Page 13 of Seeds of Sorrow

Hadina shook her head. “As I said before, it is none of your concern. You know your job description, which isallthat is required of you.”

Peyton, unable to control her emotions any longer, pushed forward to close the gap between them. Her fear turned to anger as she tried to comprehend why this woman—a freakinglawyer—was strapping up like she was about to go to war. “I deserve to know what’s going on. If you expect me to keep working here, I want the truth.”

Before she could blink, Hadina had her hand around Peyton’s throat, tilting her chin up just enough to cause discomfort. Her nails dug into the tender skin of her neck, but Peyton knew better than to say anything else.

“You will never make demands of me again, do you understand?” Peyton nodded against Hadina’s clenched palm. “I am not required to do shit but pay your wage. Whatever you saw here, forget it. And if you think about leaving and running that pretty little mouth, trust that I can find you and make sure you stay quiet.” Hadina released her grip, looking down at Peyton as the girl fell to her knees with a hand clasping at her throat. Letting out a sigh as though she was disappointed, Hadina shook her head and made a move as if to leave before adding, “Maybe Zelina was right—you should be reminded that you arejust the help.”

Waiting to hear the soft click of the front door, Peyton panted and crawled until her back rested against the desk. She didn’t understand what was happening or what she could do about it. Hadina had made it clear she couldn’t leave or tell anyone anything, and she saw the promise of pain in her eyes as she had threatened her.

No, Peyton was alone in this. Whatever was going on, she would discover the truth and find a way to get herself out of it. Shehadto. Her parents couldn’t lose another child. But for now, she had to scrub herself clean and make sure no marks were left on her skin. She would take a bath and think of a plan afterward. Which left her with another problem to deal with.

The fact that Hadina had been so close, murderous intent in her eyes as she kept Peyton in a tight grip… Peyton’s core contracted at the memory. She could feel the wetness seeping onto her underwear and she threw her head back on a groan. This whole night was confusing as fuck and Peyton didn’t know what to make of it.

She did know one thing though: Hadina Adis was a terrifying creature, and Peyton was absolutely intoxicated by her.

Chapter10

HADINA

Once Hadina wasin the quiet of her car, she thumped her fist against the steering wheel and let out a frustrated scream. That insufferable, nosy, goddamnbeautifullittle bitch just had to walk in when she was getting prepped for her meeting. Why Piper hadn’t told Peyton that she was busy, Hadina would never understand, but it was an inconvenience she didn’t have the time for.

But she also couldn’t stop herself.

Threatening Peyton had been a mistake, Hadina knew. That being said, the way she had spoken to her like they were equals, well, it boiled Hadina’s blood. She had experienced a lifetime of people thinking they were better than her just because she was a woman in charge. She wouldn’t let some nobody come in and do the same.

The problem was that Hadina wasn’t sure if Peytonwasa nobody. There was something about her that got under her skin, slowly scratching at the walls she had built. She knew that threatening her reluctant employee was enough to ensure her silence, but it wasn’t the look of fear in Peyton’s eyes that had Hadina replaying the scene on repeat.

It was the lust.

Hadina was no stranger to hate-fucking, fear-fucking, or any of the other kinds, if she were honest with herself. She knew what she wanted and needed, and she made sure she was satisfied. But business had been busy and it had left her with little time to feed her libido, much to her dismay. So, when she noticed the way Peyton’s pupils dilated and her tense muscles relaxed after a fear-filled second, Hadina had to stop herself from slamming her lips against Peyton’s and seeing just how much the girl liked to play with fire.

It was so unlike her to feel out of control. She had spent her life learning to hide her emotions behind masks, bury her wants down deep. She gave her life willingly to the company, knowing that they were doing society a service that wouldn’t otherwise be provided. But it seemed Peyton was determined to make Hadina’s life collapse around her, just by existing. So Hadina would have to further steel herself against the temptation.

Her thoughts were a muddled mess by the time she reached Piper’s gallery. She parked around back and cut the lights on her car, making sure nobody would be able to see her in the dark. Once she was safely hidden in the shadows, away from the prying eyes of street cameras, Hadina unlocked the back door and made her way inside the gallery.

She kept the shutters down out front, but switched on the overhead lights within. Firing off a quick text to her team, Hadina made her way into the back office and awaited her visitors by taking a seat. She nodded to Harris when he entered the office, as he sat just beside the door. He pulled his gun from his belt and rested it on his lap. Offering up a devilish smile, he signaled to Hadina that theguestshad arrived.

“Showtime, boss.”

“Clean and quiet, Harris. No mistakes this time.”

Hadina found it quite humorous the way she could sense when the target walked in, followed by the sound of his henchmen. White men carried themselves differently—with an air of confidence and superiority, as though they didn’t use women to get to whatever position of authority they always wormed themselves into—and it could be heard in their footsteps. Confident, thudding, angry-sounding things, those were the footsteps of the privileged white men. Hadina despised them and chuckled softly to herself, knowing that she was about to rid the world of one more.

“Piper darling, where are you? I’m ready to make you an offer you can’t refuse!” The booming voice of Henrik Smith echoed through the empty gallery, making Hadina clench her jaw in annoyance.

She winked at Harris before tilting her head and calling out to Smith. “In here!”

Despite the slight difference in tone, Henrik Smith heard the voice of Piper Adis, but Hadina had always been good at mimicking her sisters. It was a game they used to play growing up, throwing their voices under the guise of a sibling, to confuse each other during hide-and-seek. She was pleased that such a childish fancy had proved to be useful, time and time again.

Henrik swaggered into the office with two men in expensive suits trailing behind him. He had a beige coat slung over his shoulders, a feeble attempt at looking cool and nonchalant. His face dropped when he saw Hadina sitting back in the office chair, her legs kicked up and crossed at the ankles on the desk in front of her.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Your worst nightmare,” Hadina stated with a smug smile. “And also Piperdarling’s sister, Hadina. It’s a displeasure to meet you, Mr. Smith.”

Harris shifted slightly in his seat, a hand patting the gun on his lap. It drew the attention of the guards and Henrik, who blanched at the sight of the weapon.

“I demand you tell me where your sister is, right this minute!”

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