Page 17 of Emperor of Corruption

But if he loses interest and throws me off the case, Sarah will have questions. Questions that could lead to me getting demoted or even fired.

In the span of a single week, Killian King has cornered me and put me in checkmate.

Endure, Lyra.

“Yes, let’s,” Killian says, nodding. “Please, have a seat.”

He watches me carefully as I sink into the armchair across from his desk, as if he’s searching for something as he observes me settle and withdraw my laptop from my bag.

“Not sore,” he murmurs to himself.

I startle when I realize he was looking for an indication that his spanking was painful enough to lastdays.He looks genuinely disappointed.

Asshole.

I navigate to the document I have open with a list of questions I worked up for today.

“What was the most challenging part of breaking into your industry?”

“Forming the right connections,” Killian replies. “What was the most challenging part of the night we spent together?”

The night we spent together?He’s making it sound like Ivolunteeredto suck him off and let him turn my ass red.

I don’t dignify his query with a response. “What would you consider to be your first breakthrough?”

“The courses I took in grad school. I was connected to several high-level individuals who helped me get footholds where I neededthem.” He pauses, and I can feel his disgusting gaze raking over me. It makes my nipples harden. “Have you always enjoyed pain with sex?”

I’ve never enjoyed sex, period.

“What are the three best adjectives to describe you?”

“Persistent, tenacious, and determined. Those qualities apply toeveryaspect of my life.”

I flick a gaze up from my laptop, fingers freezing over the keyboard, only to be startled with howintentlyhe’s staring at me. He’s telling me that he won’t stop until he’s gotten what he wants from me. He is doing hisabsolutebest to provoke a reaction, and I’m so damn tempted to give him one.

He’s dropped the mask he wore with me last time I was in this office. There are no thoughtful pauses to consider each answer, and I didn’t send my questions in advance this time. His mind either works very fast or he plans interactions out far in advance, considering every word that might be exchanged or angle that could be taken.

I clear my throat. “Is there anything in particular you’d like me to include in your December profile?”

“No, I trust you’ll get plenty of material and…inspiration.”

We continue back and forward for twenty minutes. I ask questions, he gives rapid answers and asks inappropriate questions in return.

I don’t answer a single one of his questions.

He answers all of mine without complaint.

When I run out of questions, a taut silence stretches between us. I don’t look up at him before I start packing up my laptop.

“Thank you for your time,” I say. I can practically taste freedom on my tongue. Maybe my lack of reaction will make Killian lose interest in me. Maybe—

“Dinner?” He asks.

My heart drops. He asked me that same question after he’d violated me and left me a trembling, aching,humiliatedmess.

I stand up and head to the door. I’m not giving him a reaction. My gut tells me this man gets off on provoking and manipulating others; if I'm immune to provocation, he might lose interest.

He called me a novelty—I’ll cut that right off.