THE DEAL
237 Words
Lyra's fingers trembled as she handed the signed contract back to Ava. The café's noise faded into the background, and all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.
Ava's smile was a triumphant curve, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Excellent. I'll send over the details of the project. Remember, Lyra, we're collaborators now."
Zephyr's jaw was clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're making a mistake, Lyra. You can't trust her."
Lyra felt a surge of defensiveness, but Ava's words cut her off. "Oh, Zephyr, don't be so protective. Lyra knows what she's doing, right?"
The air was thick with tension as Ava stood up, her movements fluid and confident. "I'll be in touch, Lyra. Don't disappoint me."
The café door swung shut behind Ava, leaving Lyra and Zephyr in an uncomfortable silence. Lyra's mind was racing – what had she just done?
Zephyr's voice was low, his words measured. "Lyra, talk to me. What's going on?"
Lyra's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know what else to do."
Zephyr's expression softened, his eyes filled with concern. "We can fix this. We can figure it out."
But Lyra wasn't so sure. She had just made a deal with the devil, and she wasn't sure how to get out.
The weight of the contract felt heavy in her bag, a constant reminder of her mistake. What had she gotten herself into?
- Writer
