear. "You do not lie to me. Ever."
Ava's skin lit up with goosebumps.
"I don't lie," she whispered.
Selene's lips curled. Not a smile something darker.
"Good. I don't tolerate secrets."
But that was a lie. Selene had plenty of secrets.
One of them was standing right in front of her.
Selene turned away first, walking back to her desk with a silence that was somehow louder than a slammed door. She tapped her fingers against the smooth black surface, her gaze fixed on Ava like she was measuring a risk, not a person.
"You'll sit here," Selene said, pointing to a glass desk just outside the sliding doors. "Everything you need is there . Email access. Security credentials. My calendar. You'll receive full clearance—everything but my personal file. That is off-limits."
Ava stepped cautiously into place, dropping her bag and trying not to look overwhelmed. The desk was pristine, untouched. Even the keyboard looked expensive. The monitor blinked to life as she sat, flashing her name across the screen in an elegant serif font: Ava Hart – Executive Assistant to Selene Blackwood.
It didn't feel real.
"I'll need coffee," Selene said. "Black. One sugar. Never late."
"Yes, ma'am."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "It's Miss Blackwood during work hours. Off hours…" She paused. "We'll see."
Ava blinked. What did off hours mean exactly?
The next few hours blurred into a rush of tasks and tight expectations. Ava was given access to over a hundred emails, schedules packed to the second, and an itinerary so intense it looked like three people's jobs. She took notes furiously, fingers aching, brain swimming, doing everything she could to prove she wasn't just another pretty girl trying to survive.
But Selene watched her.
Every time she passed, every time she called Ava into her office for a note, a correction, or a brief command, she watched her. Like she was waiting for something to break.
"Why are you really here?" Selene asked once, hours into the afternoon, pausing beside Ava's desk while sipping her coffee.
"I needed a job."
"I didn't ask what you wanted. I asked why."
Ava looked up, startled. "I—I guess I wanted a chance to prove myself."
Selene stepped closer.
"To who?"
The room went cold.
Ava didn't answer. She couldn't. That answer was buried under years of shame and things she refused to speak aloud. Her mother's voice. The debt. The way people looked at her like she'd never be anything more than a statistic with soft lips.
Selene seemed to know. She tilted her head, silver eyes narrowing.
"I hired you because I liked your desperation," she said, voice low. "It's honest. It makes people predictable. And I don't like surprises."
Ava's stomach twisted, but she nodded.
That night, long after most employees had left, Ava stayed behind finishing Selene's final reports. Her fingers ached, her blouse was wrinkled, and her heels were killing her. She wanted to go home and crawl into bed—but Selene hadn't left yet, so she wouldn't either.
Around 9 p.m., she carried the final files into the office. The lights were dimmer now, the skyline casting gold and orange shadows across Selene's face.
She was seated on the black leather couch near the window, drink in hand, her jacket removed and her blouse unbuttoned at the collar.
"Come in," Selene said, without looking. "Shut the door."
Ava obeyed. She placed the file down, but Selene didn't reach for it. Instead, she motioned for Ava to sit across from her.
"I didn't ask you to sit," she said, when Ava hesitated. "I told you."
Ava sank into the seat, nervous again.
Selene took a slow sip of her drink. Whiskey. Expensive, by the smell of it.
"You want to know why the last assistant didn't last?"
Ava didn't answer.
"She fell in love," Selene said. "That was her mistake. Falling for something she didn't understand. She thought she could tame me. Change me."
"And you didn't let her?" Ava asked quietly.
Selene's gaze was sharp. "I don't get tamed."
A beat of silence passed between them, thick and unspoken.
"She thought being close meant knowing me," Selene continued. "But I don't do close. I do control. That's what makes this work. You follow my rules. You learn fast. You keep your head down."
"And if I don't?" Ava whispered.
Selene leaned in, slow and smooth, like a snake studying its prey.
"Then I'll break you," she said.
It should've scared Ava. Maybe it did. But it also sparked something deeper, something she didn't want to name. A thrill. A heat in her chest that traveled all the way down.
"You should go home," Selene said at last, standing.
Ava rose on shaky legs. "Yes, Miss Blackwood."
