I stood outside the building, hands shaking, breaths coming fast and shallow. Part of me wanted to get in my car and drive far, far away, just to escape the memory of his hand on my throat, the vile press of his lips against mine. But I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t let him run me out of my own job. I had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let some arrogant, power-hungry agent make me feel small.
You’re stronger than this, Vivian. Get in there, get your stuff, and leave with your head held high.
Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and marched back inside, each step resolute, a reminder to myself that I owned my space here, not him. I held my breath as I re-entered the room, casting a quick glance around. To my relief, Agent Thorne was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he’d left or decided to l
