"What exactly did he say to you?" Nathan asked sitting behind his desk writing. I held random documents about my boss I was supposed to be reading. I had already known everything that was written. "Something about how powerful I would be trained by legendary masters. Make enough money to live comfortably- blah, blah." I said not wanting to remember.

"I, of course, said yes because who wouldn't. He told me he had a business opportunity for me and to meet the next day after work." I explained loosely. "Was that before or after you signed the contract?" Nathan asked looking at me as I continued to avoid looking at him. "Before."

"Did he pressure you into signing it?" He asked making me sigh softly reluctantly getting caught up in my thoughts. "At the time it didn't really seem like it. But yes."

"Hey, Gen. There's a guy at my section but I'm almost off. Do you mind taking it for me?" My friend asked. "Sure." I replied desperate for more cash. I looked over at the older man dressed in a pristine fitted black suit. I walked over to the man with a weak smile. "Good evening. Would you like anything to drink?" I asked pulling out my notepad as he looked up at me.

The way his eyes stared into mine and raking me up and down gave me an odd feeling in my stomach telling me to run. But I ignored my weariness as I heard him speak. "Genevieve." He purred looking at my name badge pinned on my diner uniform. "What a lovely name." He grinned up at me as I smiled weakly. "Just a coffee." The man answered making me nod about to walk away. "How long has a pretty thing like you worked here?" He asked making me smile used to men hitting on me. Taking advantage of it hoping he would give me a bigger tip.

"Few years." I smiled making him hum in reply. "I will be back with your coffee." I said desperate to leave. The diner was starting to thin out as the night grew and people went home. "I'm outta here!" My friend Maria said as she threw on her coat leaving out the back door in the kitchen. "Have a nice night." I smiled as she turned her head and waved before closing the door behind her.

I filled a mug of piping hot black coffee and grabbing cream and sugar packets. I placed everything on the table about to walk away again when he stopped me. "I happen to be a businessman. And I think you should come work for me." He said dripping powder and confidence catching me off guard. I was taken aback as he studied me intensely never looking away from me.

He looked stern into my eyes by the way he dressed and acted. "I'm not sure-" I began. Though I would do anything to have a dependable and successful job. I was four months late paying my rent and desperately needed to replace my wreck of a car that could barely run.

"Think about it." He sipped his coffee. "Come by anytime tomorrow." He said handing me a business card making me take it hesitantly.

"Gen?" Nathans muffled voice rang as I continued to get lost in my thoughts and memories of that night. "You alright?" He observed me. "Yeah." I sighed snapping my eyes away from the window. "Did he threaten you into signing it?" He continued leaning into the chair in front of his desk.

"No. The opposite. Mikhail made it seem like all of my wishes would come true. That I would be ridding the world of criminals and being paid handsomely for it."

"What am I doing?" I gripped my steering wheel looking around the empty field for miles. "I could totally get murdered." I muttered to myself as I drove down an empty road. "And there would be no one to come find me." I continued anxiously before I came to a stop sign where I had the option to turn left or
keep going straight.

Finally seeing a large, white home standing tall in the distance. At least large for my standards. There were three black SUV's in the driveway. Getting out of my beat-up Toyota Corolla that could barely function and needed lot of much needed repairs. Clutching my purse looking up at the strange home in the middle of nowhere looking down at the business card the strange man gave me.

My nerves and questions only grew as I stared. What am I doing here? This doesn't seem like a place where a supposed businessman works. This was a mistake. There's no way an amazing opportunity could happen to me of all people. I thought to myself beginning to get back into my car before I heard the front door open.

"I'm glad you could make it." The familiar older man said from the front porch. "I assumed we would be meeting in an office building. Where there was people around." I replied looking around at the vast emptiness around. "I prefer the quiet. And I do my best business alone. You'll soon come to realize what I mean. Come." The man said shoving his hands in his pockets nodding over to the front door.

