Bind Me (Private Listing #2)

I huddle into the corner and watch the blackness, hoping that maybe I’ll adapt and be able to see a little, but there is no light coming into the room. I can’t see my hands in front of my face. The shuffling sound reaches me again.

My heart trips over itself with fear. I’m here by myself. Any employee can access this floor from the lobby with their card. It’s not as protected as the top floors, where only the guys and I have access.

Reasonable, I can be reasonable. The lights could have just shut off. I need to make my way to the door.

I try to make myself move, but I can’t. My feet are glued to the floor.

Coop’s fantasy comes back to me. I never said yes or no, but it’d definitely be something we’d need to discuss beforehand. And if he decided to play, I have a way out.

“Yellow!” I yell into the darkness.

The shuffling draws closer. I lower myself to the ground and hold my knees against my chest, trying to be as small as possible. I squeeze my useless eyes shut.

If it’s the guys, they need to tell me, now. “Red! Gold! Gold! Gold!”

Flashes of that night in the apartment come at me. Valerie laughing as her boyfriend holds me by my neck. The flood of relief when Blake came to the door followed by Jeff’s hand tightening around my throat.

Suffocating. Not being able to breathe. Knowing this could be my last chance to survive.

My chest is tight and I can’t catch my breath. The shuffling noise sounds louder, closer, like it’s right on top of me.

I cover my ears with my hands as a scream rips out of my throat.

“What the hell is going on in here?” a woman’s voice shouts.

Light floods the room, and I close my eyes against the sudden brightness. My breath comes out in pants as I claw at my neck. Nothing is holding it. I’m free to breathe. I’m not trapped.

I’m fine. I’m fine.

“Hello?” My voice cracks.

A tall brunette stands at the end of the aisle with her hands on her hips. “Why are you sitting here screaming in the dark?”

I slowly rise to my feet and brush off my skirt, feeling embarrassed and ridiculous. “Someone shut the lights off.”

She scoffs like I’m being a child. “They’re probably on a timer over the weekend.”

I shake my head. That’s not right. I’ve been in here for a while now, and they’ve never gone off. What about the shuffling noises?

Did I imagine them? My hands are shaking. Grabbing the files off the cabinet, I hurry toward her. I need out of here.

As I get closer, I recognize the woman as the hater who whispered with the receptionist and gave me a disdainful look on my first day. She’s gorgeous and tall and has on slacks and a sleeveless top. Her arms are crossed over her chest.

“Thank you for turning on the light.” I’m not sure what else to say to her.

“Whatever. Come on. I’m not leaving you alone in here. I’m almost done with the project I came in for and don’t want to waste any more of my weekend babysitting.” Her gaze drags over me like I’m some poor street urchin. Her eyes linger on my neck.

I resist the urge to reach my shaking hands up and touch it, knowing I left my scarf upstairs. It’s not as bad as when it first happened, but the bruises are still noticeable. The press of his fingers remains on my skin in vivid color.

“I’m finished in here, anyway.” I look back over my shoulder, positive that something will be there. Following me. Stalking me.

When she opens the door, I step out into the hallway and take a deep breath. Everything is still exactly the same. I release my breath as the door closes. “I’m Madison, by the way.”

“Courtney.” She stops and points down the hallway. Her blue eyes linger on my throat a second time. “Your elevator is that way.”

She’s trying to get rid of me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still be nice. I may have been acting like a child, but she did come in and turn the lights on for me. She saved me. Who knows how long I would have been trapped there in that nightmare?

“Thank you, Courtney. I’m sorry if I alarmed you.” I tuck the files against my chest and head toward the elevator. Back to safety.