"Pull me close, I see evil in your eye."



Important

Amina grew up with her father's single wish: to succeed academically, no distractions. She worked hard to be the perfect daughter, burying her own desires beneath his expectations. But life had other plans.

There was the bad boy she hid from her parents—reckless, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. And then there was the sadistic man whose obsession with her went far beyond anything she'd imagined, threatening to unravel everything she'd worked for.

How did she survive? By learning to read between the lines—both in the world around her and within herself. She learned to navigate their manipulations, while fighting to keep her sense of self intact.

In the end, Amina wasn't just surviving the men in her life; she was surviving the version of herself they were trying to shape.

Hello, lovely people!

Thank you so much for reading! I truly appreciate your support and patience. I'm grateful to have you on this journey with me! Happy reading!

Sensualrosee

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𝐖 𝐀 𝐑 𝐍 𝐈 𝐍 𝐆

There will be explicit intimate/brutal chapters, mature audiences only, this book can be darker than the first to some. This is the only trigger warning. Some chapters will be difficult to read for most, so please respectfully for those faint hearted be kind to yourself.

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𝐂 𝐎 𝐏 𝐘 𝐑 𝐈 𝐆 𝐇 𝐓

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical persons appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

BTW this is my first book I ever wrote ;)

"Thought I was different, thought I could save you."

"Can anybody hear me?"

Gusev pronouncation (sho-sev)

x

•••

"How could you? Why won't you set me free?"



1

Just last year I buried my father. My mother somewhat abandoned me, yet I still love her to pieces. I desperately needed to grieve, but I was to busy learning how to keep my voice steady when everything around me was crumbling. Emotions? Weaknesses. Love? A poison I couldn't afford to drink. I'd long ago stopped believing in tales—reality was crueler than any story. And now, here I was, left alone, picking up the pieces of a shattered heart and wondering how much of my life was ever real.

I worked long hours for this internship, my father was a difficult man, men like difficult things, I had to play the cards I was dealt. I was obsessed with the idea receiving love from the men in my life— only to be displeased. It made me do the thing that could gain my father's heart, even after I broke his most times.

Ambition in his field of work.

Many times, I would invent events in my head and create chemistry hoping manifestation is real, but sometimes an understanding silence is better than a bunch of meaningless words. That's the thing about growing up, you learn what value is, what makes you-you and learn about what your worst moments were.

What I'm most sure of is leaving with a worn out heart, a heart that aches from tender love, not hurt and suffering. There should be some reward for things humans do to survive situations.

I'm set to meet with my future supervisor that's if things go right. My hands clasp together with my thumbs bounce around on a wooden table, I impatiently wait in a local coffee shop people watching.

"Amina Martin?" I froze in my seat at the sound of my name. Who I'm guessing is Elliot takes the seat adjacent from me.

"H-hello. Yes, Amina Martin." I held my hand out a little startled.

He simply just stares at me before speaking again, I awkwardly place my hand back on my lap.

"I got five minutes before I have to go so I'm going to make this quick. We're here to discuss the internship at Bayard private investment banking. You'll be 1 out of 8 students learning from one of the best financial branches in the country. It is a six month term of dedication and learning. At the end of this, one will be granted a opportunity to fill the empty chair to a private major project involving other billion dollar companies, and a $50,000 reimbursement for student loans, any questions?"

I couldn't speak, if mother can see me now. I've missed out on so much to get my career, I was taught work first then your life will fall into place. Working was all I ever known, that's all my father ever did until it drove him into the ground.

"I-I accept thank you so much." I smiled as I thought to stick my hand out again, he only chuckled raising to his full height buttoning his suit jacket.

"You seem like a nice girl with such a personality, I'm curious why finance is your passion?"

The question took me back slightly, "Well I-I enjoy numbers I guess." I shrugged laughing off the odd feeling.

"I only asked because I've seen so many with their head full of ambition until it's at the pit of their stomach." He stated looking down at me.

My smile slowly faded, "It's not my intention sir, I'm ju-,"

"A tip? Just stick to the book. First day is next Monday at eight o'clock be prepared and be on time. Welcome to the team Ms Martin." I happily nodded in response.

I couldn't help my enjoyment of the good news. I wiggle in my seat in relief, the hard part is over, but it wasn't enough to get rid off his vague last words that left me a tiny bit anxious.

My father always convinced me that all you'll ever have is your career and your family, so you must work to support them. I was the only child, with just a small handful of friends. I guess that makes me a loner, and not even by choice, yet I learned to fill that void with my books.

