CHAPTER 2. A huge, huge problem

Rolen’s orders called for new job interviews. The role of Human Resources was handled”off the books, away from the prying eyes of auditors”by Judith Strava herself. Thanks to BBG’s influence, they always knew in advance when audits were scheduled for warehouses across the region; that was precisely when they would subcontract a small firm to ensure everything looked above board. Judith was a key asset at BBG. Over the years, her knowledge of the industry and its paperwork had grown, and she had shown Rolen”back when he was a novice, somewhat lost entrepreneur”how to steer the business. At the time, Rolen had been nothing more than a shy forklift driver, a logistics worker full of ideas but rarely speaking to anyone. Yet, he possessed that dark, battered look Judith had recognized from the orphanage where she had once taught science.

«I’ll never understand why he doesn’t bother setting up an extra office and putting the real HR department right here.»

«Because he doesn’t trust anyone… except us,» Judith remarked, her expression serious as she read the résumé before her. She immediately discarded candidates over thirty. It was easier if she could filter by photo, since she knew exactly the kind of beauty her boss was drawn to.

«This one needs to last longer than three months. Otherwise, we’ll attract the attention of the inspectors.»

«Why are you talking to me as if you’ve been here longer than I have? I know how this works better than you do.»

«Ease up,» she replied playfully, turning her gaze back to her own computer screen.

«Back when the inspectors got a tip-off about this warehouse and we were in the eye of the storm, I was the one who hired you for the office.»

«Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know the story.»

“And here you still are.”

“Candice fucked off pretty quickly, and you hired her too.”

“Not everyone can handle the pressure of working alongside me. Besides, Candice…” “she stopped typing and smiled” “…she was a little experiment of mine.”

“Oh? What kind of experiment?”

“I wanted to verify a few things.”

“Right… you and your fucking experiments. I don’t think they even work.”

“Well, for something that supposedly doesn’t work, it forms the technological foundation of our entire chain. Would *you* even understand the scientific studies I read every morning?”

“I’ve got better things to do”like handling the quality complaints we get every week about the new materials *you* manage the intake for. With all those… studies you’re supposed to be reading.”

Lyanka’s mouse clicks grew louder after she spat that out. Judith smiled, paying her little mind. Her office mate was also top-notch”she knew it, because she’d hired her four years ago. But their fields, while they sometimes overlapped, operated in different areas. When something went wrong at the company, the most human reaction was to blame another worker.

“She’s got an education,” Lyanka remarked, prompting a chuckle from Judith. “So, what now?”

“You don’t need an education to work the cardboard line,” Lyanka replied with a sigh. “We just need two people for packaging; they’ll know how to use the machine after half an hour of training.”

“Scratch her off the list, then.” She pressed a button and moved to the next message. Judith drummed her long fingernails against the glass table.

“Don’t keep reading. I’ve already got the two new hires.”

“The…?”

“A guy and a girl.” Judith finished typing and, after shutting down the computer, closed her laptop.

“So we really *did* need new staff…”

“Yes. He’s staying; she isn’t. I’ve emailed both their résumés to you.”

“Hmm…” Lyanka opened the files. Both were run-of-the-mill profiles”nothing special. Packers whose time at the company was effectively over before they’d even started. Usually, Judith or Rolen himself would interview and hire them, only to tell them months later that they hadn’t passed their probationary period”or find a way to explain that their performance wasn’t up to par. But if she’d decided to hire a warehouse worker as well, it meant the company was truly running on a skeleton crew. That didn’t quite square with the weekly quality reports; financially, the company was booming. Lyanka watched as her colleague stood up, stowed her laptop, and put on her coat. Judith was fifty-two, three times divorced, and currently married to a naval engineer who was also rolling in money. She held a certain amount of sway within the circles of the city’s prominent families, though she never spoke of it. Despite her age, she remained beautiful and youthful”defying the years”with a slender, elegant figure that also belied her age. Despite the fine lines on her face, the beauty of her features was evident”as was the coldness. Lyanka would laugh when she was alone with Rolen; they joked about the pact Judith must have made with the devil to look so sexy at such a mature age.

