Page 6 of Enemies

“I trust your attorneys looked at the terms for failure to fulfill your contractual obligations,” he goes on.

The wind blows my fallen hair into my face, and I set my bag down at my feet to shove it back with vicious hands.

“Thanks to you,” he drawls, “one of my top-performing venues became the worst overnight. You will recover what you cost me. For the next month, I own you. If you try to leave, I will sue you for every dollar you own. I will take your computer“—he picks up the bag at my feet, and I tense—“your music. Every scrap of clothing in your wardrobe and on your body.”

Each word lands on my chest like a brick.

Breathing is hard. We’re outside, but it’s as if the greedy asshole has consumed all the oxygen.

“What. No response?” he chides softly.

I’m usually the type to rebel with silent resistance, but I refuse to go down without a fight. There are too many bullies in this world.

“If it takes litigation to get a woman naked…” I snatch my bag from his hands. “Your game needs work.”

His mouth twists in disbelief.

Before he can respond, the horn of a car honks and a cab pulls over to the side of the road.

I reach for the back door of the car, my heart still thudding.

“If you try to leave, I will sue you for every dollar you own. I will take your computer. Your music. Every scrap of clothing in your wardrobe and on your body.”

Even as the car pulls away from him, I can’t kick the sickening possibility he’s right.

For the next month…

The man who ruined me owns me.

3

RAE

When the cab pulls up to the sandstone villa perched halfway up a winding road and sheltered by a lush hedge of greenery, I can’t help but appreciate its beauty.

Judging from the size, this villa is more like a boutique hotel than a resort. When I enter, backpack in tow, a woman looks up from where she’s vacuuming. I don’t spot a concierge or front desk, so I approach the woman.

“I’m supposed to be staying here tonight.” I reach for my passport, but she stops me.

Her face brightens as she clasps my hand between both of hers. “Sí, señorita. I am Natalia.” Her voice is warm and welcoming. “I will show you your room.”

She leads me up a staircase and down a hall with doors on either side, half a dozen in total.

“This will meet your needs?” she asks as she opens a door.

I step into the room of pale-yellow walls, and beyond them are double doors opening to a balcony that overlooks the ocean. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

She nods before ducking out, closing the door.

The sight and the fresh scent of the water unlock my chest, a twisted knot wound tighter since my run-in with the devil himself.

I’m in another country without most of my possessions, and my only potential source of income is the man I hate.

But I know one thing—there’s no way I’m playing for him. I’ll walk into the sea first and never come back.

I pull out my phone, digging around to find the contract. His name’s not on it anywhere, but that’s not unusual for a large organization.

The amount I stand to lose by not playing has my stomach sinking.

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