Chapter 3 .

The silence stretched for an unbearable moment. Then, without warning, the redhead moved.

Her hands went beneath her skirt, quick and decisive, as if this were nothing more than another task on a to-do list. She slipped off her panties and, without hesitation, placed the delicate fabric into the wooden box. The soft sound it made as it landed felt louder than a gunshot in the quiet room.

Elliot watched her, his expression neutral. Unimpressed, even. If he was looking for shame or hesitation, she didn't give him the satisfaction.

"Your file," he said simply, sliding the folder across the table to her.

The redhead picked it up, smoothed out the cover with deliberate precision, and turned to face me and the youngest woman. There was something in her eyes, a silent challenge. She held the file close, like it was already hers to protect. Her chin tilted upward, proud, victorious.

I froze. For a split second, all I could feel was the weight of her stare and Elliot's expectation bearing down on me. This was more than a test. This was a battle for dominance, and I was caught in the middle. My pulse thrummed in my ears, and my mind raced as I tried to process what had just happened.

The youngest woman stepped back slightly, visibly trembling. "I can't do this," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

She didn't wait for a response. Spinning on her heel, she rushed out of the room. The door closed softly behind her, leaving just me, the redhead, and Elliot.

"Well," Elliot said, his voice breaking the silence, "that makes two of you."

His gaze shifted to me. Calm. Patient. Unrelenting.

The redhead lingered a little longer at the edge of the room, clutching her folder tightly, as if daring me to step up or step out.

My stomach tightened. The logical part of my brain screamed at me to walk away. This wasn't worth it not for a file, not for some absurd power play. But another part of me, the part that refused to back down, the part that wouldn't let the redhead look at me like I was weak, forced me to stay.

I straightened my shoulders and stepped forward. If she could do it, so could I. It wasn't about the panties, I reminded myself. It was about what they represented. My willingness to stay in this game. My refusal to lose.

Without breaking eye contact with Elliot, I reached beneath my skirt. The fabric felt cold against my skin as I slipped my panties down and off. My movements were steady, controlled, an act of defiance, not submission. I folded them neatly, placed them into the box beside the redhead's, and stepped back.

Elliot's expression didn't change, but something in his gaze sharpened, like he was seeing something he hadn't expected. Approval? Amusement? I couldn't tell.

"Interesting," he said at last.

He slid another file across the table toward me. I grabbed it, my fingers brushing the rough edges of the folder as I held it firmly. I didn't look at the redhead. I didn't want to see her satisfaction or her challenge. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that I hadn't backed down.

Elliot rose from his chair, his towering presence effortlessly commanding attention as his gaze swept between the redhead and me. For a moment, the only sound was the faint ticking of the clock on the far wall, a constant reminder of the challenge looming before us.

"Now that you both have your files," he began, his tone smooth but edged with something harder, "there are a few rules you'll need to follow."

The redhead shifted slightly, adjusting her grip on the file, while I stood my ground, forcing myself to appear composed despite the wariness bubbling beneath my skin. Elliot's smile was cold, predatory, as he continued.

"To ensure there's no... temptation to cheat or solicit outside help, you won't be permitted to leave this building until your work is complete."

I blink, processing his words. What?

The redhead, too, looked momentarily startled. "We're staying here? All day?" Her voice is calm, but I catch the flicker of unease in her expression.

Elliot nodded once, slowly. "That's correct. You'll work here, in my office, where I can oversee your progress. Every tool, resource, and bit of assistance you require will be made available to you. But you won't leave until you've finished."

My throat tightened. This changed everything. I had assumed I'd have time to strategize, gather my thoughts, maybe work through the file somewhere quiet. Somewhere safe. But now? Now, we were trapped under his watchful eye, and every second will be accounted for.

The redhead recovered quickly, though. "Fine," she said. "Where do we work?"

Elliot gestures toward a sleek conference table on the other side of the office, its surface empty but polished to a mirror-like shine. "That will do. There's space for both of you. Laptops, drafting tools, and research materials are already prepared." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And just to be clear, this isn't a group project. You're each expected to complete the task individually. Collaboration of any kind will be considered cheating."

"Cheating," I murmur, tasting the word like it's poison.

"Precisely." Elliot's gaze locked onto me, sharp as glass. "You're here to prove yourselves. Not to lean on someone else to carry you."

The redhead walked briskly to the conference table and sat down, already flipping open her file as though she couldn't wait to get started. Her movements were deliberate and confident, a quiet declaration that she was ready to take this head-on.

I followed suit, though slower. The file in my hand felt heavier now, like it carried the weight of every choice I had made since stepping into this room. I sat across from her, placing the file in front of me. My hands hovered for a second before I opened it.

Inside, the neatly printed documents were a mixture of numbers, diagrams, and cryptic instructions. It took only a glance for me to realize the complexity of the task. My stomach churns as I skim the first page.

This wasn't just a test, it's a mountain.

From his desk, Elliot speaks again. "You have exactly twelve hours. Midnight is your deadline, and there will be no extensions."