His Captive,His Obsession

Chapter 3

I had tried to leave once.

It was last winter, when my debts were nearly paid off.

I couldn't stand the job any longer, so I went straight to Rachel, Theodore's mother, and begged her to let me go.

I told her my health was failing. I asked to resign as her son's assistant and transfer to a less demanding department.

Rachel had a kind heart. She agreed.

But somehow, Theodore found out.

That very night, he swept everything off his desk. Glass and papers littered the floor as I stood frozen in the doorway, trembling.

His lips curved into a razor-thin smile. "I hear you're planning to spread your wings and fly off."

The smile looked gentle, but it frightened me into silence.

I couldn't speak. I could only shake my head frantically.

Theodore crossed the room, seized my chin, and forced me to look at him.

His grip was brutal, as though he meant to crush my jaw.

"Julia, where exactly do you want to go? Tell me."

I shook my head even more desperately.

Then he laughed, wild and unhinged, his handsome face twisted with madness.

"Mark my words. Wherever you go, I'll dismantle the entire department. And I'll make sure every employee knows they lost their job because of you."

He was insane.

I burst into tears.

He merely smiled. "Entertain me."

He said it with a grin, but fear strangled the sound of my sobs.

In the end, I knelt before him and held up a handwritten promise that read, I will never leave.

Then I apologized.

As punishment, he made me stand all night in the small, windowless room beside his office.

I wasn't allowed to sit or lean against anything.

Only afterward did he spare the department I had wanted to join and let the resignation matter go.

My legs remained swollen for 3 days.

Walking was agony.

Later, he asked, "Now do you understand you've made a mistake?"

I nodded.

My biggest mistake had been working for him in the first place.

But one day, I would find a way to escape.

Theodore seemed deeply pleased by my meek obedience. He personally applied ointment to my swollen legs and even gave me time off.

His touch was feather-light, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Julia, haven't I treated you well? Why would you ever want to leave?"

I looked into his calm eyes and saw something unhinged lurking beneath them. Then I forced a sweet, obedient smile.

*****

After that, I never dared mention leaving again.

But now, another opportunity had appeared.

A reckless new hire named Annalise was willing to step into the cage.

I was terrified that she was all talk. But I was equally afraid that if she caused too much trouble, Theodore would punish me for it.

My nerves were on edge as I made my way back to the office.

Theodore was leaning back in his chair, skimming a document.

At the soft click of the door, he lifted his eyes to me.

His expression was flat and unreadable, but every muscle in my back immediately went rigid.

"What took you so long?"

"I ran into a few new colleagues near the cafeteria. We talked for a moment."

The office fell silent.

I could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface.

After a long pause, it seemed to vanish.

He smiled and crooked a finger at me.

"Come here."

He beckoned to me as though calling over a pet.

I moved forward one reluctant step at a time.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, looking quite relaxed.

I bent down and leaned close, just as he expected me to.

His hand slid onto my back, his fingers moving slowly across it.

"Who were you talking to? Men or women?"

My stomach clenched.

"Just a few of the new female interns," I blurted out. "We only talked for a minute."

He studied my face for several seconds, searching for any sign that I was lying.

Then Theodore suddenly seized my chin.

"They're green with envy, aren't they?"

"I... I don't know."

"Liar."

He let out a derisive snort.

"Who wouldn't be jealous? You get to stay by my side every day and enjoy everything I give you. It's a privilege others would kill for."

I lowered my gaze, refusing to look at him or give him the satisfaction of a response.

He watched me for a moment, then released my chin.

"I'm leaving on a business trip tomorrow."

I froze.

"Be back in 3 days."

My heart hammered against my ribs.

3 days?

If Annalise went to Rachel within the next day or two, and Rachel agreed to replace me with her, then Theodore's absence would give me the perfect opportunity.

3 whole days with him away...