"How do I know you're not going to murder me?" I yelled out slightly as he began to walk back inside. Though the thought of dying didn't scare me as much as it should have. I knew my life wasn't worth living having no one who cares about me and every month wondering if I will be living on the streets.

"Why would I kill you? You haven't done nothing to me."

"Genna." Nathan said slightly louder than before. I looked up at him to see he was staring at me curiously full of worry. "Are you sure you're alright?" He asked as I cleared my throat and avoided looking at him.

"Do you remember reading any of the contract?" Nathan continued making me sigh looking away. "No." I answered frustrated. "I should never have gone to meet him. I was stupid and naive." I threw the papers in my hands back onto his desk as I stood.

"I don't know if I can do this, Nathan." I breathed turning away raking my fingers through my hair. "I can't just sit up in front of everyone and answer these kinds of questions. Questions I can barely answer." Nathan walked around his desk slowly towards me making to look up at him.

"Do you have any idea what he will do if he finds out I'm even helping you?" I pleaded hoping he understood the predicament we were in. And understood the type of man my boss, Mikhail is. "When he sees me in that court room exposing everything he has ever done? At least that I know of." I scoffed the last part.

"And everything that I have done. I can't have Nick and Rose one day finding out all the horrible things I've done." I breathed through pleading eyes looking up at him as he towered over me. "He won't touch you." He began making me scoff. "You don't know that. You don't know him." I breathed pulling away making him reach out for me again. "Once this is all over you won't have to worry about him anymore. And Nick will understand. You were pressured into this." Nathan insisted trying to ease my worry as he held my arms.

Nathan tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I looked away feeling a tear escape my eye. "I'm scared." I cried. "I never should have been so stupid." I tortured myself making Nathan embrace me in a hug. Quickly hugged him back loving the comfort of his body against mine.

"What has he done to make you so afraid of him?" Nathan asked hesitantly making me pull away looking away. "Awhile after I had signed the contract and he was teaching me everything long before I knew I would be killing people. He made it seem I was going to be a bodyguard or a bounty hunter. That's what I had told Nick." I began stepping away from him to think.

"He told me he sought me out because of my appearance. How I could take advantage of my beauty to lure men close to me. To appear feminine and innocent." I scoffed angrily wiping my tears away. "He told me it was a gift- to make good use of the opportunities it offered." I quoted my boss.

"In the beginning he would threaten me and the other people who had started training with me. Show us what would be done to us if we told the authorities or tried to leave. Anyone who dared to was quickly caught and made an example of what would happen. And he showed us." I explained trailing off looking up at him watching realization flash through his eyes.

"We were forced to watch a man get tortured for trying to leave. He plead for his life while none of my boss's men showed an ounce of mercy. They're cruel. They're- They're inhuman, Nathan. They have no empathy, no soul." I listed looking between us knowing I was just like them.

"They're barbaric. They- They don't care about anything or anyone except money and power. They're incapable of caring about anything but themselves. And I hadn't realized until it was far too late." I trailed off. I remembered the moment it all changed for me when I was pregnant with Rose.

"No one would ever think about trying to leave after he forced us to watch the torture. He not only threatened all of our lives, he showed us exactly what he would do if any of us dared to leave or go to the police. You have no idea what I've done by leaving and disobeying his direct orders. And then adding the fact that we're trying to build a case. You have no idea the power he has. How many well-known people he has under his thumb." I rambled frightening myself getting inside of my own head. Beginning to shake filling with fear as Nathan watched me spiral.

"I understand. It'll be alright. It's going to be okay. You're not alone you have me now. I won't let anything else happen to you." Nathan said sternly tilting my chin up to look at him making me look away from his eyes. I closed my eyes as tears fell down my face. Nathan brought me into another tight hug. Standing on my tip toes pushing my head into the nape of his neck breathing him in.

"You don't have to do this if you really don't want to. We can leave and go to a new country where no one knows our names. We can make a new life for ourselves. Start over." Nathan looked down at me. We breathed softly as I thought about the possibilities of each outcome. Our faces inches away from each other.