As she turned to leave, Selene's voice stopped her again.
"And Ava," she said.
"Yes?"
"Wear something tighter tomorrow."
Ava froze.
When she turned around, Selene was already walking away, her back to her, her long strides echoing on marble tile.
Ava stepped into the elevator and leaned against the mirrored wall. Her heart was thudding so loudly she could feel it in her throat. The doors closed behind her with a whisper, leaving her alone with her reflection.
Wear something tighter tomorrow.
The words echoed in her mind like a low beat, impossible to ignore. It was a test. It had to be. But a test of what? Obedience? Boundaries? Or something more twisted?
She'd heard the rumors. Selene Blackwood had a taste for control that didn't end at her desk. People whispered about secret affairs, employees who vanished overnight, and non-disclosure agreements thicker than the company handbook. But nobody ever had proof.
Ava wasn't sure she wanted it.
As the elevator reached the lobby, she stepped out into the cool night air. The city was buzzing with life, taxis zipping by, neon signs flashing on wet pavement. She wrapped her blazer around herself and started the walk to the train station, mind spinning.
The thought of Selene watching her tomorrow made her feel weak and hot all at once.
She hated it. And she wanted it again.
The next morning, Ava took longer getting dressed. She tried on four different outfits before finally settling on a fitted black pencil skirt and a white silk blouse that hugged her shape just enough to be noticed. Her heart pounded as she applied her lipstick.
She didn't want to look like she was trying. But she was.
When she arrived, the top floor was already in motion. Calls, files, back-to-back meetings. Selene was in her office with a high-profile client and barely acknowledged Ava's presence at first. But when Ava delivered her first set of reports, she paused.
Her eyes dropped once to Ava's waist. Then her legs. Then her face.
"Better," she said, turning away. "Sit in on the call."
Ava's fingers trembled as she opened her tablet. The client was a billionaire investor from France with a thick accent and even thicker attitude. Selene sliced through his arrogance with poise and brutal efficiency, never raising her voice, never letting him lead. She didn't flirt. She didn't smile. She dominated.
And Ava couldn't take her eyes off her.
After the call, Ava waited until the room cleared before speaking.
"You were amazing in there."
Selene glanced up. "Flattery won't get you promoted."
"It wasn't flattery. It was honesty."
Selene stood and walked toward her again. That same slow, heavy pace. Always close enough to burn, never close enough to touch.
"I'm not interested in honesty," she said. "I'm interested in usefulness. Remember that."
Ava nodded. Her throat was dry again. Her legs tense. But something flickered behind Selene's silver eyes.
She wasn't just testing boundaries.
She was daring Ava to break them.
By the end of the day, Ava's brain felt fried. Selene worked her like a machine. Back-to-back calendar shifts, meal arrangements, wardrobe scheduling, reviewing contracts, organizing an upcoming gala. It was exhausting.
But Ava couldn't deny the thrill of being noticed.
Selene called her name often. Asked for her presence. Corrected her posture. Commented on her tone. Watched her closely every time she entered the room. Every movement felt like a dance. A subtle push. A dangerous pull.
It wasn't attraction, not exactly.
It was hunger.
And Ava didn't know whose it was.
It wasn't until the end of the third day that things shifted.
The office was emptying out again. Night had fallen over the city, casting long shadows through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Ava was finishing her final emails when Selene stepped out of her office.
"I'll need you to join me for dinner," she said without looking up from her phone.
"Dinner?"
Selene finally met her gaze. "I don't repeat myself."
Ava nodded quickly. "Of course."
She followed her boss into the elevator, nerves buzzing. They descended in silence. A sleek black car waited outside the building. The driver opened the door, and Selene slid in first, her long legs crossing elegantly. Ava followed.
The restaurant was discreet, tucked between two designer storefronts, with velvet lighting and soft jazz playing in the background. No menus. No reservations. They were led to a private room in the back without a word.
Selene ordered wine. Red. Deep and rich. She handed Ava a glass without asking.
"You should know," Selene said, "I don't take assistants out for dinner."
Ava tried to smile. "So I'm special."
Selene's eyes darkened.
"Don't assume too much. You're useful. For now."
