Katrin's heart raced. The air in the room felt suddenly thick, suffocating her confidence.
"You.. you are that man" she stammered, trying to maintain her composure despite the rapid beating of her heart.
The man leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk, fingers steepled. " Hello, Darling. Remember when I told you there would be a time when I'd ask for something in return," he said calmly, his voice smooth yet commanding. "That time is now."
Katrin swallowed hard, her mind spinning with questions.
"What is it?" she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt.
He smiled. An almost predatory smile. "I want something simple," he said, standing up from his desk and walking slowly around to where she stood. "Your loyalty."
"My…loyalty?" Katrin echoed, confused.
"Yes. I want you to work for me. Exclusively. You'll be part of this company, but more importantly, you'll belong to me. You'll answer to no one else but me."
Katrin's pulse quickened. "Wait, what? Why should I-"
"Listen, darling." he interrupted, his voice suddenly sharp. "I will tell you the reason later"
"What if I refuse?" she asked, trying to summon her strength.
The man's eyes darkened, and for the first time, Katrin felt a chill run down her spine. "You can refuse," he said, his voice low, "But if you walk out of here now, without accepting my offer, you'll find that things in your life, things you've worked so hard to build.. might start to unravel."
Katrin's stomach turned. His words were quiet but laced with threat. He wasn't talking about her career. He was talking about her entire life. It was as if he knew everything about her. Her struggles, her past, her pain. Somehow, he had the power to tear it all apart, piece by piece.
"And if I say yes?" Katrin asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then you secure your future," he replied, stepping back and gesturing to the chair. "You'll work with me, and you'll find that life can be very…rewarding when you're on the right side of things."
Katrin stared at the chair, her heart pounding. Was this really a choice? He had all the power here. She could leave, but he had made it clear that doing so would cost her far more than just a job.
Taking a deep breath, Katrin slowly moved toward the chair. She wasn't doing this for him. She was doing it for herself, for everything she had worked for. She couldn't let it all fall apart now.
"I'll work for you," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But this doesn't mean you control me."
He smiled again, that faint, knowing smile. "We'll see," he murmured.