Elias’ Possession

Elias Harrington

…6 months earlier

I woke up later than usual that morning, sunlight filtering through the blinds and slicing across my face. I rolled over, pulling the covers tighter around me, my mind weighed down with the same thoughts that had haunted me for weeks. Six months out of college and nothing to show for it. No job, no income, no purpose.

The pile of rejection emails in my inbox had drained the hope out of me, leaving me stuck in a limbo of self-doubt. Still, something tugged at me as I reached for my phone. Maybe today would be different.

I dragged myself out of bed and opened my email, my heart racing despite my better judgment. Most of it was junk—newsletters, sales promotions, spam. But then, buried among the noise, I saw it: Interview Date.

My breath hitched as I clicked it open.

Hi Zahra,

We have received your application, and your interview date has been set for 12 PM on the 6th of May.

We hope to see you there.

Signed,

Hives Basketball (HR)

I gasped. Today was May 5th. My chest tightened with a mix of panic and excitement. I had less than 24 hours to pull myself together and make it to Lumina City for the interview.

The day passed in a blur of preparation. I rushed to the hairdresser to get my hair done, scrambled to pack enough clothes for a few days, and collapsed into bed out of sheer exhaustion by nightfall. But in my rush, I forgot the most critical step—I didn’t set an alarm.

When I woke the next morning, the clock read 12:07 PM.

“s**t!” I screamed, scrambling out of bed. My heart pounded as I dressed as quickly as possible, grabbing my keys and racing to my car.

Four grueling hours later, I arrived at Hives Basketball’s offices, disheveled and four hours late. My nerves were shot, but I clung to a sliver of hope as I walked through the sleek glass doors, asking the receptionist for the interview location.

She pointed me to the 29th floor, and I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button with shaky hands. At the third floor, the elevator stopped, and a man walked in. He was tall with broad shoulders, his suit tailored to perfection. His slicked-back hair framed hazel eyes that seemed to gleam with mischief.

“Hi,” I said, trying to start a conversation, but my nerves betrayed me, making my voice too loud.

He smirked, his expression almost mocking. “Hi.”

“You work here?” I asked.

“Yes.” His tone was clipped, cold.

“I’m your new colleague,” I blurted, my fingers crossed behind my back.

“Oh,” he said with a laugh that felt more like a taunt. “I didn’t know they’d hired the new assistant.”

“Well, not yet,” I admitted. “I’m here for an interview. I’m technically four hours late, but hopefully, they let me in.”

He didn’t respond, and the silence that followed was excruciating. When the elevator reached the 29th floor, he stepped out with a curt “Good luck.”

“Zahra,” I called after him, introducing myself.

“Elias,” he said without turning back.

I quickly found the designated office for the interview, only to discover it was empty. My heart sank. Exhausted and defeated, I slumped into a chair, tears spilling over before I could stop them.

“All my efforts are wasted,” I whispered to myself. “I’m practically useless. I drove four hours for nothing.”

“Is that so?” a voice asked from the doorway.

I turned, startled, to see Elias leaning casually against the frame. My cheeks burned as I wiped at my face.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered, standing quickly. “I—I should go.”

He held out a card before I could escape. “I’ll be expecting your call.”

I stared at the card, my jaw dropping as I read the name printed on it. Elias Harrington, Owner, Hives Basketball.

“You’re the owner?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

But Elias had already turned and walked away, leaving me stunned and unsure what to do.

Hours later, I found myself parked outside a café, staring at the business card. The weight of my failure pressed down on me, but my phone’s screen blinked with a missed call from my sister Leah. I wiped my tears and dialed her back.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Mom’s in the hospital,” Leah said, her voice breaking. “She had a seizure. Her insurance isn’t paid up, and they’re refusing treatment. Zahra, she’s in a coma. I don’t know what to do.”

My world tilted. I promised Leah I’d figure something out before hanging up. My hands shook as I dialed Elias’s number.

When he answered, he gave me a curt address: Estrella Doran, 8 PM.

By 8 PM, I was at the luxurious Estrella Doran Hotel. The receptionist directed me to table seven in the restaurant, where Elias sat, waiting with a glass of wine in hand.

“We’re the only ones here,” I said, glancing around nervously.

“Come,” he said, standing and leading me to the elevator without another word.

The ride was silent, the tension thick enough to suffocate me. When the doors opened, I was led into a sprawling penthouse that looked like it belonged in a magazine. But it wasn’t the penthouse that caught my attention—it was the room Elias opened next.

The walls were lined with cuffs, ropes, and whips. A swing hung from the ceiling, and the air smelled faintly of leather. My heart pounded as I took a step back.

“What is this?” I whispered.

“Take off your shoes,” he said, ignoring my question.

“Why?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Do as I say,” he said, his tone sharp.

With shaking hands, I slipped off my shoes, feeling exposed even though I was still fully clothed.

“Now your jacket,” he ordered.

I hesitated, clutching it tighter around me. “Elias, I don’t think—”

“Do you hear what I said or not?” he interrupted, his gaze piercing.

Tears pricked my eyes as I shrugged off my jacket, laying it carefully on a nearby chair. My mind raced, torn between my desperation and my dignity.

Elias stepped closer, the heat of his body overwhelming. “You’re stronger than this, Zahra,” he said softly, his voice almost gentle. “Prove it.”

Something inside me snapped. “No,” I said firmly, stepping back. “This isn’t what I signed up for.”

His expression flickered—was that disappointment? But then he nodded. “Fine. You can leave.”

I grabbed my things and fled, my chest heaving as I reached my car. Just as I was about to drive away, Leah’s call came through again.

“Mom’s condition is getting worse,” she sobbed. “We need money now.”

I stared at Elias’s card, his words echoing in my mind: You’re stronger than this.

Was I? And if I wasn’t, how far would I go to save my family?