The food arrived. Four courses. Ava barely tasted any of it. She was too busy watching the way Selene's lips moved when she spoke. The way her fingers curled around the wine glass. The way she never looked uncertain, never hesitated.
"You're watching me," Selene said, interrupting her thoughts.
Ava blushed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."
"You did. And I let you."
The tension between them stretched thin. Ava felt breathless. Every second felt heavier than the last. The air was thick with suggestion.
But Selene never touched her. Never flirted. She simply watched Ava unravel from across the table, one glass of wine at a time.
After dinner, the car ride was silent. Ava's heart pounded the whole way back. Selene didn't speak until they reached Ava's apartment.
"You'll be picked up at 6 a.m. tomorrow," she said. "We have a flight to Chicago. Meeting with the board."
Ava blinked. "I'm coming with you?"
Selene turned to her.
"You're my assistant," she said slowly. "Where I go, you go. I thought we made that clear."
Ava swallowed hard. "Yes, Miss Blackwood."
Selene stared at her for a moment too long. Then she smiled.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't warm.
It was dangerous.
"Wear something red," she said. "It suits you."
Then the door opened, and Ava stepped out, breathless, flustered, and entirely confused about the line she was walking.
Because the truth was simple.
This was not just a job anymore.
And Selene Blackwood was not just her boss.
She was becoming an obsession.
The night was quiet but Ava's mind wasn't. She lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of city traffic outside her window, but all she could hear was Selene Blackwood's voice. Deep and poised. A tone that slid over the skin like silk and left goosebumps in its wake. Ava could still feel the heat of her gaze, the pressure of her authority, the subtle innuendo threaded into her commands.
Wear something tighter tomorrow.
The phrase kept whispering itself into her thoughts as her fingers slid down the silk of her sheets. Her heart thudded against her chest like a war drum. It wasn't just attraction. It was power. It was danger. And it was addictive.
Morning came too soon. Ava rose early, took extra care with her hair, her makeup, and her clothes. She selected a fitted red blouse, the soft satin molding to her frame. Her black skirt hugged her hips and stopped just above the knee. She didn't go overboard. She wanted to tease but not submit. Not yet.
Selene's car was already waiting when she stepped outside. The driver held the door without a word. Ava slipped in and tried to calm the storm inside her.
The CEO was already in the car, legs crossed, hair pulled back tight, every inch of her perfect in the early morning light. She wore a black suit with an open collar, no tie, just skin and sharp edges. She didn't look at Ava. She didn't need to. Her presence filled the space without effort.
"Punctual," Selene murmured, eyes still on her phone. "That's a good start."
Ava swallowed. "Thank you, Miss Blackwood."
Selene finally looked up, eyes trailing slowly down Ava's body, then back up to her lips. Her expression didn't change. But her gaze lingered. Ava could feel herself warming beneath it.
"You took my advice," Selene said simply.
"Yes," Ava whispered.
Selene leaned in slightly, not enough to cross boundaries, just enough to press against them.
"Good girls follow instructions," she said. "Great girls know when to break them."
Then she turned back to her screen, ending the moment as if it had never happened. Ava blinked, pulse fluttering in her neck.
The flight to Chicago was first class. Private. Sleek leather seats, champagne on ice, silence except for the soft hum of the engines. Ava took her seat opposite Selene, trying not to squirm under the weight of her stare. She felt it even when she wasn't looking.
Selene didn't speak for most of the flight. She read reports. Reviewed contracts. Made calls in a voice low and direct. Meanwhile, Ava typed notes, reorganized the schedule, and did everything she could not to think about the slow way Selene had looked at her before boarding.
When the plane landed, a black town car was waiting on the runway. The driver opened the door and Selene stepped out first. Ava followed quickly, adjusting her skirt. Her heels clicked on the pavement as they walked together through the airport's private terminal.
The hotel was nothing short of stunning. A suite on the top floor. Two bedrooms. A shared office space. Modern decor, floor-to-ceiling windows, and the skyline glittering just beyond the glass.
Ava stepped in and dropped her bag in the guest room, heart racing.
Selene's voice came from behind her.
"Come here."
