They gave me the day to feel the weight of what I had agreed to.

I barely saw them until evening. Richard handled a few calls in his study. Victor, Grant, and Elliot disappeared into the garden and the guest wing. The house felt like it was holding its breath. By the time the sun went down, my body was already restless—skin too sensitive, pulse too quick, the memory of their mouths and hands from the night before still vivid between my legs.

At ten o’clock Richard came to my door.

He didn’t knock. He simply opened it, looked at me standing there in a soft robe, and held out...