The days after Mae's decision passed in a blur. Everything felt different now, like she had crossed into a new reality, one where Charlie's presence loomed over every aspect of her life. He hadn't spoken to her since that night in his office, but the weight of her choice, the agreement she had made, hung heavy in the air.

Mae walked through the club like a ghost, her movements automatic. She performed her routines, danced under the bright lights, smiled at the patrons, but her mind was elsewhere—always thinking of him. Every time the door to the back rooms opened, she expected to see him standing there, watching her with those intense, dark eyes. He didn't need to be present to make her feel his power. He was everywhere, in every shadow, every whisper of the club.

And now, Mae was fully a part of that world.

But it wasn't just Charlie's presence that lingered in her thoughts. There was something else—a strange mix of fear and anticipation, of wanting and resisting. The power he had over her wasn't just physical; it was emotional, psychological. He had gotten under her skin, into her mind, and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake him.

One evening, as she stood in front of the mirror in her dressing room, applying the final touches of her makeup, Mae caught sight of her own reflection. Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, her eyes lined with kohl, lips painted a deep red. She looked like a different person, someone powerful and untouchable—someone who had embraced the world she once feared.

But beneath the surface, her heart raced with uncertainty.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Mae stiffened, her pulse quickening. She knew who it would be before she even turned around. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and found one of Charlie's men standing in the hallway, his face impassive.

"Mr. Mayhew wants to see you," he said, his voice formal, his tone giving nothing away.

Mae's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Charlie's last name, the reality of the situation hitting her all over again. She nodded wordlessly, stepping out of the dressing room and following the man down the narrow hallway that led to Charlie's private office.

As they walked, the familiar sounds of the club filled the air—the music thumping, the laughter of patrons, the clinking of glasses. It all felt distant, like background noise to the tension building inside of her.

The man stopped outside Charlie's office, gesturing for Mae to enter. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and pushed the door open.

Charlie sat behind his desk, as composed and intimidating as ever. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the walls, and the air felt thick with an unspoken tension.

"Mae," Charlie greeted her, his voice smooth, though his expression remained unreadable. "Sit down."

Mae did as she was told, her body tense as she settled into the chair in front of his desk. The last time they had been in this room together, her entire world had shifted. Now, she had no idea what to expect.

Charlie leaned back in his chair, studying her with those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her. For a long moment, he said nothing, letting the silence stretch out between them.

"You've been adjusting well," he finally said, his voice calm but commanding. "Better than I expected."

Mae swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. She hadn't been sure if she was adjusting at all. Every day felt like walking a tightrope between fear and desire, between wanting to run and wanting to stay by his side.

"I've had to," she managed to say, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Charlie nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Good. That's what I like to hear."

Another silence settled between them, and Mae could feel the weight of his gaze on her, pressing down on her like a heavy cloak. There was something different about him tonight, something darker, more intense. She couldn't quite place it, but it made her pulse quicken with both fear and excitement.

"You've made your choice," Charlie said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "And now, you belong to me."

Mae's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She had known this was coming, had known from the moment she agreed to stay that she would be bound to him in more ways than one. But hearing it spoken aloud, in that low, commanding voice, made it feel real in a way it hadn't before.

"You're not just a dancer anymore, Mae," Charlie continued, leaning forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "You're part of this world now. My world."

Mae's stomach twisted with a mixture of fear and something else—something she didn't want to acknowledge. The power Charlie had over her was undeniable, and despite everything, a part of her didn't want to fight it.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Charlie's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Good."

He stood up from his desk, walking around to stand in front of her. Mae's heart raced as he moved closer, the tension between them palpable. He reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, the touch both possessive and gentle.

"You'll learn to enjoy this, Mae," he murmured, his voice dark and filled with promise. "I'll make sure of it."

Mae's breath caught in her throat as his fingers trailed down her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She didn't know how to respond, didn't know how to process the mix of emotions swirling inside her. All she knew was that Charlie had complete control now, and there was no turning back.

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "You're mine," he whispered, the words a dark promise that sent a jolt of something electric through her. "And I don't share."

Mae's pulse quickened, her body trembling as the reality of his words sank in. She had crossed the line, stepped fully into his world, and now there was no escape. She was bound to him, tied to the power he wielded over her.

And despite everything, a part of her wanted it.

A soft knock on the door interrupted the moment, and Charlie straightened, his expression unreadable as he stepped away from her. Mae's breath came in shallow gasps, her mind still spinning from the intensity of the moment.

"Come in," Charlie called, his voice returning to its calm, measured tone.

The door opened, and another of Charlie's men stepped into the room, his face serious as he addressed Charlie. "Everything's in place, sir."

