Bad

The shrill ringing of my phone dragged me out of sleep.

Groaning, I reached across the nightstand and grabbed it. The bright screen made me squint as I checked the time.

Eight o'clock.

Shit.

I shot upright in bed.

I was already late.

The next few minutes were a blur. Clothes. Wallet. Keys. Laptop bag. Somehow I managed to throw everything together and rush out the door.

The office was already buzzing when I arrived. Phones ringing. Conversations overlapping. Keyboards clattering.

Thankfully, there was no sign of Lillian.

I slipped into my chair, powered on my computer, and greeted a few coworkers.

Despite the circumstances, I had to admit I was oddly lucky when it came to my department. My section was made up almost entirely of women. In theory, some guys would call that a dream.

Reality was a little different.

Most of them couldn't stand me.

"Morning. Rough start?"

The voice immediately put me at ease.

Amber.

The only person in the department who genuinely seemed happy to see me.

We'd attended the same university years ago and somehow ended up working at the same company. She was my age, twenty-six, with long blonde hair that never seemed interested in staying organized and bright blue eyes that somehow made even the most boring office conversations feel engaging.

"Actually, pretty amazing," I replied. "I spent the morning trying to learn teleportation. Unfortunately, it still doesn't work."

Amber laughed softly.

"Maybe tomorrow."

"Here's hoping."

I grabbed two coffees from the machine and handed one to her.

"At least Lillian isn't here."

Before Amber could answer, two figures appeared in the doorway.

"Honestly, Amber, why do you still waste time talking to him?"

Kate stepped into the room first.

She carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how much attention she attracted. Every detail of her appearance looked deliberate, from her immaculate white suit to her perfectly styled black hair. And her figure! She got breasts bigger than I thought possible, huge ass and tight waist

"Come on," Michelle added from behind her. "Leave him alone and talk to us. Wait until you hear what Stacy from reception did yesterday."

Michelle couldn't have been more different. Smaller, energetic, and constantly moving, she treated every conversation like it was breaking news. Petite, tanned and flat like board. Fitness was practically a religion to her, and she looked personally offended every time she saw me drinking coffee with milk.

Amber didn't even acknowledge them.

She simply turned back to her monitor and continued working.

Eventually the two women lost interest and wandered off.

A few hours later, during a break, they disappeared again, leaving Amber and me alone in the office.

While she scrolled through something on her phone, I searched through the mess of items I'd thrown into my bag that morning.

Pens.

Receipts.

A charger.

Then my fingers brushed against something unfamiliar.

I pulled it out and frowned.

The remote.

The strange remote I'd unpacked yesterday.

"Huh."

I turned it over in my hands.

I'd completely forgotten about it.

The thing looked ordinary enough, though the display built into it certainly wasn't normal. Curiosity got the better of me.

I pressed one of the buttons.

Nothing.

I pressed another.

For a second, the screen remained dark.

Then it flickered to life.

My stomach tightened.

Words began appearing across the display.

SELECTED TARGET: AMBER JOLIE

I blinked.

"What the hell...?"

More text appeared.

IDENTITY: BONDED SUCCUBUS