Ava turned slowly. Selene was standing near the windows, a folder in one hand, her body outlined by the afternoon light. Her eyes didn't invite. They commanded.
Ava walked over, nerves buzzing.
"This is the board's current portfolio," Selene said, holding out the folder. "I want you to memorize every number. Every name. By tomorrow morning."
Ava took it. "Yes, Miss Blackwood."
Selene stepped closer. Her presence was magnetic. Inevitable. She didn't touch Ava. She didn't have to.
"You look like you're enjoying this," she murmured.
Ava glanced up. "I'm learning a lot."
Selene's smile was faint, but her eyes were sharp.
"Learning is good. Obedience is better."
Ava's breath hitched. "I am obedient."
Selene tilted her head, stepping just a bit closer. Their bodies were inches apart now.
"Not yet," she said. "But you will be."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Ava trembling, the folder still clutched in her hands.
That night, Ava barely slept. She spent hours studying the documents, her mind whirling. Her body ached in ways she didn't want to admit. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Selene's mouth. Heard her voice. Felt her heat.
She didn't know what she wanted more her approval or her punishment.
The board meeting the next day was brutal. Twelve men in tailored suits, all of them old, rich, and skeptical. Selene walked in like she owned them. And she did.
Ava sat silently by her side, passing documents, reading notes, and matching every name to every profile like she had memorized. She could feel the tension in the room, the subtle resentment of powerful men forced to listen to a woman smarter and more dangerous than all of them.
Selene destroyed them with elegance. She didn't shout. She didn't beg. She simply laid out the facts with cold precision. Her tone never shifted. Her hands never shook.
By the time the meeting ended, the men were nodding. Smiling. Clapping her on the back.
Outside the conference room, Selene turned to Ava, finally.
"Well?"
"You were incredible," Ava said breathlessly.
Selene raised a brow. "You kept up. Good."
Ava's cheeks flushed with pride.
"I like praise," she admitted.
Selene stepped in closer. Her voice dropped an octave.
"Then earn it."
They returned to the hotel late that night. The suite was quiet. The lights dim. Ava poured herself a glass of wine from the minibar and stepped onto the balcony. The city was lit beneath her. Alive. It felt like something out of a movie.
Selene joined her without a word, standing beside her, silent.
"You were amazing today," Ava said again, softly.
Selene didn't respond at first.
Then she looked over.
"You keep saying that," she said. "Why?"
Ava hesitated. "Because it's true."
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Or because you want something."
Ava licked her lips. "Maybe both."
There was silence. Then Selene reached for the glass in Ava's hand. Her fingers brushed over Ava's and lingered there. Her touch was electric. Cool and commanding.
She took a sip. Her lipstick left a faint mark on the rim.
"You don't know what you're playing with," she said quietly.
"I want to," Ava replied.
Selene turned fully toward her now.
"I don't do relationships."
"I didn't ask for one."
"I don't do gentle."
"I don't need gentle."
Selene stepped forward. Ava's back hit the glass railing. Her heart stopped. Selene's hands didn't touch her but they hovered close. Every breath between them felt charged.
"You belong to me," Selene whispered.
Ava swallowed hard. "I haven't agreed to that."
Selene's lips curved in the faintest smile.
"But you will."
Then she pulled back, just like that. The moment shattered like glass.
Selene turned and walked away, her heels soft on the marble floor. The suite door closed behind her, leaving Ava stunned and breathless and aching.
She stood there for a long time, heart pounding, knees shaking, breath shallow.
Because she knew something now. Something terrifying.
She would do anything Selene asked.
And that was exactly what Selene wanted.
The silence in the suite lingered long after Selene disappeared into her room. Ava remained on the balcony, her glass half-full, the lipstick stain from Selene's mouth still marking its rim. Her fingers ran along the curve of the glass as if she could feel the pressure of Selene's lips in that same spot. The air was cool but Ava felt flushed all over. Her body was on fire from the inside out.
There was something intoxicating about Selene. It wasn't just the confidence or the money or the title. It was the way she saw everything. Everyone. The way she stripped someone down with a glance and made them feel naked even in a full suit. Ava had never met a woman like her. She didn't even know women like her existed outside of fantasies and forbidden dreams.
