The city looms over me like a never-ending nightmare. Tall glass buildings, sharp-edged and gleaming, reflecting the sky but never touching it—kind of like my life with Reo. The car pulls up in front of the Cuss Industries. office, and for a second, I consider bolting, running far away from this twisted mess.
But where would I go?
Reo’s men usher me out of the car, one of them barely offering me a glance. I’m just an accessory today—another piece of his chessboard, moved into place to help him win whatever game he’s playing. My heels click against the polished floor of the building as I step inside, my reflection bouncing off the marble like I’m part of the decor. I catch sight of myself in the glass doors—red hair in loose waves, makeup flawless, but behind it all, I feel hollow.
Reo’s office is on the top floor. Of course. He always liked being on top. When the elevator dings open, there he is, standing with that stupid, smug look on his face. His red braided hair falls over his shoulders, and he’s dressed in a sleek black suit that screams *power*. His pink skin almost glows under the office lights, but his eyes—they’re cold. Always so cold.
"Finally," he says, barely looking up from his phone. "You're late, O’Neal."
There it is. My name is Jennie, but Reo refuses to call me that. O’Neal, like I’m just another nameless, faceless employee in his corporation. I don't even know why he calls me a wrong name. I grit my teeth, but I don’t say anything. No point. I’ve learned not to argue with Reo.
He waves his hand, motioning me to follow him into the boardroom. I hate how this has become routine—me, the “perfect wife,” standing beside him like I’m nothing more than an accessory, while his associates pretend they don’t see the cracks in our lives.
Inside the boardroom, the tension is already thick. There’s a small group of Reo’s business associates, all dressed in expensive suits, flashing fake smiles as they greet him. Reo barely acknowledges me as we sit down at the head of the table. His investor, some old guy named Marcus Lane, keeps looking at me. His eyes linger like he’s trying to remember something.
"You’re Jennie Cuss, aren’t you?" Marcus’s voice is raspy. "I think we met a long time ago, before Reo took over Cuss Industries. You worked in PR, didn’t you?"
I stiffen, not sure how to respond. Reo’s eyes flicker toward me, and for a split second, I see the warning in them. *Don’t mess this up*, his gaze seems to say.
"Yeah," I finally mutter, forcing a smile. "That was a long time ago."
Marcus leans back, clearly intrigued. “You were good. Very good. I remember thinking, ‘That girl’s gonna go places.’ But now…” He lets the sentence hang in the air, and I feel my face flush.
Reo cuts in, his voice smooth but sharp. “O’Neal’s place is here, with me.” The way he says it sends a chill down my spine, like a subtle threat. I’m not sure if it’s aimed at Marcus or me, but it feels like both.
As dinner drags on, the conversation shifts from business deals to company expansions, but the whole time, I feel Marcus watching me. Reo doesn’t touch me, doesn’t acknowledge me beyond the bare minimum, but I can feel the weight of his control pressing down on me. I know I’m here to play a part, and I hate every second of it.
As the evening winds down, Marcus turns to Reo. “You’re lucky to have her, you know. Women like Jennie… they don’t come around often.”
Reo’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I know exactly what I have.”
I force myself to smile, pretending that I’m not suffocating, pretending I’m okay with being paraded around like some trophy. But inside, I’m screaming. And the worst part? Reo knows. He knows I hate this, but he doesn’t care.
The drive back to the suburbs is silent, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. Reo sits beside me, typing away on his phone like I’m not even there. The city lights blur past the windows, but all I can think about is how trapped I feel. How small I’ve become in this twisted world he’s built around me.
Out of nowhere, Reo speaks. “You did good tonight, O’Neal. Kept your mouth shut. Played your part.”
I swallow hard, gripping the edge of my seat. “Do I ever have a choice?”
He smirks, not bothering to look at me. “You had a choice the day you got pregnant. Now? You belong to me. Don’t ever forget that.”
I feel the air leave my lungs, but I don’t respond. What’s the point? Reo always wins. He always gets what he wants. And me? I’m just a pawn in his game.
As the car pulls up to the mansion, I force myself to keep breathing, even though every part of me wants to scream. I know I have to comply. For my child. For the life that grows inside me, a life Reo doesn’t even know about yet.
But one day, he’ll find out. And when that day comes, everything will change.