Noticing the clock in the distance making my heart race snapping my head away from Nathan. "We need to pick up Rose from school." I pulled away from him leaving his office. Nathan closed the office door behind him.

Nathan and I stood outside leaning against his car in front of Rose's busy all girl school. Laughing and excited children yelled excited to be leaving school rushing towards their parents and nannies. "Have your parents been trying to contact you?" I asked him since we haven't seen them yet since we've arrived back to New York.

"Yes, my mother wishes to get together soon for brunch. My father has just been trying to meet with me about the firm." Nathan answered keeping his eyes on the crowds of children looking for Rose. "You should see them. Discuss what has been keeping you away. I'm sure they miss you." I replied

"You wish for me to tell them why I've been away?" He asked amused making me roll my eyes. "No. But they deserve some sort of an explanation." I said making him shrug beside me. Rose skipped out of the double doors twirling around as she moved her arms around freely.

"Someone's in a good mood." Nathan smiled as she came closer leaning off of the car. "Hi, honey. How was school?" I asked as she gave me a tight hug making me pick her up. "It was okay. I'm hungry." Rose said wrapping her arms around my neck. She giggled looking up at Nathan shyly making me laugh.

"Don't you have homework?" I asked making her roll her eyes. "No, mommy. I did my homework at recess. It was easy." She replied as we got into the car. Nathan drove us back to his secluded cottage in the woods as Rose discussed her day and what she had learned in class.

We all shuffled inside the warm home taking out coats off. "Would you want to play tea party with me?" Rose asked Nathan with a wide smile looking up at him with her infamous puppy dog eyes. My lips parted about to protest. "Honey, I-" I began

I didn't want Rose's attempts at spending time with him to make him uncomfortable and unintentionally push Rose away. I knew he wasn't used to being around children let alone having play dates with them.  "I'd be honored." Nathan interrupted as I looked up at him hesitantly.

"Ask her to make us lunch." He whispered loud enough for me to hear as they walked away. "I'll make sandwiches for everyone." I smiled walking into the kitchen. Deciding to have salad with it wanting Rose to eat something healthy. Beginning to overthink about Rose and Nathan bonding as I heard them talking and laughing.

I was worried for what would happen if she continued to grow to like him. It was hard for me to picture a life with Nathan while we were struggling to survive.

Walking into the dining room with two plates in my hands as the other two one rested on my forearms. I looked up to see Nathan sitting on the floor with Rose looking at me puzzled. Rose talked as she poured the imaginary tea in the cup; he was holding making me smile.

"Just a trick I picked up from waitressing." I said as I tucked a strand of hair that fell from my ponytail before walking back into the kitchen. Placing the salads on the table before I told them to come eat.

They both sat down as I grabbed drinks and a few extra things as they began to eat. I looked down at the table as they ate seeing if I was missing anything. Walking back into the kitchen to get napkins placing them on the table. I was about to walk away again when Nathan spoke.

"Sit down and eat." He demanded in annoyance making me look at him. Nathan had an amused expression on his face making me fight my smile forming. Nathan pointed at the seat with his fork making me roll my eyes doing as I was told. We all ate in silence when I noticed Rose hadn't eaten her salad. "Eat your salad, munchkin." I pressed making her groan before reluctantly taking a bite in disgust.

As the hours passed the sun had begun to set as Rose finished her dessert after I taking a bath. I could tell she was getting tired as she laid down on the couch watching tv. Cleaning the kitchen as Nathan did the dishes with his sleeves rolled up. "How long would it take to build a strong case against him?" I asked nervously breaking the silence.

"I'm not sure since I'm the only one investigating into him." He answered as he finished the dishes and turned to face me drying his hands. I just nodded before placing the leftover dinner in the fridge. "Everything will work out." He assured walking up to me as I closed the fridge making me turn to him.

"I wish I was as optimistic as you were about all this." Nathan was about to reply when his phone rang.

