Power, Cast & Sexual Control. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I’ve never been the type to slip into a room unnoticed. Not because I’m trying to make an entrance, it just kind of happens. At almost six feet tall in my favorite four-inch heels, people usually notice me before I say a word. So instead of trying to look intimidating, I smile.

My heels clicked across the polished marble floor as I walked through the lobby. I've always loved being tall. I stand up straight, make eye contact, and people seem to relax around me.

That's the kind of leader I've always wanted to be.

At thirty-six, I was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar tech company. It meant making tough decisions almost every day, but I never believed people followed someone just because of a title. They followed someone who listened, remembered their names, asked about their families, and wasn't afraid to laugh once in a while.

Tonight was one of those nights I'd been looking forward to for months. We were celebrating the launch of our newest AI platform with a gala at the Bellevue Hotel.

The ballroom looked incredible. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, waiters moved through the crowd with trays of champagne, and everywhere I looked people were smiling, talking, and enjoying themselves.

I wore a fitted black pencil skirt, a cream silk blouse, and my favorite red-bottom heels. It was one of those outfits that made me feel confident the second I put it on.

As I made my way through the room, I stopped to hug a few people from my team, thanked several of our engineers, and chatted with employees from every department. This success belonged to everyone in the room. I wanted them to know that.

"Ashley."

I turned and saw David, my Chief Operating Officer, walking toward me with his tablet tucked under one arm and a huge grin on his face.

"The press is ready, the board is celebrating, and everyone keeps talking about the launch. You should be proud."

I smiled and took a sip of champagne.

"We should be proud," I corrected. "Now go enjoy yourself before I drag you back to work." He laughed.

"Yes, boss."

Watching him disappear into the crowd, I couldn't help smiling. I loved this job. I loved building something with people who cared as much as I did. Nights like this reminded me why all the long hours were worth it.

A few moments later the lights dimmed, and the spotlight shifted toward the grand marble staircase leading to the stage. The applause started almost immediately. I stepped onto the top stair and rested one hand lightly on the brass railing.

Looking out across the ballroom, I saw hundreds of familiar faces, employees, partners, investors, and friends. They were all looking up at me, waiting for the evening to begin.

I took a slow breath, smiled, and started down the stairs.

Everything felt perfect.

And I was in love, I was a very lucky woman.  Only a few steps down, my speech ran through my head one last time, when my heel landed on a tiny splash of champagne someone had spilled accidentally on the marble.

In that instant, everything changed.

My heel landed on the edge of the wet marble. For the smallest fraction of a second, I thought I could catch myself. Instead, my foot slid forward.

My ankle rolled hard beneath me, twisting farther than it was ever meant to. A sharp pop shot through my leg, followed almost instantly by a loud crack that seemed to echo inside my own body.

Pain exploded from my ankle. A gasp escaped before I could stop it.

The room spun.

The lights above blurred together as my balance disappeared. I reached for the railing, my fingers brushing the polished brass, but I was already falling. My hip hit one of the marble steps first. The impact knocked the air out of my lungs.

Then everything became a blur of sharp edges and helpless motion as I tumbled down the remaining stairs, unable to stop myself. By the time I reached the bottom, I was lying awkwardly on the marble floor, stunned, struggling just to catch my breath.

For a heartbeat, the ballroom went completely silent.

The applause vanished.

Conversations stopped.

Every pair of eyes in the room was on me.

"Ashley!" David's voice cut through the silence as he rushed toward me.

"Someone call an ambulance!"

"Give her some room!"

"Don't move her!"

The voices came from every direction. My hair had fallen across my face. I pushed it aside and instinctively tried to sit up, but the moment I shifted my weight, a bolt of pain shot in my leg from my ankle all the way to my knee.

I cried out before I could hold it back.

The pain was overwhelming, sharp, hot, and relentless. It stole my breath and made my vision swim.

I forced myself to stay still. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Only then did the embarrassment begin to settle in. Hundreds of people had just watched their CEO fall down the grand staircase in the middle of the biggest night of the company's history.

Trying to steady my breathing, I smoothed my skirt over my legs with shaking hands, more out of instinct than anything else. My hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Hello
The Ashley Swagger Seduction & Erotica Series
(7 book series. Free with Kindle Unlimited and more to come)
USCanadaUKAU

Let me know what you think... I appreciate comments and suggestions and new book ideas.

Thank you for reading my stories…
Ashley