The Art of Control

c7: The Boundaries of Power

Maya stared at her reflection in the mirror, her mind still clouded from the night before. The image that looked back at her wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, yet something had shifted. Her body ached in places she had never imagined, a constant reminder of how Damian had claimed her, pushed her to the brink of her limits—and her submission. But it wasn’t the physical ache that unsettled her the most. It was the confusion gnawing at her, the questions she couldn’t shake.

What had she become?

Last night had been a blur of heat, control, and the complete surrender she had never thought herself capable of. She had felt like someone else, someone who belonged to Damian, someone who craved the power he held over her. The line between desire and fear had blurred so completely that she couldn’t tell one from the other.

And now, in the cold light of day, the reality was sinking in.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, still tangled from sleep. Damian hadn’t spoken to her after it was over. He had been calm, composed, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. And that made it all worse. It was just another night for him. Just another step in his game of control.

Maya closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, to find a shred of herself that hadn’t been consumed by him. But no matter how much she tried to separate her emotions, Damian’s presence was still there, lingering in the corners of her mind like a dark shadow she couldn’t shake.

I have to get control back, she thought, gripping the edge of the sink. But the truth was, she wasn’t sure if she wanted it anymore. A part of her had enjoyed the surrender, the freedom of letting go and falling into Damian’s world. And that terrified her.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, the sound cutting through her thoughts. She glanced down at the screen.

Damian: I expect you at my home tonight. 8 PM. We have much to discuss.

The simple message sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t asking. He never did. The pull between them was suffocating, a magnetic force she didn’t know how to escape from. Or maybe she didn’t want to. The thought made her chest tighten, and she quickly pushed it away.

Still, the dinner party he mentioned carried weight—Damian’s world was filled with people who could change her career, and tonight was an opportunity to step deeper into that circle. But what would it cost her?

She wasn’t naive enough to think this was just about her art anymore. Damian’s control extended far beyond her career. And with every step she took toward him, she felt herself falling further into his web.

I should stop this, she thought, the idea fleeting. She knew it was already too late.

Later That Evening...

Maya stood outside Damian’s penthouse, staring at the grand entrance. The building itself was a fortress, an imposing structure of glass and steel, reflecting the evening sky. But it wasn’t the luxury that unsettled her. It was what lay beyond that door—him.

She adjusted her dress, a simple black gown Damian had sent for her earlier that day. The silk felt smooth against her skin, but it was a reminder of how deep his reach was into her life. Everything about her tonight—her clothes, her hair, her very presence—was because of him. He was already shaping her, molding her into someone he could control.

And yet, she couldn’t stop her hand from reaching for the doorbell. A part of her craved his dominance, craved the power he held over her, even though it scared her more than anything she had ever known.

The door opened almost immediately, and Damian stood before her, dressed impeccably in a tailored black suit. His eyes, dark and unreadable, locked onto hers with that same intensity that always made her heart race. He didn’t say a word, but the way his gaze swept over her sent a shiver down her spine.