Memories of how sweet Felix used to be flashed through her mind.
Back then, he had treated her like gold. Every time they met in secret at a hotel, he would whisper in her ear, *[I hate watching you leave. Just the thought of you going back and sleeping next to Faraday breaks my heart!]*
He would tell her, *[Remember, no matter where you are, you belong to me. Once things are finished with Faraday, you'll be mine, completely and entirely.]*
Those words still echoed in her ears like they were spoken yesterday.
And now... it was all just a sick joke.
To Brinley, the Felix of the past had been perfect. Every moment with him had felt like a stolen romance. But human nature was a cruel thing—people only cherish what they can't fully possess.
Now... he was literally ordering her to sleep with Fairfax.
When she didn't answer, Felix pressed harder. "Isn't that what you want anyway? You've always wanted to be with Fairfax. Don't try to tell me all that pining you did before was just an act. You genuinely want him, don't you?"
"Do you even hear yourself?" Brinley whispered in horror. "You're telling me to sell myself!"
"You already sold yourself once! What's one more time?"
Brinley felt the air leave her lungs.
*Already sold myself once?*
He meant... Faraday.
Yes, she had been with Faraday. But wasn't that because Felix had asked her to? He had told her he had a grand master plan for the Yelchin family, and he needed her to find a way to marry Faraday to make it work.
He had called it a *plan* back then.
Why was he calling it *selling herself* now?
"You... Felix, you're a monster!" Brinley sobbed, unable to process how vile and degrading their relationship had suddenly become.
But now... she finally understood. Some men didn't deserve to sit at the top. A coward like Felix was never meant for greatness.
...
Exhausted and broken, Brinley had no idea how she managed to choke down a stale roll and a glass of tap water for dinner.
When she finally dragged herself down to the basement, Darleen, Xenia, and Sally had already returned. The second she stepped through the door, a bucket of freezing water was dumped directly over her head. *Splash!*
She had been standing outside in the biting wind talking to Felix for ages. She had no body heat left. This bucket of ice water practically froze her to the marrow.
Soaked and pathetic, she stood dripping in the doorway.
Darleen was sitting on a cot, her arms crossed. "Well, well, look at the little slut! What happened? Did Felix finally dump you?"
Darleen had heard Brinley arguing on the phone outside.

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