Charlie nodded, his gaze still fixed on Mae. "Good. We'll begin tonight."

Mae's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She wanted to ask, wanted to know what he meant by "begin," but the words wouldn't come. All she could do was sit there, her body tense, her mind reeling.

Charlie dismissed the man with a nod, and the door closed once more, leaving the two of them alone in the room. He turned back to Mae, his expression unreadable as he watched her.

"You'll understand everything soon enough," he said softly, his voice laced with a dark promise.

Mae swallowed hard, her pulse racing as she met his gaze. She didn't know what was coming, didn't know what Charlie had planned. But one thing was clear:

There was no going back.

Mae stared at Charlie, her mind racing as his words echoed in her head. We'll begin tonight. What did that mean? What was he planning?

She sat there, frozen, trying to decipher the dark promise in his voice. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a reminder that her life had taken a turn she hadn't seen coming. She had agreed to stay, to submit to him, but the reality of what that meant was only now sinking in.

Charlie remained calm, his eyes still fixed on her. There was a subtle tension in the air, a weight she couldn't quite place. He leaned against his desk, crossing his arms, waiting for her to speak, but Mae found herself unable to form the words.

Finally, she took a deep breath and forced herself to meet his gaze. "What are you going to do to me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Charlie's lips twitched into a faint smile, one that sent a chill down her spine. "What I do isn't important," he said, his voice low and steady. "What matters is how you react. How you handle yourself in this world."

Mae's stomach twisted with unease, but she kept her gaze steady, refusing to let him see her fear. "I've already told you I'll stay," she said, her voice stronger now. "I'll do what you want."

Charlie's smile widened, a glint of something dark in his eyes. "I know you will," he said softly. "But there's a difference between saying it and living it, Mae. Tonight, you'll start to understand what that means."

He straightened, pushing off the desk and walking toward her. Mae's breath caught in her throat as he moved closer, his presence overwhelming. He stood in front of her, towering over her as she sat in the chair, and reached out, gently tilting her chin up with his fingers so she was forced to look at him.

"You belong to me now," he whispered, his voice dark and dangerous. "You'll learn what that means in time. But tonight, you'll begin to understand."

Mae's pulse raced as she looked into his eyes. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in even as every instinct screamed at her to run. But she had made her choice. There was no turning back now.

"Be ready," Charlie said, releasing her chin and stepping back. "I'll send for you when it's time."

Mae nodded, swallowing hard. She had no idea what he meant, no idea what tonight would bring, but she knew one thing for sure—whatever happened, she would have to face it alone.

Charlie walked back behind his desk, his demeanor calm and collected once more. "You can go," he said, his tone dismissive, as though the intensity of the last few moments had never happened.

Mae stood slowly, her legs shaky as she made her way to the door. Her hand rested on the doorknob for a moment before she turned back to look at him. Charlie was already seated at his desk, his attention focused on some paperwork as if she no longer existed.

Without another word, Mae opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. As the door closed behind her, the weight of what had just happened settled over her. She had chosen to stay, chosen to submit to him, but now she was beginning to realize that she had no idea what that truly meant.

The hallway felt darker, the air heavier as she walked back to her dressing room. Every step felt like she was moving closer to something inevitable, something she couldn't escape. The club was alive with music and laughter, but to Mae, it felt distant, like a world she was no longer fully a part of.

When she reached her dressing room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her heart still pounding in her chest. She looked at herself in the mirror, her reflection staring back at her—strong, composed, but with a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

What am I doing? she thought, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She had chosen to stay, but now that the reality of what that meant was starting to sink in, she wasn't sure if she had made the right choice.

She walked over to the vanity and sat down, staring at her reflection. Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, She looked like she belonged here, like she had embraced this world. But inside, she still felt like the same Mae—confused, scared, and unsure of what the future held.

As she sat there, the minutes ticking by, her phone buzzed on the vanity. Mae's heart skipped a beat as she picked it up and read the message.

Be ready. Midnight.

Her hands trembled as she set the phone down. Midnight. That was when it would begin.

She stood up, pacing the small room as her mind raced. What was Charlie planning? What was he going to do? She had no answers, only questions that circled in her mind like a storm.

But one thing was clear—whatever happened at midnight, her life would never be the same.

Mae sat back down at the vanity, staring at her reflection once more. The uncertainty in her eyes had deepened, but beneath it, there was something else. A flicker of resolve.

She had made her choice. Now, she would have to live with it.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Mae stood up, her hands steady as she prepared herself for whatever was to come. She had no idea what awaited her, but she knew one thing for sure:

There was no turning back now.