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T here’s been radio silence from Blade for two weeks. Each day that passes without a word from him feels like an eternity, the anticipation that once thrilled me now gnawing at my nerves. I can’t help but wonder if I said something wrong or if he’s changed his mind entirely. The uncertainty is eating away at me, making it hard to focus on anything else.

Adding to the stress is the impending merger at the office. The tension here is at an all-time high, the usual hum of productivity replaced by hushed conversations and worried glances. Everyone is on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The news that we’re being bought out by The Hawthorne Group has only fueled the anxiety. Damien Hawthorne is a name that carries weight in this city—a force to be reckoned with. His firm is the largest and most successful marketing agency around, his services highly sought after by some of the biggest names in the industry. There’s no denying that he’s built an empire, and now, it seems, we’re about to become part of it .

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the changes that are coming. Everything will be different—new management, new expectations, and the ever-present fear of layoffs. But deep down, I can’t help but think the merger might be a good thing. For those of us who remain employed, anyway.

Still, the uncertainty is exhausting. Every meeting feels like it could be the one where we finally hear who’s staying and who’s going. I’m doing my best to stay optimistic, but it’s hard when everything feels so up in the air.

Between Blade’s silence and the looming merger, I’m not sure how much more tension I can take. The waiting is the worst part—waiting for the unknown, for the next email, for the next piece of news that could turn everything upside down.

I pour two glasses of wine and hand one to Lena as I take a seat beside her on my couch. “He hasn’t sent me anything since the last email.”

“And what did the last email say?” Lena asks, her excitement almost mirroring mine. But there’s no way she can be as anxious as I am right now.

“The last message I received from him included a safe word: Mercy. And that’s it.” I hand over my phone reluctantly, letting her scroll through our messages.

“A safe word?” Lena begins, her eyebrows raising in intrigue. “That is super?—”

“Terrifying?” I interject, the word slipping out before I can stop it. But Lena just laughs, shaking her head.

“Hot, actually.” She turns her attention back to my phone, her eyes scanning the screen as I chuckle nervously and take a sip of my wine, trying to steady the butterflies in my stomach.

Just then, my phone chimes while she’s holding it, and Lena leans forward on the couch, her eyes widening. “Wait…”

I snatch the phone from her, setting my wine glass on the coffee table as I do. “What is it?” My heart races as I glance at the screen, finding an invitation to a Halloween party from Blade, complete with a message attached.

Don’t forget your safe word. Give the woman at the door the name ‘Red,’ and she’ll give you a silver mask I’ve purchased for you so I’ll know who you are. But you won’t know who we are.

See you soon…

“A Halloween party?” Lena repeats, her voice tinged with excitement. “Oooh!” she exclaims, reclaiming my phone to read Blade’s message. “This is so exciting! I never knew you were so dark and twisted, Zara!”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “I guess there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

Lena grins, handing the phone back to me. “Well, I’m learning, and I have to say, I’m impressed. This is going to be one hell of a night.”

I stare at the message, my mind spinning with possibilities. The idea of the Halloween party, of being masked and anonymous, sends a thrill down my spine. But it’s also terrifying—walking into the unknown, into whatever Blade has planned.

I take another sip of my wine, trying to calm the nerves that are building inside me. “I just hope I’m ready for this.”

Lena nudges me with her elbow, her smile reassuring. “You’re more than ready. Just remember your safe word, and have fun. This is your chance to live out your fantasy, Zara. Don’t hold back.”

Her words echo in my mind as I look at the invitation again, the anticipation growing with each passing second. This is it—the beginning of something I’ve been dreaming about for so long. And now, it’s about to become real.