Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Fantasy versus reality,” she murmured as she started down the narrow steps lit only by LED lights. “Not so fun when you know your boss is creepy.”
She had been working alone in the office one night when she heard screams. She had worked up the nerve to investigate, even though Billows had ordered her to stay in her office and go nowhere else. She’d never once broken his rule until she heard someone screaming. It had sounded like a woman in pain, and she couldn’t just ignore it.
The office she always worked in was soundproof. The entire floor was soundproof. Above them, music played constantly, and customers played in the lavish dungeon-themed Adventure Club. Above that were more music and even more customers, dancing and talking in the Pleasure Train Club. Despite the amount of people and noise above the office, it was absolutely quiet in the underground maze. That was why hearing someone scream was so shocking. And frightening.
Azelie had leapt up, knocking over her chair. She was ashamed that it took a few seconds to force her terrified brain to stop panicking and allow her to move. She had never been shown around to the other offices. She knew there were hidden doors and cameras everywhere. Billows would know she’d run out of her office into the corridor rather than heading back up the stairs. He would be able to view the security tapes even if someone wasn’t monitoring and informing him she was breaking the rules.
The screams increased in volume, sending chills down her spine. She ran toward the sound, but it was abruptly cut off. The ensuing silence seemed worse than the screams. She found herself facing three walls as the corridor dead-ended. That meant there had to be hidden doors in the wooden panels. Whoever had screamed was behind one of the walls.
“What the fuck are you doing, Azelie?” Billows sounded furious. “You aren’t to leave that office.”
She leaned against the wall, one hand supporting her, her palm seeking to reassure the woman when she had no chance of finding her. She found herself trembling.
“I’m sorry, Alan.” She was conciliatory immediately. “I heard screaming. A woman.” There was no point in denying it. “She sounded hurt, in pain. I rushed out to find her, to help, but I don’t know my way around and I got lost.”
His fingers bit deep into her arm, his grip hard enough to leave bruises. “Call me next time you think you hear something. This entire floor is wired.”
He began walking her back toward her office.
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means if you step wrong, you could set off a bomb.”
She paled, the color draining from her face. “Do you mean you have active bombs down here? If I accidentally set one off, would it kill the people above us?”
Billows’ fingers bit even deeper. “Don’t you dare get hysterical on me. I was watching a fucking horror movie in the office next to yours and I had the door open a crack. You heard the screaming and, like an idiot, didn’t bother to text me to see what was happening.”
He was lying. She knew he was lying. Worse, that woman had stopped screaming. Azelie had no idea who she was or where she was. If she called the police and they came and searched the maze, they might set off bombs. She wanted to go home and pull the covers over her head and pretend she’d never met Billows.
He practically flung her into a chair, his face a mask of anger. She knew he could feel her trembling; there was no way to stop it. He hadn’t answered her question about the bombs. She absolutely believed him that there were bombs. What was he doing besides rearranging his books to make his businesses seem legitimate?
“I’m sorry, Alan,” she said, pouring contriteness into her voice. She didn’t feel contrite. She just felt scared. “I won’t leave my office again.”
“You’d better not.” He sounded menacing.
Now, each time she descended the narrow stairs to the office where she worked, the atmosphere beneath the dance floors always felt tense and oppressive. It felt sinister and dark, as if a thousand ghosts cried out for her to join them.
She ignored her overactive imagination and headed straight for the office she always used. The door was open, and Alan Billows was waiting for her inside, one hip to the desk. His dark eyes jumped to her face as she pushed back the hood and shook out her hair.
“Someone has been stealing from us,” Billows announced as she entered the office. He waved her toward the chair behind the desk. “I need you to find out who, and I don’t want you to leave until you have.”
To give herself time to think of a response that wouldn’t trigger his temper, Azelie moved around him to do as he wanted, seating herself at the desk. The computer was already running, the books open for her to inspect.