《Abuse of Power》 Chapter 00 One week before This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Chapter 01 Natacha Barnes ~*~ At around 8 o''clock on a Sunday morning, an alarm clock suddenly started ringing in a dark room. A hand reached out from under the sheets, grabbed the device from one of the bedside tables, and stopped the horrible sound. A few moments later, Natacha emerged and stretched with a soft moan. She then turned towards the brown-haired, slightly square-jawed young man sleeping shirtless beside her. When she touched him, he slowly awoke and took her in his arms. ¡°Hmm. Hi there!¡± he said at the same time. ¡°Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?¡± Natacha replied before kissing him. ¡°With such a beautiful creature by my side, how could I not sleep well?¡± ¡°You''re such a big flatterer, Michael.¡± While their eyes were still adjusting to the brightness of the room, Natacha climbed abruptly on top of Michael who then ran his hand over her face and fixed her hair. ¡°Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?¡± ¡°Yes. The man I''m engaged to tells me so very often,¡± she replied, bringing her face close to his. ¡°He must be a very lucky man.¡± ¡°He indeed is.¡± The two lovers then kissed passionately for many minutes, letting the tension gradually build between them. Michael removed the T-shirt Natacha was wearing before sliding his hands down her back, delicately caressing every inch of her soft skin. Shortly afterwards, the roles were suddenly reversed. Barnes now found herself beneath her man and vice versa. After a brief giggle from the young woman, the two kissed again. Natacha''s body was warm and pleasant to the touch, Michael thought. He caressed her belly, then her firm breasts, while placing many kisses on her neck. For her part, she was thoroughly enjoying the sensations she was experiencing at this moment, and the fact that she was being desired by the man she loved accentuated the whole thing. Michael then gently slid his hand towards Natacha''s crotch and inserted it into her panties, which sent a huge shiver down her spine and accelerated her heart rate. Barnes, who also had her arms around him, couldn''t help but scratch his back. The young man stopped kissing her after letting out a slight moan, and then looked her straight in the eye. ¡°I''m sorry,¡± Natacha retorted. ¡°No need to apologize, babe. Just enjoy the moment.¡± Just as he finished his sentence, Michael abruptly inserted a finger inside her, causing Barnes to let out a soft moan. He''d been so sudden, giving her no time to prepare herself. Was this his way of repaying her for what she''d just done to his back? Knowing her man, it surely was. The two lovebirds kissed again, but this time with Michael playing inside of her with his finger. After just a few minutes, Natacha''s crotch became extremely moist and her breathing became increasingly rapid and jerky. Her body was sending all the signals and she could no longer ignore them. Barnes needed her man, she needed Michael inside her, and she needed him to do her a lot of good. However, the young woman didn''t want to do it in their bed. No, she had another place in mind. So, she asked him to stop, also interrupting his movements. ¡°What''s the matter? Did I hurt you?¡± Following this abrupt interruption, Michael withdrew his hand from Natacha''s panties, thinking that he had indeed hurt her. Natacha told him, however, that everything was fine and that she just wanted to do it in a special way. ¡°Tell me everything,¡± he retorted, very excited. At that moment, Barnes put on an expression that displayed all the ardor and perversion that inhabited her. She then pushed Michael aside and climbed off the bed. Now standing on the edge of the bed, the young woman gently removed her soaked panties, taking care to do so in a way that showed off her curves, and threw them towards him. Her man, who was silently observing the whole scene, now had only one idea in mind, and that was to eat her immediately. He wanted to fuck her, to take her over the edge of their bed, and into every nook and cranny of their bedroom in every position imaginable. The panties finally landed in front of the young man who looked at them for a brief moment before returning his gaze to Natacha. He then noticed her call as she headed for their bathroom. Michael immediately understood what she wanted to do and hurried to get off the bed. He then removed the only item of clothing he was wearing before hurrying off to join his woman. * As the warm water slowly flowed down their bodies, Michael and Natacha exchanged many kisses filled with passion, love and, above all, excitement. Both had only one desire at this moment, and that was to become one being. Barnes wanted to feel every inch of her man inside her, while he wanted to be engulfed by her inner warmth. But in the meantime, the temperature had to be raised first, to make this moment as exciting as possible. Therefore, Michael was playing with Natacha''s crotch, making her moan and groan, while doing the same with her breasts. Meanwhile, he was also kissing her neck, accentuating all the sensations the young woman was experiencing. She loved it when her man''s lips rested delicately on her skin and his finger went deep inside her. She wanted more, much more. So, she asked him not to stop, which of course he wasn''t going to do. A few minutes into their game, Michael suddenly became much more dominant. Not only did he stop playing with Natacha''s breasts, but he also used his free hand to firmly lock her arms above her head. In a way, the young woman became his prisoner, a prisoner whom he intended to have a lot of fun with. He then continued to play with her crotch, fingering her with much greater vigor, and exchanged a long, languorous kiss with her. At this moment, Barnes'' whole body was longing for just one thing, and he let her know it. ¡°I can''t take it anymore, baby... Give it to me,¡± she said after their kiss. ¡°You want it, don''t you?¡± ¡°Yes! I...um!...I...¡± ¡°Are you all right, baby?¡± Natacha was having great difficulty answering him and keeping a clear head. And with good reason: Michael was playing with her body as if it were his own. He was touching and sucking her sensitive parts, which had the effect of exciting the young woman and making her moan much more often. ¡°Who''s your daddy?¡± he asked suddenly. ¡°It''s...um!¡± Michael took great pleasure in watching her struggle so hard, doing her best to free herself from his grip, but also not to lose her mind. It was clear that she couldn''t take it anymore, and that she wanted him badly. First, however, he wanted her answer. ¡°Who''s your daddy, Natacha?¡± ¡°It''s...um! It''s...!¡± ¡°It is?!¡± ¡°It''s you! You''re my daddy!¡± she exclaimed. Now that Michael had got the answer he wanted, it was time to get down to business. He withdrew his finger from Natacha''s vagina and released her from his grip. He then kissed her with all the passion and love that inhabited his body before delicately lifting one of her legs. The young woman could now feel the head of her man''s penis rubbing gently against the moist entrance to her sex. