Chapter 141: Chapter 140
Olivia’s POV
The moment I felt Julian’s presence, I jumped to my feet so fast I nearly lost my balance. My face burned with embarrassment at being caught in such a pathetic position. But I was happy he was back. He could help me with this unexpected problem.
Julian stood frozen in the doorway, shopping bags dangling from his hands, as he looked between me and Ken in shock.
"What the hell is going on here, Olivia?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"Ken knocked once," I started, my voice shaking badly. "And since this is the executive floor, I didn’t expect it to be anyone but you. I thought you were back, so I opened the door and he came in and saw... everything."
Julian’s eyes went wide. "Shit!" He smacked his forehead painfully. "I should have used something else as a secret code instead of just knocking once! This is a men’s bathroom on an executive floor - of course other people might knock. This is totally fucked up."
I watched Julian turn towards Ken with his most charming smile. "Ken, darling, I know this looks insane, but there’s a reasonable explanation for all of this..."
"I want to discuss this with Oliver alone," Ken interrupted, raising his hand to stop Julian from speaking further. He looked at me, and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite read. "Julian, could you give us some privacy?"
"NO!" The word burst from me in panic. I grabbed Julian’s arm like he was a life raft in stormy seas. "Julian, please stay. I need to get back to the office. Maxwell is going to fire me for being this late with his tea. I can’t..."
"He might end up firing you anyway if I expose your secret," Ken said calmly, and the casual way he said it made my blood run cold. "So it’s either we talk now, or I go straight to his office and tell him everything."
The threat hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode.
I looked at Julian, pleading silently with my eyes. Don’t leave me alone with him. Please.
But Julian had this calculating expression on his face. He glanced between Ken and me, clearly not liking this situation one bit, but recognizing that we didn’t have much choice.
"Fine," Julian said tightly, setting down the shopping bags near the sinks. "But Olivia, babe, you yell if you need me. I’ll be right outside this door."
"Julian..."
"It’s okay," he said softly, squeezing my shoulder. Then he looked at Ken with a warning expression that was mixed with threat. "Five minutes, Ken. That’s all you get."
Julian swept out of the bathroom, as he closed the door firmly behind him.
Suddenly, it was just Ken and me alone in this bathroom. Again.
I looked at him with pleading eyes, trying one more time. "Ken, please. I know this looks bad, but..."
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, cutting straight through my attempted explanation. His voice wasn’t angry, just... curious. "Why the disguise? Why pretend to be a man?"
I took a shaky breath, preparing to spill more lies. "I needed the money. My family - we’re struggling financially, and I needed a good job. But Wellington & Sons doesn’t employ female attorneys. So I thought... if I couldn’t get hired as myself, maybe I could get hired as someone else."
Ken nodded slowly, processing this. "Okay. I can understand that, actually. The gender discrimination in this industry is ridiculous." He paused. "But even after everything - even after you got demoted from attorney to personal assistant - you kept up the disguise. Why? Why not just leave and find another job?"
"Because of the salary," I said desperately. "Even as Mr. Wellington’s assistant, I’m making more than I was as a junior attorney. My family needs that money. My mother’s medical bills, my rent, everything... I can’t afford to lose this job."
"And you’re absolutely sure Maxwell doesn’t know?" He asked, his eyes studying my face carefully. "You’re certain he hasn’t figured it out?"
"Yes," I said firmly, though I couldn’t understand the twinkle in his eyes. "He doesn’t know. I’m sure of it."
Ken reached up and touched his jaw thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That’s weird, though. Maxwell isn’t the type to be easily fooled. The man notices everything. Every detail, every inconsistency. How sure are you about this?"
My stomach turned with anxiety. "I’m always very careful. I practice my voice, my walk, my mannerisms. I never slip up around him."
Ken was quiet for a long moment, just looking at me with eyes that seemed to be calculating something.
"Ken?" My voice came out smaller than I intended. "You’re not going to tell anyone, right? Please. I’m begging you. This job... it’s everything to me right now."
He nodded slowly. "I won’t tell anyone."
Relief flooded through me so intensely I felt dizzy. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I promise I’ll be more careful, and you won’t have to..."
"But I have one condition," Ken said, and something in his tone made the relief evaporate instantly.
I froze. "What condition?"
Ken took a step closer, and suddenly the bathroom felt much smaller. "I want you to become my secret lover."
I staggered at his words, as I stared at him in absolute shock, my mouth falling open. "WHAT?"
"You heard me," he said, his voice calm and quiet. "I find it difficult to approach women. Always have. I get nervous, tongue-tied. And as a result, I’ve been without female companionship for... quite a long time." He took another step closer. "So here’s my proposal: you and I become lovers. Discreet, secret. Whenever I need to fulfill my sexual urges, you’ll be available."
I felt like I’d been dunked in ice water. This couldn’t be happening. Sweet, nerdy Ken Morrey - the guy everyone in the office thought was so nice, so harmless - was actually blackmailing me for sex.
"That’s not possible!" I said, my voice rising in panic. I started backing away from him, my hands raised defensively. "Ken, please. I have a boyfriend. I can’t cheat on him. Please don’t make me do this..." more lies poured out.
"I don’t care about your boyfriend," Ken said dismissively, following me as I retreated. "I’ve missed a woman’s touch. I need to feel what it’s like to be between a woman’s legs again. To feel soft skin, to hear those sounds women make..."
"Stop!" I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering. "Ken, this is blackmail. You can’t..."
"Can’t what?" He smiled, and there was nothing friendly about it anymore. "You’re the one who’s been lying to everyone, Olivia. Committing fraud, really, if we’re being technical about it. Who do you think people will believe? Me, a respected junior associate? Or you, a woman who’s been deceiving the entire company?"
Tears were burning behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Please. Please don’t do this."
Ken pulled out his wallet and extracted a business card - his personal card, with his cell phone number. He held it out to me.
"Contact me when you’re ready to discuss the terms of our arrangement. But don’t take too long." His eyes raked over my body in a way that made my skin crawl. "I’m giving you three days to make up your mind. After that, I go to Maxwell and tell him everything."
He placed the card on the edge of the sink, then walked toward the door.
"Three days, Olivia. Think carefully."
And then he was gone, leaving me standing there trembling against the wall, staring at that business card like it was a snake ready to strike.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Could barely breathe.
This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
The door opened again, and Julian rushed in, his face filled with concern. "Olivia? Babe? What did he say?"
I couldn’t form words. Couldn’t even look at Julian. I just stared at that business card, my mind spiraling out of control.
If I refused Ken, he’d tell Maxwell, and I’d lose my job.
But if I agreed... if I let Ken use my body as payment for his silence...
God, what kind of choice is that?
"Olivia!" Julian’s hands were on my shoulders, shaking me gently. "Talk to me! What did Ken say? What happened?"
I finally looked at Julian, and whatever he saw in my eyes made his face go pale.
"I’m doomed," I whispered, my voice breaking.
My legs gave out, and I slid down the wall to sit on the cold bathroom floor, my body still shaking.
"I’m completely and utterly doomed."