Riley held her pendant a small silver disc with her parents' initials. It was the only thing she had left of them. Taking a deep breath, she stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror.
“Come on, Riley,” she whispered. “You got this.”
She rushed out to catch the bus, but her phone buzzed. It was Ruby.
“Hey,” Riley answered, trying to sound normal.
“Did you remember everything for the interview?” Ruby asked. “Your portfolio? Your references? You always forget something when you’re nervous!”
Riley’s heart dropped. She patted her bag. Resume? Check. Cover letter? Check. But oh no. The portfolio shit! It was still at home.
“Oh no, Ruby,” she groaned. “I left it!”
“Riley! Are you serious? How much time do you have?”
“Not enough!” Riley yelled, already running back home. “I’ll call you later!”
By the time she made it back to the bus stop, she was exhausted. She barely jumped onto the bus before the doors closed. She was going to be late.
To calm herself, she put on her headphones and played music. It helped a little.
When she reached M&Q Ventures, she was 15 minutes late. The huge glass building looked even scarier than she imagined. She had to get this job. She needed it. Raven needed it.
Inside, the waiting room was cold and silent. Other candidates whispered to each other. Riley squeezed her pendant and whispered a quick prayer.
“Riley Jay?” The receptionist called. “Mr. Clinton will see you now.”
Riley stood up, straightened her blazer, and forced a smile.
The interview room felt strange. The fluorescent lights buzzed loudly. Mr. Clinton sat behind a huge desk. He looked older than she expected, with greasy hair and tired eyes.
Something about his stare made her uncomfortable.
“Good morning, sir,” she said, forcing a polite smile.
He didn’t smile back. Instead, he leaned forward, scanning her with his eyes. “Are you single, Riley?”
Her stomach twisted. What kind of question was that?
“Yes,” she answered hesitantly.
A slow smile spread across his face. “That’s good,” he said, standing up and walking toward her. The closer he got, the worse she felt.
He smelled like cigarettes and cheap cologne. His eyes moved over her, making her skin crawl. Then, he touched her shoulder lightly. She flinched.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” he asked. “I didn’t mean to. I just wasn’t expecting someone as beautiful as you.”
Riley’s grip tightened on her portfolio.
“This job is very competitive,” he said. “But I like you. And sometimes, a little extra effort can help.”
Her stomach dropped. She knew exactly what he meant.
“How badly do you want this job?”
Her hands clenched into fists.
Clinton smirked. “I can make sure you get this job. Maybe even a quick promotion.”
He moved closer, trapping her in the chair. Then, he slid his hand up her thigh.
Riley felt sick. Without a word, she grabbed her portfolio, stood up, and stormed out. She didn’t look back.
At home, Ruby and Raven were waiting. One look at Riley’s face and they knew. No words were needed. They hugged her tightly.
That night, after Raven fell asleep, Riley told Ruby everything.
Ruby was furious. “That disgusting man! You have to report him!”
“I can’t,” Riley whispered. “He’s powerful. If I say anything, I’ll never get a job anywhere.”
“So you’re just going to let it go?”
“I don’t know what else to do! We need money, Ruby. Raven needs her medicine. I can’t risk losing everything.”
Ruby sighed, her anger softening. “Then we keep looking. You’ll find something better.”
Riley kept searching and finally got another interview. But during the meeting, the interviewer, Mr. Stephen, asked a strange question.
“What did you do to offend M&Q Ventures?”
Confused, Riley started to explain. “I went for an interview with Mr. Clinton and—”
He cut her off. “I already know. The word is out. No one wants to hire you. You’re a risk.”
Riley’s stomach dropped. Clinton had ruined her reputation.
Desperate, she pleaded, “Please, Mr. Stephen, I really need this job.”
He leaned forward, his eyes dark. “There is one way.”
Riley stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“I want you, Riley. I can fix this for you… if you cooperate.”
Her breath caught. Another predator.
She stood up. “No.” she knew even if she was to bend to his request out of desperation it wouldn't just end there she would practically become his sex slave.
His face twisted in anger. “You think you have a choice? Clinton and I made a bet. No one will hire you. You have nowhere else to go.”
Sick to her stomach, she turned to leave. But Stephen stepped in front of her, blocking the door.
He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. Then, he kissed her forcefully. His hands roamed over her body.
Riley struggled. “Let me go!”
He shoved her back, making her hit the desk. He lifted her skirt, reaching for her underwear.
Riley pushed him with all her strength. Then, she screamed.
Stephen stepped back, his face pale. He knew he had gone too far.
Riley adjusted her clothes and ran out, her body shaking.
Wandering the streets, lost in thought, Riley’s phone rang.
It was Raven’s school.
“She fainted and was rushed to the hospital,” the voice said.
Her heart stopped.
She called Ruby. “It’s Raven! She’s in the hospital… again.”
They rushed there. The hospital smelled of antiseptic, cold and sterile. Riley hated it.
The doctor finally came.
“Is she okay?” Riley asked desperately.
“She’ll be fine for now,” the doctor said gently. “But she needs her medication. Without it, she won’t survive next time. And in the long run, she needs surgery.”
Riley’s breath caught. Surgery. The one they couldn’t afford.
She held Raven’s hand tightly.
Their parents had died in a building demolition. They had fought to save their home, but in the end, it didn’t matter. The powerful owner won.
Raven had survived. But her heart was never the same.
Now, Riley was failing her. The thought crushed her. She broke down in tears.
Ruby hugged her. “We’ll figure this out,” she whispered.
They managed to pay for Raven’s medication. But how long could they keep this up?
That night, Riley went to a bar to escape her thoughts. She was a lightweight and became drunk after a bottle. A tall well built man sat beside her. She didn’t notice his face as she was too drunk, but he smelled good.
She fell on him smiling as she used her hand to trace his hair, “you smell really good you know, you look like you also had a bad day but am sure mine was worse” she said and laughed pulling his hair, “Hey would you spend the night with me” she said try to imitate Mr Clinton.
He picked her up after paying for the drinks and took her to his car and drove off
The night was dark and stormy as he drove her to the hotel, the wind howling and the rain pelting against the car.
As soon as they stepped into the hotel room, she felt a rush of desire. She pushed herself against him, her hands on his face as she pulled him in, her lips against his kissing him passionately. He responded eagerly, his hands roaming over her body as he worked to remove the buttons of her shirt.
With a low growl, he pushed her back onto the bed, his body covering hers as he continued to kiss her deeply. She could feel the heat radiating off of him, the desire in his touch. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
He trailed kisses down her neck, his teeth gently scraping against her skin as he made his way to her breasts. She arched her back, moaning as he took one nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling and teasing. It sent a chilling sensation down her spine and she moaned loudly.
He continued to explore her body, his hands and mouth driving her wild with desire. She could feel herself getting closer and closer to the edge, her breath coming in short gasps as she begged “don't stop, please don't stop” she screamed.
With one final thrust, he sent her over the edge. She cried out, her body trembling with pleasure as he continued to move inside of her. It was a long night, full of passion and desire, and when he finally collapsed beside her, she fell asleep immediately after . It was like all the problems she had, had been forgotten that night.