Shady CEO's Possession

Adrian Tank's mean eyes glare insidiously at me.

"Know what, Ally? One more blunder from you and you're out!"

I cringed but bit my lower lip, focusing my mind. Sure, I could use my innocence as a tool. Perhaps Adrian would fall for it. But, whatever it was, my mother and brother couldn't go hungry.

I am Ally Shale, a high school graduate working in A City as a junior reporter. Adrian Tank is my boss. And, I probably should tell you that it's tough for me to find a job because I do not possess college qualifications. I am also an orphan working to feed my family members. But, I can't lose this job, I remind myself.

So I decided to play innocent with Adrian.

"But Sir, I have just been here a few weeks," I pleaded, nodding my head. "I have mouths to feed at home; I know you won't be that heartless, Sir."

I put on the sweetest look I can manage on my face. He gloats, grabbing my collar.

"Maybe there's one thing you can do, Ally." A glint of evil flashes in his beady eyes.

I don't like that he is using that tone on me. I thought of the other girls whom I work with, Stephanie, Shirley and Sandi. I had once accidentally seen Sandi performing a senseless act on him, kneeling before him while having his pants unzipped. Before I could take a closer look, I accidentally kicked a chair in front of me, causing them both to pause and look for the source of the noise. Fortunately, none of them saw me, so I escaped unscathed.

"I know you just turned eighteen a few days ago. It's been a long time since I had a fresh one begging me to take her," he intimidates me with his dark tone.

He tore open my collar, pulling hard on my blouse that the buttons popped. He feasted his eyes on my exposed cleavage and slurped his lips pervertedly.

The mere look of Adrian makes me sick. He was bald and in his forties. In addition, his beer belly just turns me off, and I cannot imagine his filthy hands on me. Damn, that bastard!

I took my chance and begged him using my doggy eyes. "Please, Sir, not here. The others will see!" The blinds on the window of his room were open. ence, anyone could have a glimpse of what was happening at any time.

He grabs my ponytail and yanks on it hard. "Do you think your colleagues could have stayed on for so long without giving me any benefits? And now, it's your turn to give me some benefit. I've been watching you for a very long time, Ally. Your mother and brother, who do you think was the one who provided for them all this while?"

I winced and scoured my brain quickly for a solution out of this.

"I'm on my period, Sir!" I exclaimed, pulling myself out of his grasp. "You surely don't want to have a stinking mess on your body and hands, Sir! And in your office!"

Adrian threw a disgusted look at me. "Ally Shale, you win this time. But don't think you will be lucky all the time. Since you insist on it and this is the only time I can allow an exception, then I entrust you with this task." He let go of my hair, granting me relief.

I quickly buttoned my blouse, nodding obediently. "Yes, Sir, I'll do my utmost to make Tank Publishing proud!" I felt lucky to have avoided a bullet. But, unfortunately, Adrian was not the person I was willing to surrender my innocence to! He was also divorced and had many affairs even while he was married.

"Go downtown and buy the sexiest dress in your size you can find, Ally. Tonight, I have news that Tyler Banks, the CEO of Zeusolutions, will appear at one of his assets, the Zeus Club. Catch his attention and seduce him with all you can. You need to find out at least one of his secrets."

I knew failure was not an option and neither did it exist in Adrian's dictionary. But it was the first time I had heard of Tyler Banks. Albeit being a reporter, I knew naught of the most reputed businessmen in the world. Before arriving at Tank Publishing, I was a model student in a rural neighbourhood. My aim in coming to work in the city was to earn enough money to get to university since I did not qualify for a scholarship. Besides saving money for my studies, I also needed it to put a roof over my family's heads: my mother's younger sister: my little aunt, who is just a few years older than my younger brother.

He warned me with a stern, no-nonsense tone.

"You have to put your life on the line. The bosses know about your aunt and your younger brother. If anything goes out about us, or if you fail in your duty, they will never live another day of peace. And your aunt, I'm sure she has never been touched before in any way..."

