The kompromat to order

9.

His gaze glued me to the floor, I couldn't move. My brain was looking for ways to escape, but it was useless. He is not a fool and understood everything, so there is no point in making excuses. What will happen to me now? Why didn't I foresee this scenario? Why didn't I provide myself with escape routes? I fell for him like a schoolgirl and didn't even think about my safety.

- Get the flash drive, - he ordered.

Without considering any other options but to obey, I silently leaned under the table again to get it. Now I could hear his heavy footsteps walking toward the table. Fear and panic gripped me and I noticed that my hands were shaking. I wanted to stay under the table so that I wouldn't have to make eye contact with Rob. But I didn't want to make him angry. I took out the flash drive and stood up and faced him. He looked down at me with such a heavy look that he didn't have to say anything, I already felt guilty. It was as if he was scolding me with his eyes, and I wanted to hide from him like a little girl. I handed him the flash drive in my hand. He looked at my open palm, took the flash drive, twirled it in his hands, and put it in his pocket. Smiling, he looked at me and said:

- Come on, the champagne is already on the table. - After these words, he headed to the living room to the table where there was already a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses.

Now I didn't understand what was happening at all. Was this really it? Is he not going to do anything to me for spying? Or maybe the champagne was poisoned and this was his way of getting rid of me? What am I talking about? Thoughts buzzed like bees in my head. I stood there and didn't know what to do.

- I'm waiting, - Rob said a little demandingly, sitting down on the couch. He was sitting opposite the office, and I realized that I shouldn't keep him waiting long. I barely moved my feet and went to the living room.

- Stop, - he said demandingly when I was only a couple of meters away from him. I stood there like a stone. A shiver ran down my spine. Rob was stretched out on the couch, holding a glass of champagne in his hands, and his eyes undressed me in a way that made me even more afraid.

- What am I going to do with you, Emma? - he said in a long voice, as if adding fuel to the fire.

And his words twisted my stomach so that it became difficult to breathe. I was already mentally counting the number of steps to the front door, but what then? Wait for the elevator? It will catch up with me, unless I have time to press the button. Or maybe I won't. There are no neighbors on the floor. Only now has this apartment become a trap for me, not a romantic place of solitude.

- How much do your services cost? - he asked, as if he was uncomfortable saying it.

I was even more frightened by his words. Do I look like a prostitute? Max's words echoed in my mind. You've had it, Emma. You liked playing spy so much that now your virginity will be bought for a couple hundred, or even taken by force. Tears came to my eyes, but I clenched my teeth and calmed my panic.

- Emma, can you hear me? - Rob said anxiously, - how much did they pay you for the flash drive?

His words were like a weight off my shoulders, and I let out a sigh of relief. I was scared, and I was already imagining all sorts of things. I had to calm down and tell him everything, maybe we could come to an agreement.

- Twenty... - I could barely speak. My voice seemed to disappear.

- Twenty thousand? - he asked in surprise, - it seems Evan decided to save money on you.

- Do you know who ordered you? - I was surprised to hear the name of the customer.

The doorbell rang. Robert got up from the couch: