FILTHY LITTLE ASSISTANT

I stared at Marco. My brain couldn't process what he'd just said.

Take off my blouse.

He stood there waiting. His face didn't change. Like he'd just asked me to get him coffee, not strip.

Behind me, I heard Enzo shift. Waiting to see what I'd do.

My hands started shaking. This was it. The line I couldn't cross.

Marco took a step closer. His hand reached out toward the top button of my blouse.

"No."

The word came out before I could stop it.

His hand stopped. His eyes met mine.

"No?" he repeated.

"I..I  can't." My voice was barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

The room went silent. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would break through my chest.

Marco's hand dropped. He stepped back, studying me.

Then Enzo laughed.

Actually laughed.

I turned around to look at him. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, that smile on his face.

"Told you," Enzo said to Marco.

"Told him what?"

What did he tell him.

Marco walked back behind his desk and sat down. "That you'd refuse."

I stared at him. "What?"

"Another test, Jolene." Enzo pushed off the wall and walked closer. "We needed to see if you'd actually stand up for yourself when it mattered."

My legs felt weak. "You,this was another test?"

"Everything is a test." Marco leaned back in his chair. "Did you really think we'd require you to strip on your first night?"

Yes. I had thought that. Because everything about this job had been insane from the start.

"Most people in your position would have obeyed," Enzo said. He was right next to me now. "Too desperate to say no. Too scared of losing the job."

"I am desperate," I whispered. "I am scared."

"But you still refused." Marco's expression didn't change, but something changed in his voice. "That takes strength. Or stupidity. We're not sure which yet."

Enzo circled around me slowly. "We don't want a toy, Jolene. We want someone with a spine. Someone who knows when to push back."

But,I couldn't make sense of this. "You said complete obedience. You said."

"We said a lot of things." Marco stood up again. "And you'll learn which orders to follow and which to question. That's part of working for us."

My head was spinning.

"However." Marco's voice got colder. "You need to understand something very clearly."

He walked around the desk toward me. Enzo stopped moving behind me.

"You get one refusal," Marco said. "One time you can say no without consequences." He stopped right in front of me. "You just used it."

My stomach dropped.

"Next time we give you an order like that?" His eyes locked on mine. "You don't get to refuse. Understand?"

"I.."

"Do you understand?" His voice was sharp.

"Yes, sir."

"Good." He stepped back. "Enzo, show her to her room."

Just like that, I was dismissed.

Enzo put his hand on my lower back and guided me toward the door. My legs were shaking so bad I could barely walk.

We left the study and walked down a hallway I hadn't seen before. Everything was still dark wood and expensive furniture. My cheap shoes clicked on the marble.

"Here." Enzo stopped at a door and pushed it open.

The room was huge. Way bigger than my entire apartment back home. Big bed with nice sheets. A window overlooking the grounds. My suitcase was already sitting by the closet.

"Bathroom's through there," Enzo said, pointing. "You start work at seven tomorrow morning. Marco will explain your duties."

I nodded. I couldn't find words.

Enzo paused in the doorway. "You surprised us tonight."

I looked at him.

"That's not easy to do." His smile was different now. Less mocking. "Get some sleep, Jolene. Tomorrow's going to be harder."

Then he closed the door.

I stood there in the middle of this beautiful room, alone for the first time since I'd gotten in that car.

My legs gave out. I sat on the edge of the bed and put my head in my hands.

What the hell had I just done?

I'd said no. To my boss. On my first night.

And somehow that had been the right answer.

But next time?

Next time I wouldn't get to refuse.

I looked at the door. Somewhere in this massive house, Marco and Enzo were doing whatever rich powerful men did at night. Planning. Talking. Maybe talking about me.

About what they'd make me do tomorrow.

But I was still trapped here. Still desperate. Still owned by two men who played games with people's lives for fun.

I should've felt relieved that I'd passed another test.

Instead, I just felt scared.

Because now I know the truth.

Next time they told me to strip, I'd have to do it.

Next time they touched me, I couldn't stop them.

Next time, I was theirs completely.

I am in their control

I lay back on the expensive sheets and stared at the ceiling.

One refusal.

I'd already used it.