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. They had already been kissing for several minutes. Natacha wasn''t sure whether Michael was doing it on purpose or not, but he hadn''t yet decided to introduce it inside her. She really couldn''t wait any longer, even likening it to a kind of torture. Barnes wanted it inside her, her whole body wanted it. Fortunately, and much to her delight, the young woman didn''t have to wait long. It wasn''t long before he finally inserted his penis inside her vagina. Natacha couldn''t help but scratch her man''s back as his cock went deeper and deeper. As the bathroom was getting filled with steam, Natacha''s moans were also invading it. The young woman loved what she was experiencing. She loved the sensation Michael''s warm, wet body gave her every time he gently rubbed against hers, she loved the sensation his lips gave her every time they rested on hers or on her skin, but most of all, she loved the sensation his penis gave her every time he thrusted it inside her. The couple was one and the same, and they didn''t want anything to stop. A few minutes later, Michael pulled back from Natacha and the two changed positions. He suddenly turned her over before slamming her against the wall. He then reintroduced his penis into her, and the two went at it again. Although their lovemaking had become a little rougher, it was no less exciting. Indeed, Barnes greatly appreciated the wildness her man was displaying at this moment. Her body was his playground and she wanted him to make the most of it. As for Michael, the position they were now in was very advantageous for him. He was much freer in his movements, but above all he was able to put a lot more spirit into his moves without risking a fall. The young couple continued to fuck in the shower, with Michael taking great pleasure in accentuating all Natacha''s sensations. Indeed, as they were making love, the young man was playing with her body. He kept kissing her neck and caressing her breasts. Truth be told, the more Barnes moaned in pleasure, the more versatile he became, not hesitating to be both rough and gentle. All that mattered to him at this moment was that she got off, that they both enjoyed this moment of intimacy and complicity. Less than ten minutes later, Michael pulled away from Natacha again. The two then faced each other before kissing once more. During this passionate exchange, the young woman couldn''t help but grab her man''s sex. It was so hard and hot that she wanted him to put it back inside her immediately. However, she didn''t get what she wanted, at least not immediately. Indeed, after they''d finished exchanging a long kiss filled with love and desire, Barnes¡¯ man knelt in front of her, gently lifted one of her legs, and began to eat her out. It was more than Natacha had asked for, but it was a plus she loved immensely. There was nothing better for her than to receive this kind of treatment from the man she loved. She didn''t want it to stop. The way Michael was using his tongue was simply incredible. The sensation was so intense, so pleasurable that she felt as if a powerful electric current was running through her whole body, and that it would explode at any moment. ¡°Don''t stop. Yes, keep going,¡± she retorted between moans. Shortly afterwards, while he was still going at it, Natacha suddenly lowered her leg and forced Michael to stand up. She then kissed him before telling him she wanted him. ¡°I want to feel you inside me.¡± Undaunted, Michael granted her wish and again inserted his penis inside her, and the two began their lovemaking again. Some ten minutes later, the young couple finally reached the climax of this dance of love and pleasure, which ended with Michael releasing himself inside Natacha and exchanging many kisses and words of love. * It was around 10:40 when Natacha emerged from the bathroom. She was radiant and full of life. And with good reason: she''d had an excellent time with the man she loved. How could she not be happy and in a good mood after that? The young woman hurriedly changed into something a little more comfortable ¨C a short and a loose-fitting t-shirt ¨C and set off to meet Michael who had arrived at their living room minutes earlier. No sooner had Barnes arrived in the room than her stomach began to scream with hunger. Luckily for her, her man was at the stove at the time. And from the smell coming from their kitchen, he must have been cooking up something fantastic. ¡°Tacha, I think our next water bill will be bigger than our last one,¡± Michael retorted when he saw Natacha. ¡°You bet!¡± Natacha came up behind Michael and hugged him. She then told him that she didn''t care about their next water bill and that all that mattered was that she''d had a good time with him. Hearing this, the young man couldn''t help but smile slightly. ¡°I had a great time with you too.¡± The magical moment the two were sharing was unfortunately interrupted by Natacha''s stomach which once again began to gurgle, causing her man to giggle slightly. ¡°Hey, it''s not nice to make fun of a hungry person.¡± ¡°I''m sorry, babe. I couldn''t help it,¡± the young man retorted after turning back to her. ¡°I don''t accept your apology.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°No, I do not accept it. You made fun of me and that''s not nice. So, I''m pouting.¡± Finding the situation somewhat amusing, Michael asked Natacha what he could do to make it up to her. ¡°Feed me. If you want to make it up to me, you''ve got to feed me.¡± ¡°As you wish, my queen. On the menu, we have scrambled eggs with bacon, a cheese omelette, all accompanied by orange or apple juice, depending on Madame''s taste. What will it be, babe?¡± Natacha was very indecisive. Everything looked so good and delicious. Nevertheless, one thing was certain and that was that she couldn''t wait to try Michael''s cooking. He cooked so well. Finally, after a few tens of seconds of reflection, the young woman decided to have a little of both with orange juice. ¡°Here¡¯s your meal, babe.¡± Michael said as he served her a plate a few minutes later. When the young man had barely placed the plate in front of her, Natacha was quick to devour its entire contents. She was so hungry, but above all it was so delicious, that she couldn''t stop eating and asking for more. ¡°I see mademoiselle appreciates what I''ve done,¡± he retorted, serving her again. ¡°It''s so good!¡± Seeing her behave this way made Michael feel extremely proud of himself and of what he had cooked. Watching Natacha show her appreciation for his food was certainly a pleasurable activity, but the young man''s body also reminded him that he had nothing in his stomach. So, he helped himself to some food and sat down in front of Barnes. She then took the opportunity to tell him what she had decided to do. ¡°By the way, after talking to Enola yesterday, I finally decided to do it.¡± ¡°I can only imagine your boss'' face when you barge into his office, look him straight in the eye like a gangster, and order him to increase your salary.¡± ¡°Only to end up unemployed. No, thank you.¡± ¡°That''s a shame. It would¡¯ve been interesting to see.¡± ¡°Maybe for you, but not for me. You know, I don''t think Mr. Invictus would be the type to sit still if one of his employees behaved like that. I''m sure he''d fire her on the spot.¡± ¡°You don''t have to worry about that. You''re one of his best employees. I doubt he''d take such action against you. In fact, if he does, I''ll pay him a visit to discuss the matter with him properly.¡± Natacha couldn''t help but laugh at her man''s words. She told him that his intentions were laudable, but that he had no chance of getting close to her boss. ¡°You won''t be able to get past his army of bodyguards,¡± she continued. ¡°You¡¯re underestimating my abilities, Tacha. A man in love is capable of taking on the world for the woman he loves. Babe, love is the engine of this world. Some love money and power, and others love booze and women. As far as I''m concerned, you''re the one I love. So, I''ll do everything I can to make you happy, even if I have to face your boss and his bodyguards.¡± Barnes felt extremely flattered by Michael''s words. However, the reality was quite different. It was true that her man loved her madly, and for that she had no doubt, but that didn''t change the fact that it was impossible for him to get close to his boss, let alone without taking an appointment. ¡°Michael Orzak, what big words. We''ll see how you react the day you come face to face with them,¡± she said sarcastically. The couple continued to eat, exchanging a few jokes and reminiscing about their lovemaking in the shower. * It was now 8pm. It had been dark for over an hour and the young couple were sitting in front of the television, cuddled up in one of the armchairs in their living room. It had been a rather quiet day. After breakfast, they had just gone about their business, cleaning a camera, checking e-mails, and doing some housework. After all this, the lovebirds had finally found themselves on their sofa, where they had decided to spend the rest of the day. ¡°That woman is really something else. She¡¯s manipulating them all with frightening efficiency,¡± Orzak retorted to the actions of one of the characters on the TV show they were watching. ¡°That''s what happens when you push people too far. They''ve created a monster who''s spent the last 18 years planning her revenge, and she doesn''t intend to stop until she''s exacted it on every one of them.