Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
My cheeks burn with shame and embarrassment. I want to defend myself, to explain that it’s merely fantasy, just role play. Frankly, I also want to tell him it’s none of his business and what I do on my own time is up to me. But the words stick in my throat.
Tyler moves around his desk, his fingers trailing along the polished wood. “You know, when I first discovered your account, I was shocked. Angry, even. I thought about terminating your contract on the spot.”
My heart sinks. This is it. I’m about to lose everything.
“But then,” he continues, his voice taking on a strange tone, “I kept watching. Reading. And I realized something.”
He turns to face me fully, and I’m struck by the intensity in his eyes. It’s not anger I see there. It’s . . . something else. Something that makes my skin prickle with a mix of fear and an emotion I don’t want to name.
“You’re incredibly talented, Chloe, or should I call you BlackAsChlo now?” Tyler says. “The way you captivate your audience. It’s even more interesting than when you do your jewelry influencing as just boring ol’ Chloe.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, unsure where this is going.
Tyler leans against his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “I have a proposition for you. One that could take your career—both of them to new heights.”
My mind reels. Is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting? “I don’t understand,” I say cautiously.
A slow smile spreads across Tyler’s face, and in that moment, I realize I’m in deeper trouble than I ever imagined.
“Oh, I think you do,” he says in a voice more sinister than I thought could come from this man. “I may not have been a subscriber at first. But I am now. A subscriber with expectations.”
My blood runs cold at Tyler’s words. The implications of what he’s saying sinks in, and I feel a wave of nausea strike.
“Tyler,” I start, my voice shaking, “I don’t think—”
“Don’t think, Chloe,” he interrupts, his eyes glinting in the dim light. “Just listen. I’m offering you a chance to keep your job and expand your extracurricular activities. All you have to do is follow my lead. Besides, I saw the video of you fucking one of your subscribers. I’m only asking for the same treatment.”
I stand up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. “No. Absolutely not. What I do in my private life is none of your business, and I won’t be blackmailed.”
Tyler’s smile fades, replaced by a cold, hard look. “Are you sure about that? Because I’m certain Jasmine would be very interested to know what one of our top influencers does in her spare time. Not to mention your followers. How do you think they’d react if they knew their favorite jewelry expert is a fucking whore?”
I can’t catch a full breath.
“There’s a price for my silence and an even bigger one for cleaning up the mess so no one else at Moth to the Flame finds out,” he says, his voice dripping with malice.
My mind races, searching for a way out of this nightmare. First Jack, now Tyler—it seems like my whole world is crumbling around me.
“What exactly are you proposing?” I ask, trying to buy time.
Tyler’s eyes gleam with a predatory light as he steps toward to me. “It’s simple, really. You continue your work for Moth to the Flame during the day. But at night, you’ll perform for me. Private shows, tailored to my . . . specific interests.”
Bile rises in my throat.
“Starting with right now,” he adds as he moves closer.
“No,” I say firmly, gathering every ounce of courage I have. “I won’t do it. Fire me if you want, tell anyone who’ll believe you, but I won’t be doing that.”
Tyler’s eyes narrow dangerously. He laughs. “You think that’s really an option?” He closes the distance between us.
I back away from Tyler. “Don’t come near me,” I warn, but my voice cracks.
Tyler smirks, continuing to advance. “Come now, Chloe. We both know you enjoy this kind of thing. I’ve seen your videos, remember? The thrill of being watched, being controlled . . .”
“Fuck you. That’s consensual role play, not actual blackmail and assault!” I glance over my shoulder at the hallways, searching the corners for cameras.
“Of course I turned them off,” Tyler says with a chuckle, reading my desperate mind.
My back hits the wall. I’m trapped. Tyler looms over me, his breath hot on my face.
“Last chance, Chloe. Play along, or lose everything. It’ll be fun.”
In that moment, something inside me snaps. All the fear and anger from the night’s events comes rushing to the surface. Without thinking, I bring my knee up hard between Tyler’s legs.
He doubles over with a pained grunt. I shove him aside and make a dash for the door.