TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

“What did Max ever do to you, Von? Why did you do such a despicable thing to him?”

“How could you have the heart to defile Max’s purity?”

“Isn’t there any mercy in your heart when Max begged you, Von?”

“Out of so many guys, why did you choose to violate our son?”

“You’re heartless, Von!”

“You’re cruel!”

“You’re an emotionless woman!”

“Now look at the consequences of your actions. Max is depressed. He feels worthless!”

“His future is ruined because of you!”

Vonda shook her head, feeling completely powerless amidst the tears and lamentations of Max’s parents. It made her feel guilty to the lowest point. Especially when she slightly turned her head to catch a glimpse of Max.

Max was there. Sitting in a corner, folding his knees, burying his face on top of his thighs while his hands clutched his legs. His back was trembling, indicating that he was holding back sobs.

Vonda was taken aback. A pair of hands gripped the collar of her shirt. The middle-aged woman’s face was wet with tears, her cheeks flushed with anger.

“You must take responsibility, Von. You must marry Max.”

“No!”

Vonda screamed. She screamed as loud as she could, making even demons flee in fear.

Vonda gasped for breath, and her eyes opened wide instantly. She tried to see through the darkness that enveloped her.

Vonda blinked and looked around, furrowing her brow. There was no Max in the corner. Nor were there his parents, passing judgment on her.

“Was it a dream?”

Vonda swallowed her saliva. It was strange, but she could swear that her fear felt so real, causing her body to be drenched in sweat. And more than that, Vonda could feel herself trembling. Especially when she reached out her hand, trying to turn on the bedside lamp.

A gentle yellow light instantly illuminated Vonda’s room, dispelling the darkness that had surrounded her.

Vonda sat back, leaning against the head of the bed. She reached for a glass of water available on the nightstand and drank it quickly. Her dry throat was torturous.

“Oh, my God.”

The relief brought by the water allowed Vonda to breathe more freely. The hoarseness and dryness that had tormented her disappeared instantly. For a few moments, Vonda just sat there in deep thought. That midnight, the terrible dream had successfully disrupted her peaceful sleep.

Nearly half an hour passed, and Vonda spent the time in silence before taking a deep breath. She turned off the lamp on the nightstand, lay back down, closed her eyes, and said a prayer, hoping to continue her sleep peacefully.

Time continued to pass, successfully blurring Vonda’s consciousness. Putting her back to sleep. Her subconscious mind once again tossed into turmoil.

“This is your arrest warrant, Miss Scott. You’re being apprehended for charges of assault, molestation, rape, indecent behavior, and misuse of public facilities. You’ll face multiple charges. Even the best lawyer wouldn’t defend a client with such disgraceful crimes. And you should know that UNICEF is overseeing this case. Many parties are condemning your actions.”

Vonda froze. She felt like she wanted to die when she saw her hands being seized and handcuffed by the police.

“Sir, please don’t do this. I beg you. I’m innocent.”

Vonda struggled, trying to resist as the police dragged her towards the police car. However, she was utterly powerless against their force. There was nothing she could do but surrender, going to the police station, changing her clothes, undergoing interrogations, and facing the trial. Eventually, she would spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Days turned into weeks, leading Vonda to the day of her first visitor. Unexpectedly, it was Max. His face looked melancholic as he spoke.

“If only you were willing to marry me, Von. None of this would have happened.”

*

“Okay! I was indeed late, Von. But… just five minutes and you already left?”

Ugh!

Vonda felt her head pulsing. Lately, she had not been getting any restful sleep, and last night? Not to mention restful, she was afraid to fall asleep. Afraid that she would have more nightmares.

“Yesterday, we were supposed to hang out after work, right? But then you canceled it suddenly.”

As Sarah spoke for the umpteenth time, Vonda’s consciousness was once again jolted awake. At that time, Vonda felt completely drained as she walked through the office courtyard with Sarah. She sighed heavily, processing Sarah’s words just now.

Indeed, as Sarah said. Their plans to hang out yesterday got canceled. No need to ask why.

Frightened after her conversation with Max, Vonda eventually decided to escape from the office. Just a minute before Max came out of his room! Truly an exemplary deputy’s move.

“Why did you suddenly leave early yesterday?” Sarah asked again, entering the elevator, followed by Vonda behind her. “I tried to contact you, but I couldn’t reach you. Is it still the same guy with your phone?”

Vonda nodded. “Actually, it’s not just my phone that’s the same as his,” she whispered wearily.

Sarah chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it’s not just the phone.”

Sret!

Vonda turned and gave Sarah a sharp look. “What I mean is… my car key is also with him. And because I forgot where I put the spare key, my car is still parked at the hotel.”

“Ah.” Sarah nodded. “Why don’t you just get it back? Go see him.”

Vonda fell silent.

“Or are you embarrassed?” Sarah teased.

For the umpteenth time that morning, Vonda sighed heavily. She looked up and watched the numbers change in the elevator. Wondering why the elevator seemed to be getting slower when Sarah was teasing.

“By the way, now I’m curious. Is that guy handsome? How was your first experience with him? Oops!” Sarah covered her mouth momentarily with her five fingers. “It must have been memorable, right? Because I remember you discussing size before.”

“You’re ridiculous!” retorted Vonda. “I don’t even care if he’s handsome or what size he is. I just want to avoid him.”