¡± ¡°Yep! I''m curious to see how they''re all going to end up. How many more episodes before the end of the show?¡± ¡°Seven, if I''m not mistaken.¡± ¡°Seven, hmm. We can''t finish this before tomorrow. Let''s finish at least 2-3 episodes before we go to bed.¡± Natacha and Michael continued to follow their show peacefully until a naughty idea popped into the young woman''s head. Indeed, only a few minutes after the end of their recent conversation, Barnes delicately introduced her hand into her man''s shorts while keeping her gaze fixed on the TV screen. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. ¡°It''s nothing important. I just want to touch it.¡± ¡°You''re playing very badly, Tacha.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Of course, Natacha wasn''t just touching his penis. No, she was gently stroking it, trying to provoke a reaction in Michael. In the end, she succeeded. Indeed, the more Barnes groped his man, the more pronounced his erection became. Finally, he could no longer concentrate on the TV show, focusing instead on the woman sitting next to him. ¡°I know what you want.¡± ¡°Let''s do it then,¡± she said, smiling naughtily. Without further ado, the young couple began kissing and prepared for another pleasant moment. To be continued. Chapter 02 A working day ~*~ It was 7 a.m. when the alarm started ringing again, indicating to Natacha, but also to Michael that Monday had come and it was time for them to get up. As usual, the young woman stopped the horrible sound before stretching while emitting a slight yawn. She then turned towards her man who was sleeping right next to her and wondered how he managed not to be disturbed by the infernal noise of their alarm clock every morning. ¡°Men are very mysterious,¡± she thought. Barnes watched her man sleep for a while, thinking at the same time that she was very lucky to have such a person by her side. Not only was Michael very attentive to her, but he was also an excellent cook. What more? Nothing. There was nothing more she could ask for. Natacha finally placed her hand on his chest, which had the effect of waking him from his sleep. ¡°Hmm. Hello, babe. Slept well?¡± he said, smiling slightly. ¡°I''m with the man I love, how can I not sleep well?¡± ¡°How flattering!¡± ¡°I know.¡± The two lovebirds began to kiss, but seeing that her man was starting to be a little too insistent, Natacha gently stopped him and then told him that she risked being late for work if they came to do it. ¡°Just five minutes,¡± Orzak begged. ¡°Both you and I know perfectly well¡­that it¡¯ll be more than five minutes,¡± she said between two kisses. The young woman then turned around and, at the same moment as she got off the bed, received a sudden slap on the buttock. ¡°Hey!¡± Returning her gaze to Michael again, she noticed that the latter was displaying a broad smile and that he was very proud of what he had just done. Not wanting to take this matter any further, Barnes let it slide and immediately went to the bathroom. Shortly after Natacha left, Michael also got out of bed. He then began an exercise session consisting of several series of push-ups which lasted nearly twenty minutes. When the young man finally stood up, he was sweating profusely and had no choice but to go to the bathroom where he found the woman he loved dressed in simple towels, one covering her body and the other covering her hair. Orzak slowly approached her and suddenly took her in his arms before giving her many kisses on the neck. ¡°Oh! But you''re dripping with sweat,¡± she exclaimed at his contact. ¡°I just worked out. I have to stay in shape for you, babe.¡± The young woman immediately pushed him away, claiming that because of him, she would have to go back into the shower. ¡°I have an idea. What if you contacted your boss to tell him that you won''t be able to come to work today. For example, you could tell him that you came down with a really bad flu over the weekend. I really want to spend all day in bed with you, Tacha.¡± Natacha, who felt disgusted at the moment, replied that that would absolutely not be possible and that he knew it full well. ¡°But why? I really wanted to spend the whole day in bed with you.¡± At that moment, Michael tried to hug her again, but unfortunately for him, Barnes avoided him like the plague. ¡°I know! I want to stay in bed with you too¡­¡± ¡°Call him then. Your boss shouldn''t mind that you''re absent today. He has another secretary if I remember correctly.¡± While they were both playing a game of cat and mouse, and the young woman was doing her best to hold her towel in place, she told him that her boss needed his two secretaries. ¡°OK! It''s a shame, but I understand. We''ll do that next time then. But at least let me hold you in my arms.¡± ¡°Never! Because of you, I have to get back in the shower.¡± ¡°All the more reason to come into my arms. I¡¯ll get you into the shower safely,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°The shower is right there. Why do I need protection?¡± ¡°We never know. Between here and there, something could happen to you.¡± Barnes couldn''t believe her ears. Even if Michael wanted her at that moment and even if it was mutual, unfortunately she couldn''t do it. She might be late for work if that happened. For his part, seeing Natacha dressed only in a simple towel, Orzak could feel his libido skyrocket. This was accentuated when she finally got rid of the piece of cloth and went into the shower herself. Without wasting a single second, the young man took off the only item of clothing he was wearing and followed her. ¡°Why so much haste?¡± Natacha asked. ¡°For your protection, babe. You never know what can happen to you between here and there,¡± he replied. Natacha knew exactly what he had in mind. Unfortunately for him, she didn''t have time to indulge in this type of activity. Barnes finally went into the shower with his man. And like the previous day, while the hot water was flowing down their bodies, Orzak took Natacha in his arms and gave her numerous kisses on the neck. She then asked him to stop, adding that she did not have enough time before her. However, Michael, wanting her very much, begged her to give him five minutes. ¡°No I can¡¯t. I have to go to work.¡± Under the influence of a little naughty pleasure, Barnes turned towards Michael and began to kiss him passionately. The young woman was perfectly aware of the risks she was running by letting herself go, but she wanted so badly to taste his lips. The two exchanged languorous kisses for many minutes, at least long enough for Orzak to be completely aroused. However, to Michael''s detriment, things did not go any further. Indeed, at the moment when the young man slipped his hand towards her crotch, Natacha stopped him then apologized to him. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I really have to go,¡± she told him. ¡°But if you stay a good boy throughout the week, you¡¯ll be treated to a little surprise.¡± ¡°A suprise. I wonder what you have in mind.¡± ¡°For that, you¡¯ll have to wait until this weekend¡­but above all, you will have to be a very good boy.¡± Barnes kissed him one last time before leaving him alone in the shower. The young woman had to go get dressed quickly if she didn''t want to be late for work. Therefore, she rushed into the bedroom after drying herself up completely. * About twenty minutes later, when the clock in the living room was about to show 8 a.m., the young couple crossed paths again in the kitchen. While Barnes was moving around frantically looking for something, Michael, who was only dressed with a towel around his waist, came over to make a cup of coffee. