Chapter 4: The First Step into the Abyss
1417 Words
"Lois," he says quietly and smoothly. I want your assistance on a certain matter.
My throat is constricted and I swallow. Certainly, Mr. Albert. How can I help you, Mr. Albert?
He doesn't respond immediately. Rather, he enters and the room is filled with the weight of his presence. The silent might in his every step pushes him closer, so near I can feel the heat from his body. I prepare myself even knowing it is useless. The air is thick with something unspoken and I wonder whether I am ready for what follows.
"Come with me," he urges, the words straightforward but their importance great.
Victor doesn't glance at me right away; his eyes are on the papers in his hands, but as soon as I enter the room, I can feel it, the change. He knows me; he knows every action I take.
Breaking the quiet, he remarks, "Lois, you're doing well." Though the softness is somewhat disturbing, his voice is suddenly warmer, almost casual. It feels like a warning, as if he's allowing me just enough breathing room but not enough to flee. "I want you to be more... engaged."
I tighten, not knowing where this is headed. Engaged?
He looks up then to meet my gaze. The room seems smaller all of a sudden, and I question whether he has always affected others this way or whether it is only me. Steady and unflinching, he holds my gaze.
"I believe you," he murmurs, his words suspended in the air. Trust, however, is somewhat delicate. I have to know I can count on you in every circumstance. You get it?
I struggle to remain composed as my breath catches. I remind myself it's only company. He's pushing me. Still, deep down, I know this is more.
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. I get it.
Victor moves closer, and my heart skips. There's a tension in the space between us now that I cannot deny. I've always been able to manage my emotions, my responses, but with him? It's not the same. The draw is strong and I find it hard to concentrate.
"Lois, I need more from you," he murmurs softly, his breath warm against my skin. The phrase sends a shudder down my spine.
I don't answer right away. His presence, however, pulls me in and I cannot look away.
What if I expected more from you? He speaks in a voice so low it seems both a promise and a threat.
Long after I depart Victor's office, the weight of his remarks stays. My head whirling, I walk back to my desk. Extra. What does he imply by that? What sort of more is he requesting?
As I sit down, I attempt to ignore it, but the discomfort eats at me. The papers in front of me are as dull as always, but I can't concentrate. Though it is not the task causing me anxiety, my hands shake as I grab a report. It's him. Always that guy.
I remind myself that I am here to work, that I can overcome any odd draw he has on me. Then the email appears. A straightforward, first glance task from Victor's office. But as I scan the data, something draws my attention. That is a name. Though the business connected to it... it begs questions, I don't know the name.
I look more closely. A few clicks later, I come across another file hidden in the digital vaults. What about this? This is unique. A report labelled "Confidential." It's something darker, far more hazardous than just a few corporate deals. The file lists transactions I find hard to trust linked to Victor's name.
Ignoring it is getting increasingly difficult. Every second I spend in Victor's orbit, the boundaries between professional and personal fade. I've always been able to stay away, to govern my own life, but he's pushing, slowly, purposefully. It's like a game he's playing, and I don't know if I'm winning or losing.
Today, the office seems different. More stressed. More vibrant. Victor's presence is as strong as ever; I can sense his gaze on me every time I'm not looking straight at him. The subtle touches, the sharp remarks, the way he hangs about my desk, it's all mounting up and I'm finding it hard to maintain a calm front.
The most recent job is personal, outside my usual expectations. He's requested that I handle a sensitive matter, one concerning a prominent customer. It's not a usual job for an assistant, and I understand this is a test while I'm standing in front of him, hearing his directions.
Lois, you'll deal with this quietly. "No errors. Should I have to tell you how crucial this is?
I nod, attempting to overlook the sinking sensation in my belly. The more I engage with him, the more I see that nothing is easy with Victor. He's pushing my boundaries as well as my ability.
"I get it, Mr. Albert," I answer, but my voice is far less assured than I would want.
He moves closer, and for a brief instant I freeze. His look acute as it sweeps over me, his closeness seems intentional. The air surrounding us grows denser. Every part of me wants to run away, to separate us, but the tension has me too trapped to act.
So far, you're doing great, he whispers softly, nearly to himself. You may, however, do more.
I gulp and attempt to remain composed. Sir, what do you require of me?
His eyes hold mine for a beat too long, and his lips barely curve into a smile. All. Lois, I need you to be... more than simply an assistant.
The words, sharp and heavy, linger in the air and make me question how to react. Realising how much power he now has over me makes my heart race and my mind race.
He retreats, allowing me room once more before I can respond. He says, turning to go, "Handle the job." Lois, you are mine now, so keep that in mind.
The night arrives sooner than I anticipate. He claimed a private meeting. Only the two of us. The anxious strain growing all day won't go away for me. The atmosphere in the workplace seems too dense, too electrified.
Stepping into Victor's office, he is already there, back to the window waiting. I don't know why, but I'm nearly happy. I have to collect myself, to organise my ideas before I confront him.
"Lois," he says without looking, his voice as strong and consistent as usual. Enter.
I do, my steps resonating in the quiet. The room seems smaller now, more intimate, and I can't help but believe something is about to change between us. Standing just inside the door, ready for him to speak again, I find it different this time when he turns. His look contains something deeper, more intense than I have ever known.
Victor approaches me closer, his presence occupying the gap between us. His gaze on me, searing into my flesh, makes me feel. He closes the distance, halting only a few inches away, and my breath catches. Fighting to remain professional, my hands become damp as my pulse races.
"Lois," he repeats, but this time his tone is milder. Before he reaches out and brushes a strand of hair from my face with the back of his fingers, he doesn't let me answer.
Though it's quite soft, the contact shocks my body. I choke on my breath. The world seems to have paused, as though everything around us has gone into the background. Only he remains.
I open my mouth to speak, to push back, but he leans in first. His lips press into mine, gentle at first, hesitant, then harder, more forceful. I freeze, trapped in its intensity. My heart pounds and my body betrays me, reacting to him even as my head yells at me to quit.
My feeble breathing causes my chest to rise and fall; I quickly move away. Apart from the noise of my beating heart, the room is quiet.
Victor is mute. He just stares at me, his eyes dark with something I can't identify. A gradual grin develops over his face, but it is not the same one I have seen previously. This is not the icy, logical Victor. It's different. Some... risky.
"This alters everything," he says quietly, his voice sending chills down my back.
- Writer