And yet here she was. Real. Dangerous. Dominant.
Ava finally moved from the balcony. She took a long shower, letting the hot water steam the mirrors and loosen her muscles. Her thoughts were consumed with Selene. Her voice. Her scent. Her restraint. Everything about her screamed control, and Ava hated how much she craved that control.
She toweled off and pulled on a robe. Not the hotel's. Her own. Silk, black, and barely long enough to cover her thighs. She slipped into bed and opened the portfolio Selene had given her. Every number blurred after the first few pages. It was hard to focus when her pulse was doing acrobatics under her skin.
She finally fell asleep sometime after two. Her dreams were filled with sharp heels, soft lips, and the weight of a woman who would never ask—only take.
—
The next morning came with a sharp knock at her door.
Ava sat up quickly. Her robe fell off one shoulder. "Yes?"
Selene's voice came through, low and even.
Get dressed. Breakfast meeting in fifteen. Wear the white blouse.
Ava's heart skipped. "Yes, Miss Blackwood."
She jumped out of bed and rushed to get ready. Her hands trembled slightly as she fastened the buttons on her blouse. She tucked it into a high-waisted skirt and left the top two buttons undone. It wasn't just an outfit. It was a message. She wasn't submitting. She was tempting.
When she stepped into the living room of the suite, Selene was already seated at the table, coffee in hand, reading the paper. She looked up slowly.
Her eyes paused at Ava's collarbone, then drifted lower for half a second before returning to her face.
Sit.
Ava obeyed.
There was fresh fruit, croissants, smoked salmon, and coffee. Ava reached for a slice of melon and paused when Selene raised a brow.
You forgot the numbers.
Ava blinked. "I memorized them."
Then prove it.
Selene leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.
Ava recited the entire portfolio. Names. Holdings. Revenue charts. Even growth estimates for the next fiscal year.
Selene did not smile. She simply sipped her coffee and watched.
When Ava finished, her throat dry, Selene nodded once.
Good.
That was all. One word. But it wrapped around Ava like a silk ribbon. Tight. Unforgiving. Desirable.
They left for the breakfast meeting fifteen minutes later. The investor was a woman named Regina Crest. Mid-forties. Aggressive. Fake-smiling the whole time. She eyed Selene like a rival and Ava like a snack.
Ava noticed it. So did Selene.
The tension at the table built fast. Regina tried to corner Selene in her wording. Selene didn't budge. Ava passed her notes, statistics, projections. Every time Regina's voice lifted, Selene responded with silence. Calculated. Controlled.
By the end of the meeting, Regina left with her tail between her legs.
Selene stood from the table without a word and walked toward the exit. Ava followed.
Outside, in the hotel lobby, Selene stopped and turned to her.
You did well in there.
Ava's lips parted slightly. "Thank you."
Selene stepped in closer, voice dropping.
I don't like sharing attention.
Ava blinked. "I wasn't—"
You weren't. But she thought you might. Do not give her any reason to think that again.
Ava's breath hitched. "Are you jealous?"
Selene didn't answer. She simply reached up and brushed a nonexistent wrinkle off Ava's shoulder. Her fingers skimmed Ava's skin for one heartbeat.
I am possessive.
Then she walked off again, leaving Ava flustered and weak-kneed in the middle of the marble lobby.
—
That night, Ava received a message.
Pack for one more night. We are staying an extra day. Do not wear anything red tomorrow. That's mine.
She bit her lip hard enough to leave a mark.
She opened her suitcase and took out a deep crimson dress she had brought for emergencies. She hung it on the closet hook and stared at it. It would look good on her. It would cling to every curve. But it would also be defiant.
The next morning, Ava wore the red dress.
She didn't even wait to see Selene's reaction until they met in the hotel lobby. Selene's eyes darkened the moment she saw her.
Ava smiled sweetly. "Problem?"
Selene stepped in so close Ava felt her breath on her cheek.
I told you not to wear red.
Ava tilted her chin. "I thought it was just a suggestion."
Selene's lips curved. Not a smile. Something more dangerous.
We'll talk about that tonight.
Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
Ava was trembling again, but not from fear. From excitement. From victory. From whatever came next.