What is this, an underworld society? I question in my head, barring the tears from drizzling down my cheeks. How could Adrian? It was enough that he had tried to harass me in the office sexually, but now he was threatening me using my family! But above all, I was afraid that Adrian would easily bend my aunt to his will, given her naivety and childishness.

Be strong, Ally. I tried to tell myself and refrain from sobbing. But there was no use. Even going to the authorities was not of any help because I was not a registered employee of the company. My employers paid my salary under the tables. I had no employee benefits. If I went to the police, my family would be in danger. Tank Publishing paid me a handsome salary, much more than any company out there would be willing to pay an undergraduate.

"Shirley will teach you the art of seduction," Adrian ordered. "You are to learn the skills from her and do what she tells you to. Take it as my orders to you."

I nod, still shaken by Adrian's threats. "I'll do it. I'll seduce Tyler Banks. Just stay away from my family, please?"

"I'll be waiting for the good news," he patted my back. "Now, now, Ally, don't take it so seriously. Whether you sleep with Tyler Banks or with me, you're just a whore. Nothing about you is precious enough that you cannot be replaced. Do you think you're a gem? Look at that stack over there, Ally. We get plenty of job applications all the time."

He pointed to the stack of papers on his desk. "Come on, Ally. If you succeed in this task, I will promote you. None of the other girls who I groomed myself has ever succeeded. Think of the benefits you will get if you succeed."

I was already mentally drained. "Sir, I told you I would do it. You didn't have to say all these words to cheapen me," I said without thinking. A sharp slap across the face brought me to my senses.

"Ally, know your place. I am the boss here, not you. I can promote you, but I can flatten you with a step of my foot. Say one word like that again, and you'll be grovelling at my feet, begging for mercy." He pushes me hard, making me fall on the cold floor.

The arrogant bastard, I cursed under my breath. Isn't he just a mere dog working for the bosses over him?

His eyes direct themselves to my pale thighs exposed by my fall. The impact of the fall had lifted the bottom of my skirt slightly. He greedily ventures towards me, and I am unsure if he has reconsidered his decision to not touch me after I had lied that I was having menstruation.

A girl comes rushing into the room in a panic. Then, I realised it was Stephanie, her red hair streaming down her back like a waterfall. She was older than me by a year, yet, I know that she has exposure to much more painful matters than me.

Unlike her typical attire, she has worn a short but sexy office outfit, tight enough to reveal her busty figure and, at the same time, her long legs. A patch of red is visible through her white blouse. My heart rages at how he disrespected his female employees, but this is the first time I have seen Steph dressed in this way to appease Adrian.

"Sir, don't get mad," she cooed, stroking him on the outside of his pants as she gestured for me to leave quickly. Adrian smiles greedily before lifting her blouse and slipping his fingers under her bra.

Disgusting lecher, I cursed under my breath. Had Steph not intruded, probably the one undergoing such disrespect would be me?

"Ah, Stephanie, you whore, didn't I tell you to wear something with easy access?"

I shut the door with a depressed look. Goodness knows how many years Adrian had been humping Steph. In Adrian's eyes, we are all just whores.

"Come with me, Ally," Shirley beckoned. Shirley is of Asian origin, which I assumed to be Japanese or Korean. She possessed dark curls that twirl their ways around her shoulders. Her off-shoulders dress accentuated her curvy figure. "We'll get you out of here; then we'll shop for your dress and begin the training."

I rubbed my hand over the red mark on my face where Adrian had last slapped me. Shirley offers me her ointment, applying it for me with a sigh. My face was still smarting.

"Let's talk about it outside," she told me, ushering me out of the door.

Getting her hint, I scurried out of the office like a frightened rat.

When we are alone in Shirley's Mini, she pulled out the lighter she had in her pocket and began lighting a cigarette. I am used to smoking around my colleagues, so I just calmly listened as she spoke.

