Page 5 of Knox's Boy

"Let me see what I can find on this guy," she muttered. "Robert Knox… finance… city… okay."

I moved to stand next to her, looking over her shoulder.

"There," she said, pointing.

A LinkedIn profile popped up. There was a photo. Professional. It was him. Even in a tiny thumbnail, he looked commanding.Robert Knox. Chief Executive Officer, Sterling & Knox. The list of board memberships scrolled on forever.

"He's real," I whispered. A part of me had been terrified he was some catfish, a creep in a stolen suit. I mean, he could still be a creep. But everything else had been true so far.

"He's rich," Luna said, scrolling down to a news article linked in his bio.Knox Foundation Charity Gala raises 2 million."Like, properly rich. Not just 'drives a BMW' rich."

She locked her phone and looked up at me, her expression serious. The playfulness was gone, replaced by the protectiveness that made her my only real family.

"Florian, look at me."

I met her gaze. Because I was good at obeying, even if it was her. Her dark eyes searched mine.

"He gave me this just for talking to him," I said, gesturing to the money in her hand. "Five minutes. Coffee. That pays my rent, Luna. It pays for the textbooks."

"I know," she said softly. She handed the envelope back to me. "I know you need this. But guys like this… men with this much money and power? They don't just give it away. They always want something. And it’s usually something that takes a piece of you with it."

"I can handle it," I lied. "It's just a job. He wants control? Fine. I can give him control for a few hours if it means I don't end up on the street."

Luna sighed, running a hand through her blue hair. "Just… be careful. Please. If it feels wrong, you leave. You run. Don't let him… abuse you. Okay?"

"I will," I promised. I was glad she didn’t say she thought I couldn’t do it. Because I very much believed I couldn’t. And hearing her say it would be the worst.

"Hey! Break's over! Unless you two are restocking the shelves back there!"

The manager’s voice boomed from the front of the store, harsh. Mark. He was only two years older than us. He had a need for control that screamed insecurity. Nothing like a realdominant. But we both jumped. We both needed that job. Luna rolled her eyes, pushing her glasses back up.

"Duty calls," she muttered. She grabbed my arm one last time, squeezing hard. "Location services. Turn them on. Keep them on. If I see your dot disappear, I'm calling the cops, the FBI, and my cousin who knows krav maga and owns guns."

"I promise," I said.

"I'm serious, Florian. Just be safe. Please."

She slipped out the door. I stood there for a second longer in the dim light of the storage room, clutching the envelope and the card. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my heart, and followed her out.

Chapter 4. Florian

I sat on the edge of my mattress, my leg bouncing. I checked my phone again. 6:30 PM. My hands shook as I opened the messaging app. I tapped Luna's name.

Share Current Location.

The little map loaded, placing a blue pin on my pathetic building. Until I turn it off,I selected.

"I'm sending you my location," I typed. "If I don't check in by midnight, call the police. Or do something."

I stared at the words. They looked melodramatic, like lines from a bad movie. But the knot of dread in my stomach was very real. This wasn't a movie. I was going to the home of a man I didn't know, a man who had bought my time just as he would buy a Louis Vuitton bag. He could kill me. Or do something even worse than death.

I added one more message.Pray for me. I had been very obviously raised Catholic. That was long gone, though.

I tossed the phone onto the bed and stood up, smoothing down my shirt. It was my best one, a white button-down I’d salvaged from a thrift store bin in the wealthy part of town. I’d ironed it on the floor using a towel. It felt thin against my skin.

I grabbed my yellow hoodie, even though wearing it would ruin my look. Just in case I couldn’t handle the cold. I got my phone, shoving Knox’s card into my pocket. The taxi was already waiting downstairs. I chose a taxi instead of an Uber because… I don't know why. It was more expensive. But he'd told me to take a taxi. So I took a taxi.

The ride was a blur. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass, watching my reflection ghost over the passing city. We moved away from the cramped, graffiti-stained streets of my neighborhood.Gradually, the landscape changed. The laundromats were replaced by boutique storefronts and beautiful parks.