Devil's Prisoner

Chapter1 -Part VI

"Nothing is free. How much are you willing to pay for his services?" The "Sun" continues to tease Ria.

"I just started my job today and am currently on probation. The salary is not very high. Plus, I still have to wait two weeks before getting paid. Considering my living expenses, I am willing to pay $30 for his help." Miami is an expensive place to live, and Ria is on a tight budget, so she only has a little money to spare.

Everyone in the room bursts into laughter as soon as Ria speaks, including the "Ice." The "Sun" is surprised to see the "Ice" grinning, as he hadn't seen him smile in years.

Ria misses his joyful grin as she lowers her head and doesn't want others to see her face flushed with embarrassment. Until the ridicule ultimately comes down, Ria raises her head again and says cautiously, "I know it's not much, but this is all the money I can afford right now." She explains apologetically and seriously.

The "Ice" lingers on Ria's face unconsciously. He tries his best to get away from her but fails every single time. His attention has been glued firmly to her, and he is unwilling to move away at all. He desires more from her, but clearly, it is not related to money.

As the "Ice" looks toward Ria, he cannot help but has to lower his gaze to hide his greedy intentions. His attention is immediately drawn towards Ria's necklace. The necklace has a wooden sphere pendant sculptured with delicate patterns on its surface. A dark brown leather cord runs through it, and a tassel hangs beneath. Whenever Ria moves, the necklace sways, creating a beautiful effect.

"Am I only worth $30?" The "Ice" surprisingly speaks up and bargains for the price. His response is something entirely outside of Ria's expectations. She thinks he will never bother talking to her. Maybe the price she offers is too low, which drives him crazy.

Based on Ria's proposal, he doesn't need to do much in this task. All he needs to do is sit still and let Ria get closer to his cheek. Ria believes $30 is a reasonable price for this simple task. She wants to explain to him, but the "Ice" doesn't give her the chance.

"I don't want the money." What?! Ria couldn't believe her ears. "I want your necklace," says the "Ice," eyeing the delicately carved pendant.

Without warning, he leans over and snatches the wooden pendant in his hand, causing Ria to instinctively reach out to protect it. Their hands touch and overlap each other.

"Ice" is such a suitable name for him. His hand is freezingly cold, and a sudden chill runs down her spine. It feels like Ria is touching a block of ice. Her natural reflexes kick in, and she quickly retracts her hand to prevent it from getting frostbitten. The "Ice" simply wants to take a closer look at her pendant, but Ria mistakenly thinks he intends to rob it from her.

Regardless of the reasons, their hands are on top of each other, and a warm current quickly sweeps through his body, absolutely overwhelming every individual cell. It is so warm and pleasant that the "Ice" won't want to withdraw. The feeling is familiar, and his is melting in it.

"I made this necklace myself. It's carved from oat wood. It's not worth much; if you were to sell it, it couldn't be worth more than $30. It would be more cost-effective for you to take the money," Ria explains, hoping he can change his mind.

A few months before graduating from university, Catherine visited a renowned palmist to learn about her future. Ria went along with her on the visit. The palmist suggested a way for Ria to attract love - she needed to carry a love letter she had written secretly. This way, she could find her Mr. Right.

While making the pendant, the words of the palmist popped up in her mind. She decided to give it a try. Ria drilled a small hole in the wooden pendant and sealed her little love letter. It's too awkward to give it to a stranger, and it would be extremely embarrassing if "Ice" found her love note inside the pendant. Ria would rather give him money than let him have her necklace.

Soon, Ria finds out nothing can change his mind. His obsession with her necklace far exceeds his desire for money. "You need to follow my rules to get my help," the "Ice" warns. Ria has no choice except to give him her necklace, as his demands are non-negotiable.

Ria removes her necklace, holds it with both hands, and gives it to the "Ice."

Fortunately, the "Ice" is a man of his word. He wraps the necklace around his left wrist, stands up, and walks around the dining table towards Ria. His movement is slow, slower than she imagined. Finally, he reaches Ria and stands in front of her.

Ria has been inside the enclosed area for quite some time now. Alan is getting worried about going in and checking out what is happening.

With another hand signal, the bodyguards simultaneously knock down all the surrounding partitions. The loud noise shocks everyone in the restaurant. Alan, Amelia, and other group members surprisingly find out Ria is standing in the center with a gentleman surrounded by 20 bodyguards dressed in black.

The "Ice" is tall, way taller than Ria. She had to stand on her tiptoes to look up at his face. At this angle, the sunlight flashes directly into Ria's eyes. She frowns and instantly tries to retract her gaze. The next second, the "Ice" leans over, blocks the dazzling light, and protects her within his shadow.

"The Ice" takes a soft, silk handkerchief from his pocket. With a delicate touch, he lifts Ria's chin with his slender fingers and gently wipes away the sand that clung to her face after her fall. As Ria stands there, her heart races at an alarming pace, thumping against her chest like a wild animal trying to break free. She quickly raises her hand to cover her mouth as if to keep her heart from escaping her body. Her lips are quivering, her face is burning, and her palms are sweating. She must complete her task as soon as possible because looking at his handsome face makes her feel like she might faint.

Ria stretches her body to the utmost and lifts herself on her tiptoe, but despite her best efforts, her lip is still far away from his cheek. She has to reach higher, but it is challenging to stabilize on tiptoes. At one point, her body loses its balance completely, and she falls into his arms and towards his chest.

The "Ice" extends his right arm and wraps it around her waist. His extra support prevents her from falling any further. She is in his arms. He bends down and lowers his head. His handsome face is right in front of Ria, so close. She can feel his breath tickling her skin. Her heart is beating as loud as thunder.