Into the Lion's Den

Riley's POV 

I paced around my room, running my fingers through my hair for what had to be the fiftieth time. 

My pulse hammered in my chest, every beat a relentless reminder that the seconds were slipping by, and Jaxon’s car would arrive any minute. 

The weight of tonight’s arrangement pressed down on me, each detail like a stone in my gut. 

I didn’t know what to expect, but whatever it was, I doubted I’d come out of it the same.

My eyes kept flicking to the window, as if I might see headlights flare up at any moment. 

I didn’t want to be caught off guard. I wanted a few more minutes of peace—or as close to peace as I could manage while my thoughts tangled like barbed wire. 

Just when I thought I might lose my mind, my phone buzzed, its vibration breaking the silence. 

I snatched it up, expecting a text from Jaxon, but my stomach lurched when I saw the name on the screen.

Eric.

I drew in a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. 

The last thing I needed was for Eric to pick up on the mess I was in. 

I composed myself and answered, trying to sound as steady as possible.

“Hey, Eric,” I said, forcing a calmness into my voice that I didn’t feel.

“Riley,” Eric replied, his voice laced with something close to concern. “You’re… okay, right?”

I swallowed, not sure how to respond. 

Eric had always been a little more perceptive than I’d liked. 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, putting as much reassurance into my tone as I could muster. “Why do you ask?”

He paused, and I could almost hear him choosing his words carefully. 

“I just… noticed you spent a long time in Jaxon’s office today. You don’t have to tell me what happened, but… I know how he can be. He’s intense, Riley, and I just wanted to check on you.”

His words, however well-intentioned, felt like salt on a fresh wound. 

I clenched my jaw, pressing the phone tighter to my ear. 

If only he knew. 

But I forced a chuckle, hoping to ease his concerns without giving anything away. 

“Yeah, he… he can be pretty intense. But it’s nothing I can’t handle, Eric. I promise.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, as if he was weighing my words. 

“I hope so,” he finally said, his tone softening. “Look, I know you’re tough. You always have been. But you don’t have to pretend around me, Riley. I just want you to know that.”

I felt a pang in my chest, a mix of gratitude and guilt twisting together. 

Eric had always been a good manager—maybe even more than that. And now, lying to him felt almost wrong. 

But what could I say? How could I even begin to explain this without making things worse?

“I appreciate that, Eric,” I said quietly, hoping he could hear the sincerity in my voice. “Really, I do. It’s just… there are some things I have to handle on my own.”

“I understand,” he replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in his tone. “But just… don’t let him push you too far, okay? You don’t have to put up with everything he throws at you.”

I forced another laugh, though it came out a little shaky. 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

There was a pause, and I could tell Eric was still hesitant. 

“Well, if you ever need someone to vent to, I’m here. Even if it’s the middle of the night.”

“Thanks, Eric,” I replied, genuinely touched. “I appreciate it.”

Just as I was about to say something else, the sound of tires stepping on the gravel outside my window froze me in place. 

My pulse spiked, and my mouth went dry. 

I barely heard Eric’s voice as he continued, his words drowned out by the dread settling in my gut.

“Riley? Are you still there?”

I forced myself to answer, swallowing hard. 

“Y-yeah, I’m here,” I stammered, hoping he didn’t pick up on the tremor in my voice. “Look, I, uh… I’ve got to go. I just… I just wanted to thank you.”

There was a brief silence, then a sigh. 

“Alright, Riley. But remember what I said. You’re not alone in this, okay?”

“I know,” I said softly, clinging to those words for a brief moment. “Take care, Eric.”

“You too, Riley,” he replied, his voice lingering with a hint of worry before he hung up.

I stood there, staring at my phone for a second before looking back toward the window. 

My heart thundered as I checked my notifications. Sure enough, a new message from Jaxon had come through.

"The car is outside. Get in."

My stomach twisted as I stared at the words, each letter taunting me, reminding me of the control he held. 

I took a deep breath, shoving my phone into my pocket and grabbing my coat. 

If there was one thing I’d learned from tonight, it was that I didn’t have a choice.

With one last, fleeting glance around my room, I made my way outside. 

A sleek black car waited at the curb, its windows tinted so dark I couldn’t see inside. 

The driver, a tall man dressed in a black suit, stood by the door, his expression blank as he held it open for me. 

I forced my feet to move, each step feeling heavier than the last as I approached.

“Mr. Lawson,” the driver greeted with a polite nod, his voice devoid of any warmth or friendliness.

I managed a tight nod in response, muttering a quiet “thanks” as I slid into the back seat. 

The door clicked shut, sealing me inside. 

The interior was spacious and luxurious, the leather seats soft beneath me, but it did little to ease the sense of dread pooling in my stomach.

The driver climbed into the front, glancing at me briefly in the rearview mirror before starting the engine. 

The car pulled away from the curb, and I felt a pang of anxiety as we left my neighborhood behind. 

As I sat quietly, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being driven into something far bigger than I’d anticipated—something I wasn’t prepared for.