"Don't worry. It's probably just Valerie." Nathan said noticing my tension as he walked away to answer it. I walked back into the living room quietly. Noticing Rose was sleeping, gently picking her up as she sighed relaxing into me.

I placed her on her bed covering her with blankets. Leaving the door cracked for some light. "What? No." I heard Nathan in the distance making me walking quietly towards him. "There's nothing left to say." He spit in a low tone before hanging up as he turned to me. "Who was that?" I asked as he shoved his phone in his pocket.

"My father. He wants us to discuss the business." He said bitterly making my lips part. "Oh?" I breathed. "Apparently to have 'a civil conversation'. I've already told him everything I needed to before I came to find you." Nathan explained full of annoyance.

"Does he know we are here?" I asked nervously making him shake his head. "No, I haven't told them yet." He replied making me nod weakly. "Maybe you should go. I'm sure they are just worried and confused for your behavior recently. I know how important your job is to you and your family." I expressed softly with sympathy for his parents while trying not to upset him and overstep.

He just sighed without a response. I knew his family has always been a touchy subject for him. Which was something I could somewhat relate to since I wasn't close with my brother Nick either. Only out of obligation for Rose.

"I know you're probably right. They just drive me crazy with their incessant need to know everything about me and control every step of my future." Nathan breathed pouring himself a drink as I watched him. Suddenly I realized how his parents wouldn't be proud to have Nathan to be dating a woman like me. Someone of lesser status than him. Without a job, prospects, or a wealthy family. Or a family for that matter.

"Surely they don't control everything about you?" I smiled weakly trying to make myself feel better. Instead, it had only backfired.

Nathan rolled his eyes taking a large swig of his whiskey before sitting down making me do the same. "As a child my mother controlled who I spent my play dates with and the nannie's they paid thousands of dollars to raise my siblings and me. When I was a teenager the career to become a successful lawyer like my father was shoved upon us. Taking electives and extracurricular activities outside of school. Being the debate club president while my mother hired the best tutors into helping attending any Ivy League school. While going to every football practice and dating the most popular girl in school." Nathan explained as I held onto every word.

"So, you were one of those guys in school." I joked looking away leaning into the sofa across from him. "Those guys?" He questioned amused. "Let's just say we wouldn't have been friends if we went to the same high school." I chuckled standing up. "Oh, I'm sure we would've gotten along just fine." He grinned towering over me making me roll my eyes fighting mine.

"Believe it or not but I haven't always looked this drop dead gorgeous." I joked motioning to my appearance wearing a pair of sweatpants and a stained t shirt. My hair was thrown in a bun with strained of hair sticking out. I knew I must have looked like a homeless person. "I had braces and acne for most of my life and I had the worst frizzy curly hair imaginable. Before I had my glow up junior year. When I no longer needed my braces, finally understood how-to put-on makeup, and found out what products to use on my hair. When I gained a friend, who took me shopping for clothes that actually fit me and didn't look over worn. I was so invisible that people thought I was a new student when my appearance changed." I laughed.

"They were cruel to me. Especially the jocks and cheerleaders." I explained in fake amusement walking past him to clean up the mess in the kitchen. "I would be lying if I told you, I wouldn't have been cruel to you. There were people I went to school with who were similar and... I did things that weren't noble. I was desperate for everyone's approval until I began to go rogue under the pressure of it all. I was a different person then. Just like I'm sure you're not the same person you were then." Nathan said coming up behind me as I washed the dishes.

"I no longer care about what my parents think of me and my choices. I don't care about what anyone else thinks of me but you. I will call my parents and schedule a time to see them." Nathan said leaning against the counter beside me making me turn to face him. "Good." I smiled as he leaned in go give me a kiss. Turning my body to face him, kissing him back trying to keep my soapy wet hands away from him.

"Are you sure you don't just like me because I'm no longer a frizzy haired brace face?" I smiled against his lips making him chuckle against me. "Yes." He answered before lifting me onto the counter making me let out a small yelp. "Though it definitely doesn't