—
The fundraiser gala that night was at a glass museum, filled with twisted sculptures and champagne fountains. Ava stayed close to Selene, who was magnetic in a black velvet gown with sharp shoulders and a thigh-high slit. Her heels made her taller. Her presence made her impossible to ignore.
People came in waves. Investors. Celebrities. Media execs. Everyone wanted something. Everyone wanted her attention. Selene gave them just enough.
But her hand occasionally brushed Ava's.
Her lips hovered near Ava's ear when she spoke.
And when a man touched Ava's arm too long, Selene was there within seconds, her hand possessively sliding around Ava's waist as she pulled her close.
She belongs to the company. Hands off.
The words were professional. The tone was not.
By the end of the night, Ava was on fire. She could barely breathe. Her dress felt too tight. Her thighs ached. Her skin tingled.
They returned to the hotel in silence. Tension filled every inch of the air between them. Ava stepped into the suite and kicked off her heels.
Selene closed the door and locked it.
Ava turned, about to speak.
Selene held up a hand.
No. Not yet.
She stepped forward. Slow. Measured. Her eyes locked on Ava's.
You defied me.
Ava swallowed. "Yes."
You wore red.
"I did."
You wanted a reaction.
"I got one."
Selene's hand curled around Ava's jaw. Not rough. But firm. Her fingers tilted Ava's face up until their eyes met.
Do not confuse my silence with weakness.
Ava's chest rose and fell. "I don't."
Good. Because I've been very patient with you.
Selene's thumb brushed over Ava's bottom lip.
You don't want gentle. But you're not ready for the alternative either.
"Try me."
Selene smiled. Not kind. Not soft. Just the slow stretch of something feral beneath the surface.
Careful. You might get exactly what you ask for.
Ava's lips parted.
Then take it.
Selene leaned in.
Not tonight.
She stepped back.
Earn it.
Then she walked away and left Ava standing there, breathless, wanting, and utterly wrecked.
Ava stood there frozen, the echo of Selene's last words burning in her mind like a brand. Earn it. The way Selene had said it, low and deliberate, wasn't a denial—it was a promise. A dangerous invitation disguised as rejection. She wasn't being pushed away. She was being told to prove herself worthy. And something about that made Ava's knees weak in a way she had never known before.
She sank onto the edge of the couch, trying to slow her breathing, but it was useless. Selene had touched her with nothing but words and already she felt undone. Ava knew this game. Knew what it meant to test someone who thrived on control. But she had never been the one being tested. Never been the one slowly stripped bare, layer by layer, until all that remained was raw desire and reckless defiance.
The door to Selene's room shut softly in the distance. Ava's eyes remained on it for far too long.
She wanted to sleep. She needed to sleep. But her body was humming and her mind wouldn't rest. So instead, she walked to the balcony again. The city lights still danced below, cars like blood cells in glass veins, everything alive and vibrant and waiting. Just like her.
She stayed there until the cold air made her fingers numb.
—
The next morning arrived with sharp clarity. Selene was already dressed, already in motion. Ava stepped into the living room and stopped dead in her tracks.
Selene stood by the window, wearing a fitted black suit with a silk gray blouse open at the collar. No jewelry. No makeup. Just power, wrapped in skin. She held a phone to her ear, nodding once before hanging up.
Today we fly back. Meetings will resume at headquarters. You will report directly to my office. Do not be late.
Ava nodded. "Understood."
Selene's eyes lingered a little too long before she turned away.
We'll speak later.
The flight home was quiet. Selene buried herself in emails while Ava reread her schedule twice, made notes on the upcoming events, and kept herself busy. She needed to. Because every time Selene so much as shifted beside her, Ava's skin tingled.
She wasn't just attracted to Selene. She was addicted to her.
—
Back at the towering glass headquarters of Blackwood International, Ava stepped into her new reality. The office was on the top floor, sleek and modern with warm touches—mahogany, leather, glass. Her desk was directly outside Selene's office. She was close enough to hear the tone of Selene's voice through the walls. Close enough to be called in at any second. Close enough to fall into temptation with one wrong move.
And Selene didn't make it easy.
