Blackmailed For Love

A warning and a threat I wished good morning to the front desk receptionist as I passed by her and made my way toward the elevator banks.

Each step was sending a sharp throb behind my right eye as my migraine made its presence known like I wasn't already miserable enough.

Yesterday, after I finished my work here, it had been the busiest and most harrowing six hours in the diner where I worked the night shift and tolerated the uninvited attention of sleazy men which had led to the beginning of this horrible migraine.

I stepped into the elevator as the doors opened and pressed the button for the twenty fifth floor.

My mind went to the number of things I have to do but the one I was trying to ignore popped into the forefront of my mind.

Kaden asked me to go out on a dinner date with him.

A part of me wanted to agree to do that, have the whole dating experience but I knew it was something that would end up in disaster with just one glimpse into my past and what effect it had on my present.

But what if Kaden was someone who wouldn't care about all that and instead would provide something that I had lacked for all these years, Safety.

The elevator doors opened on the tenth floor and I sent up a silent prayer that this tin box wouldn't fill up with chattering people, and the god granted my wish in the form of the tall man whose eyes met mine and he smiled.

"Good morning, Elsa."

"Good morning, Kaden." I replied, my voice soft and subdued due to my headache.

His dark eyes sharpened on me and he asked, "Are you alright, Elsa?"

I shrugged and answered, "Just a little headache."

"Then you should've stayed home." I looked at him and wrinkled my nose.

"It's just my second day."

He chuckled softly and said, "No one would say anything if I'm giving you the day off."

"But, you are not my boss."

keep telling you." He replied, arching

smiled a little and

fine.I am

blurry and I felt like I was going to either faint

my hands were shaking as I tried to sort the papers

asked, "Hello, yes, I wanted to ashh… ask where

time, whenever my migraine got worse, my speech would come out like I was

to the on-site medical office.They'll

hung up on me.I looked down at the receiver and made a

"Kyou… stupid!"

hate this

And these stupid people.

at least make this headache tolerable.I stood up and had

front of my

bright lights in the hallway made me want to run back into my tiny little

was about to step into the open area with a lot of cubicles, I heard the

I almost tripped over my

was on the

"Sir, I–"

but his frigid voice cut off the

word.I don't want to hear

as my mind tried to protect itself by whispering again and

maybe conjuring up his voice, it wouldn't be the first

decided to

I am really

"No, it won't."

and carried toward me

"I don't like to repeat myself, you

took a step forward

middle with