Rolen’s House

“I shouldn’t drink any more”she said, covering her glass with her hand to stop Rolen from pouring a second round”, just one glass of wine… that’s what we agreed on.

“One more glass won’t hurt”he said, keeping the bottle close at hand. He gave a half-smile and tapped one of her knuckles with the bottle’s neck”. Or am I going to be drinking alone?

“I’m afraid so”she said, looking away from his eyes. They were her weak spot. She slowly pulled her hand back, though Rolen insisted and poured the wine anyway. She smiled, lowering her gaze”. You always do whatever you want, don’t you? Well, I’m not drinking it.

“I heard you. I can drink it myself, right?”After capping the bottle, he picked up the glass and swirled the contents carefully before tasting it. He murmured appreciatively and fixed his sky-blue gaze on her once more.

Harmony Teller. His latest conquest. He had liked her the moment he saw her at a fast-food stall at the local fair… back when he was dating someone else. Harmony appealed to him because she met every physical and psychological criterion he valued in women. She was under twenty-five, slender, with straight dark hair… and large brown eyes. Women with hazel eyes held a particular charm for him.

“Stand up”he murmured, setting the glass on the table. He gently held out his hand”. Harmony. I’d like to show you something.

Harmony stood up and took his hand. Rolen lived in a fine house in a nice neighborhood. It was minimalist, and he had a flair for design… he had always believed his good taste was innate. Harmony walked beside him, and as their eyes met, they smiled at each other. Harmony was the classic example of an inexperienced, easy girl. A good, naive girl who fell in love easily. He liked that combination because, given his looks, it was hard for any woman to say no to him. But he always made it easy for the girls to look attractive. Harmony leaned against the railing, but he didn’t let her linger there. He turned her to face him and rested his hands on her cheeks.

«You’re beautiful,» he whispered, gazing at her with an angelic look. Harmony blinked, feeling a bit more nervous, and smiled. Her dimples deepened on both cheeks.

«Well… thanks. And you are…»

«I am…?»

The girl parted her lips slightly but didn’t know how to go on. With a playful half-smile, Rolen leaned in and kissed her. As soon as their lips met, he realized she didn’t know how to kiss well. Her teeth bumped against his a couple of times due to nerves, and although he tried to guide her, she eventually pulled away, placing her hands on his shoulders.

«I… do you really like me that much? Because…»

«More than just ‘that much.’ Do you have doubts?»

«Hng… no. Not really.»

«I don’t like insecure girls.»

«…I’m not.»

He leaned in to kiss her again, this time holding her more firmly by the waist. Harmony kissed him back for a few seconds but then pulled away again.

«It’s just…»

«It seems there *are* doubts after all,» he remarked with a subtle smile.

«You took… you took a long time to answer my messages. Almost as if…»

«…I was busy?» he tried to finish. She smiled, looking even more intimidated, so he scored another point. «You wanted to know if I was with another woman. And frankly»—he let go of her, standing tall again, and looked at her more seriously—»a lot of those messages were the sort of thing a very easily manipulated brat would send.»

Harmony swallowed hard. Those messages had stemmed from her insecurity. Rolen was somewhat well-known in the city, and the rumors about how many girls liked him were overwhelming. But right now, his blue eyes were so intimidating that she didn’t know how to act.

«Right… sorry. But sometimes you take so long to pay attention to me that I think you’re with another girl.»

«You’re twenty-two, Harmony. You’re too old to be acting like a child. The next time you do that, I won’t just brush it off. Do you know what that means?»

«And you’re old enough to know how to manage your time. Not answering me for two days? Am I really not supposed to be suspicious?»

“I was wrong. You still have some growing up to do.” He tilted his head, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “At least enough to understand what working is actually like. Instead of just coasting through life. Because you haven’t done anything but paint your nails and pour a few drinks at a fry stand, right? It must be easy to act mature in front of a bunch of yokels who smell just as greasy as you do.”

