I sat in the waiting room forever, trying to calm down. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. My whole body was still buzzing from seeing him naked, from that voice, from the way he looked at me.

The door opened.

He walked in and I froze. He'd put on clothes, black pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was still wet. He looked hot. Really hot.

This was my boss. The man I'd just seen completely naked was the man I was supposed to work for.

I was so screwed.

"Jolene, right?" He sat down across from me, leaning back like he owned the place.

"Yes, sir." The words just came out. My voice was shaking.

"Sir." He said it slowly. That smile again, the one that wasn't nice. "I like that. Keep calling me that."

I just nodded.

He looked at me slowly. His eyes went from my face to my chest, my waist, my legs, then back up. It felt like he was undressing me again.

"Stand up."

I stood immediately. My legs felt weak but I did it.

"Come here."

I walked over to him. He was still sitting, so when I got close, I was standing between his legs. Too close. I could smell his cologne and it was making me dizzy.

"Closer."

I took another step. My knees almost touched his.

He reached out and his hand wrapped around my wrist. His grip was firm, not hurting but definitely in control. His thumb pressed against my pulse point.

"Your heart is racing." His voice was low. "Are you nervous, Jolene?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

Because I wanted his hands all over me. Because I was thinking about him bending me over, spreading my legs, fucking me hard. Because my pussy was already wet  from standing near him.

"Because I want this job," I lied. Sort of.

"Hmm." He pulled me closer until I was right between his thighs. His other hand went to my hip, his thumb moving in slow circles on my skirt.

My breath stopped.

"This job requires complete obedience." He stared right at me. "Complete trust. Can you do that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Prove it." His hand slid from my hip to the small of my back, pressing me even closer. "Don't move."

His other hand let go of my wrist and moved up my arm. Over my shoulder. And I bit my lip hard.

"You walked into my bedroom earlier." His fingers kept moving. "Saw me naked. Did you like what you saw?"

Oh God.

"Answer me."

"Yes, sir." My voice was barely a whisper.

"What did you like about it?"

My face got hot. I couldn't say it out loud. Couldn't tell him I'd thought about getting on my knees, taking him in my mouth, letting him-

"I asked you a question, Jolene."

"Everything," I breathed. "I liked everything."

His smile got wider. His hand moved down between my breasts, not quite touching. Close enough to make me want it bad.

"You made a sound." His voice was darker now. "When you looked at me. Do you remember?"

I remembered. That embarrassing moan I made.

"Yes, sir."

"Make it again."

"What?"

"You heard me." His hand pressed harder against my back. "Make that sound again. Right now."

I couldn't. Not just like that.

His other hand moved lower, over my stomach. Not where I wanted it, but close.

A whimper came out.

"Good girl." His voice got lower. "You follow orders well."

Position. The word made me think of him bending me over. Pushing me down. Telling me how he wanted me.

"Now." He let go of me completely and leaned back. "Tell me why I should hire you."

I stumbled backward, almost falling. My whole body was on fire. I could barely think straight.

"I..I work hard. I'm organized. I can"

"Boring." He cut me off. "Everyone says that. Tell me something real."

Something real. What did I have that was real?

"I need this job." My voice cracked. "I have nothing. No money. My family doesn't give a shit about me. I'm broke. I've got nowhere to go if this doesn't work out. I'll do anything to keep this job. Anything."

He looked at me for a second.

"Whatever it takes?"

"Yes, sir."

He stood up. He was so much taller than me. He stepped closer, backing me up until I hit the wall. His arm went up beside my head, trapping me.

"This job will push you." His face was so close. "Test you. Break you down. Are you ready for that?"

I should say no. I should leave. This wasn't normal. This wasn't right.

"Yes, sir."

He looked at my lips. For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. I wanted him to.

He stepped back.

"There's something you should know." His tone changed. He sounded amused now. "I'm not the one hiring you."

My brain stopped working.

"What?"

"I said, I'm not the one hiring you." He walked back to his chair and sat down like nothing had happened. "My partner is. He'll be interviewing you shortly."

Partner.

Wait. What?

"You're not..you're not my boss?"

"No, Jolene. I'm not." That smile again. "But that was fun, wasn't it?"

I felt so stupid. He'd been playing with me the whole time. Testing me. Making me think.

"He's going to ask if anything happened while you waited." He walked toward the door. "Tell him no. Unless you want to explain why you let a stranger touch you like that."

He opened the door and paused.

"Good luck with your interview."

Then he was gone.

I stood there, shaking. My body still wanted him.

I had no idea what the hell just happened.

