My name is Sasha. I stood outside Dominic Castellan's office with a split lip and a photo I could not unsend.
The hallway was empty, but Britt's laugh still rang in my head.
I pushed the door open without knocking. He did not close the blinds.
The glass wall showed the whole floor. Anyone could look up and see me standing there like a suspect.
Dominic: Close it. This conversation is not for the floor.
Dominic: You sent me a photo of your tits and a wet pussy at nine at night.
Dominic: What was the plan, Sasha? A promotion? A raise? My cock?
He said it like he was reading a weather report. Like my shame was boring.
Sasha: It was a mistake. It was for someone else.
Dominic: Someone else who isn't your boss. That makes it worse.
Sasha: I'm not selling anything, you bastard.
He stood and walked around the desk. His shoes made no sound, but my pulse did.
Dominic: You think I don't know how this game works?
Dominic: Pretty assistant sends a dirty picture, then waits for the boss to bite.
My face went hot. Under the shame, rage kicked awake.
Britt had called me trash. Grayson had called me nothing.
Now my boss was calling me a whore with better lighting.
Sasha: I'm not a whore.
Dominic: Good. Then you won't mind working the gala tomorrow night.
Dominic: On the floor. Smiling. Taking drink orders. Proving you can still be useful to me.
I wanted to tell him to fuck off. I wanted to tell him to shove the gala up his ass.
But rent was due. Britt had my key. Grayson had my dignity.
I needed this job more than I needed to win. That was the shit truth.
Sasha: Fine. I'll work your gala.
Dominic: Say it like you mean it.
Sasha: I'll work your gala, Mr. Castellan.
He stepped closer until my back hit the wall.
His hand landed beside my head. The other caught my chin.
Dominic: You're still shaking.
Sasha: Because I'm angry.
Dominic: No. You're embarrassed.
Dominic: You're also wet. I can smell your pussy through this skirt.
He pressed me into the wall with his hips and kissed me.
Hard. No asking. His mouth tasted like coffee and bad decisions.
For one second I hated him. The next I kissed him back.
My fingers curled into his lapels. My pussy clenched, traitor that it was.
He bit my bottom lip, right where Grayson had split it.
I gasped, and he swallowed the sound.
Dominic: You kiss like you're trying to prove something.
Sasha: Fuck you.
Dominic: Later. Right now, you have a gala to work.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. It came away red.
He watched me like I was a problem he had already solved.
Dominic: One more screwup and I'll make sure no one in this city hires you.
Dominic: That's not a threat. That's a schedule.
Sasha: You're a bastard.
Dominic: And you're still my assistant.
I walked out with my pride in my throat and his taste still on my tongue.
Britt had chosen Grayson. Grayson had chosen violence. Dominic had chosen to play with me.
But I was still standing. Tomorrow, I would have to smile for all of them.