Monday is the start of everything my dad has ever wanted for me, I have to make him proud, I had so much to make up for.

•••

"Welcome to Bayard, I'm CEO Luke Bayard as most of you know my great grandfather started this business a long time ago—," I began to tune him out as we stood at the receptionist desk looking around the ground floor of this building. It's busy a lot of people moving at a fast pace in and out of the doors.

Out of this year's picks of interns it's only two girls including myself, which in my opinion is absurd. A female working in finance is incredibly impressive, it's tons of paperwork and numbers, a very male dominant role, I wish there were more women in the field.

We toured the rest of the place before breaking for lunch. As I glanced around, I noticed another girl sitting by herself, eating an apple.

My thoughts drifted back to what my mother had said before she left: suck up your pride and speak up. Without fully thinking it through, I found myself walking in her direction.

"Hi, I don't think we've properly met. I'm Amina," I said, offering a friendly smile. She gave me a quick once-over before returning the gesture, and I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath.

"Stassie Bolton," she replied, extending her hand. Finally, someone with a bit of decency.

"Bolton? Does your father happen to own a tech company?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

She rolled her eyes with a playful grin. "Grandfather."

I sat down beside her, feeling a little more at ease. "Okay, so what department are you hoping to get into?" I took a bite of my sandwich, eager to keep the conversation flowing.

"Seriously?" She chuckles turning to look at me. "I bet your whole fucking college career all you did was study. I'll make my choice when it comes."

"So, why New York? Besides the job obviously." She asks.

I shrug, "I moved from one city to the next, I like it. I'm here to get the best future I suppose."

She smiles like she's trying to read me, "What?" I chuckle confused.

"Asshole dad?" She squinted, but I remain silent avoiding her eyes. "I know that tone for that kind of a answer. Men are a beyond complicated, and shit don't I know it."

She continues, "Never change to fit their narrative Amina, or you'll be the next bitch trying to survive their asshole tendacies."

I sit still confused on what she was really getting at.

She bit her lip and looking off to the side, "There's hot assholes all over this place including the CEO, he has to be easy. A rich bachelor in New York if that doesn't scream the biggest douche, then I don't know what does." Stassie trailed off, I sit still confused on what she was really getting at. "Douche equals one night stands."

I immediately coughed choking on my sandwich she gasped patting my back, to say taken back is an understatement. "That's our boss."

It doesn't take a lot much to know that her family must of bribed her way here. I knew she could honestly careless about this job.

"Trust me he's not older than at least thirty three." I was silent, shocked mostly not knowing how to respond.

"What about you?" She finishes off her apple.

"Nothing from me. Striclty here for one reason."

"You are so real, I like fucking admire that. Here take my number, me and some friends fancy the club tonight. I want you to come with."

She leaned in closer, "You could use a night out, and yes I'm judging you for being such a hottie and not using it." She smirked before grabbing my phone out my coat pocket, stealing my Face ID and logging in her number.

She gave me my phone back, "Amina right?" I nodded.

"Believe me when I say you're stunning. This place is loaded with wannabe assholes. Use what you have and you'll be traumatising the city, just like them." She gently tapped my nose before heading for the building. Wow, flustered much?

•••

It was a Saturday night, and I'd decided to stay in and watch a movie. My new job was going well so far, but I knew this was just the calm before the storm. I wasn't about to get comfortable at the start of anything.

As the movie played, my phone buzzed. I paused it when I saw a text from Stassie.

Stassie "Open up!"

I held my phone up confused, Stassie doesn't even know where I live.

Stassie "Yes I know where you live!"

I peered through the peephole, spotting her standing outside, a bottle of tequila in hand. This girl had completely lost her mind—and I'd only just met her.

I opened the door, glancing down the hallway. "Stassie, I'm sorry, but I don't remember telling you where I live," I said, my voice soft with concern.

Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped inside and made her way to the kitchen, casually setting everything on the counter. "My family owns a tech company, did you forget that?"

I shook my head. "You're crazy."

"I know, I know," she said with a grin. "All I got was your address, I promise. And I only got it because we had plans tonight—or did you forget that too?"

She put her hands on her hips, eyeing my lazy, yet comfortable, appearance. I didn't want to disappoint her by saying I wasn't the partying type. Maybe I could give it a shot.

"Fine," I hesitated, "I'll go get ready."

She stopped me with a hand on my arm. "Wait!" Without missing a beat, she twisted off the cap of the tequila, practically shoving it toward my face and making me take a shot.

My face contorted in disgust. How do people drink this stuff? It was awful.

•••