Chapter 54
It was Blake, the assistant general manager in charge of the branch office. Vespera had always suspected there was an insider, but she never expected it to be him.
“How brutal… How could you treat our delicate and beautiful Ms. Gildon like this?” Blake’s voice dripped with feigned concern as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. He flipped the switch, and a dim light flickered to life, its surface coated in thick layers of spiderwebs, casting a haunting, faint glow across the room.
In the soft light, Vespera took in her surroundings. There was a dining table, a couch, and a TV cabinet—the kind of old-fashioned living room one might find in a forgotten house. Dust and cobwebs settled on every surface, evidence that this place had been abandoned for years. Her gaze swiftly shifted back to Blake, her eyes now as cold as ice.
“Such a fierce look,” he said with a chuckle, reaching out to trace his fingers along her face.
Vespera recoiled in disgust, jerking her head away. A shiver ran down her spine, and goosebumps prickled her skin. Blake rubbed his fingers together, relishing the soft, smooth texture of her skin. He then brought them to his nose, inhaling deeply. “Such a sweet scent… Tossing a beauty like you into the sea would be a damn shame.”
Vespera’s eyes trembled. The terror she had barely escaped came surging back, engulfing her completely. But this time, she was wide awake. With desperation fueling her every move, she fought against the ropes binding her wrists and ankles, summoning all the strength she had left. The old wooden chair beneath groaned in protest, and with a sharp crack, one of its legs snapped. The chair tipped violently to the side, sending her crashing to the floor. A thick cloud of dust rose up, stinging her nose. She fought the urge to cough, but the tape over her mouth kept the reflex trapped, forcing it down her throat. Her face flushed, tears spilling from her eyes as she struggled for air.
Blake crouched beside her, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Wow, are you really this eager? I can’t believe you just laid yourself down for me.” His hand glided up her calf, deliberately creeping higher, savoring her helplessness, her fear, and the tears streaming down her face. Every flicker of despair in her eyes only deepened his perverse hunger.
“You know what? I’ve changed my mind. I won’t throw you into the sea. I think I’ll keep you here instead. Whenever the mood strikes, I’ll drop by and have my fun. Might as well see for myself what kind of pleasure Mr. Reid enjoyed.”
Vespera’s eyes blazed with fury. “Don’t lie. In the end, your job is to please men. I may not be as young or handsome as Mr. Reid, but at least this way, you’ll stay alive. And isn’t survival the most important thing?”
Shameless bastard. He was actually trying to manipulate her.
Just then, Vespera went still. She lowered her gaze, as though carefully weighing his words. After a moment, she looked up again, her tear-filled eyes glistening as she gave a nod. His hand lingered on her waist. “So, that’s a yes?”
Vespera nodded once more. She looked like a woman willing to do anything to survive. She tilted her head toward the stairs behind her, then looked down at the floor, her eyes filled with a quiet, sorrowful plea as she shook her head at him. She didn’t want to stay here; she wanted to go upstairs.
“I see. I wouldn’t want to do it on this dirty, rock-hard floor either,” Blake remarked. The thought of such a breathing woman yielding to him sent a rush of desire coursing through his veins, obliterating any lingering restraint. With that, he loosened the rope around her ankles and moved to untie her wrists. Midway through, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it, letting it vibrate unanswered. Once her wrists were free, he remained cautious, looping a rope around her neck—a silent warning that escape was not an option. “Alright. Let’s go upstairs.”