"You're new. All of us here are used to his harsh treatment. But no matter how harsh he is towards us, we can never give in. At least, all of us are experienced, and we have that part to satisfy him. But you are different, Ally."

Even if it weren't Adrian, it would be the notorious Tyler Banks, I thought. Shirley put out the cigarette and dumped the stub in a small bag she kept in the car, turning the ignition.

"Ally, you can't let the bastard rip your innocence from you."

I sighed as the tiny car zoomed through the streets. Life in the city wasn't what I had expected. I looked up into the dark clouds in the sky, pondering how different everything would have turned out if my parents had not made their ultimate decision to move to A City.

Maybe they would have still been very much alive.

"Shirley, if I may ask, who did you give your first time to?" I asked, watching her expression as she drove past the green lights to stop at a junction. She relaxed her arms as the car stopped before a red light.

"I'm twenty-three, Ally. My first time was with a guy I thought to be my Mr Right, but he turned out to be a big cheater. I fell pregnant. In one night, I lost everything, my family, my chance to get into university, and even he dumped me. I resorted to taking refuge in a shelter where they provided for widows and mothers with children. But when my child was a few days old, he appeared in my life again and resorted to trickery to take my child from me."

My heart throbbed with pain hearing Shirley's sob story.

"It turned out his wife was unable to have a child, so he said all those sweet things and took off with my child. I couldn't find him anywhere. In my desperation, I worked at a bar where my customers were willing to give me money in return for a night with them. I remembered those fearful days where I lived in the shelter, and no, I was not willing to go back to that. So I sold myself for money."

She dried her tears and continued, "Then, I met Adrian. He was my last customer. He made it sound all so easy. I just needed to work for him, and compared to what I was making from sleeping with customers, he would pay me triple. I learned he had a wife as well, and I was just his side-chick. But that was not all. He used me and made me sleep with other men."

"Was it for the scoop?" I asked, nervously.

Shirley sighed. "Not just that. Now that Adrian is divorced, he makes me satisfy his needs. Then, when he is bored of me, he has the others. He threatens them by saying he will give them the sack. In return, they just become his whores."

"One day, he will get his retribution," I whispered. "But just now..."

"Steph didn't want you to be the next," Shirley said with a downcast look. "She is trying to help you, so you can't fail us."

I nodded. "There must be a way to get us all out of this."

"It's useless, Ally. Did you read the terms of the contract when you signed it? If any of us breaks the bond, we are liable to pay thousands to the company as compensation. We are like prostitutes in this aspect."

I hung my head. "No, I didn't read through it carefully." I thought of the day I had entered the company. Adrian had seemed so kind and friendly to me, offering my aunt so much to cover their debts. Unfortunately, my parents had owed much money to a loan shark, resulting in them committing suicide.

Every now and then, a debt collector would come for my parents' other debts. Adrian had lent my family his assistance in this, paying a sum of money on our behalf. Now I understood. It was all planned. Adrian had wanted to use me to pry news out of rising stars and important figures to increase the sales and popularity of their magazines. I had let down my guard, only to allow Adrian to have a chance to use me!

"We're here," Shirley said, stopping her car in a parking space allocated for customers. "We'll get your dress and then head for some food. I trust you are hungry already?"

I complied. She led me into a classy boutique, selecting a strapless evening dress that she believed would boast my cleavage and show off my petite figure. She told me to go into the fitting room and remove my bra and underwear. When I was appalled by her instructions, she explained that Adrian had set such instructions that every woman on his missions had to do. They had to expect that they would be laid when approaching these young, hornier man. I shook with contempt. As a woman, I hated how such missions degraded us. No wonder Adrian was single.

"This dress is low-cut, so you can't wear a bra," she explained. "And it's thin, so you can't wear underwear with it either, since it will cause some lines to be seen if you do. So perhaps this will be easier for you to accept than Adrian's orders."