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± he asked while filling up his mug. ¡°My car keys. I''ve searched everywhere, but I can''t find them,¡± she replied, worried. ¡°Did you look in the fridge?¡± ¡°Why would they end up in the fridge?¡± the young woman retorted skeptically. ¡°Since you searched everywhere, that leaves very few possibilities. Besides, you just made yourself a toast. Maybe you left them in the fridge when you took out the jam,¡± he said before taking a sip of coffee. Natacha let out a ¡°um¡± before heading towards their fridge. She then opened the latter''s door and looked inside. Less than two seconds later, the young woman exclaimed with joy, having finally found the object she coveted so much. ¡°You were right. I had left them right next to the other jars of jam,¡± she declared. ¡°You see. Always check in the most unlikely places.¡± Natacha closed the fridge door before walking towards her man, putting her arms around his neck, and giving him a light kiss. ¡°What would I become without you?¡± ¡°You would probably end up spending hours looking for your car keys.¡± ¡°Haha! Very funny. Anyway, I have to go.¡± ¡°Have a nice day, babe, and good luck.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Barnes hurriedly grabbed her toast and the rest of her things before hurrying towards the exit door. Now finding himself alone, Michael finished drinking his coffee, then went to their bedroom to put on something more presentable in public. * On the way to her workplace, Natacha put on some music. The day started well and she was in a very good mood. How not to be? Not only had she had a great weekend with her best friend, but also with Michael. Furthermore, she had decided to follow their advice and ask her boss for a promotion. There was no reason why she couldn''t get it. She was after all as competent, if not more competent, than her work colleague and also had the advantage of seniority. Barnes therefore displayed total confidence as well as an immense joy of life. Some forty minutes later, the young woman finally arrived at her workplace. It was a fifty-story building housing one of the country''s biggest companies ¨C Black Crown ¨C an institution with assets in a number of different sectors, ranging from real estate to new technologies, from the film industry to fashion. And the person in control of all this was none other than Miss Barnes¡¯ boss: Herman Invictus. After going through security, Natacha parked her vehicle in the building''s underground parking lot and, a few seconds later, had the misfortune of coming face to face with Tess Harlock, her work colleague whom she had mentioned to her best friend, Enola. The latter, who was slightly taller than Barnes, was a busty blonde who never held back from showing it off. ¡°My God! Natacha, what happened to your hair?¡± she retorted the moment she saw Barnes. Natacha had barely arrived at her workplace when she already felt all her good humor disappear. Why, of all the people she knew in this building, did she have to be the one she ran into? ¡°Good morning, Tess. As you may have noticed, I changed my dye. I wanted to try something new,¡± she said, wearing a smile that wasn''t a smile. ¡°It really suits you. I really like it.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Natacha didn''t care if she liked her new hairstyle or not. She hadn''t done it for her, but to please herself. Regardless, Barnes wasn''t there to talk to her, she had much more important things to do. She therefore invited Tess to postpone this conversation, claiming that their boss was already waiting for them. ¡°Yes. Mister Invictus must be impatient to m...see us. We better go.¡± Without prompting, Barnes grabbed the rest of her things before locking her car. The two women then headed towards the elevator shafts, this unpleasant morning encounter having reinforced Natacha''s desire to apply for a promotion. * When the elevator doors opened on the 50th floor of the Black Crown Tower and the two women stepped out, the gaze of most of their male colleagues immediately turned towards them. For Natacha, this was mainly due to the new hair color she was now sporting. Although she had anticipated this kind of reaction, Barnes pretended not to pay attention, just showing her usual smile. On Tess''s side, however, the reactions from the men were much more intense, and this was because of her immense chest which was highlighted with the tailored jacket and shirt she was wearing. The young woman was very proud of it and then couldn''t help but give a smile that was both warm and smirking while kindly greeting anyone who came to speak to her on her way to her workstation. The two women finally arrived in a room in which two desks faced each other. Barnes placed her things on the right one while Tess didn''t take the time to do the same and headed straight for the only other door in this room, that of their boss''s office. Harlock knocked three times before opening the door and entering the room. The latter was very large and equipped with a huge bay window which overlooked a sumptuous view of the city of San Francisco. In front of this wall of glass stood Herman Invictus, a man over six feet tall, dressed in a sumptuous and luxurious black three-piece suit, and sporting a slender physique and the beginnings of gray hair in his fetal down. The businessman, who was watching something through the bay window, turned around when his secretary entered the room. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Invictus.¡± ¡°Good morning, Miss Harlock. How are you doing this early in the morning?¡± he replied with a slight smile. ¡°I am doing wonderfully, sir. I brought you your coffee.¡± ¡°Thank you so much. You can drop it on my desk.¡± Harlock walked towards her boss''s desk where she placed the cup of coffee a few moments later. Right afterwards, Herman came to take his seat before grabbing the hot drink. ¡°Moa''s coffee is still excellent,¡± he said after taking a first sip. ¡°I''m glad you like it, sir.¡± As he was about to take a second sip of his drink, Natacha in turn knocked on the office door before entering, holding a tablet in one of her hands. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Invictus. How are you doing this morning?¡± ¡°Good morning, Miss Barnes. My assets are increasing day by day, so all is well in the best of all possible worlds. What about you? I notice that you have adopted a completely new color for your hair,¡± Mr. Invictus said after having delicately wiped his lips with a handkerchief. ¡°I am not as wealthy as you, but I am in good health. And regarding my hair, I just wanted to try something new.¡± ¡°I see. Either way, it looks great on you, Miss Barnes.¡± During this brief exchange of courtesies between the secretary and her boss, Tess who had been temporarily sidelined could not help but be somewhat frustrated with this situation. Her boss''s attention was no longer on her, but on her co-worker. Obviously, this was absolutely not shown on her face, the young woman showing her usual smile. ¡°Thank you very much, sir,¡± Natacha replied before talking about more professional things. ¡°Now about your schedule for the week. Tomorrow, you have a meeting with the members of the board of directors¡­¡± ¡°Is the marketing department ready for the presentation?¡± ¡°No sir. According to the last message we received from them, they will not be ready in time for the presentation and are requesting a one day extension on their deadline.¡± ¡°This is out of the question. They were given three months and not a day more. If tomorrow''s presentation doesn''t happen, I''ll get rid of the entire marketing department. Did I make myself understood correctly?¡± he retorted. ¡°Yes sir. I will pass the message on to them. Also, your meeting with Mr. Cheng and Mr. Hong has been confirmed for this Wednesday afternoon.¡± ¡°Something else?¡± ¡°No sir. That''s all for the week.¡± ¡°Excellent. Keep me informed of any program changes.