Sarah nodded her head, grinning mischievously. “By the way, when you two were together, did you ask for his name? What’s his name?”

Vonda glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “Don’t expect me to tell you his name.”

“Just say you forgot to introduce yourselves. At that time, I’m sure you didn’t have time for small talk anymore.”

True! Although in the end I did introduce myself to him, Sarah is right. At that time, I didn’t even have time to think about names or anything else.

Vonda exhaled as the elevator doors opened. She stepped out, giving a brief wave to Sarah just before the doors closed again, taking her friend to the next floor.

For a moment, Vonda’s hand only grasped the office door. She felt torn. Never did she imagine that entering her own office would become something nerve-wracking.

Not the kind of nervousness she often saw in dramas that usually accompanied her Sunday nights. This was more akin to the anxiety of a creditor who had overdue bills for six months and a debt collector was now lurking around.

Thump!

Suddenly, Vonda caught the scent of a masculine aroma that felt strangely familiar yet foreign. As she tried to force her brain to recall where she had smelled a similar scent, a deep voice spoke to her. Simultaneously, a large hand landed on her back, halting her hand from holding the door leaf. Taking over the action to push open the door. Opening it.

“I thought the door was locked, but it’s not.”

Vonda blinked, then turned her head. Max’s face was right next to hers, making her eyes widen instantly. Max stared at her from such a close distance.

“Are you coming in, Miss?” Max asked.

Max waited a few seconds, seemingly realizing that Vonda was slightly disoriented. Vonda jerked, nodding stiffly, and stepping inside.

Max closed the door, but he stood rooted in his spot. He watched as Vonda walked and eventually sat in her chair. Only then did Max slowly approach her and ask, “Why did you leave early yesterday?”

The question made Vonda, who had intended to turn on her computer, instantly change her mind. Instead of answering immediately, she raised her face and stared at Max with a terrified look.

“Are you trying to avoid me?” Max asked again. “Is that so?”

Vonda blinked once. In her heart, she thought, “As if! What normal girl wouldn’t run away when faced with two choices from a guy like him? Seriously.”

“So, you want to run away from your responsibility?”

For a moment, Vonda hesitated, then shook her head with confusion. Clearly, she shook her head; she didn’t want to deal with the police, right? But…

“I don’t care. Anyway, you have to come with me to my parents’ house this Saturday.”

Thump!

Vonda’s eyes widened. “So soon?”

“Well? When do you want to come to my house then? Next year?” Max retorted, glaring back. “Don’t you know that lately, my breakfast hasn’t been with food, but with my mom’s terror?”

Danger! Apparently, this guy has a mother with the temperament of a female lion. Oh God. Poor me. Even before getting married, I have to face the horrors of a potential mother-in-law.

Vonda tried to calm herself, forcing her lips to curl up into a smile.

Honestly! In her entire life, she had never thought that a guy would hold her accountable like this. Worse yet, the guy is her new boss!

“S-Sir.”

Vonda took a long breath.

“I think this is not the right time and place for us to discuss this matter.”

Max furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“I-it’s at the office.” Vonda forced her lungs to keep working, and for some reason, she found it very difficult to breathe. “Besides… it’s still office hours.”

Max squinted, realizing the direction of Vonda’s conversation.

“It’s better not to mix work matters with personal life,” Vonda concluded.

As a response, Max let out a long breath. He nodded.

“What you’re saying makes sense.”

Max’s words brought a slight sense of relief to Vonda. At least she hoped she could prolong her impending doom.

“In that case,” Max continued, “after work, you’ll come with me.”

“Eh?”

“Remember! Don’t try to run away.” Max’s eyes sharpened, displaying an undeniable seriousness. “I won’t allow you to escape.”

After Max finished speaking, Vonda did not have a chance to respond as he quickly got up. Initially, she thought Max was heading to his own office, but she was mistaken. Max instead walked towards the door of their shared office.

Max’s action made Vonda stand up from her seat in surprise. Max inserted the key into the lock and without further ado, he pulled out both keys. He approached Vonda, who was frozen, and flaunted the keys in his hand.

Max grinned. “It seems like I have to keep both the main key and the spare key for the time being.”

Both keys vanished into Max’s pants pocket.

“Huh?!” Vonda was startled. She moved away from her desk and stopped Max before he could enter his room.

“Sir! I won’t run away, so there’s no need to lock the door, right?”

Ignoring Vonda’s hands holding onto his left hand, Max replied, “If you won’t run away, then it’s not a problem whether I lock the door or break it entirely, is it?”

Vonda shivered.

Damn! This guy is tougher than I thought. He’s actually quite clever.

“Uh,” mumbled Vonda, thinking of another excuse. “Sir, if the door is locked… what about my lunch?”

“Easy.” Max smiled. “We’ll order delivery. I’ll treat you.”

Another reason shot down.

“A-and what if I need to go to the restroom?”

Max nodded. “Ah.”

Vonda smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. However, in the next moment, the smile vanished along with her fading hope when Max spoke again.

“You can use the restroom in my office. No need to be shy, by the way,” Max said, a grin appearing on his handsome face. “The concept of being shy between us seems to be nonexistent now.”

Vonda was left stunned, unable to say anything.

“Right?”

*