The door opened again.

A different man walked in. He looked young, maybe thirty, with dark hair and expensive glasses. He wore a nice suit and walked like he owned everything.

This had to be the real boss.

Behind him came the naked man. Now fully dressed in a different suit, dark blue this time. He didn't look at me. Just walked to the side of the room and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

My stomach dropped.

He was going to watch. He was going to sit there and watch me interview while he knew what happened between us.

"Jolene." The man sat down behind a desk I hadn't seen before. "I'm Marco Marchetti. Sit."

I sat. My hands were shaking so I folded them in my lap.

Marco opened a folder. My resume, probably. He looked at it for a while without saying anything.

The silence was killing me.

"You're from Texas." He didn't look up.

"Yes, sir."

"No experience as a personal assistant."

"No, sir, but I'm a fast learner"

"No references from previous employers."

My mouth went dry. "I...I worked at a diner back home, but it closed down. I can try to find"

"Why Italy?" He looked at me. His eyes were cold. "Why this job?"

I glanced at the naked man. He was watching me with that same amused expression.

"I needed a change," I said. "A fresh start."

"Running from something?"

"No, I just"

"Financial troubles? Legal issues? Failed relationships?"

"No, nothing like that, I just wanted"

"You just wanted what, Jolene?" He leaned back. "To come to another country with nothing and expect someone to give you a job?"

Each word hurts.

"I'm willing to work hard," I said quietly. "I'll do whatever you need."

"Whatever I need." He repeated it like it was funny. "That's what they all say."

The naked man shifted. I could feel him watching me.

"Tell me, Jolene, why should I hire you?"

I wasn't. We both knew it.

"I'm... I'm organized. I pay attention to details. I follow instructions well."

"Do you?" Marco's eyebrow went up. "You couldn't even find the right waiting room earlier."

My face got hot. He knew. Of course he knew.

"I'm sorry about that, I was"

"Lost?" He cut me off. "Confused? Can't even follow simple directions?"

I couldn't speak. My throat felt tight.

"This job needs someone who can handle pressure, make decisions, and be professional." He closed the folder. "I don't think that's you."

The words hurt. I knew this was a long shot, but hearing him say it made it real.

"Please," I heard myself say. "Just give me a chance. One chance to prove myself."

"A chance." He stood up. "You've already had a chance, Jolene. You wasted it the moment you walked into the wrong room."

He walked toward the door.

The interview was over. Just like that.

I sat there, frozen. This couldn't be it. I'd come all this way. I had nothing to go back to.

"Mr. Marchetti, please"

"Enzo will show you out." He gestured to the naked man.

Enzo. So that was his name.

Marco left without another word.

I stood up. My legs felt weak. Enzo got off the wall and walked over.

"Come on," he said quietly.

"I messed up." My voice cracked. "I really messed up."

"You did."

"Is there any way I can talk to him again? Explain?"

"No." He opened the door. "He's made his decision."

I followed him into the hallway. My eyes were getting blurry. I wasn't going to cry. Not in front of him.

"I have nowhere to go," I said. "I used all my money to get here."

Enzo stopped walking. He turned to look at me.

"That's not my problem."

"I know. I just said " My voice broke. "I just needed you to know."

He looked at me for a second. Something changed in his face, but it was gone fast.

"The car will take you back to the airport." He started walking again. "Your flight leaves in three hours."

That was it. Three hours and I'd be back in Texas with nothing. No job. No money. No future.

We reached the front door. The same security guard from earlier was there. He didn't look at me. He just handed me my suitcase.

"Wait here," Enzo said. "The driver will come get you."

He turned to leave.

"Thank you," I said. I don't know why. Maybe because he was the last person I'd see before everything fell apart.

He paused. "For what?"

"For not telling him. About earlier."

Enzo's mouth curved into that smile. Not nice, but not cruel either.

"Who says I didn't?"

Then he was gone.

I stood there in the entrance of this big house, alone. The security guard ignored me. Everything was quiet except my heart breaking.

I'd failed. Totally failed.

A black car pulled up outside.

Time to go home to nothing.

I sat in the back of the black car, staring at my suitcase. The broken wheel just reminded me how messed up everything was.The driver hadn't said a word. Just opened the door, waited for me to get in, closed it behind me.

I was really leaving. Going back to Texas with nothing.

The car door opened again.

Enzo slid into the seat next to me.

My heart jumped. "What!"

"Drive," he told the driver. The car started moving.

I moved as far away from him as I could. "What are you doing?"