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Once the young woman had finished writing everything down on her tablet, she turned around and left her boss''s office. Her work day started like the previous times, which meant she had to take care of all her various tasks first before finding the opportunity to ask for a raise. A few dozen seconds later, Harlock also left the room after having also received her instructions for the morning. To be continued. Chapter 03 Demands If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. To be continued. Chapter 04 Aftermaths ~*~ Michael arrived near his house about thirty minutes after 5 p.m. While he was a few meters from his home, the young man was relieved not to see Natacha''s car parked nearby. Indeed, because it had been a very special day for her, he had decided to prepare her a delicious dinner to celebrate the promotion he knew she had obtained. Hence, he had to do his part and give his best to satisfy her stomach. Orzak therefore hastened to return home and put his backpack in a corner of the living room. He then headed to the kitchen where he grabbed everything he needed to prepare her feast. Forty-five minutes later, as their apartment was increasingly filled with the delicious smell of what he was cooking, Michael couldn''t help but feel extremely proud of himself. He had probably managed to produce something that his fianc¨¦e would definitely enjoy. She deserved it very much. However, despite his enthusiasm at the moment, something was bothering Orzak slightly. In fact, he had been in the kitchen for almost an hour and Natacha had not yet appeared, which was absolutely not normal. He then said to himself that her lateness perhaps had something to do with her request for promotion, that she was probably still in the middle of negotiations with her boss. So, he decided to wait for news. However, when the clock showed 7 p.m, Michael could wait no longer. Therefore, he decided to call her to find out where she was and if everything was okay. But when he dialed her number, Natacha did not answer. Her phone just kept ringing numerous times without her picking up once. ¡°Where are you, Natacha?¡± he asked himself after making yet another call. -----*----- While her cell phone was sitting on her desk and ringing again and again because of Michael''s calls, Natacha was in the toilet. The young woman was regurgitating all the contents of her stomach in addition to shedding all the tears in her body. She was traumatized by what had just happened in her boss''s office. Barnes found it hard to believe that these events had really happened, that Mr. Invictus had threatened her and everyone close to her, and that he had forced her to perform oral sex on him. It was something she found very difficult to believe, but which unfortunately had happened. As the young woman poured the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl once again, Barnes couldn''t help but wonder what she had done to end up in such a state. What could she have done wrong to find herself in such a degrading and humiliating situation? All she wanted was to be promoted and have her efforts recognized. She never would have thought that this simple request would take such a turn. Now, Natacha felt trapped and totally helpless. She saw no way to escape Herman Invictus. As he said so well, there was practically no area that escaped his influence. So, there was nothing she could do. A few minutes later, Natacha finally stood up and walked towards the mirror only to realize that her eyes were slightly red and her makeup had been completely ruined. The young woman told herself that she couldn''t leave the building in this state and even less return home like this, people might ask her questions, Michael might ask her questions and she certainly wouldn''t have the courage to tell him lies. Therefore, she had to improve herself, become more presentable. Barnes headed to her office where she collected all her things. However, on the way back to the ladies'' room, her cell phone suddenly started ringing. As her eyes were now glued to the screen, she realized it was a call from her fianc¨¦, Michael. Even though this call took Natacha by surprise, she picked up anyway, trying to appear as normal as possible. ¡°Natacha, where are you? I''ve been trying to contact you for a while now. Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Sorry, baby. The discussion with Mr. Invictus took longer than expected. I''m getting ready to leave the office now.¡± ¡°I see. So, did everything go well?¡± The young woman remained silent for a few moments, wondering if she should tell him the truth. However, her boss''s words immediately came to mind, preventing her from revealing everything. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when I''m at home,¡± she finally answered. Without giving Orzak time to say a single word, Barnes suddenly ended their call. At the same time, she noticed that she had received more than a dozen missed calls, all from her fianc¨¦. She felt pathetic and cowardly, unable to tell the truth to the man she loved. However, she was also aware of the repercussions that could have resulted if she had done so. Michael would obviously have sought confrontation while her boss would have carried out his threats. These were scenarios that absolutely should not happen and she would do her best to prevent them. After this brief call with her fianc¨¦, Natacha returned to the ladies'' room where she fixed her makeup. She then went to her vehicle and left Black Crown Tower shortly after. * While she was on the way home, Natacha''s face was completely blank. It was as if she was there without actually being present, which was completely normal after what she had just suffered. All her joy for life had been absorbed by her boss and all that was left was an empty shell. Moreover, the young woman couldn''t help holding back her tears as the recent events came back to her mind. Barnes still had difficulty accepting reality, accepting the fact that Herman Invictus had abused her. However, her whole being made her understand that she was not in a nightmare and that everything she had experienced had indeed happened. Unable to properly drive in such an emotional state, Natacha stopped momentarily in the parking lot of a convenience store where she allowed herself to cry her eyes out. At that precise moment, all her thoughts were directed towards Herman Invictus, this man she now hated. However, hatred wasn''t the only thing Barnes was feeling at that moment. Indeed, she was also feeling a certain disgust towards herself, a disgust for having given in so easily. But what else could she have done? Her boss had power, immense power that he could use at any time to harm everyone she loved. There was nothing she could have done in this situation except obey him. She was just a simple employee, a weak woman in front of him. While still in the parking lot of the convenience store, Natacha''s cries attracted the attention of a group of passers-by who wondered what was wrong with her. One of them then approached her vehicle and knocked on her window, which startled her. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Miss, is everything okay?¡± he retorted. Not really in the mood to speak with a complete stranger, the young woman started her vehicle and left the parking lot, leaving this person completely lost regarding what had just happened. About ten minutes later, Natacha finally arrived in front of her house. However, the young woman did not immediately go inside her home. She couldn''t. First, she had to fix her face, her makeup having turn bad because of her tears. So, she used all her equipment to hide this. However, a major problem was still present. Indeed, Barnes'' eyes had taken on a reddish tint, something she couldn''t immediately fix. She had to wait for them to return to their normal color. Unfortunately for her, this was not going to be possible, Michael having appeared at one of their windows and waving at her. Having been noticed, Natacha had no other choice but go inside. Hence, she got out of her car and walked towards the front door. As she was climbing the stairs, Barnes'' heart was pounding harder and harder. She had no idea what she was going to say to Michael if he asked her about her eyes. However, she wanted to prevent him from learning the truth, as this was likely to cause conflict between her fianc¨¦ and her boss. ¡°Baby, I''m home!