“…”

He had learned to savor that sensation—the ability to detect the pain of others in their eyes. Harmony was too stunned by his words; she lowered her head. Rolen was addicted to that feeling. Hurting innocent girls gave him a rush that was equal parts pleasure and pain; it was pure adrenaline for him.

“I’m sorry.” He kept looking at her, his eyes now calmer. He tried to caress her, but this time she turned her face away as a tear escaped. She wiped it off and tried to walk away, but he gripped her arm tighter.

“I want to leave. Take me home.”

“Pull yourself together. You can’t go around sniveling just because you heard the truth.”

“Smelling like grease? Coasting through life? I have a job too, even if it isn’t as important as yours.”

“You could change that. With my help. I don’t expect it to happen overnight. But I do expect big things from someone like you, Harmony.” He slowly let go of her arm, finally making her meet his gaze. “You’re beautiful, intelligent. Do you really not aspire to anything more? And if you do, what are you waiting for? Why aren’t you doing something about it?”

He had achieved exactly what he wanted: silence. She stood there, fighting back the urge to cry. Rolen continued, crossing his large arms.

“So… is that it?” He tilted his head. “That’s all? Just looking pitiful and crying in your bed? You don’t even have a car to get home.” «I have bigger ambitions,» she defended herself after a pause, «but right now I don’t have enough money to walk away from that job.»

He took a deep breath, feigning concern. He stepped closer, softening his tone.

«I’m just trying to encourage you. I expect great things from you. Why don’t you accept my offer regarding the modeling agency, hmm?» He grazed her cheek with his knuckle.

«Because it’s a lot of money,» she said hesitantly. «And… I’m not sure I can pay you back.»

«You only pay me back when you have so much money that I look like a destitute pauper to you,» he remarked, his tone more playful. He managed to make her smile, at least a little. He took her by the wrists and raised their hands up between their faces. «Look at those beautiful hands. Do you really think you were born to pour beer into cups for the junkies at the fair?»

Harmony looked at her own hands and sighed. She slowly lowered them, focusing on his eyes.

«I’m sorry for overwhelming you. I know you’re a busy man.»

He smiled more broadly and slowly pinned her against the wall. She seemed to take it as a joke and didn’t yield at first, but he quickly nudged her at the waist. The impact made her lift her head and look at him more intently. Rolen kissed her again, this time with a very different undertone. He immediately sought her tongue with a sense of urgency. He lifted her dress, sliding his hand between her legs. Harmony tensed and jerked, her hand dropping to his forearm. She made a move to stop him, but Rolen pressed harder, pinning her firmly against the wall.

«Shh. Stay still.» He parted his lips, gazing intently at her. The dark-haired girl nodded slowly, sliding her hands up his chest. Then he smiled and slipped his hand inside her panties. He claimed her pussy with two fingers, spreading her open in one swift motion. She let out a sudden gasp of pain, but he shushed her again. «Hey, what’s wrong? Does it hurt?»

«A… a little…»

«Right… I forgot I’m dealing with a kid,» he smiled, humiliating her.

*He’s such a pain. I’m not a kid.* She took a breath and, acting as if she hadn’t heard him, lowered both hands to his belt. She undid it in seconds and unzipped his fly. He also reached out and grabbed his cock.

*He was already hard…*

When she looked at him with unwavering composure, he devoured her with his gaze. He liked seeing her show a bit of willingness, even though he knew it was feigned. Everything she said was just a setup for the greater shock that would follow; they were never prepared for how he behaved in bed. Soon, his attention wandered slightly. He glanced down at her clumsy hand as she tried to jerk him off.

«You’re doing it wrong. You’re going to make me go soft.»

That really pissed her off. It made her feel inadequate in his eyes. She had watched plenty of porn to learn techniques and please him, since almost every time they slept together, he would point out the mistakes that had infuriated him. His perfectionism overwhelmed her.

«Stop it.» He halted her hand. She pleaded with him.

