Receiving this painting from Marcus is a big deal. That means he knows where I live―and I don’t like it at all.

He’s obviously got spies, or he’s been following me himself. I wonder what his real motivation is. Is it that he just wants to sleep with me again?

I’ve never given him my full name. There’s no other way for him to find me unless he’s taken a personal interest in knowing where I am.

And yet…is it wrong to say that it turns me on a little bit, to know that Marcus has been watching me?

I think about where I’ve been today, and the only place that comes to mind is the convenience store. That must’ve been where he caught me.

Besides going there, I’ve been contained in my apartment, hacking away on the latest project.

Marcus knows I live in this old building, so he must know now that I don’t have a lot of money.

That he doesn’t know is that I could be rich if I wanted to. He thinks I’m this little activist who works hard on the straight and narrow to help poor people. What he doesn’t know is that I’m a modern-day Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.

At least that part of my life is still hidden from him. I can’t have him knowing much more about me or it’s gonna get tricky.

The painting he gives me is really beautiful. It’s a piece of abstract art that I was admiring in his apartment. Now that he’s sent it to me, it’s the only piece of art I have. I find an old nail on the wall and hang it there.

I have to say it brightens my place up a little bit. I’ve never been one for decor but the fact that Marcus did this for me is nice. I’ll always think of him and of that one magical night when I look at it.

So far, I don’t see Marcus as a threat. That’s why I’m not too concerned that he knows where I live. He’s recruiting me to be a part of an organization that is essentially in line with my beliefs.

But I do need to be firm with him and the fact that I work alone and that I’m only comfortable with that. I will never join his organization.

After calling him and agreeing to meet with him, I realize that we’re going on a date. That thought gives me a sense of jittery anxiety.

Every time I see him, I get so hot and turned on. I’m sure tonight will be no different.

The thing that will be different about tonight, though, is that I will have to really tell him that I don’t want to join him. I’m gonna have to lay it out on the line. And after that, he might be done with me.

He needs to know that I don’t need his organization’s help because I’m doing fine on my own. I have to cut the cords between us as soon as possible. He’s getting a little too close.

I spend the day on my computer hacking. I do this every day, and it feels so good. It’s my passion.

Hours pass, and I don’t even know it because I’m so into my work. I love what I do, and I plan on doing it forever.

I look at the clock and realize it’s almost time to meet Marcus.

Dusk has fallen, and the day is already turning to night.

I skim through my closet and try to find something...sexy. I can’t believe I’m doing this but for him, I want to look good.

I pull out a little black dress that fits me like a glove, but I fully plan on pairing it with my black military boots. I can’t get too dressed up.

I swipe on some mascara, which is it in terms of makeup. Then I go downstairs and call a cab to meet him at the address he gave me.

In the back of the cab, I check my phone to see the success of certain projects I’m working on. Everything is going according to plan.

Once I arrive and walk into the exclusive bar, I realize I’m a little bit out of my element.

This place is really expensive. It’s an exclusive little restaurant, which makes me think that the organization Marcus is with might be backed by rich people. And I’m not sure what to think about that.

I was not expecting to be somewhere this fancy tonight. Luckily, I dressed up at least a little bit. My shredded jeans and T-shirt would not do the trick here. They probably would’ve turned me away at the door.

I tentatively walk up to the hostess, who seems to know who I am already. She ushers me to the table where Marcus is already waiting.

It’s quiet and at the back by a window, which I like. The moment I see him, though, my knees weaken and that familiar rush of beautiful anxiety floods my body. This happens every fucking time I see him.

He gets up to greet me and places a soft kiss on my cheek.

“How are you, Katy?”

“Good,” I say nervously. “I’m doing great. I just worked all day.”

Oops, maybe I said too much. Now he’s gonna ask what kind of work I did, and I’m gonna have to lie around the fact that I’m a hacker.

Instead, he says, “Yeah, me too. Work is work, right?”

I decide to reveal to him how much I love what I do. I may not relay the details of my life, but at least this much is true.

“Work doesn’t seem like work to me. It’s something I’m so passionate about that I could do it all day and all night and never think for a moment that I’m doing something I’m not in love with,” I say.

His eyes darken, and I wonder what’s on his mind.

“So your work is...interesting?” he asks me.

“Yes, it is,” I say taking a sip of my wine. “I’ve been doing it forever, and I’m really good at it so I guess that’s why time flies by.”

His eyes darken again at me. What is going on with him? Does he know I’m lying?

I’ve checked him out, and I know he’s legit. He doesn’t know who I am. There should be no way that he’s onto me.

No, I’m probably just being paranoid. I need to put out of my head all thoughts of Marcus knowing the truth about me.

“Then I think you’ll be really perfect for our organization, Katy. What do you think about that?” he says.

I hate to ruin the moment by breaking the news to him now. So I decide to wait. I ignore what he just said.

To change the subject I say, “Last night was really great.”

“It was, wasn’t it?” he agrees.

Then I feel his hand on my leg, caressing it. Electricity spins throughout my body, and I feel tense, hoping his next move will be what I think it is.

I continue to eat my filet mignon like nothing is going on under the table. That is, until his hand goes inside my thong. Good thing I wore a dress tonight.

He starts to finger me pretty intensely. It’s hard to contain my moans. I hold onto the table with one hand and chug the rest of my wine with the other.

He slides his thumb over my clit and circles the inside of my pussy with his long fingers. The thought of what’s happening in this restaurant and the thought of Marcus doing it is enough to make me come so easily.

I put my hand over my mouth to contain my soft cries as my mind is pushed into oblivion. For a second, I lose consciousness, and I’m not sure where I am. I feel dizzy.

I breathe deeply and try to reorient myself. I see him smiling at me, a devilish kind of smile.

He offers me his glass of wine, which I take willingly. Maybe it’ll snap me back to reality after that intense orgasm.

“God, Marcus, that was...” I trail off.

“Incredible? Earth-shattering? All of the above?” he asks, teasing me.

I drink his wine and feel the flush in my face start to calm. Then he says the words I’ve been waiting all night to hear.

“Katy, do you want to go somewhere else, somewhere a little more private?”

“Yes.”