¡± Natacha had barely stepped through the door when her nose was assaulted by a delicious smell coming from the dining room. Her fianc¨¦ had obviously been in the kitchen. ¡°It took you a while to get home today.¡± ¡°Yes. Like I told you, the discussion with Mr. Invictus took a lot of time,¡± she replied, avoiding eye contact with him. ¡°So, how was it? Did you show up in your boss''s office with great fanfare and demand that promotion while looking him straight in the eye like I suggested? Or did you use a much more aggressive method?¡± he asked, jokingly. Michael''s enthusiasm was immediately stopped by Natacha''s response, who told him that she would tell him everything afterwards before adding that she needed to go take a shower. Without wasting a single second, the young woman headed towards their bathroom. Obviously, Orzak found his fianc¨¦e''s behavior very strange and followed her a few moments later. However, when he in turn wanted to enter their bathroom, Michael had the astonishing surprise of realizing that Natacha had locked the door behind her, something that had never been done since they had gotten together. ¡°Natacha, is everything okay? Why did you close the door?¡± he questioned as he was trying to open it. The young man received no response from his fianc¨¦e, which pushed him to insist further. It was only after doing this that Natacha finally told him that she needed to be alone. ¡°Babe¡­¡± ¡°Michael, please. I''ll tell you everything later.¡± Barnes'' tone of voice was different than usual, which made Michael realize that something had happened at her job, something she wasn''t yet ready to share with him. ¡°OK. I''ll be in the dining room if you need me.¡± Michael returned to their living room, stopping momentarily to take one last look at their bathroom door. Little did he know that behind that door was his fianc¨¦e sitting on the floor with completely teary eyes. Now that Orzak had left the room, Natacha allowed herself to cry her eyes out. She was ashamed of herself, ashamed of what she had done, ashamed of not having been able to face the man she loved. The young woman just didn''t want him to get involved in this matter, but she wanted to tell him the whole truth. He was the only person she could rely on. However, she was aware of the realities, aware that Michael could do nothing for her, aware that she had to keep this heavy and horrible secret. Never in her entire life had Barnes felt so isolated yet so close to someone. A few minutes later, Natacha finally got up and started to take off her clothes. She absolutely had to take a shower, not only because she was already in their bathroom, but also to cleanse her body of the stain left by Herman Invictus. * While Natacha was in the shower, Michael who was sitting in the dining room couldn''t help but think about what had just happened with her. It was clear to him that her promotion request had not gone as he had hoped. If that had been the case, she would never have behaved like that and would have immediately jumped into his arms to tell him the news. Orzak felt a little guilty about the situation. He had no idea what happened, but he thought it was his fault. He figured she must have taken his advice and acted inappropriately with her boss. ¡°What possessed me to advise her that?¡± he asked himself. Because of his feelings of guilt, Orzak told himself that he had to find a way to fix the situation. He couldn''t let Natacha suffer the consequences of his bad advice. But for that, he had to discuss it with her first, so wait for her to come out of their bathroom. While he was waiting for his fianc¨¦e to return, the young man''s gaze was fixed on the food on the table. He had cooked all of this to celebrate Natacha''s promotion, but now there was nothing more to celebrate. He still hoped that it would cheer her up a little. About twenty minutes later, Barnes finally showed up in the dining room. She had swapped her work outfit for something much more relaxed and suited to her home, namely a very loose t-shirt and a tight short. As she took her place at the table, a certain silence reigned between Natacha and her man. Finally, Michael decided to take the lead few minutes later and broke this silent barrier that separated them. ¡°Babe¡­¡± ¡°I didn''t get the promotion,¡± she retorted abruptly, cutting him off. ¡°I...I''m sorry. If only you hadn¡¯t listened to my advice, you¡­Natacha!¡± At this very moment, the young woman began to cry once again, which greatly disturbed Michael who immediately got up from his seat and went to his beloved. She then hugged him before apologizing. ¡°You don''t have to apologize, babe. Your boss is the one who should do it. He has no idea what mistake he made.¡± ¡°He¡­he¡­wants to give me a series of tests.¡± ¡°A series of tests?¡± ¡°He¡­he wants¡­¡± Once again, Natacha was at that moment tempted to tell him the whole truth, but her boss''s words immediately came to her mind. ¡°He wants to test me first,¡± she finally said. Michael immediately understood why his fianc¨¦e was in this state. For someone like her who had worked for this company for many years and always gave her best, it was a hard blow. ¡°I understand that you might not like this, Tasha, but you have to look at the positive side of things. You will now have his full attention, and therefore the opportunity to prove to him what you are really capable of.¡± Despite the comfort he was trying to give her, Natacha continued to cry profusely. Orzak was then unaware of the harmful impact that his own words had just had on her. ¡°Don''t worry, babe. I''m sure you''ll get this promotion. You''re the best.¡± About ten minutes later, Barnes finally stopped crying. However, she remained entwined in her man''s arms, not wanting him to leave. It was so comforting for her to be in this position that she felt like nothing could happen to her. She was safe with him and knew that nothing could happen to her as long as she was with him. Natacha could have stayed like this for many hours, but her body quickly reminded her that her stomach was empty. ¡°At least I wouldn''t have cooked all this for nothing,¡± Michael retorted after hearing Natacha''s stomach rumble. ¡°You need to eat, babe.¡± Even though she wasn''t really in the mood to eat, Natacha didn''t really have a choice. Not only was her body crying out for food, but Michael had also put in the effort to prepare everything in sight. The young woman therefore left her man''s arms and began to help herself to food. Orzak sat down right next to her and did the same as well. The hour Michael had been waiting for had finally come, the fruit of his labor. He was only waiting for one thing and that was for his fianc¨¦e to taste what he had passionately cooked for her, which she did a few seconds later. ¡°So, how do you like it?¡± he asked after her first bite. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she replied with her mouth full. ¡°Just okay?¡± ¡°It''s very good. It is delicious.¡± ¡°I''m teasing you, babe. I know you really like what I did.¡± Orzak was indeed happy, happy to see that she still had a certain appetite, even if things had not gone in the best way at her job. Natacha was very strong and he knew that she would get the promotion she so desired. There was no doubt about it. To be continued... Chapter 05 An unpleasant night ~*~ Dinner had ended a few minutes ago. Natacha, who was then cleaning the dishes, was displaying a strange behavior. In fact, she had already been wiping the same plate for more than two minutes while showing a completely livid face. Once again, the young woman was present without really being there, her body just doing the same movement automatically. Noticing her strange attitude, Michael slowly approached her and suddenly took her in his arms, which immediately brought her back to reality. ¡°Babe, are you okay?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes I''m good. My mind was just elsewhere.