Chapter 8 THE DARK SECRET

Ashley's eyes widened as she stared at Marcus. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're not going to get away with this," Ashley said, her voice firm. "I'm not going to let you use me for your own gain." Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." Ashley felt a sense of outrage.

How dare Marcus suggest that she would use her talents to manipulate and control people? "I would never do that," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you would," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." As Ashley sat in the office, staring at Marcus, she knew that she had to be careful. She had to be careful about what she said and did, because she had no idea what Marcus was capable of. But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to stand up to Marcus and The Syndicate, no matter what. "I'm not going to do what you want," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." Ashley felt a sense of frustration. Why wouldn't Marcus listen to her? "I'm not going to do it," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus sighed. "Fine," he said. "If you won't do it willingly, then we'll have to take other measures." Ashley felt a sense of fear. What did Marcus mean by "other measures"? "What are you going to do?" Ashley asked, her voice shaking. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you'll find out soon enough," he said. As Ashley sat in the office, staring at Marcus, she knew that she had to be careful. She had to be careful about what she said and did, because she had no idea what Marcus was capable of. But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to stand up to Marcus and The Syndicate, no matter what. "I'm not going to give up," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." As Ashley sat in the office, staring at Marcus, she knew that she had to be careful. She had to be careful about what she said and did, because she had no idea what Marcus was capable of. But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to stand up to Marcus and The Syndicate, no matter what. "I'm not going to give up," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." As Ashley sat in the office, staring at Marcus, she knew that she had to be careful. She had to be careful about what she said and did, because she had no idea what Marcus was capable of. But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to stand up to Marcus and The Syndicate, no matter what. "I'm not going to give up," Ashley said, her voice firm. Marcus smiled again. "Oh, I think you will," he said. "You see, Ashley, you're not just any ordinary person. You're a very special individual, with a very special gift. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that you use that gift for our benefit." As Ashley sat in the office, staring at Marcus, she knew that she had to be careful. She had to be careful about what she said and did, because she had no idea what Marcus was capable of. But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to stand up to Marcus and The Syndicate, no matter what. "I'm not going to give up," Ashley said,