My body started shaking even harder. In this moment, I realized what true fear was. I was about to be raped. I didn’t know what to do; if I screamed, he’d only make it worse for me.           

               As he was unbuckling his belt, his intercom buzzed.           

               “Mr. Peterson, your Vegas clients are here for their appointment. Would you like me to show them to your office?”                    David frowned and ran a hand through his hair, rebuckling his belt as he walked over to his desk.            

               “Show them to the conference room, I’ll be there in five minutes.”           

               “Yes, sir.”             

               I gulped, standing up and making my way to the door. David looked up at me, seeing me trying to flee. Rushing over to me, he pinned my body to the door. I could feel his arousal pressing into my stomach.           

               “This isn’t fucking over, Alex,” he growled. “You just wait. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”           

               With that, he pushed me out of the way, and walked out the door. Trembling, I smoothed my hair and quickly walked out of his office. I wiped my face, hoping that it wasn’t obvious that I’d been crying. I could only imagine what he’d do to me if I told anyone what had just happened.           

               Once I stepped in the elevator, my body sagged against the wall. I never knew that David was like this. What the fuck had I gotten myself into? I was in trouble. I had no idea what to do. I had to protect myself.            

               The elevator stopped on the sixth floor, and a very attractive man stepped in. He stood on the opposite side of the elevator, staring up at the numbers above the door. I couldn’t help but notice him. He had dark blonde hair that was in need of a trim. He wore black square framed glasses that complemented his dark blue suit. There was a tattoo sticking out of the collar of his shirt. I stifled the urge to lick my lips when I could smell his cologne, taking a whiff of the air around me.           

He turned to look at me, with a smirk on his face. My face instantly heated and I looked down at the floor.           

               “I haven’t seen you around here before.”           

               A shiver ran through me at the sound of his voice. I whipped my head up to meet his eyes. “I, um, I don’t work here. I came to visit someone.”           

               “Hm,” he mused. “A boyfriend, perhaps? Or maybe your husband?”           

               “Oh, no. Just a friend. We got into an argument, and well, I’m hoping our relationship is over now.”           

               The doors opened and we stepped out into the pristine lobby.           

               “I never caught your name,” he said, stopping by the receptionist’s desk. I could see her eyeing him.           

               “I never said. I’m Alex.” I held out my hand for him to shake.           

               “Very nice to meet you, Alex. I’m Bradley.” He took my hand in his firm grip, shaking it gently.           

               “It was nice to meet you as well, Bradley. I have to go, I have somewhere to be.” I let go of his hand and walked out the door to my car. I couldn’t explain this sudden attraction I had to him. It was way more than what I had felt for David the first time I met him.           

               As I was about to close my car door, a hand stopped it from closing. I let out a squeal, thinking it might be David. I covered my face with my hands, expecting to be hit.           

               “Whoa, whoa,” a voice said. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”           

               I looked up and found Bradley frowning at me. “I-I’m sorry,” I stuttered, still a little shaken up. “I thought you were someone else.”           

               His frown deepened. “If you have that reaction to someone, I would be concerned. Well, I am concerned. Who are you hiding from?”           

               I shook my head, trying to close my door again. I couldn’t get into this with him. “No one.”           

               “Wait a minute,” he said, stopping me from closing my door once again. “I came out here to give you my number. It looked to me as if you could use someone to talk to. I just wanted to make sure you had someone.”           

               “That’s not necessary,” I mumbled. “I have plenty of people to talk to.”           

               “Take it anyways,” he insisted, shoving a piece of paper in my hands. “If you don’t want to talk to me, maybe I could take you on a date.”           

               “I just met you. You don’t know anything about me. Why would you want to take me on a date?”           

               He moved his hand behind his neck, rubbing. “I don’t really know. It’s just a feeling. I always listen to my gut.”           

               I sighed. This guy was crazy. “Okay,” I conceded. “I’ll take your number. Don’t wait by the phone.”           

               I finally shut the door and drove off towards my apartment, thoughts of David and Bradley running through my muddled mind.