Bonded By Lies

Chapter Two

The week passed by with the woman who called me “Sarah” persistently trying to talk to me, but I kept ignoring her.

It was against the grocery store's policy to associate with customers, especially during work hours. The woman, whom I later found out was called “Jane,” would stand for hours patiently waiting for me to speak to her.

I later gave in, and I am currently sitting in her car after closing hours, waiting for her to speak, but she keeps glaring at me.

“I'm so sorry for pressuring you into talking to me, but you look so familiar with someone I know in the past. The resemblance is uncanny.” Jane finally spoke, and I just smiled.

“I want you to come work for me or, rather, my son.”

I shifted my head slightly, looking at her, almost laughing, but I didn't want to look disrespectful.

“And why should I do that?” I finally said.

“Because I will pay you ten times more than what they are paying you here,” she said slowly.

“I can't just come to work for you ma’am. I don't know you or what you do.”

“I totally understand Sophia. It's a really comfortable job. You will love it. I'm not pressuring you into this. I just wanted to talk to you about it and see if you will agree,” Jane said, smiling.

This all seems so shady.

She seemed to notice my reluctance as she quietly opened her bag and brought out a card before sliding it into my hand.

Jane Blackwood, CEO of Wood Fashion Luxury, I read silently, leaving my mouth wide open.

Wait! She is the wife of the richest and most powerful man in America, Ethan Blackwood.

She chuckled at my reaction.

“Sophia, this is a friendly request, and I would be damn happy if you could help grant it,” Jane said.

Why is the wife of the richest and most ruthless man shopping at a small store?

I smiled at her quietly as she left her car. Making so many thoughts run through my head.

She didn't give me the details of what I would be doing. She only said I would be working for her, or rather, her son.

Is it Liam Blackwood? He is the only son I know the Blackwood family has.

I sighed, stuffing the card into my pocket and heading back home. This all seems impossible.

The next day, I quickly got ready to check out as soon as it was closing time. Adrian has been out of town and we couldn't celebrate our two-month anniversary. He is coming back today, and I made a mental note in my head to collect the cake from the bakery next door.

I looked around, noticing Kat, who was to take over for night duty, had not arrived yet, meaning I had to report to Maxwell before leaving.

I climbed the stairs leading to his apartment. Maxwell was literally living in his store. Well, the other side of his store.

I knocked gently to announce my presence and I got no reply. The door was left slightly ajar, and I let myself in.

“Maxwell,” I said, noticing no one inside the room.

“Yes,” I heard a reply from my back, making me jump in fright.

“Where did you come from?” I said, noticing Maxwell putting on only a towel to cover his waist before averting my gaze.

I really need to get out of here.

“Bathroom,” he replied curtly.

“Kat is not around yet, so I shut the store, and here is the key,” I said quickly, handing over the key and moving quickly to the door.

He stopped me quickly, holding my hand just in time.

“Wait,” Max said

“What”

“Stay with me,” he said, dragging me closer to him.

No no no no no no… I screamed in my head.

“You don't understand. I have to leave,” I said, struggling to free my hands.

Maxwell is a very huge man and I will probably not win the fight.

“I have been giving you glances since you started working with me, but you didn't look my way,” he said, pulling me closer.

“You only had eyes for Adrian. Huh! Babe?. Look at me,” Max said, using his free hand to slightly turn my neck towards him.

I struggled as much as I could, but his grip became stronger and firmer. Tears formed in my eyes.

“Let me go, Max”

“You know there is a no-dating policy and I can fire you and Adrian for dating in my workplace.”

“I will take care of you. Huh!?”.

He grabbed both my hands and pushed me to his bed. I tried as much as I could to scream, but he covered my mouth immediately.

“This will be fast and quick. I will make you mine. Leave Adrian and come to me. Let me take care of you, Babe,” Max said in a low voice. This time, his eyes filled with obvious lust.

I bit the hand he was using to hold my mouth sharply, and he winced in pain. Using that opportunity, I pushed him so hard on the ground before gathering my stuff to run out of the room.

“You are fired” was the last statement I heard before I stormed out and ran far away from there.

I panted as I got to my house and roughly opened the door.

Tears that formed in my eyes rushed out suddenly, making me cry my eyes out.

An hour later, I was sitting at the dinner that Adrian set up for our anniversary looking absent-minded.

I had forgotten the cake and called Adrian to bring it on his way to my apartment. I decided to keep this quiet from him, as I was very sure he would confront Maxwell and Maxwell would fire Adrian from one of the jobs he is managing.

“Babe,” Adrian said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yes,” I said, smiling sadly.

“Is something wrong?” Adrian asked, holding out my hand.

“No, why do you ask?”

“You look less beautiful,” Adrian said, chuckling, and I kicked his hand out of mine.

Now is the time to tell him. I thought to myself.

“I resigned,” I said, pulling his attention into mine as he was cutting his cake.

“Resigned from,” Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.

“From the grocery store, from Maxwell,” I said, suddenly remembering what happened earlier that evening.

“Did something happen while I was away?”

“No… I got a better offer.”

Adrian pulled me closer to him waiting for me to explain further.

I narrated how Jane approached me and what transpired between us before she offered to work with her son.

Adrian listened quietly trying to process everything.

“We spoke every day while I was away, and you just decided to let me know now. And who is this Jane in the first place? She could be a scam. A drug trafficker, a human trafficker,” Adrian questioned, already looking annoyed.

“Babe, I have already done research on my part,” I said convincingly.

“And you think the wife of the richest man in America would shop at a corner store,” Adrian said, slightly raising his voice.

“And you didn't give me any prior notice and decided to stop working at the grocery store,” he snapped.

“You found another man, didn't you, and you are using this as an excuse,” Adrian said roughly, standing up from the chair, making it hit the ground.

“You don't understand, baby. This is a better offer. A much bigger one than I have had in my twenty-two years of living. I can't just let it pass by me. I need this for both of us”.

Adrian scoffed.

“You don't need this for both of us. You need this for yourself. Don't agree to that offer or break up with me,” Adrian said before leaving.

g the house and slammed the door after.

I slumped on the floor as more tears gathered in my eyes. I didn't even try to stop it. They fell freely as I cried like never before.