When I finally returned to work, I was surprised to find Dante was nowhere to be found. Normally, I wasn’t in my office five minutes and he was sniffing around. But he wasn’t in his office. I don’t know what came over me but I stepped inside. The entire room smelled like his cologne. I walked over to his desk and peeked at some of the documents there. Nothing appeared to be of any interest, just reports from the other departments, some checks to be signed, and receipts.

But then I saw his diary. It was encouraged that all of us keep a diary of meetings, deadlines, and events in order for everyone to stay on top of things. They were boring, at least mine was. So I didn’t think I’d see anything special in Dante’s but I couldn’t stop myself from looking. There were notes on meetings he’d attended. There were descriptions of plans he was working on. And there was one thing that caught my eye.

Scheduled in two days, there was an entry with just the words, ‘Florence passes.’ Did that mean what it sounded like? No, it had to be something else. No one would be so stupid as to put that in their daily to-do list, right?

Still, it bothered me. I continued to flip through the journal, starting from the beginning, and came across other things that stood out as weird. There were what I could only assume to be codes for after-hours meetings, but the more I looked at them the more they seemed sinister.

Doctor Hollister juice.

Negotiation with Pam, needs persuading.

Discussion with Lorrie. Husband out of town.

Sarah’s overtime approval.

The one with Sarah had been scheduled on the same day I saw her come into Dante’s office, when he’d told her to come back at five. The names of the women were not executives. They were secretaries. Why would he be having serious meetings with them? And what in the world was “Doctor Hollister juice?”

Forgetting the time, I continued to flip through the book. There were receipts in the pocket. Hotel key cards. It was more like a high school girl’s junk journal than a businessman’s calendar.

Just as I was about to take the plunge and start rifling through his desk, Dante’s door opened up. There I was standing behind his desk looking guilty as hell. My heart started racing, and I slammed the book shut just as he stepped inside and caught me.

“What are you doing in here?” He shut the door behind him. I was pretty sure he hadn’t seen me looking at his book. But my mind froze and the only thing I could think to do that might save my skin was to dance to the tune he’d already started playing.

“I was waiting for you,” I said innocently. “I didn’t mean to be so intrusive as to sit behind your desk. I was just wondering what it felt like to have the view from here.” I sounded like a cheesy romance novel.

“Is that so?” He didn’t smile.

I strolled around the other side of the desk, dragging my finger along the wood.

“I was thinking about what happened between us. Actually, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it,” I lied. All I wanted to do was put it out of my mind. “I’m so sorry you are in such a tough position. With things at home, I mean.”

“Really?” He stepped closer.

“But I can’t help but feel, well, like I might be overstepping my bounds.” I tried to keep a little space between us but he was quick and closing the gap without hesitation.

“What do you mean?” he asked, looking at me as if he were inspecting me for cracks or chinks.

“You are the most powerful man in RIT. You have a reputation to uphold. If I were to give in to my feelings, wouldn’t that jeopardize your position, your future at the company? My future as well?” I bit my lower lip.

“I don’t think you understand the magnitude of my power here, Nova.” By this time, he was right in front of me, pinning me against his desk. He stepped forward, wedging his leg between mine. “And I don’t think you understand that I know all about you and Alex.”

“Alex who?” I sounded like an idiot, knowing full well that my crimson cheeks and dry mouth were giving me away.

“You don’t think I trust my employees, do you?” he snapped. “I saw what you did in the garage. I can only imagine what you did in his apartment. I’d have had that place sold right out from under him had I the chance. But that was one thing his mother kept hidden from me.”

Suddenly I felt like I wanted to puke.

“And here I thought you were just this innocent girl looking to carve herself a niche in a big company, and you are just as eager to ball your way to the top as the rest of them are. The only problem with you is that you go for the ex-cons,” he sneered.

I couldn’t say anything. Even if I had remembered how to speak, there was nothing to say. Not if he’d seen what Alex and I had done. That was it. I was out and Alex would have no way of getting the information he wanted.

“What are you going to do?” I squirmed, trying not to feel his thigh pushing against my muff.

“Yeah, keep doing that. I like it when you squirm.”

I swallowed hard and felt tears starting to surface. There was nothing I could do. Even if someone were to walk in, Dante was the boss. That person would play ball or risk losing their job.

“I think you and I need to go somewhere to talk, privately. We can discuss your future here. Where you see yourself in five years.” He leaned in and licked my neck, making shivers of disgust ripple over me. To think I thought this man was attractive when I’d first met him was enough to keep the tears in my eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I tried to push him away.

“Yes you are. Unless you want the footage of what you did in the garage to make the internet circuit.” I looked up at Dante in horror. I didn’t see anything behind those cold eyes. Nothing but lust and a deviance there was no name for. I was in big trouble and I hadn’t even worked at RIT for three months.

“Our security system is state of the art,” he affirmed. “Whatever the angle; whatever the lighting – we’ve got it. And I have lots of juicy footage of you and Alex just waiting to be leaked online. Is that what you want?” he asked, smiling.

I shook my head no. I couldn’t believe what was happening to me. This was a company I had researched, I had followed; I knew I had what it takes to do a good job. Regardless, it turned out the guy in charge was a pervert who had the ability to ruin my life. My gut told me that he would not hesitate to do it too.

“Good girl. Then you are going to get your purse and meet me by the elevators.” He finally stepped back. “If you talk to anyone, if you signal anyone, if you look at anyone, that footage is as good as viral. Do you understand?”

I nodded and did as I was told.

Once at the elevator banks, I tried to think of some way to get help. But no one in this place was going to do anything. They had to know the office politics taking place. Everyone always knew who was sleeping with who, who got drunk at the last Christmas party, who was fighting or not talking to each other. I wasn’t going to get anywhere trying to get help. But I did have my cell phone.

Quickly, I dialed Alex’s number before Dante could meet me at the elevator. But before I could say anything he appeared, smiling and waving pleasantly at the receptionists who batted their eyelashes at him. Had he had them too? I had to wonder. There were very few women over the age of thirty working here. I dropped my phone in my purse. There was no use trying to contact Alex. Even if I could tell him what was happening, he’d never be able to find me in time.

“Hello, Nova,” he cheerfully said. “Going down?”

“Looks that way,” I muttered. He chuckled.