¡± To Michael, it was completely understandable that her mind was elsewhere. She must surely be thinking about the series of tests she had to pass in order to get her promotion. ¡°Tasha, you know I''m here if you ever need to talk about it.¡± ¡°I know baby. I know you¡¯re there for me and I¡¯m truly grateful.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be. It¡¯s my role to be there for you.¡± Unfortunately, despite her fianc¨¦''s support, Barnes knew that there were now things she could no longer discuss with him, secrets she had to keep at the cost of her well-being and that of everyone close to her. Seeing how much Natacha still had to clean, Michael offered to help her. The young woman, however, refused his help, claiming that it was up to her to do so since he had put a lot of effort into their meal. Orzak then found himself insisting, telling her that it would go much faster if they did it together. ¡°Michael Orzak, this kitchen is not yours alone. It also belongs to me and I have the right to do whatever I want with it. So, you''re going to let me clean the dishes and go sit down quietly. Did I make myself understood correctly?¡± she retorted in a rather authoritarian tone. This was enough to convince Michael that she didn''t need help and he went to sit just behind her in the dining room. While Natacha was actually washing the dishes, the young man told her about a small incident that had taken place at his workplace. ¡°By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. Something pretty funny happened this morning at the studio.¡± ¡°Go ahead, tell me.¡± ¡°During one of the photo shoots, one of the models tried to hit on me. Obviously, I told her that I already had someone in my life and I refused her advances.¡± ¡°I see, I see. How is this woman called?¡± ¡°I...I didn''t really ask her her name. You know, I''m just the one who takes the photos. For the models¡¯ names, you would¡¯ve to see that with Jessica.¡± ¡°I see, I see. You can at least tell me what she looks like.¡± ¡°Natacha!¡± Michael exclaimed. ¡°I''m kidding. You don¡¯t have to worry. It''s not like I''m going to go to the studio to have a little chat with her. I would never do something like that.¡± Michael knew full well that she was quite capable of doing something like that and he feared it would end in an altercation between her and the model. ¡°As I told you, I refused her advances. So, you don''t need to go talk to her.¡± ¡°I know you refused her advances, baby. I believe in you. She''s the one I don''t trust,¡± she retorted as she was cleaning a knife. ¡°Anyway, are you almost done with the dishes?¡± ¡°I still have some cutlery to clean. Why?¡± ¡°Because I would like to spend some quality time with my fianc¨¦e, but she is busy cleaning the dishes. If you¡¯d let me help you, you would¡¯ve finished a long time ago.¡± ¡°Tell me, Michael, do you want me to stab you? If you want it, tell me so I''ll do it right away.¡± At this precise moment, Natacha turned towards Michael, which allowed him to see the knife she was holding in her hands. ¡°I prefer not to. I still have many good years ahead of me,¡± he replied with a weird smile. ¡°So, let me do my dishes in peace. I move forward at my own pace.¡± ¡°OK, ma''am.¡± Things having been clarified between them, the young woman finally returned to take care of the rest of the dishes. * About ten minutes later, the Barnes-Orzak couple was lying in front of their television and continuing the TV show they had started the previous Sunday. Once again, the young man was impressed by all the mischief displayed by the protagonist of the story, even going so far as to say that she was the type of person he didn''t want to offend. For her part, Natacha, who had her head resting on her man''s chest, was not really focused on what was happening in front of her eyes. Her mind was much more focused on the working day that awaited her the next day. Indeed, with what had recently happened, it was clear to Barnes that things were not going to be the same in her workplace. She now knew what Herman Invictus was really like and wondered if she would be able to carry out her tasks with the same efficiency. Just the fact that she had to be around this man made her want to never set foot at her job again. A decent person would have done this or at least gone and filed a complaint with human resources. Unfortunately, Natacha was certain that if she were to do so, it would have serious repercussions on her and those around her. HR couldn''t do anything about her boss, he was theirs too. Therefore, even though she was that kind of person, Barnes was facing a whole different reality, a much more oppressive reality that forced her to remain silent. Natacha was therefore forced not only to return to the office, but she was also obliged to act as if nothing had happened between her boss and her, which would prove to be a very difficult task. At the same time, a thought crossed her mind. Her work colleague, Harlock, had had a promotion, she had even had several. Did that mean their boss also gave her these kinds of sordid tasks to do? Or was she the only one in this situation? Knowing Tess, Barnes was sure that this sort of thing probably wouldn''t bother her. While the young woman was thinking about what was about to happen next, Michael, who had only been talking to her all this time, noticed that she was not very reactive to what he was saying. ¡°Babe. Babe!¡± ¡°What?! What is happening?¡± she replied after being brought out of her thoughts. ¡°It turns out you haven''t been with me since a while ago. You''re missing a big part of the show.¡± ¡°Sorry, baby. My mind was elsewhere.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Michael had an idea of why Natacha''s mind was elsewhere. He figured she must be thinking about the series of tests her boss was going to impose on her, something she wouldn''t have imagined she''d have this morning when she left their home. ¡°Look, Tasha, I know it wasn''t what you were hoping for when you left the house this morning and I can understand why you''re frustrated about that, but a series of tests to pass is not the end. It''s more of an opportunity to be seized, the opportunity to prove to a multi-billionaire what you''re made of. If there''s anyone who can do it, it''s you, babe. I believe in you.¡± Michael''s encouragement was all well and good, but once again, it did the young woman more harm than good. She absolutely did not want to pass this series of tests and even less to prove anything to Herman Invictus. All she wanted was for him to disappear from her life, but unfortunately that wasn''t possible. ¡°Thank you for believing in me, baby.¡± she said with words filled with bitterness. ¡°You don''t have to thank me for that, Tasha. You''re the best.¡± After this brief conversation, the young couple returned to watching their television series. They managed to finish two episodes before they finally decide to go to bed. * Natacha woke up suddenly in the middle of the night. Sweating profusely, the young woman immediately looked around only to realize that she was next to Michael in their bedroom. She then wanted to cry, but she held back. Barnes didn''t want to disturb her fianc¨¦ who was sleeping next to her. Looking at him, she couldn''t help but feel slightly jealous. He was so peacefully asleep while she was up in the middle of the night, too afraid to close her eyes because of the nightmare she had just had. The young woman watched her man sleep for a few minutes, thinking how lucky she was to have someone like him in her life. He was very caring and always supported her in all her projects. Plus, he cooked as well as a professional chef and did very well in bed, which was a plus. She was truly a person that many women would dream of having in their lives. This therefore explained why Barnes felt a certain feeling of guilt regarding the behavior she had towards him, regarding the fact that she was not telling him the truth. He absolutely didn''t deserve this. Unfortunately, she had no choice. It was much better for everyone if he didn''t know what she was really going through. A few minutes later, Natacha got out of bed, taking care not to wake