"Okay, I'll do it," I obliged. I entered the dressing room and began taking off my clothes and undergarments before putting on the dress and exiting the room. Shirley observed the results momentarily with a broad, friendly smile before telling me to get changed back into my clothes.

As I headed back towards the dressing room, I saw a wealthy-looking man appearing to be in his mid-twenties. He happened to be flanked by two smartly dressed men, passing by while I was still in the dress. His eyes were the definition of sexiness, appearing to be tempting me as he scanned me cautiously like I was an object.

He resembled a Korean actor, only that he had very western-looking features. But he was fair and had an enticing stare. I admit to myself that man was my type!

I had never liked someone at first sight like this, I thought, biting my lower lip nervously. If only I didn't have to go after my target today, I would have killed to spend the night with him. Just one night was enough!

I cleared my mind of my naive thoughts. From the looks of it, the man must be a CEO. I am just an average person with no means of garnering his attention. I have hopelessly dreamed in the past that a CEO would be the answer to my problems. But I knew there was more to that than my freedom. My parents had landed us in debt. Even if I paid off their other obligations, I would never indeed be free.

"Sir, if you want, we can approach the girl for you," I heard one of the voices say. The man remained silent. I smiled meekly and went on my way, trying to brush the images of the man's charm out of my mind. It's useless, Ally, I told myself. He won't be interested in you. You're just a normal girl, not a graduate, and having barely anything to put on your back.

I was useless and pathetic. I reflected on my priority. I had to work like a horse and bear with Adrian's treatment to keep my family safe and fed, but the debts owed by my parents would always be my obligation.

My heart was still racing as I entered the dressing room and slipped out of the dress, putting on my clothes still hanging on the hooks. Shirley was waiting nearby the room when I came out, waving her gold card and a bag with the dress in it. I returned the display dress to the salesperson, muttering my thanks.

"Let's go, Ally! I'll treat you to a sumptuous meal before we head down to the club tonight!"

Her idea of a sumptuous meal was, as expected, an economy meal at the food court some distance away from the classy mall. Still, after my parents' deaths, I had yet to encounter such concern from an older person. My aunt was very naive, often falling prey to despicable men who bullied her and tricked her of her earnings. It was me who had to defend her. I felt tired of being the breadwinner and 'mother' of the family.

The food court was bustling with people. Since the encounter just now, I couldn't get the image of the handsome man out of my mind. I decided to distract myself by eating spicy food, so at least the spiciness would take my attention from my thoughts for a moment.

I settled for a bowl of classic tom yum noodles while Shirley had mac and cheese. As we ate, loud bangs and clangs filled the air. I ignored the commotion assuming that some joker was just trying to make a scene.

After some minutes, I was finishing the final mouthfuls of my dinner when people started rushing from their tables with their food untouched. I exchanged glances with Shirley.

"What's going on?" I said, putting down my plastic cutlery and picking up my glass of lukewarm water to sip it. Something didn't seem right.

"Loan sharks," she whispered, wiping her sweat from her face. "Lord Zuese, who hasn't heard of him."

I almost choked on my water. "Zuese?"

Zuese Banks. The name of the person my parents owed a fortune to, rang a bell. The name flowed deep into my ears, sending me into a state of shock. If not for what my parents had owed Zuese, probably they would still be alive today.

Once upon a time, my parents were wealthy folks. But one mistake led them to be acquainted with Zuese Banks, and overnight, they lost at gambling with him, putting them into a dangerous situation. Previously, my father had made a risky investment and suffered significant losses. However, my clueless father had thought that taking a bet with Zuese would put things right and help his failing companies. After all, once, he had been dubbed the King of Gamblers.

And this way, I had lost both of my parents when they plunged to their deaths in suicide half a year later. When I lost them, I was only ten. So I never knew what it was like to experience a parent's love during the most tender years of my life.

