𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 | 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐒 𝐈 𝐗 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

Dakota

As I sat alone in Genevieve's office, humming quietly to myself, I kept my focus on the review files spread out on my desk. Genevieve was in court handling some urgent business, leaving me in charge of her office in her absence. It felt nice to have a moment of peace, even if I missed her sharp presence hovering in the room. I was halfway through a particularly dense case when the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang, startling me.

I looked up, frowning, only to see Mr. Costa storming into the office without so much as a knock. The intrusion sent a ripple of irritation through me, and I stood up, folding my arms. "You should knock next time." I said firmly, hoping to regain some semblance of authority.

His gaze snapped to me, cold and filled with contempt. "Keep your mouth shut, little girl." he sneered, his voice laced with a menace that made my skin crawl. My frown deepened as I looked up at him, realizing just how much larger he was. Tall and built like a tank, his frame seemed to dwarf the entire room.

Swallowing the nerves that threatened to surface, I took a step toward him, maintaining eye contact. "Can I help you with something? Ms. Beaumont isn't here, but I can tell her you stopped by." I offered, doing my best to sound polite and professional, even as the unsettling feeling in my gut grew stronger.

But then, before I could react, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my throat, squeezing with enough force to make my eyes widen in shock. My hands flew up to claw at his arm as my breath caught in my throat. Panic flooded me as his grip tightened, and I struggled to breathe, choking as he lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing.

"Listen to me." he growled, his voice dark and dangerous. "If you ever talk to me like that again, I'll kill you." The venom in his tone was unmistakable, and fear lanced through me, leaving me scrambling to free myself, desperate for air.

I tried to pry his fingers away, clawing and kicking, but it was like fighting against a wall of solid steel. My vision blurred, and dark spots began to dance at the edges. My head felt heavy, and I was just about to give in to the blackness when I heard someone else enter the office.

Annabel's scream cut through the fog in my mind, sharp and panicked. "Let her go!" she shouted, her voice shaking as she ran over to us. She tried to shove Mr. Costa, her hands pushing at his arms in desperation, but he didn't budge. He was too focused on me, his grip unyielding.

My vision started to fade, the world around me slipping into darkness. I was barely aware of anything until the sharp, rhythmic sound of heels echoed across the office floor. Then, a figure appeared, and I blinked through the haze to see Genevieve.

Her expression shifted from shock to fury in an instant. Without a word, she strode forward and slammed her Gucci handbag over Mr. Costa's head with such force that he grunted and finally released his grip. Air rushed back into my lungs, and I gasped, choking as I tried to fill my chest with much-needed oxygen. My knees buckled, and I felt myself collapsing, but before I could hit the ground, Genevieve's arms were there, catching me.

"Annabel, call security and the police." she ordered, her voice hard as steel. She didn't look away from me, her face tense with worry as she held me in her arms.

I barely registered Annabel hurrying out of the room. My body felt numb, my mind struggling to process everything that had just happened. I was vaguely aware of Genevieve lowering me onto the couch, gently laying my head on her lap. Her hand brushed a strand of hair away from my face, her touch surprisingly gentle.

"Cariño, keep your eyes open for me." she whispered, her tone soft but insistent. "Stay with me."

I tried to respond, but my throat felt raw, and all I managed was a small, weak sound. My head rested against her lap, her presence grounding me as the world slowly stopped spinning.

Security arrived soon after, along with the police, who escorted Mr. Costa out of the office. Even through my daze, I caught a glimpse of his furious face as they led him away in handcuffs. Genevieve kept her focus on me, her fingers gently stroking my hair as she murmured soothing words, her expression a mix of anger and concern.

"Just breathe, Dakota." she whispered, her hand moving to hold mine. "You're safe now. He won't hurt you again."

The warmth of her hand, the steady rhythm of her voice, it all started to pull me back from the brink, grounding me in a way I couldn't fully understand. I took slow, shallow breaths, wincing at the tenderness in my throat. Genevieve's presence was comforting, and despite the pain, I found myself clinging to her, my fingers curling around hers.

"I'm... I'm okay." I managed to whisper, though my voice was barely audible. She looked down at me, her eyes softening slightly as she gave me a reassuring nod.

"I know, Cariño. But take your time." she said, her tone unusually gentle. "You've been through enough."

I closed my eyes, letting myself relax in her hold. The terror of the past few minutes began to melt away, replaced by a strange sense of calm that I hadn't expected to feel. I'd never seen this side of Genevieve, protective, almost tender, and it left me feeling both comforted and a little unsteady.

As the commotion in the office faded and silence settled over the room, I stayed there, wrapped in the safety of her presence. For the first time, I felt truly secure. And as strange as it felt, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I could trust her.

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~ R