“Come in, make yourself comfortable,” the girl said, turning to him with a polite smile.
He liked her instantly. She was petite and delicate, with cascading blonde hair and wide blue eyes set in a porcelain face. She reminded him of a Barbie doll, complete with that same innocent, slightly clueless smile.
He silently closed the door behind him, then turned the key in the lock twice before slipping it into his pocket.
“Excuse me?” the girl said, her expression shifting to one of confusion as she stared at him.
“Hope,” he read on the name tag pinned to her flirty green uniform.
“Why don’t you slip out of that, Hope,” he said with a friendly tone. “I’d like to see you… without anything on.”
“I’m sorry, is this some kind of joke?” Her pale skin flushed crimson in an instant. “Or have you mistaken me for someone else?”
“No, doll, I was told about you specifically. And I can see they weren’t wrong. You’re exactly my type. So, are you going to undress yourself, or should I lend a hand?”
The girl shook her head, looking like a frightened little bird.
“I’m going to scream!” she said, her voice suddenly hoarse. “I’ll call security!”
“And do you know who I am?” He paused for dramatic effect, then gestured around the cozy little room with its pink walls. “I own all of this. I pay the security guards’ salaries. And yours…”
“Please, just give me the key,” she pleaded, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. “I don’t want to work here anymore. Who do you think I am?”
“Oh, don’t play the innocent angel with me,” he said, his tone growing sharp with irritation. He wasn’t used to begging or persuading—usually, women came running at the slightest hint, eager to fulfill his every whim. “Come on, show me what you’ve got. If you’re good, I might even put in a word with some wealthy folks. You could make a pretty penny. So, how long are you going to keep me waiting?”
He advanced toward her, taking his time, savoring her fear, while she backed away until her back pressed against the windowsill. The familiar hum of the busy avenue outside felt like it belonged to another world, impossibly distant. Her entire existence had suddenly shrunk to the confines of this tiny, locked room. And the key was in the pocket of this predatory, dangerous man who seemed more like a wild beast than a person.
One more moment, and she would be at his mercy, with no way to turn back…