Sandra Landry would never have described herself as a particularly decisive young woman. Efficient? Naturally. Capable? She certainly tried. Thoughtful? Undoubtedly, in ways both good and bad, for the beautiful accountant had the unfortunate habit of overthinking matters. It was all too easy to become paralyzed with indecision as she obsessively weighed each consequence and potential outcome, so terrified was she of making the wrong choice that it became difficult to make any choice at all. It had gotten better in recent years. The supportive workplace environment at MagnusCorp and her budding romance with Kevin Magnusson himself had done wonders for her self-esteem, yet for all she laboured to overcome her fears, they persisted, lurking beneath the surface of her elegant demeanour to tear her confidence to shreds.

Just like it was doing now. For Sandry Landry was being forced to decide in the worst circumstances possible, with dire consequences for her life and freedom if she chose poorly, and a whimper of fear seeped past the rubber sphere filling her mouth. Through the speakers mounted inside her cell, Martin Polis issued his ultimatum, and the elegant blonde tried and failed to keep from trembling.

“I’ve run out of patience, woman. Nod or shake your head, but I want your decision, and I want it now.”

Sandra’s response was to once again strain against the ropes bound tight about her curvy figure, while sea-green eyes again scanned the darkened interior of her cell for any means of escape she might have missed. Again, that labour proved wasted effort. The ropes binding her wrists behind her back, her upper arms to her sides beneath her ample breasts, her long legs at the ankles and thighs; all were as tight and unyielding as when her kidnappers had first abducted her from outside the MagnusCorp headquarters, several hours and a lifetime ago. The ball gag, there was no shifting that, and locked inside the soundproof cell constructed deep in the basement of Polis’ mansion, she doubted anyone would hear her scream anyways. And the cell remained as empty and devoid of anything useful as when Polis’ thugs had first tossed her inside.

No, she would have to make a choice here, to either hold true to her principles or give into Polis’ demands for the MagnusCorp data, and yet again, her mind laboured feverishly as she examined the problem from every angle. As an accountant for MagnusCorp, she had access to so much of the company’s financial data, not to mention the user accounts and all the personal information that came with them. If that was leaked, the consequences could affect millions, and put the future of the entire company at risk. She’d be abandoning friends and coworkers, her own pride and principles, all to ensure her own well-being. Not to mention Kevin, she reminded herself, and the thought of betraying her friend, employer and lover was enough to make her stomach churn.

And if she refused, well, she knew what the consequences would be. She had heard it in the caustic anger of the tech magnate’s voice, seen it in the animal hunger reflected in the eyes of his thugs as they’d bound and gagged her, felt it as they drooled over her helpless figure in its blue satin blouse, black leather pencil skirt and thigh-high boots. In that moment, her resolve faltered, and she began to heave with sobs, raising tear-stricken eyes up towards the security camera through which her captor watched her. “Mmmmppggghh!” Ropes creaked mockingly as she struggled, the ache in her jaw from the gag unbearable now. “Mmmmppppgghhh, mmmmpppppggghh!”

“Nod or shake your head,” Polis demanded again. “It’s not difficult to understand, now is it? Give me the data I want, or I swear to you, you will regret the consequences.”

I already do, Sandra declared inwardly, trying to compose herself.

For she would not allow the labour of her fellow employees, the people she trusted and valued beyond all measure, to be squandered in the hopes of appeasing an untrustworthy egotist. She would not see the man she loved ruined. And she would most certainly not sacrifice her principles merely to save her own skin.

And so, pressured, frightened, and facing two terrible outcomes, Sandra Landry made her choice… and shook her head.

For a moment, nothing but dead air sounded from the speakers, until at last Martin’s voice returned, thick with anger and contempt. “You stupid bitch. You honestly think Magnusson is worth suffering for? In that case, you’ll have all the suffering you could ever want! I’ll teach you the consequences of defying me! I’ll—wait! What are you—”

Suddenly, Martin wheezed breathlessly, the sound accompanied by the distinctive noise of a fist hammering into flesh. Then another blow, and the tech magnate must have fallen over, for the clatter of a chair toppling echoed over the speakers, followed by yet more solid punches. “And I’ll teach you the consequences of hurting my employees!” a new voice barked angrily, before addressing the captive in a far gentler tone. “Sandra, are you all right?”

“Mmmmppggghhh!” the beautiful blonde cried out, the man’s Scandinavian accent intimately familiar and sending her heart leaping for joy at her breast. “Mmmppgghh, hhmmmmppggh!”

“Don’t worry, my love, I’ll get you out of there,” Kevin Magnusson asserted firmly. “The police are teaching those bastards who snatched you the consequences of their actions, and Martin won’t be hurting anyone for a long while yet. You just sit tight, and I’ll be down in a minute.”

She was saved. Releasing a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding, Sandra lay back as comfortably as her bonds would permit, relief washing over her to know her ordeal was finally over. She had no idea how Kevin had managed to uncover her kidnapping and track her down, but that could wait.

For when she was freed, she fully intended on showing him how much those labours were appreciated…