«No, let me try a little longer.»

«I said no.» He pushed her hand away, his tone sharper. «Get on your knees and suck it.»

Harmony swallowed hard and stopped touching him. He stared at her with a wicked smile, waiting for her to act. Without a word of protest, she slid down until her knees hit the floor. Rolen didn’t waste any time; he grabbed his cock by the base, thrust it between her lips, and drove his hips forward to ram it down her throat right from the start. He enjoyed seeing her struggle. She jerked upright as she gagged violently; her throat tightened and her brows furrowed as she fought not to throw up. His strong hands clamped over her head, gripping her hair, and he guided her with a forceful rhythm from the very beginning. Harmony kept choking; his roughness made it incredibly difficult, and her uvula was now hypersensitive to the slightest touch. She gagged three times, nearly vomiting all over him. But Rolen reveled in it, continuing to thrust and ram into her mouth. That gave her great pleasure. She was sucking him well, clamping down hard with her lips in a reflex action to brace against his hip thrusts. She soon tried to hold him back with her hands, but he responded by thrusting harder. She felt a surge of pleasure, but Harmony couldn’t take it; she turned her face away, coughing violently. Her face was flushed, and saliva dripped from her lips.

«Do it yourself,» he murmured, clasping his hands behind his back.

It turned him on to see that fucking helpless, vacant look on her face.

He let her suck his cock at her own pace. He liked watching her; she was beautiful. And it was true—she had improved compared to the last few times. The movement of her lips eventually made him fully hard. That part was easy for him. Getting aroused wasn’t hard—especially not with a beautiful woman. Yet, whenever he had sex with all those pathetic girls, he always felt something was missing. Something he didn’t want to acknowledge. He refused to admit it. Even when paying a whore for sex, he couldn’t be completely honest. In any case, seeing Harmony gave him great pleasure and aroused him quickly. He leaned forward while she continued the oral sex, pulling her breasts out of her dress to squeeze them hard. That made her pause the blowjob for a moment to moan in pleasure. Rolen grabbed her arm abruptly and swept the entire dinner onto the floor, shattering the plates. It startled her at first, but before she could react, the blond man slammed her against the table and quickly pulled down her panties. She grew nervous and clung to the edge of the table. She shivered as he spread her legs and bunched her dress up with one fist, holding it against the small of her back. He slammed his other hand onto her buttock with such force that her cheek turned red instantly. Harmony stifled her first scream. Rolen smiled and used more violence on the second smack, making her scream in pain and pull her knees together. She squeezed her eyes shut.

*It hurts…*

«Augh…!» She tried to lift herself up instinctively, but the guy slammed her head against the table as he positioned himself between her legs. It hurt when he shoved his fingers inside without any care. «Do it… slower…»

«Oh, right. Right now,» he smiled, amused. He moved his hand from her reddened buttock only to press the head of his cock against her opening; then he grabbed her by the waist and thrust into her hard. The girl’s slender body shuddered. He saw her grit her teeth as she endured it. He didn’t care. The more they tried to pretend everything was fine, the more they infuriated him. He gripped her waist and hauled her against him with the same force he’d use on a piece of furniture, slamming into her to penetrate her. Harmony broke down after just a few thrusts, sobbing in pain. Rolen groaned in arousal and reached up to grab her hair, holding her with even less tenderness. He drove into her harder.

Many of the girls he forced himself on this way—manipulating them into believing he wanted them—ended up suffering from severe cognitive dissonance. Once their self-esteem hit rock bottom, they usually bored him, because they would give themselves to him even more easily. Their moans, once born of pleasure, turned into the sounds of stifled weeping, for he never tired. After several minutes of thrusting in the same position, a phone call caught his attention. He stopped abruptly and glanced at the mobile screen. Rolen hesitated, wondering whether to answer. In the end, he did, shoving Harmony aside.

«Well? What the fuck is going on, Lyanka?»

«Get to the warehouse NOW. There’s a problem—a big one.»