Chapter 2 – The Cold Bargain
838 Words
Dianah’s heart pounded as she followed Travier through the sleek hallways of Laurent & Associates. His long strides forced her to hurry just to keep up.
The entire law firm seemed empty this late at night, the usual busy atmosphere replaced by eerie silence. The soft glow of Christmas lights from the lobby faded behind them, and the only sound was the sharp clicks of Travier’s polished shoes against the marble floor.
He didn’t look back, didn’t acknowledge her presence, as if she was nothing more than an inconvenience.
But he hadn’t thrown her out.
That had to mean something.
He stopped in front of a glass-walled office and pushed the door open. The room was just as intimidating as the man himself—dark, cold, and painfully expensive. A sleek black desk sat in the center, papers neatly stacked beside a silver laptop. The massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the city skyline, where tiny golden lights twinkled like stars.
Travier walked around his desk and lowered himself into his leather chair, completely at ease, while Dianah remained standing awkwardly.
He didn’t tell her to sit.
Did he expect her to state her case like this? Standing in the middle of his office like a beggar?
She gritted her teeth. Five minutes. Make them count.
"Sit," he finally said, without looking up.
Dianah exhaled in relief and quickly took the chair across from him.
Travier laced his fingers together and gave her a blank stare. "Talk."
The word was sharp, almost dismissive, as if he was already prepared to be bored.
Dianah clenched her fists under the table. She had to make him care.
"I’ve been accused of fraud and embezzlement," she began. "My company—where I used to work—claims I stole from them."
"Did you?"
Her jaw clenched. "No."
Travier didn’t react. He simply watched her with unreadable eyes, waiting for more.
"I was an administrative assistant at Beaumont Industries," she continued. "A week ago, they accused me of transferring funds into a personal account. But I never did anything like that! I don’t even have access to company accounts. They fired me, froze my savings, and now… I have nothing."
Travier tapped his fingers against the desk. "What evidence do they have?"
"I don’t know," she admitted. "They wouldn’t tell me anything. But they’re powerful, and I’m…"
Nobody.
She didn’t finish the sentence, but Travier smirked as if he had heard it anyway.
"You expect me to go against a billion-dollar company on your word alone?" His tone was dry, unimpressed.
Dianah’s pulse quickened. "No, but if you dig into the case, you’ll see the truth."
"And what makes you think I’ll waste my time doing that?"
She stiffened. "Because I’m innocent!"
He leaned back in his chair, studying her. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Then, in the most uninterested tone, he said, "I’m not convinced."
Dianah’s stomach twisted. No.
"But—"
"You have no proof," Travier cut her off. "No evidence to suggest you were framed. If I take this case, I’ll be going against a corporation with infinite resources, and for what? A woman who has nothing to offer in return?"
Dianah gripped the arms of the chair. He was testing her, waiting for her to break.
She wouldn’t.
"I don’t have power or money, but I do have something to offer," she said, forcing herself to stay calm.
Travier raised an eyebrow, as if amused. "And what is that?"
Dianah hesitated. She hadn’t thought that far. What could she possibly offer a man like him?
But then—
"I know a secret."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Travier’s expression didn’t change, but something in his posture shifted—just slightly.
"A secret?" he echoed.
Dianah’s mind raced. She had blurted that out in desperation, but now she had to back it up.
"I used to work for a high-ranking executive at Beaumont Industries," she said. "I handled confidential documents, reports… things I wasn’t supposed to see. And I know something about the CEO. Something that could ruin him."
It was a lie. She knew nothing. But Travier didn’t need to know that.
For the first time, interest flickered in his cold eyes.
"Go on," he said.
Dianah swallowed. "If you take my case, I’ll tell you everything."
Silence.
Travier didn’t move, didn’t speak, but she could feel his mind working, calculating.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"You’re either very smart," he said, "or very desperate."
Dianah’s breath caught.
Maybe both.
He smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "Fine. I’ll take your case."
Relief crashed over her so fast, she nearly collapsed.
"But," Travier added, his voice dangerously low, "if I find out you lied to me—if you wasted my time—I’ll personally make sure you regret it."
Dianah swallowed hard.
This was it.
She had just made a deal with the devil.
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End of Chapter 2
- Writer
