The Suite Where She Left Me To Die

It was our department's team-building day, and my best friend lured me to the top-floor presidential suite under the pretense of discussing work. I'd barely stepped into the room when a man's leather whip cracked hard against my body, sending me sprawling onto the floor. The pain was so intense that I scrambled and crawled to the door, clawing at the gap between the door and the frame as I screamed for my best friend to help me. But she stood on the other side of the door and sneered coldly. "Don't be so ungrateful," she said. "A man like Mr. Pierce sits at the very top of the pyramid. Getting beaten by him is an honor. So many people would kill for it." That night, the man with severe sadistic tendencies beat me until my internal organs ruptured and I died. Afterwards, Matthew Pierce bought his way out of it. My best friend used my corpse as a stepping stone to the director's position. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day of our department's team-building event. Seeing the barely contained excitement in her eyes, I curved my lips into a cold smirk. Everything I suffered in my past life, I'll make her pay back in this one—every last bit. ***** "Katherine Ortiz, hurry up and go in." Hannah Lane, my best friend, clamped down hard on my arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement she couldn't quite tamp down. "This is the opportunity I fought so hard to get for you. With how good you are at your job, as long as you get in with Mr. Pierce, you'll rise fast in the company." I stared at her perfectly made-up face, and my stomach churned violently. In my past life, she had used the same line to trick me into that room. What waited for me on the other side was not a work assignment from Matthew Pierce but a black leather whip lined with sharp barbs. That night, he beat me until my internal organs ruptured. Only as I was dying did I learn that Matthew was a sadist. And Hannah, my best friend, had stood right outside the door, listening to my screams without lifting a finger. "Katherine, what are you zoning out for?" When she saw I wasn't moving, Hannah gave me a hard shove. "Mr. Pierce's already waiting inside! If you make him wait, there will be hell to pay!" I took a casual half step back, dodging her grasp. "If this is such a great opportunity, why don't you go in yourself?" Hannah froze for a second, clearly caught off guard by my question. She recovered fast, though, and immediately put on a hurt expression. "What kind of question is that? It's because I treat you as my best friend. Of course I'd think of you first when I get a work assignment that comes with a promotion." I stared at her coldly. "A work assignment? Since when are work assignments handed out in a hotel room?" Hannah's eyes darted away for a split second, and she forced two awkward laughs. "Oh, you just don't get how these things work. A guy like Mr. Pierce, at the very top of the pyramid? He's under so much pressure all the time. All he needs is a sensible, obedient girl to keep him company, have a few drinks, and chat a bit. You're so pretty. Mr. Pierce will definitely like you." I lowered my eyes, hiding the coldness in them. "If it's just drinking and chatting, why can't we do that in the banquet hall downstairs? Why do we have to come all the way up to the top-floor presidential suite?" Hannah got anxious and reached out again to pull me. "Oh, what do you know! There are too many people watching downstairs. How could Mr. Pierce give you such a good opportunity privately? Stop dragging your heels and get in there." Hearing her say the exact same things she had said in my past life made me go cold all over. I shook off her hand, clutched my stomach, and doubled over. "I can't. My stomach hurts so bad. I must have eaten something bad earlier. I need to go to the bathroom." Hannah grabbed the hem of my shirt, her face turning ugly. "Katherine, don't drop the ball at a time like this! You know Mr. Pierce's temper. If we stand him up, both of us will get fired!" I pretended to be in pain and frowned hard. "I really can't hold it. How about this? You go in first and explain to Mr. Pierce for me. Tell him I'll be right back." Hannah shook her head frantically. "No, no! Mr. Pierce asked to see you specifically." I pinched my thigh hard and put on a pained expression. "Didn't you just say Mr. Pierce only needs someone to drink and chat with? Besides, you're pretty too, and you're charming. Mr. Pierce might be even happier to see you walk in." Hannah's eyes darted back and forth, and she seemed tempted. In my past life, she had been afraid to face Matthew's twisted urges, so she threw me to the wolves instead. In the end, she climbed over my dead body to the top. This time, she was going to taste for herself what it felt like when the whip landed on her. "But..." "There's no 'but'," I cut her off. "Didn't you say this is a good opportunity? You go in first and show your face. Let Mr. Pierce remember you. It'll be good for your future too." Hannah bit her lip and finally made up her mind. "Fine, I'll go in and cover for you for a bit. Hurry back!" She drew in a deep breath, adjusted the neckline of her low-cut top, and pushed open the heavy door to step inside. The moment the door closed, I heard Matthew's deep voice from inside. "Why did the person change?" Hannah's voice held a trace of nervousness and shyness. "Mr. Pierce, Katherine has a stomachache. I can keep you company just as well..." A sharp c***k of the whip cut through the heavy wooden door and reached my ears. Right after that came Hannah's shrill scream. "Ah! Mr. Pierce, what are you doing?!" Matthew laughed coldly. "Since you came in, you should know the rules." I let go of the door handle and stepped back two paces. Hannah, you'd better enjoy this incredible stroke of luck.