Page 22 of Degrading Her

He stabbed his fork into a chunk of meat, the red steak oozing with juices. Chewing methodically, he stared at me the whole time with a cold, detached expression. Making me feel small, like I was an animal in a cage that he was sizing up for slaughter. It was like he could switch between putting me at ease, to isolating me, in an instant. Like the anniversary party, and now, at dinner. I focused on my food, then readied myself for another attempt.

“You can help me transfer and give Erica the manager position,” I tried again. “Then we won’t have to see each other again. Not at work, anyway.”

But when I thought about it, working for him at the New Host Library wouldn’t be that bad. I kind of liked his attention, because it felt so unreal. He was important, and his fascination would only last for so long.

No.I had to get out of the library now while it wasstilla library. Even if he was hot, I didn’t want to be stuck as his personal assistant.

“Do you like games, Fiona?” he asked. My toes curled. He wasn’t going to answer or even going to acknowledge what I had said? He shifted his empty plate to the side and the server quickly took it away. “You want your own library?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then ask me.”

“Ask you what?”

“Ask me. Say ‘please, Sawyer.’ That’s the ticket, Fiona. You have to use my first name, and the word, ‘please.’ And I’ll offer you the managerial position right now.”

Everything inside of me boiled into a molten heat. Was he trying to belittle me, making me beg him?

“Are you serious?” I asked.

“It’s easy. Two words. I’ll make it even easier for you: the words must be together, not apart.Andin that order. Say it just like that, and the position is yours.”

I blinked my eyes. It was easy. But I had worked too hard and too long to end up on my knees in front of some rich guy, pleading for a library. Was he patronizing me?

“No, thank you,” I faked a laugh. “I’m going to fight for it. Like you said we would. Create my program proposal and beat Erica.”

And in the meantime, I would work in secret on transferring to Spike’s library.

“So proud,” he said. “So responsible. Respectable. So strong.”

My chest tightened. He was making fun of me.

“Iamstrong,” I said. “You’re selling me short.”

He widened his shoulders. “I can get you to say those words.”

“You won’t.”

“Let’s play a game, then.” He shifted his weight in the chair. “If I can get you to say those words, you will work for me as my personal assistant for one year, helping me to change the library into whatever profitable establishment I see fit. And that means you’ll do whatever I want, whenever I want. I willownyou, Fiona Ross.”

Being someone’s personal assistant could meananything. But those words seemed like a sexual threat, like he would use me in any way he wished. My stomach fluttered with nerves. The idea disgusted me, and sparked my curiosity. I hated it.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Anything I want it to mean.” He tilted his head. “And if you win, you become the manager.”

“Owner,” I said without batting an eyelash. I hated myself for even negotiating with him, buthell,if he wanted to play like that, then I was going to play.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “Manager.”

“Not worth it then,” I said, lifting my chin.

“Erica is highly competitive.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “If we do this the ‘right way,’ you won’t win. I can guarantee that.”

I balled my fists under the table. “Your mistake is underestimating me, Mr. Feldman.”

“You dropped out of medical school.”

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