Chapter 5

My body followed him across the walkway, each step echoing in the heavy silence of the place. The humiliation burned inside me, but it was a burden I’d chosen to carry myself. Need had brought me here, and I clung to the idea that I’d grab the money and never come back. That was the firm decision in my head, or at least I wanted to believe it.

He walked ahead of me with the ease of someone who had total control of the situation. The glass in his hand swirled lightly, the amber liquid catching the soft light of the hallway. As we walked, he pointed out the rooms on the upper floor, saying things I could barely take in. His voice sounded distant, like my own worries had built a wall between us. My body was there, but my mind wandered in some parallel universe, trying to process it all.

“Here. Come on in.”

His voice came out firm, yanking me back to reality.

He nodded toward an open door, and my eyes landed on the electronic lock. It was one of those ultra-modern ones, no keys, just fingerprint, code, or phone access. A small detail that made me feel even more trapped.

“I’m gonna set you up with free access to this room another day. Let’s see how you do today.”

As soon as I stepped inside, the dimness swallowed my vision, but not for long. With a quiet click, he flipped a switch, and ambient light revealed the space in front of me.

The shock hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightened, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. What I saw wasn’t just a bedroom, not some simple room. It was something… sexual.

The wall displayed whips and ropes arranged like they were part of an expensive collection, perfectly organized. There were devices whose purpose I couldn’t figure out right away, sturdy cages, stripper poles, and a wooden frame with cuffs attached. Every detail screamed perversion, desire, and domination.

I swallowed hard, feeling terror mix with a strange fascination. I didn’t know exactly what I’d expected to find, but it sure as hell wasn’t this.

“Luana, I’m gonna let you get comfortable and explore while I get ready. I wanted to greet you right away instead of making you wait. Sorry about that.”

His voice was calm, almost casual, like he was leaving me alone in some regular waiting room — but this place was anything but ordinary. He slipped out through a side door, probably connected to another room, leaving me there, frozen in place, pinned to the floor by the shock.

My eyes roamed the space, taking in every detail like my life depended on it. On the opposite wall, paintings of nude women decorated the setup. Even though they were oil paintings, they didn’t have an old-timey feel. The style was modern, just like the faces. Old employees? The question hit me like a sudden blow. Are they even still alive?

A shiver crawled up my spine. I tried to etch every feature of those faces into my memory, some irrational act of self-preservation. If something happened to me, at least I’d have recognized those women before.

I took a deep breath and started walking around the room, trying to get used to the vibe. The initial discomfort slowly got swallowed up by something unexpected: curiosity. My gaze fell on a wall covered in whips of all sizes, shapes, and materials.

“Damn… this guy’s gonna beat the shit out of me.”

I muttered, feeling the fear settle deep in my chest.

I was terrible with pain. Always had been. Just thinking about it made my body brace for resistance.

But why so many types…

Without thinking, I picked up one of the smaller ones and tapped it lightly against my leg, testing the sting. The impact was more noise than hurt. Another, thicker one, left a slight burn on my skin. I frowned. It wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined.

I moved to a cabinet and opened the doors. A whole collection of sex toys spilled out in front of me: vibrators of every kind, plugs, suckers… A full-on sex shop hidden in here. I thought.

“I could snag one of these for home…”

I let slip, chuckling softly, surprised at myself.

In the center of the room, a weird chair caught my eye. It was adjustable, with all sorts of settings, like a gynecologist’s table — but way more high-tech. It looked designed to make any position comfortable.

Without realizing it, a smile crept onto my lips. In some strange way, this place was entertaining me. And then, the sound of footsteps crossing the door shattered my little bubble.

The fantasy I’d let myself slip into burst with brutal force. The weight of my situation crashed back over me like a crushing wave, bringing a throbbing guilt with it.

What the hell was I doing?

I should have been terrified. I should have been looking for a way out. But instead, there I was… having fun with all of it.

The man came back, now wearing a silk robe that hung off his shoulders with this almost effortless elegance. The fabric gleamed softly under the diffused light, a subtle touch that hammered home the power and wealth he carried so easily. His hair was still damp, hinting at a recent shower, and a woody cologne filled the air, wrapping the room in a warm, masculine scent.

“There. Get up there.”

His voice came firm as he pointed to a raised circular platform, something like a stage — a disk about a foot high in the middle of the room.

“That’s your place.”

I swallowed hard and moved to the platform, feeling each of my steps echo through the space as I walked. He settled into a massive armchair in front of me, getting comfortable like he was about to watch a show. A remote in his hand glinted briefly under the light, and with a near-silent click, the lighting around me shifted suddenly.

The room plunged into darkness, leaving just a beam of light focused on me.

The contrast was overwhelming. The blackness around me made me feel even more exposed, a lone target under the cold glow of that single spotlight. Above my head, I noticed chains and ropes hanging down, attached to a counterweight system like in a theater. I couldn’t guess what it was for, but just seeing it made my breathing heavy.

My hands hesitated for a second, instinctively reaching to cover my naked body — a reflex so deep-rooted that I had to remind myself every second of his order.

Don’t cover yourself.

The instruction pounded in my mind as I fought the automatic urge to shield myself. I’d already gotten through the first shock of being naked in front of him, but the exposure still ate at me from the inside.

The most disturbing part?

Despite the discomfort, despite the fear, despite the humiliation, my body seemed to have a mind of its own. My heart raced, sending waves of heat spreading through every inch of me. My legs felt restless, not from hesitation, but from something deeper and more unsettling. A subtle, unexpected arousal bloomed in the middle of the chaos taking over my mind.

“Luana, let your hair down completely. Lace your fingers together and put them behind your neck.”

His voice was firm, no hesitation, like every word was a rehearsed command. I couldn’t see him anymore against the light; it was just a voice. I felt more alone and scared than before.

My arms lifted slowly, and my fingers slid through the loose strands, letting them all fall free. The sensation was strangely liberating and, at the same time, oppressive. With my hands clasped behind my head, I realized what that position meant.

It was surrender. A silent act of submission.

I did what he said, feeling an uncomfortable heat crawl through my chest. To calm myself, I focused on some random thought to make it all less overwhelming. Maybe it’s just about the look. My breasts seemed perkier like this, the curves more defined under the light. Maybe that’s it. Maybe he just liked seeing them better that way.

The idea brought a sliver of comfort, fragile as it was.

“Your legs should be slightly apart,”

he went on, his voice relentless.

“And remember… look down. Never look me in the eyes.”

The weight of the order hit me like a reminder of where I was and what it all meant.

Without questioning, I kept obeying.