"We need to talk." He settled back in the seat, looking completely relaxed. Like this was normal.

"About what? He already said no. I failed."

"Did you?" Enzo's mouth curved into that smile.

I stared at him. "He told me to leave. He said I wasn't right for the job."

"He said a lot of things." Enzo turned to face me. "Tell me, Jolene. What did you think of the interview?"

"What does it matter? It's over."

"Just answer the question."

I looked away. "It was awful. He made me feel like shit."

"And how did that make you feel?"

"What do you think?" My voice cracked. "Like an idiot. Like I was nothing."

"But you didn't leave."

"What?"

"When he was insulting you, making you feel like shit, you didn't walk out. You stayed. You begged for another chance." He leaned closer. "Why?"

"Because I need this job."

"Say it again."

"I need this job," I repeated.

"Louder."

"I need this job!" My voice broke. "I have nothing else. Nowhere else to go. I'll do anything"

"There it is." Enzo reached out and caught my chin, turning my face toward him. "That desperation. That honesty. That's what we wanted to see."

I tried to pull away but his grip was firm.

"What are you talking about?"

"The interview was a test, Jolene." He laughed a little. His thumb ran across my bottom lip. "All of it. You walked into my room, the interview, Marco kicking you out. We were testing you the whole time."

My brain stopped working.

"Testing me?"

"Marco needed to know if you'd break under pressure. If you'd run when things got hard. If you'd fight for what you wanted." His hand slid from my chin to the side of my neck. "You passed."

"I..i what?"

"You got the job."

The words didn't make sense. I stared at him.

"You're lying."

"I'm not." His hand was warm against my throat. Not squeezing, just resting there. A reminder that he could. "Marco wants someone who won't quit. Someone who needs this badly enough to endure anything. Someone..." His thumb pressed against my pulse. "Someone we can mold."

Humiliation washed over me. They played me. Made me beg. Made me cry. Watch me fall apart. All as some sick test.

"You're an asshole," I whispered.

He laughed. Actually I laughed. "There she is. I was wondering when you'd grow a spine."

"Fuck you." The words came out before I could stop them. "You think this is funny? Playing with people? Making them feel like shit for your entertainment?"

"Careful, Jolene." His hand tightened slightly on my throat. Not hurting, but warning. "You still need this job, remember?"

"Maybe I don't want it anymore. Maybe I don't want to work for people who get off on humiliating others."

"Really?" He leaned in close, his breath against my ear. "Then tell me to stop the car. Tell the driver to take you to the airport. Walk away."

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

"That's what I thought." His hand slid down from my neck to my chest. "You're angry. Good. Use that. But don't forget, you need us more than we need you."

I hated how right he was.

"Say it," he demanded.

"I need the job."

"Beg for it."

My face burned. "What?"

"You heard me. Beg me for this job. Convince me you want it."

"Please." The word tasted bitter. "Please let me have this job."

"Louder. Like you mean it."

"Please!" My voice cracked. "I need this. I'll do whatever you want. Just please"

"Good girl." His hand moved lower, fingers trailing between my breasts. Not quite touching, but close enough to make my breath catch. "So here's how this works. You do exactly what Marco tells you. No questions. No complaints. Understand?"

I nodded.

"Say it."

"I understand."

"And me?" His voice got quieter. "What are you going to do when I give you orders?"

My mouth went dry. "I..I don't work for you."

"Don't you?" His hand pressed flat against my stomach. "You think Marco makes decisions alone? You think he didn't talk to me before choosing you?"

The pieces clicked together.

"You're part of this. Part of the decision."

"Smart girl." His hand stayed where it was, burning through my blouse. "So when I tell you to do something, you'll do it. Just like you will for Marco. Because you need this job so badly you'll endure anything. Won't you?"

Tears stung my eyes. He was right. I would.

"Won't you?" he repeated.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I'll do what you tell me." The words tasted like shame.

"That's what I thought." He pulled his hand away and leaned back. "Driver, take us back to the estate."

The car turned around.

I sat there, shaking. My body still wanted him even though I hated him.

"Welcome to your new life, Jolene." Enzo looked out the window. "It's going to be interesting."

I didn't say anything. What could I say?

The car drove in silence for a minute. Then Enzo spoke again.

"Oh, one more thing."

I looked at him.

"There's one more test you need to pass tonight."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"You'll see when we get there." His smile was dangerous. "Let's hope you're ready for it."

He didn't say anything else. Just looked out the window like he didn't just drop a bomb on me.

I held onto my suitcase. My heart was going crazy.

One more test.

What the hell did that mean?