As I approached the sprawling estate, my grip on the steering wheel tightened until my fingertips grew numb. Under my breath, I cursed my father for sending me to do his dirty work. I couldn't stop glancing at the passenger seat, where a plain manila envelope, stuffed full, was hidden under one of my jackets. "Take this to him," Dad had told me earlier that afternoon. "He'll know what it's for." I started to shake my head...

That single word, yes, was like a key unlocking a door. Stepping through that door would lead me deeper into this house, and closer to opportunities I'd only dreamed of. And of course, it would also bring me closer to Oliver in ways I couldn't possibly foresee. Placing a hand against the small of my back, he guided me out of the room. Now that we'd come to an agreement, he wore an easy smile. The guard who'd been told to...

Oliver was so hard in my hand. Soon, that hardness would be deep inside me. He must have sensed my anxiety, for as he gave me another lingering kiss, his fingers massaged my clit. My moans grew louder, encouraging him to ease his body on top of mine. I gasped at the feel of him sliding his tip between my folds. Just as he positioned himself at my opening, I grasped his arm. "If I get pregnant, my father will—" "Your fathe...

I could have soaked in that glorious tub for hours. Oliver was right about me being exhausted. At one point, I actually dozed off, waking only when I heard someone enter the guest room. Suddenly alert, I held my breath and hoped it was Oliver returning. But no one knocked at the closed bathroom door, and silence fell again. I figured Damien had brought dinner and then promptly departed. Hunger coaxed me out of the tub. I...

Weeks passed, and as I grew more comfortable living in Oliver's house, I also became accustomed to his unpredictable schedule. He spent some days almost entirely in his office, while on other days, he wasn't around at all. He was gone during many evenings as well, though I never knew where. All the while, I kept waiting for him to come up with some sort of job for me, even if it was mostly a ruse. Of course, I wasn't comp...

As more time passed, I succeeded in convincing myself that I could remain oblivious to the nature of Oliver's work. I clung to the illusion that it was enough to be vaguely aware of the danger, even when I didn't fully understand the risk. But the events of a night in early October obliterated my illusion. Oliver had left earlier that evening, accompanied by Ted, Beckett, and several other members of his security team. I...

In the weeks following Beckett's death, the mourning of everyone in Oliver's house seemed to coalesce until it took on a presence all its own. Sadness followed me from room to room, and every time I saw Damien's grief-stricken face, my own pain grew even more wrenching. Beneath our despair was a sense of expectation, almost as if we were all holding our breath. Everyone, but especially Phil, had an ear to the ground, and...