Chapter One

Catherine’s POV

I felt Alex’s gaze on me as I shoved my legs into a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Although I was nervous about my presentation at work, the look in Alex’s eyes as he gazed at me gave me the chills.

Through the corner of my eyes, I can see him sprawled there on the bed, bare-chested, his dark shaggy hair falling all around the pillows. Buttoning my shirt, I wished for the umpteenth time that morning that he wasn’t there in the room. It was Monday and I was refreshed and ready to face the new week.

I was about to pick up my hairbrush from the dresser when I heard him walk towards me. With my heart thumping hard against my chest, I turned to face him, hoping and wishing that he wouldn’t start any trouble.

“Catherine,” he called, his eyes roving all around me before they rested on my breast.

“Ye…yes?” I swallowed, my pounding hard roaring in my ears.

Without a word, he came closer, walking around me in circles, his eyes focusing on my derriere and then back to my full breasts. I could feel his breath on my neck and it the drum in my heart beat faster. Quickly, my eyes scanned the clock on the wall. It was almost 8 am and I needed to be on my way already but I didn’t dare voice it out.

“I can see you took some extra effort with your appearance this morning,” he said, still walking around me in circles.

“Err… yes, I have an important presentation this morning.” I managed to reply, my head was already spinning and I felt faint.

“Presentation huh?” he chuckled, using one of his right hands to cover my breast.

My heart sank when he began to twist my nipples through my bra. How can he want sex at a time like this? I am already running late!

“Alex please,” I managed to utter, my voice barely above a whisper. “I am going to be late for my presentation.”

“Are you sure?” he removed his hand from my breast and turned to stare at me with those deep green eyes of his.

“What… what do you mean?” I stared wide-eyed at him, not understanding him at all.

Despite living with him for three years, I am still not able to understand him. He was so unpredictable, never an open book. He could be angry and then a smile would quickly spread across his face. There were times when he would smile but the wrath that followed was always brutal.

“I mean,” he began, tracing a finger around my cheek down to my neck. “Are you sure you are only this extra dressed because of a presentation?”

“Yes, I… I don’t have any other reason.” I tried to explain, looking briefly into his eyes before turning my gaze away. “The client is quite important and my boss wants me to make a great impression so he could sign a contract with us.”

“Your boss again huh? It’s always him wanting you to make a great impression on all your clients.” He spat, moving away from me and throwing his hands in the air.

Although I knew he was brewing for a fight, I felt temporarily relieved that he moved away from me. I managed to suck in a deep breath before he came rushing back.

“Tell me the truth Catherine,” He puffed, grabbing my hand in a tight grasp. “Is your boss fixing you up with prospective clients so they could sign up with your advertising company?”

“No!” I exclaimed, horrified at his thoughts. “I will never do anything like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Alex. Clients only sign up with us because we are good with what we do.”

“Then why do you always have to be the one to do all the presentations? Tell me,” he shouted, making me jump.

“Alex, please,” I pleaded, tears filling my eyes as I raised them to him. I am not the only one handling all the presentations. I am one of the creatives in the agency and we often work together. I only get to handle more presentations because I am quite good at it.”

“You aren’t good at nothing!” Alex scoffed, his brimming with anger. “I perfectly understand why your stupid boss always puts you in charge. It’s because you fuck around with him!”

“What?” I gasped, shocked by his thoughts.

“Yes Catherine, you are sleeping with your boss. Tell me, why else will he keep putting you in charge when you are just a dumb, dumb girl!”

“Alex, that’s… that’s not true,” I mumbled, my voice trembling with tears.

“It’s true and you know what? He’s going to get tired of you soon because you are nothing but a plaything and you should always be grateful that I still manage to put up with you.”

By now, the tears I had been trying to hold back came rushing, ruining my shirt. “It’s so unfair of you to say that.”

“I don’t care, Catherine,” he shrugged, moving away from me to go back to the bed. “Now, I want you to pull off those clothes and wear the long gown I bought you a couple of days back.”

I stared at him as he relaxed on the bed and made a decision in a split second. Without giving him a clue, I grabbed my already packed bag on the dresser and ran out of the house. As I got into a cab and tried to arrange my hair, I tried to direct my thoughts only to the presentation ahead of me. I already know the consequences of my actions.

At exactly 4:30 in the evening, I walked into the apartment with careful steps. My hands were trembling and my teeth chattered as I opened the door to the bedroom. I had risked Alex’s wrath for my job and I knew the consequences were going to be grave.

My bag slipped out of my hand and landed on the floor with a crash when I saw him approach me. My breath caught in my throat when I saw the long whip dangling in his right hand. I turned to the door, willing my legs to move but they remained glued to the floor.