"Let's go, Ally," Shirley urged, helping me to my feet. But before I could take a step forward, I was looking into the visage of a trendily dressed teenager. He didn't look more than nineteen years old, wearing hype clothing and had a couple of "bling-bling" around his neck and wrists. A pair of bright, hopeful-looking eyes stared back at me, looking at me like he never saw a woman before in his life.

"Miss, want to go have some fun?" He reached for my hand. I quickly withdrew.

We wasted no time taking off as fast as we could.

The clock ticked away, with the short end on the digit "7" and the long end on the number "6". It was probably time for us to leave soon. Shirley was helping me to apply makeup as I adjusted the gaping neckline of my dress. It was the type that zipped at the back. Despite wearing the dress, I felt naked without my undergarments.

My fair complexion meant I didn't need much makeup.

"Ally, this will be your first seduction, I am correct?" Shirley glanced at me, admiring my figure. I knew I didn't have the most significant bust, but Shirley had told me I had a bottom that most men would want to grab from behind. This embarrassed me since I was naturally this way, but she gave me some general tips in seduction.

She showed me a photograph of Tyler Banks in a pair of sunglasses. "This is your target. He normally doesn't go anywhere without his men, but tonight might be an exception. Men always want the same thing."

I looked sheepishly at Shirley. "I have no idea why none has succeeded in the mission. I feel you are all experts in seduction, unlike me."

Shirley smiled. "You're still very innocent, Ally. Maybe what Tyler Banks likes is a pure, innocent lamb. From our experience, we can say that Tyler Banks doesn't even look our way."

"What if he doesn't?"

"He will. Have confidence in yourself, Ally."

I bit down on my lip nervously. The Zeus bar was one of the most populated bars in the city. I was sure there would be a lot of rivals contending with me for Tyler Banks. What did I have to compete with them?

"Shirley, could you show me how you seduce your targets?" I was pretty sure we were reduced to prostitutes in a brothel now. But we had little choice in the matter.

Shirley got up from the bed we were sitting on swiftly. She was wearing a thin nightgown that revealed her small tips slightly through the sheer material. With a crafty smile on her face, she pulled down the straps of her gown, allowing it to reveal more of her cleavage.

I observed her as she temptingly poised herself, teasing an imaginary client as she sat with one leg crossed over the other. Fluttering her eyelashes, batting her eyelids and behaving provocatively, all these were seduction, I realised.

To be honest, I could not see myself doing that.

"I overheard you tell Adrian that you're having your period. Are you able to..." she began.

I shook my head. "He would have done atrocious things to me if I hadn't lied."

"So, I take it as you are considerably good at lying?"

I nodded. I had to attribute the fact that I had grown up in a broken family to my ability to tell enormous lies. The situation had conditioned and trained me very well. I lied and stole to survive. Although this was taxing to my soul, I had to do it for the sake of my family.

"I'll... I'll try my best," I said as convincing as I could.

"I'm sorry, Ally," Shirley looked apologetic. She knew I was a virgin and was not ready for this kind of thing. Nobody knew how Tyler Banks was in real life and if he had any weird fetishes. I gritted my teeth. I had to do what I could to keep my family safe, even if it meant surrendering my innocence in that one night.

What was virginity to me? I wondered. I didn't understand my own physical needs or why one kept herself for marriage. If it meant protecting my family and loved ones, I didn't mind betraying my body to that stranger. After all, it was just one night, I told myself.

"Shirley, why are you worried? It's just one night, right?" I appeased myself with the fact, even if I knew I was lying. I would probably never be able to escape Adrian Tank's clutches even if I succeeded in this mission. Even worse, I might even be, like the others, made to serve other men to obtain scoop.

"Ally, I'm sorry, I am."

She was so ashamed by what Adrian had made me do, but the sudden banging of the door startled me as we were talking. Could it be Adrian?

"Go hide," Shirley beckoned. "Go! Don't come out until I tell you to!"

