THEM AND HER FLEETING ROMANCES

Chapter 9

Nasty.

There's no word more fitting than that to describe the man confidently leaning his back to the chair. His slicked back hair gives full liberty to anyone to see how grandiose his features are as if he was born to be looked at.

His deep set of eyes gives the chill in Sarah's spine. She should not have accepted the invitation. But seeing that her new career produces results by being invited into a publication, she can't help but be exalted, she forgot to check her intuition. She gulped as the man shifted his weight to change his position.

He's more like a mobster than an editor.

"Won't step inside our company, right, Miss Castillo?"

"I...I apologize for what happened the other day."

Lewis cleared his throat intentionally which stiffened Sarah. She can't be with these two any longer but after she introduced herself to the editor, she's led here for the reason that the EIC wanted to meet her. Then she's welcomed with fierce looks plastered on the faces of these men. One is looking like a demon king sitting on his throne while the other looks like a demonic butler — his right hand man who'll do everything the demon king says.

"Having said that, I don't think you can step outside of this building without forming a contract with us. How about this, I have an inkling who is the person being mentioned by Mr. Theo Delaney in Today's Stars. Mind if we tell you, Miss Rai of ARDEA?"

Sarah inhaled and exhaled deeply. She held her own hand tightly with the other and stared directly to the taunting eyes of Sebastian Levine.

The man smiled, fascinated at the lady's demeanor. "Now, you're looking at me."

"Yes, I am."

"Not even stuttering."

"Hm, I am."

Sebastian eyed her curiously, waiting for the words that'll come out of her mouth next.

"How did you know? No—it's easy if you have money... And it's not like I hid my identity when I applied in ARDEA before. But I am not a part of it anymore. I quit not too long ago then I picked up writing. Is there something wrong being an ex-ARDEA employee? I don't think my past job has something to do with my writing. On the contrary—"

"Enough." Sebastian raised his hand to stop Sarah from speaking any further. "I don't care about your history, Miss Castillo. Your past does not matter here, only my business. What I want to know is whether you'll sign a contract with us or not."

"Why does signing a contract with you sound like being contracted by a devil?"

"Not my care."

His response made Sarah's hope of having a proper conversation with him break. He's not interested in becoming a human.

"As stated in this agreement, we want you to exclusively write for us. Your work will be published in paperback and you'll receive royalties."

"No finger cutting?"

"Do you want to?"

Sarah shook her head. "No," she said. "But seriously speaking, you're scaring me. You even tried to investigate me so I'll have no choice but to agree."

"This is for my insurance, Miss Castillo. And a little payback. I'm just wondering what kind of woman would say that she's the best girl our company can have." Sebastian showed the folder where Sarah's printed information was kept. He frowned as he looked again at the data presented in it. "Honestly, it's quite disappointing."

"Say what?!"