Behind The Close Doors

A Predator’s Playground

The sharp winter wind sliced through my coat as I walked briskly down the street, barely registering the chill biting at my skin. My thoughts were tangled, a chaotic mess of anger, fear, and something I couldn’t quite name.

Last night felt like a fever dream, but the memory of Maximus Ward was all too vivid.

His firm yet gentle demeanor, the way he intervened when I thought no one would, and his insistence that I wasn’t just some commodity—they played on a loop in my mind. The look in his eyes as he spoke, like he saw something in me I hadn’t seen myself in years, was enough to send a chill through my spine.

In the crowded, filthy world of predatory men, Maximus had been an anomaly. He hadn’t demanded anything from me. He hadn’t even looked at me like I was some possession to be claimed. For the first time in years, I had felt... human. And I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe—just maybe—I didn’t have to be trapped in this life forever.

Lost in thought, I nearly missed Ling calling out to me.

“Ella!” Her voice was sharp, cutting through my daze. I turned to see her hurrying toward me, her brow furrowed in concern.

“You’re walking like a zombie. Are you okay?”

I stopped, taking a shaky breath. “I’m fine… just tired.”

Ling wasn’t convinced. She studied my face, her dark eyes narrowing as she searched for cracks in my façade.

“Tired? Or something else? What happened last night? You look shaken.”

My defenses wavered under her gaze, and I hesitated before pulling aside the collar of my coat, revealing the bruises snaking across my back. Ling gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

“Oh my God, Ella! What the hell happened?”

“Mason happened,” I said flatly, my voice hollow. “Did you know he’s a freak?”

Ling’s face went pale as she shook her head vehemently.

“No, I swear I didn’t! I’d heard he was... troubling, but this?” She gestured at my bruises, her voice trembling. “I didn’t know he was a psycho. Bob shouldn’t have sent you with him.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Bob doesn’t care. To him, we’re just merchandise. He’d sell us into s*****y if it meant a bigger cut. He’s a monster.”

Ling’s expression turned grim. “You’re right. But you know how he works. He keeps us tied to him, exploiting our weaknesses so we can’t leave.”

“That’s his game,” I muttered, the resentment in my chest bubbling to the surface. “He knows how to blackmail us, how to keep us in his pocket.”

Ling glanced around nervously and lowered her voice.

“I’ve heard whispers about something big. Bob and Rosa are up to something—a high-stakes deal with politicians and money laundering. And... I’ve also heard that Natasha’s their go-to for risky projects, but—”

“But what?” I cut in, though dread was already twisting in my stomach.

Ling hesitated, her voice barely audible.

“I think Rosa is planning to involve you too. She knows you’ve got the looks, the charm, and now, after Mason... the desperation.”

My stomach churned. “I would never do it.”

Ling gave me a look that was equal parts pity and fear. “What if Rosa asks you directly? You know how cruel she can be. Saying no to her isn’t easy.”

I didn’t answer. My mind was racing, the weight of Ling’s words sinking in. Rosa was ruthless, and I knew firsthand how easily she could manipulate people into doing her bidding. The thought of being dragged into something even darker made my skin crawl.

As we approached Bob’s office building, I squared my shoulders, trying to steel myself. “I’ll deal with it when it comes,” I said firmly, though the resolve in my voice felt like a lie. There was no "when it comes." It was already here. Bob would find a way to twist my arm, just like he always did.

Minutes later, I found myself in Bob’s office, and his warm greeting caught me off guard. He smiled as I entered, gesturing for me to sit.

“You look lovely as always, Ella,” he said, his tone dripping with false charm. His eyes, always calculating, lingered on me in a way that made my skin crawl.

“I’ve got good news. Mason sent the payment, and he was very pleased with you. Excited, even. I told him we’d arrange another night, but unfortunately, he had to go to Florida for some urgent business.”

I sat stiffly, my hands clenched in my lap. When he slid an envelope across the desk, I stared at it for a moment before picking it up.

My share was more than I’d expected. I should’ve been relieved.

Instead, all I felt was anger.

I broke my silence.

“Did you know Mason has a habit of hitting escorts?”

Bob’s smile faltered, his gaze dropping to the desk. “I knew he had... a troubling nature. But I didn’t know about this.”

“Don’t lie to me, Bob.” I leaned forward, my voice sharp. “You’ve known Mason for years. You knew exactly what he was like, and you sent me to him anyway. He’s a monster. He beat the s**t out of me.”

Bob raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Ella, calm down. He paid you well, didn’t he? You needed the money. You were running out of time for Adam’s chemo, and this gave you what you needed.”

My eyes burned with fury. “That doesn’t justify what he did to me! You had no right to send me into danger.”

Bob leaned back in his chair, feigning exasperation.

“You’re misunderstanding my intentions. I did it for you—for Adam. I knew you could handle it.”

I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor.

“You didn’t do it for me. You did it for your cut. You’re a bigger monster than Mason.”

His expression darkened as he spoke in a cold tone.

“Don’t you dare cross the line, Ella. You know me.”

I met his gaze, unflinching, before storming out of the office.

Outside, the icy wind hit me again, and I clutched the envelope tightly in my hand. My anger simmered beneath the surface, but so did something else—uncertainty. Was there any way out? Was it even possible to escape?

As I walked, I whispered to myself, “Adam needs this money. That’s all that matters.” The words felt hollow now, like a lifeline that wasn’t strong enough to hold me. I had to remind myself why I was enduring this—because Adam needed the treatment, because I owed him everything.

But even as I repeated the words like a mantra, Maximus’s face flickered in my mind. His voice, firm yet gentle, echoed in my thoughts: “You’re not a toy, Ella. You’re a human being.”

For the first time in years, I wondered if escape was even possible. If it was, could Maximus be the one to show me how? Could he be the key to breaking free from this nightmare, or was I fooling myself?