Page 98 of Corrupt Game

“That’s one of the things that intrigued me when I interviewed you. You’re super smart. It’s something that you’ve proven again and again.” He shook his head.

I smiled at the compliment and brought up the subject I’d been considering in the back of my mind while we’d been here. "I want to talk about the contract."

His gaze sharpened and cooled, the man I’d spent the afternoon with vanishing into his other face. "Need to talk" wasn't a phrase he enjoyed.

"You signed it, Collette," he replied, smirk curling his lips. "And you've always been free to leave. You've chosen this. You're not unhappy, are you?"

His words were smooth but I heard the new edge beneath them. I took a deep breath. It wasn’t like me to hesitate, but I didn’t want to spoil this either. I wanted him, but I needed to find Andy's killer too.

"Not unhappy," I said slowly, "but things need to change."

I pressed on, my words spilling out like a dam breaking. "You've controlled every aspect of my life since I started working for you. Kept me alone, kept me in the dark, denied me sex."

My heart pounded in my ears as I continued, "I want... no, I need to have some say in how this works. If we're going to continue—"

"If?" he interrupted, voice sharp.

"If," I countered, surprising even myself with my boldness.

For a moment, silence stretched between us, a taut string ready to snap. Then, he spoke, "A safe word. Limits. Rules. You want a new contract, don't you?"

I nodded. To my astonishment, Ian inclined his head.

"Fine," he said calmly. "We'll put it all in writing. You'll have your contract, your safe word. If that's what you need to feel secure."

I blinked, caught off guard by his ready acceptance. "You... agree?" I asked, unable to keep the skepticism out of my tone.

His lips twitched. "I'm a reasonable man, Collette. I value your presence. If this will ease your mind, we'll make it happen."

We turned our attention to the remnants of the meal on the table. I nibbled as we spoke.

Ian's tone was matter-of-fact, as if we were discussing a business deal. "Non-negotiables," he stated, steepling his fingers. "Idecide the schedule. You'll agree to the measures needed to keep you safe. No other men."

"And my limits?" I interjected, my confidence growing.

He met my gaze, unflinching. "Specify them."

I took a deep breath, feeling more in control of the situation. "I want freedom to leave the basement, a clear understanding of punishments, and no physical harm that leaves lasting marks."

Ian's brow arched. "Reasonable," he said, jotting this down on his phone with lightning speed. I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope as I watched him take my boundaries seriously.

However, I knew better than to let my guard down completely. The contract still needed to be drafted, and it was yet to be seen whether Ian would truly honor its terms. I could only trust him as much as I dared, knowing full well there were consequences for pushing too far.

But for now, I reveled in this small victory. I had stood up for myself, and Ian had listened. It was progress, and I clung to that fact as we continued our discussion, the weight of what we were doing slowly sinking in.

Still, I knew I couldn't ignore the signs. Ian's willingness to negotiate, to listen to my demands and make concessions, spoke volumes. Perhaps there was a chance for us after all - a chance to find a balance between his need for control and my need for autonomy.

I just hoped I wasn't fooling myself. Only time would tell if this new contract would be honored. But for now, I was grateful for the opportunity to have a say in how things went, and I vowed to make the most of it.

“The safe word?” Ian asked. His gaze was steady, his expression thoughtful.

"It should be something neutral," I said, my fingers tracing the condensation on my wine glass. "Something easy to say even under stress."

Ian nodded, considering my words. "How about 'amber'?"

I nodded, letting out a relieved sigh. "Amber it is."

With the safe word settled, we turned our attention to the task at hand. Ian retrieved his laptop from the study, and we settled back into our seats. His focus was intense, but there was a strange new patience to his demeanor.

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