Chapter 27

ISABELLA'S POV

Levi cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence that hung heavy in the office. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, almost as if you could cut it with a knife. My heart pounded in my chest, waiting anxiously for Levi to speak up.

"I will believe in myself more, sir," I finally managed to say, exhaling deeply. Relief and determination flooded through me, a mix of emotions that I struggled to contain.

"You should," Levi replied firmly, his gaze steady and thoughtful.

"Thank you, Sir. I'll focus on making those improvements." I hurriedly assured him, eager to demonstrate my commitment.

Levi nodded slowly, his expression softening slightly. "Just keep working hard, and your efforts will be recognized sooner than you think."

I nodded in acknowledgment, grateful for his reassurance. It eased some of the tightness in my chest, allowing me to begin feeling more at ease. Levi seemed to have moved past Friday night completely. Now we were back to being Employer and Employee. No longer Master, and sub.

I was thankful for it. At least I got to keep my job.

Despite this relief, a determined resolve simmered within me. I was prepared to defend myself if Levi hinted at terminating my employment. I vividly recalled the satisfaction he seemed to derive from asserting his authority on me that night. We were fully in it together and I'll not bear the consequences alone.

"Let me go ahead and implement those changes, sir," I said, breaking the silence after spending another hour meticulously reviewing the document with him.

"Sure. Have a good day," Levi replied casually.

"Thank you, sir," I responded, rising from my seat to adjust my dress and offer a quick wave before heading for the door.

Just as I was about to leave, Levi's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Isabella, wait."

My heart skipped a beat as I turned back to face him, the air thick with tension. What could he want now? Was it about the revisions or something else entirely?

"We need to discuss something," Levi said, his tone serious as he leaned back in his chair, studying my reaction intently.

This is it, I thought, immediately on edge. I'm in trouble.

"Sir, I have something to say," I blurted out, walking briskly back to his desk. “Can I speak freely, Sir?”

“Of course,” he replied with a slight gesture of his hand.

“I just want to say that…” My voice trailed off, nervousness fluttering in my stomach. How could I put this delicately?

“Go on. What’s on your mind?” Levi prompted, his eyes fixed on me with intense curiosity.

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts and summoning the courage to speak up.

"I believe there's more potential in me than I've shown so far. I'm committed to proving that, sir," I declared earnestly, meeting his gaze steadily.

Levi regarded me silently for a moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, to my surprise, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"I'm glad to hear that, Isabella," he said finally, his voice softer than before. "Your dedication hasn't gone unnoticed."

“That's not all, Sir…”

“Go on. What's on your mind?” Levi's eyes bore into mine, intense and curious.

I swallowed hard, gathering my courage.

“I hope what happened between us on Friday won't affect my internship, Sir,” I finally managed to say, my heart pounding in my chest. Would I regret bringing this up if he hadn't even considered it?

Fuckkkkkkkk!!!!

Levi sighed deeply, his expression softening with a touch of regret. "Your internship will be judged solely on your performance," he replied firmly. "I'm sorry for Friday night. My behavior was inappropriate, and I take full responsibility. But it can not happen again. You are my employee and it will always be so.”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer and tears sprang to my eyes unbidden. Of course. What had I been thinking?

"Do you have a problem with that?" Levi asked gently when he noticed my silence.

"No, sir. I understand," I murmured, my voice catching. "In the future, I'll ensure there's clear boundaries between us, Sir.”

With that, I turned away, blinking back tears, and left his office.

I hurried to the restroom on my office floor, seeking solace, and let myself cry by the sink. I was alone till June walked in and immediately noticed I was crying.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did someone upset you?" June's voice was filled with genuine concern.

"No, no," I replied, quickly wiping my cheeks with tissues. "I'm fine."

June wasn't convinced. She came over and gave me a comforting hug. I leaned into her embrace, allowing myself to release more tears until I started to feel calmer.

"I can't stand Levi," I admitted quietly, pulling back from June's arms.

"Don't we all?" June responded with a small smile. “No one can stand him but he is the boss.”

"Now, stop crying. Let's get back to work and show them who's coming to take over!"

"Yeah," I sniffed, trying to regain my composure.

With June's support, I straightened up, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the rest of the workday without thinking of him.

****

That night, Mr. L messaged me unusually early, which was out of the ordinary since our chats typically occurred late at night, once or twice a week. As I glanced at my phone screen, I took a deep breath, my wallpaper--a picture of a Red Ferrari-serving as a brief distraction.

I hadn't planned on divulging the matter between me and the boss to him. It was something I suspected Mr. L wouldn't approve of. I didn't want to end up like Charlotte, blocked and dismissed.
That much was clear.

Yet now, I found myself unsure how to interact with Mr. L naturally, without feeling guilt-ridden, especially when the thought of a video chat or BDSM play came to mind.

I felt so confused as I opened Instagram and read his message.

Mr L: Hi baby girl. How are you feeling today?

Me: I'm okay, Master. Good evening.

Mr L: And about my punishment?

I took a deep breath before responding.

Me: I did it. I invited Levi over for coffee.

Mr L: Good girl.

Me: Master, the team's flying to Melbourne the day after tomorrow to start the busy new season, so I won't have much time to chat with you.

Mr L: Don't worry, I'll be with you every step of the way.

I looked at his message confused. How will he be with me?