Her presence in the office was sharper than at the hotel. She barked orders, handled four crises before lunch, signed five contracts, and rejected three investors before most executives had even opened their first coffee. She was lethal in heels and flawless in silence. But every now and then, her gaze would flick to Ava—and hold.
Every time it did, Ava's breath caught in her throat.
Later that afternoon, Selene buzzed her.
Come in.
Ava rose quickly and stepped inside the corner office. Selene stood behind her desk, holding a file.
Close the door.
The door clicked shut behind her. Selene didn't look up right away. She flipped through the file and finally handed it to Ava.
This is a joint venture proposal from Callahan & West. Look it over. Tell me what you think.
Ava took the file, opened it, and began scanning. She barely got through the third paragraph before Selene stepped around the desk and stood beside her.
Her scent hit first. Rich. Subtle. Expensive. Her presence hit next—warm, commanding, inescapable.
You hesitated earlier.
Ava didn't look up. "When?"
When I said you weren't ready.
Ava's eyes lifted slowly. "I wasn't hesitating. I was considering."
Considering what?
"How much of me I'd lose in surrendering."
Selene tilted her head. And what did you decide?
Ava met her gaze. "That some things are worth losing for the right person."
Selene's breath came slower. Her eyes dropped to Ava's lips, then back to her eyes.
Good answer.
But not good enough to have me.
She stepped away again, heels clicking across the marble.
For now.
Ava's knees almost buckled. The conversation lasted less than two minutes, but she felt like she'd run a marathon. Every word with Selene was a battle. And every battle she lost made her want the war even more.
—
The next week was chaos.
Back-to-back board meetings. Late-night calls. Working dinners that blurred into early mornings. Ava kept pace, but barely. She was constantly moving, constantly trying to anticipate Selene's needs. And Selene was relentless. Demanding perfection. Pushing limits.
But she never crossed the line.
Not physically.
Instead, she used her voice. Her gaze. Her power. And it wrecked Ava.
She started dreaming about her. Dreams that left her breathless and aching. Dreams where Selene whispered things in the dark, made her beg, made her break.
Worse, she started wanting those dreams to come true.
And Selene knew it.
—
One Friday night, Ava was finishing emails when Selene emerged from her office.
Everyone else was gone. The building was silent.
Selene's blouse was unbuttoned halfway down. Her hair had fallen from its tight twist. She looked wild. Unrestrained. But her eyes were focused.
Come with me.
Ava stood without question and followed her to the private elevator.
They rode in silence.
Down to the parking garage.
Selene's car was already running. A sleek black Jaguar with dark tinted windows.
Get in.
Ava obeyed.
They didn't speak during the drive. The city passed in a blur of lights and color. Eventually, they pulled into a gated property at the edge of the city.
It was a house. No. A fortress. Steel and glass, hidden behind ivy-covered walls and security.
Inside, everything smelled of leather and quiet money. There were no family photos. No signs of casual comfort. Just power. Cold and unapologetic.
Selene poured herself a drink and handed one to Ava.
To trust.
Ava clinked glasses with her and took a slow sip. "And control."
Selene's lips twitched.
There it is.
She circled Ava slowly. Like a panther. Like a predator who knew her prey was already trembling.
You want to know what I do behind closed doors. You've been imagining it. Craving it.
Ava's pulse raced.
Yes.
Selene stopped behind her. She didn't touch her. Not yet.
Then you need to understand what I expect.
Ava turned, their eyes meeting.
Tell me.
Selene stepped closer, barely a breath between them.
I expect obedience. Not weakness.
I expect you to trust me, not worship me.
I will take care of you. But I will not tolerate games.
You want to be ruined? I will ruin you. Completely. Utterly.
But you'll love every second of it.
Ava was trembling. Her lips parted.
Then ruin me.
Selene reached out, fingers sliding along Ava's cheek.
Not tonight.
Ava's entire body pulsed with frustration. "Why not?"
Because you're not ready.
And I want your surrender to be willing.
Not desperate.
She stepped back and turned away.
Get some sleep. Your real initiation begins Monday.
The words hit Ava like lightning.
Real initiation.
She barely slept that night.
And when she did, she dreamed of ropes and silk and a voice that made her break apart without ever laying a hand.