‘I know you want it.’

The words on the note still bothered Lily. Even if it was at least five hours since she’d seen them. Lodged inside the notebook she used for meetings. As if someone knew her habits so well and knew she would open it today.

The note was like the previous ones she’d received. Every one of them was written in a sexual overtone as if someone knew her inner thoughts. Her deepest fantasies.

‘I know what you want. You’ll get it soon.’

Yeah right. As though the person writing the notes knew anything about her fantasies. Her secret desires. Lily never said them out loud. Never talked to anyone about them. It wasn’t the thing an educated modern woman should desire. She was well aware of the risks.

The notes were probably written by someone making fun of her. For all she knew, every person on the floor could have received the same messages. Printed on generic white photocopy paper and cut out with scissors. There was no signature. Nothing to indicate who was behind them. Just the few words that made a sentence, a statement she couldn’t forget.

Most likely, someone was having a hell of a good time at her expense.

But as she walked along the darkened corridors of the basement, an uneasy feeling came upon her. A sense of dread. What if it wasn’t a joke? What if there was something else behind the notes? What if someone was watching her every move? Waiting for a chance to do something she didn’t want.

What if?

She heard the distant sound of a door closing. No one else should be down here so there shouldn’t have been a sound other than hers. She hadn’t made it. Was someone else down here with her? The sound had been far away, but the basement was so vast it was difficult to judge distance. The brick walls enhanced every sound. Making them even eerier. Reminding her of every creepy movie she’d ever watched.

Lily walked quickly toward the other end of the hallway. Just as she reached the light switch, she was pulled back against a hard chest then pushed against the opposite wall. She gasped in surprise before she started struggling. Strong arms tightened around her.

“Relax, hellcat,” a deep male voice spoke from behind her right ear.