Michael up, and went into the living room where she sat on their sofa. Curled up, the young woman checked her cell phone only to realize that it was only 3 a.m. and that she only had a few hours left before she had to return to Black Crown and faced this man. Barnes really didn''t want to go to work and wondered once again what in heaven she had done to deserve such punishment. How could a simple request for promotion turn into some kind of sexual blackmail? How was it that she had never glimpsed this disturbing side of Mr. Invictus after so many years at his service? Was it because she had always been focused in her work? Or had she unconsciously ignored the signs? ¡°It''s not fair,¡± she said to herself as a tear ran down her face. 6:30 am Several hours passed and the clock in the living room now read half past six. Natacha, who had spent the entire night awake mulling over all the times she could have detected Herman Invictus'' intentions and examining all the options she had in order to escape his influence, was still sitting on the sofa. She was then extremely exhausted and unfortunately could not go back to sleep. If she did, she was sure to wake up in mid-afternoon, therefore missing her work day. The only things she could do now were take a cold shower, drink a huge amount of caffeine, and hope she could last the entire day on it. So, Barnes got up from the couch and returned to the bedroom. While she was choosing her outfit, the young woman couldn''t help but observe her fianc¨¦ who was still sleeping peacefully in their bed, the latter having obviously not noticed her absence. She then went to the bathroom where she took a shower so cold that she felt like she was at the North Pole ¨C a very unpleasant experience. * At 7 o¡¯clock, as the sun gradually rose, the alarm clock in their room began to ring loudly. The horrible device made noise for several dozen seconds, forcing Michael to ask Natacha to stop it. Seeing that he got no response, the young man suddenly turned towards her only to be greeted by the freshness of a bed that had not been occupied for several hours. Orzak, who was wondering where his fianc¨¦e was, hastened to stop their alarm clock. However, as he was about to get off the bed to look for Natacha, the latter came out of the bathroom dressed in her work clothes. ¡°You got up very early today,¡± he retorted when he saw her. ¡°Yes. Since I couldn''t sleep anymore, I decided to get ready a little earlier than usual.¡± The young man said to himself that she must surely have been thinking about her series of tests all night and that she must be ready to face all the tests from her boss. ¡°You could¡¯ve woken me up so I could come and keep you company.¡± ¡°It was tempting, but I preferred to let you sleep. You looked so peaceful in your sleep.¡± While Natacha''s back was turned, Michael got off the bed and sneaked up behind her before suddenly taking her in his arms. ¡°But I would¡¯ve been even more peaceful by your side,¡± he said before giving her many kisses on the neck. ¡°Michael, no.¡± ¡°It''s only 7 o¡¯clock, babe. We have enough time ahead of us.¡± ¡°Yes, but I just took a shower.¡± ¡°It doesn''t matter. You can...have another one with me,¡± he retorted between two kisses. Natacha turned around just after, put her arms around her man''s neck, and then began to kiss him, thus making him believe that he had succeeded in convincing her. Unfortunately for him, she made him understand that nothing was going to happen between them. ¡°And don''t forget that you promised me to be good boy. You wouldn''t want me to cancel your surprise, would you?¡± she continued. ¡°It seems that bad boys get punished when they aren¡¯t good.¡± ¡°Yes¡­and we punish them by depriving them of what they love.¡± With Natacha''s words, it was clear to Michael that he would not get what he wanted. So, he kissed her one last time before releasing her from his embrace. ¡°Well, I think I''m going to warm up a little bit before going to take a shower.¡± Orzak therefore put himself in the push-up position and began his exercise session under the gaze of Natacha who observed him for a few moments before finally leaving their room. The young woman went to make a good cup coffee, something she really needed at that precise moment. She told herself that she was going to cook breakfast as well for herself and Michael, she had enough time to do it. A few minutes later, when she had almost finished cooking, her fianc¨¦ suddenly showed up in the dining room. ¡°It smells good in here. What are you cooking?¡± he asked. ¡°Scrambled eggs with bacon,¡± Barnes replied before returning to him. The young woman noticed not only that her man was sweating profusely, but that he was also about to take her in his arms. ¡°Michael! Michael, don''t come near me! Don¡¯t you even dare take another step!¡± As if Orzak was suffering from an extremely contagious disease, Natacha categorically refused to let him touch her, even going so far as to point the spatula she was holding in her hand in his direction. ¡°Come on, babe. I just want a little hug.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± The young people then began to play a game of cat and mouse around the dining room table with on one side Michael who wanted to hug Natacha and the latter who was avoiding him like the plague. ¡°Michael, you stop this right now!¡± ¡°But what did I do? I just want to hug you,¡± he replied with a smile. Their little game could have continued for many minutes, but the smell of burning that was now escaping from the pan forced them to put an end to it. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done,¡± the young woman retorted, rushing towards the stove. ¡°You''re the one who''s going to eat this.¡± ¡°It''s not a problem.¡± Orzak approached Natacha, this time without intending to hug her, and checked the state of the food. ¡°It is still consumable.¡± ¡°So, take care of that.¡± Natacha then handed him the spatula before going to sit at the table and start eating. Shortly after, Michael placed his plate next to her, but did not sit down. However, he told her that he would eat breakfast after taking a shower. ¡°Yes, go take it. It¡¯ll be better for everyone.¡± The young man gave a slight smile at the sarcastic tone of his fianc¨¦e. Hence, he spoke to her one last time before heading towards their bathroom. ¡°Listen, babe, I know things with your boss didn''t go the way you hoped and I''m really sorry that it happened that way. I can''t imagine how you felt at that moment, but you mustn¡¯t let this situation affect you. You are a fighter...you are the most reckless woman I have ever met and I know that this recklessness you always demonstrate will allow you to overcome the trials of your boss, and obtain this promotion for which you hold so much. I believe in you. You are the best.¡± Even though his words were encouraging, Natacha no longer wanted to get this so-called promotion, not if it meant having to make obscenities with her boss behind Michael¡¯s back. Still, she had to keep up appearances, make him believe that her determination was still there. ¡°You know what, Michael? You''re totally right. This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve encountered difficulties in life and it won¡¯t probably be the last. So, I¡¯ll do as you advise me and overcome all the challenges that come my way, no matter their level of difficulty,¡± she said with great enthusiasm. ¡°I recognize you there, babe.¡± The young man finally went into the bathroom, leaving Natacha all alone. The latter then got rid of all the enthusiasm she had just shown and displayed the state in which she really was, a state which reflected all the emotional distress she was experiencing at that moment. ¡°I don''t want to go,¡± she thought, looking at her plate. Barnes unfortunately had no choice. Therefore, she hurried to finish her breakfast before filling her thermos with coffee. She then grabbed her things and headed towards the exit door. This new day of work promised to be worse than the previous one. To be continued. Chapter 06 The invitation Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.