The next morning...
Sunlight streamed into the luxurious penthouse. Melda awoke, feeling sore all over, particularly in her lower body, after a grueling night. But when she opened her eyes, she found she wasn't alone in bed. Alan, in full work attire—a white shirt with the top button undone and fitted slacks—stood at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed, watching her.
"Awake now," his deep voice spoke calmly. "Get up, shower, and get dressed. I'm giving you 10 minutes."
"Huh? Where are we going, Alan?" Melda asked groggily, pulling the blanket up to cover her chest, which was marked with red spots.
"To work," Alan replied decisively. "Today, you're coming with me. I won't let you out of my sight for even a second. Who knows where you might sneak off to cause trouble again."
"But