I found a gap between the bed and the wall that I slowly eased myself inside to hide. Pulling up the straps of her nightgown, Shirley took a deep breath and opened the door.

I heard her voice uttering loudly, "What are you doing here? You already have Tomas; what else do you want?"

It wasn't clear who she was talking to, but I could smell the anger and hatred she had for the person. Finally, the person spoke in a fiery tone. I had never heard this person's voice before, but my instincts told me that he had to be her ex.

"I told you before, Shirley Mills, that what you have is mine. Every part of you and your body, Shirley. You can't avoid me. I know everything about you. Including your dirty secret."

Shirley gasped. "Leslie Jonas, can't you just let me live in peace? You have your life and your wife. I have my own life."

"No," his sharp voice uttered. "So what if you work for Adrian Tank? He's no more than a lackey working for his boss. And you, I own you, in case you didn't know." I heard a sneer.

"Please, Leslie. Don't do this," Shirley pleaded.

I heard the faint sound of clothes unzipping and some tearing noises. Was Shirley in danger by this man? I remembered that she had ordered me not to come out no matter what. Emerging from my hiding place, I pressed my ear to the door.

"Shirley, you whore," the man was snickering.

"Please, no," I heard her whimper. "No, Leslie."

"Shut up," the man said, followed by a loud smacking sound. She groaned in pain again. This made my blood boil. Even if it was risky for me to head outside, I knew I couldn't leave my friend in danger. Two heads were better than one. Noticing a baseball bat in the corner, I opened the door as silently as possible, leaving a crack in between that I slowly crept through.

"I don't want this, please, Leslie. We were already over long ago," Shirley begged. Her eyes were puffy, probably from crying. I snuck behind the man's back while he concentrated on the naked figure on the couch.

"You're no more than Adrian Tank's whore. To think, those days, I was stupidly in love with you, whore. You have no existence other than to satisfy me on those days my wife isn't in the mood-"

I aim hard at Leslie's head, battering it again and again. To hear such sickening words from a man's mouth was more than I could handle. I burst out with vulgarities, cursing him to hell for treating women like trash, but his bloodied body just slumped downwards on the ground motionless. I had struck out at him a total of eight times.

Shirley's eyes streamed with tears as she pulled herself up and dressed in her torn nightgown. A sea of silence ensued without either of us saying a single word for goodness knows how long. The noise of the ceiling fan spinning encompasses the entire room.

Finally, Shirley opened her mouth to speak.

"Ally, you haven't killed him, have you?"

I trembled at the reality behind her words. I was so absorbed by rage that at that juncture, I only acted on impulse. I fathomed in my mind that I had to aid my friend, but to murder, a person was beyond me. Had I just turned into a monster in that one second of confusion?

I fell backwards in terror.

"I... I didn't mean to...." I stammer.

Beads of sweat covered Shirley's forehead. She immediately reached over and picked up the cell phone lying on the messy floor, dialling a number rapidly. Her calmness drew panic inside me.

"Babe, you need to come now to my apartment. I'll explain later. Most importantly, Ally needs to get to the club."

She put the phone into the pocket of her gown. A few minutes had barely passed when I heard a tap on the door. Sandi looked concerned, asking what had happened.

The clock struck eight. Shirley rushed us to go to the club before we missed the golden chance to meet Tyler Banks. Shirley calmly walked to the bloodied bat beside the man and grabbed it, smearing the dried blood on her hands and clothes.

"What are you doing, Shirley?" I cried out. When she didn't answer, I turned towards Sandi, shivering as I felt goosebumps on my skin.

Then we saw her retract her phone from her pocket and dial three digits. It didn't take an adult to know who she had just called.

"This is 919 Bloomsville Avenue. Please come quickly."

"Go!" Sandi screamed. I ran out of the apartment hurriedly in a panic, guessing what Shirley had just done.

She was waiting for the police to apprehend her for murder.