RUNNING FROM THE DEVIL
1162 Words
Benny bolted.
She didn't just walk away. She ran-weaving through the sea of wealthy elites, ignoring the confused stares, her heart hammering in her chest like a drum at a funeral.
Behind her, she could hear Adrian's voice, laced with amusement.
"Williams."
No. Nope. She wasn't stopping.
Not when she had just bathed the most powerful man in the country with red wine.
Not when he had just told her to run.
Her rented heels clacked against the marble floor as she maneuvered toward the exit, her dress slightly hiked up to keep her from tripping. If she could just make it outside, but fate had other plans.
Because right as she turned the corner, she slammed into something solid.
Or rather-someone.
"Careful there."
The deep, amused voice made her stomach drop. Slowly, she looked up.
Adrian Sterling.
Standing tall, arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk, the red wine stain still fresh on his expensive white shirt.
Benny's brain short-circuited. "What-HOW? I LEFT YOU BACK THERE!"
Adrian's smirk deepened. "And yet, here I am."
Benny blinked. Looked back. Looked forward again.
Did this man teleport?
Adrian took a step closer, and Benny instinctively stepped back-only to realize she had backed herself into a wall.
Great.
So this was how she was going to die. In an overpriced dress, with sore feet, and the blood pressure of a woman who had just humiliated her boss in front of half of the billionaires in the world.
"Care to explain?" Adrian asked, tilting his head slightly.
Benny gulped. "Uh... it was an accident?"
Adrian nodded, expression unreadable. "An accident."
She nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah! Totally unplanned. Freak occurrence. Wrong place, wrong time."
Adrian leaned in slightly, and Benny felt her breath hitch. "So, if I check the security footage, it won't show you aggressively flailing your hands before knocking over that poor waiter's tray?"
Benny winced. "Uh..."
Adrian hummed, as if considering something. "You know, Williams... I should make you pay for this shirt."
Benny's soul left her body.
"WAIT. WHAT?!"
He gave her a slow, torturous look. "This shirt costs more than your entire rent, I assume."
Benny paled. "Look, I can barely pay my actual rent, you can't expect me to afford a rich man's suffering!"
Adrian chuckled, low and dangerous. "Then I suppose you owe me another favor."
Benny stiffened. "What kind of favor?"
He took another step, and she pressed flat against the wall. "I'll let you know soon enough."
Her stomach dropped. "That sounds... very ominous."
Adrian smirked. "Good."
Before she could argue, Ava's voice cut through the tension.
"There you are!"
Both Benny and Adrian turned to see Ava approaching, her emerald dress shimmering under the chandeliers. She took one look at Adrian's stained shirt, then at Benny's guilty expression, and sighed.
"Let me guess-she did this?"
Adrian didn't answer. He just smirked.
Benny scowled. "I didn't do it on purpose!"
Ava ignored her, grabbing Adrian's arm. "The investors want to speak with you.
You should change first."
Adrian glanced back at Benny, amusement flickering in his cold blue eyes.
"We'll continue this later, Williams."
And with that, he walked away, leaving Benny standing there-flushed, furious, and very aware that she had just signed up for a lifetime of suffering.
---
ESCAPE PLAN: FAIL
Benny needed to get out of here.
She was done.
She had survived being insulted, humiliated, mistaken for staff, and now, she was indebted to Satan himself.
There was only one option: OPERATION VANISH LIKE A GHOST.
She hurried toward the exit, ditching the cursed heels in her hands, barefoot be damned.
Just a few more steps-
"Leaving so soon?"
Benny froze.
Oh, come ON.
Slowly, she turned to see Ava standing by the entrance, arms crossed, one brow raised.
Benny cleared her throat. "Uh... yes?"
Ava tilted her head. "And why is that?"
Benny forced a smile. "Oh, you know. I think I've caused enough chaos for one night.
It's best to leave before I accidentally set someone on fire."
Ava chuckled. "Nice try. You're not leaving yet."
Benny frowned. "Why not?"
Ava smirked. "Because Mr. Sterling requested your presence at his table."
Benny's stomach plummeted.
"... What."
Ava's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You heard me. You're having dinner with the enemy."
---
DINNER WITH THE DEVIL
Benny sat stiffly at the longest, most expensive-looking dining table she had ever seen.
She had no idea how she ended up here.
Scratch that-she knew exactly how.
Adrian Sterling.
Sitting at the head of the table like some mafia kingpin, sipping his whiskey like he didn't just ruin her life by dragging her into the VIP section of hell.
Benny barely heard the conversation around her. She was too busy trying not to explode.
She took a sip of her water, exhaling. Stay calm, Benny. Don't murder the billionaire.
"So, Williams."
Her grip tightened around her glass. Here we go.
She turned to find Adrian watching her, his usual smirk in place.
"Enjoying the gala?" he asked smoothly.
Benny smiled the fakest smile known to mankind.
"Oh, absolutely. Who doesn't love public humiliation and accidental wine assaults?"
A few of the guests chuckled. Adrian's smirk widened. "Charming as always."
Benny gritted her teeth. "Oh, I aim to please."
Adrian took a slow sip of his drink. "By the way, about that favor..."
Benny choked on her water.
The entire table stared as she coughed violently, hitting her chest.
Ava sighed. "For God's sake, Benny."
Benny wiped her mouth, glaring at Adrian. "You're bringing that up now?!"
Adrian tilted his head, all innocent. "Why not?"
Benny scowled. "What do you want?"
His gaze held hers. "I'll let you know soon."
Benny's eye twitched. "That sounds like a threat."
Adrian smirked. "Take it however you want."
Benny exhaled sharply, slumping into her chair.
She was doomed.
---
The night was never-ending torture.
She endured polite small talk. Suffered through more judgmental looks.
And worst of all? She had to keep pretending she belonged in this world.
By the time dessert arrived, Benny was one crisis away from losing it.
And then, it happened.
A waiter approached Adrian, leaning down to whisper something.
Adrian hummed, then glanced directly at Benny.
Her heart stopped.
What now?
Adrian's lips curled into the most devilish smirk she'd ever seen.
"Williams."
Benny froze.
No.
"Dance with me."
Benny's soul left her body.
The table went silent.
Ava looked entertained.
And Benny?
She wanted to set herself on fire.
"...Excuse me?"
Adrian stood, buttoning his tux jacket. "You heard me."
Benny's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
Was this real life?
She stared at him like he had just suggested jumping off a cliff together.
"Why?" she finally blurted.
Adrian smirked. "Because I feel like it."
Benny stared at him.
This was it. This was how she died.
Right here, in front of the entire elite society.
Dancing.
With her enemy, or should she just say " dancing with her evil boss".
God help her.
- Writer
