CHAPTER TWO: A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
925 Words
Chapter Two: A Deal with the Devil.
The ink was barely dry on the contract when Isla Romano realized the true weight of the deal she had made.
Sitting in the back of the sleek black Maserati, she clutched the signed agreement in her trembling hands. The city lights blurred past as the car cut through Rome’s dimly lit streets, carrying her deeper into a world she had no business entering.
Alessio Moretti sat beside her, his body relaxed but his gaze sharp as ever. He hadn’t said much since they left the warehouse, only giving his driver a short order before leaning back into the leather seat.
The silence stretched until it became suffocating.
Isla cleared her throat, breaking it. “Where are we going?”
Alessio’s eyes flicked to her. “To finalize our arrangement.”
Her grip tightened on the papers. “It’s already finalized.”
His smirk was barely there. “You think so?”
Isla bit the inside of her cheek. She had expected danger, but this level of control unsettled her.
She had thought she could negotiate her way out of trouble. Instead, she had walked straight into its open arms.
The car finally pulled up in front of a towering building in the heart of the city. Isla recognized the name immediately—Moretti Enterprises. The legitimate face of a family known for its illegal empire.
The driver stepped out and opened the door for her. Isla hesitated before finally getting out.
Alessio followed, placing a firm hand on her lower back as he guided her inside.
The touch sent a jolt through her, and she hated the way her body reacted.
She was here because she had no choice. That was all.
Right?
---
Inside, the lobby was grand, polished marble floors reflecting the warm glow of the chandeliers above. Everything about it screamed power. Wealth. Influence.
And Isla didn’t belong here.
Alessio led her past the main area toward the private elevators. Without a word, he pressed a code into the panel, and the doors slid open.
She hesitated for half a second before stepping inside.
The doors shut, enclosing them in silence.
Isla watched him carefully. “So, what exactly am I supposed to do as your assistant?”
Alessio leaned against the elevator wall, his emerald eyes locked onto hers. “Your job is simple. You do what I tell you.”
Her jaw clenched. “That’s not a job description.”
He smirked. “You’ll handle my schedule. Run errands. Keep things organized.” He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “And most importantly, you will keep your mouth shut about everything you see or hear.”
She swallowed. “You think I’m stupid enough to cross you?”
Alessio tilted his head. “I think you’re smart enough to survive.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Isla stepped out into a space that felt nothing like an office. It was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A massive desk sat at the far end, while a seating area with a black leather couch and a stocked bar occupied one side.
This wasn’t just an office. It was a kingdom. And Alessio was its ruler.
He walked past her, shrugging off his suit jacket. “Your desk is over there.”
Isla turned, spotting the smaller desk placed near his.
So close. Too close.
She hesitated. “I start tomorrow, then?”
Alessio looked at her, amusement flickering in his gaze. “You start now.”
---
The hours dragged on as Isla adjusted to her new reality.
Her first task was simple—organizing his schedule. Except, nothing about it was normal. There were meetings with powerful figures, both legitimate and not. Appointments that didn’t exist on any official records. Names she had only ever heard in hushed whispers.
By midnight, her head ached.
Alessio, on the other hand, looked as composed as ever, sipping a glass of whiskey as he reviewed documents.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Do you ever sleep?”
He glanced at her over his glass. “Sleep is a luxury in this business.”
She frowned. “And what exactly is ‘this business’?”
Alessio chuckled. “You really want to know?”
Isla hesitated. Did she?
He leaned forward, placing his glass down. “My family controls this city in ways you can’t even imagine. We own politicians, businesses, law enforcement. And when someone doesn’t play by our rules…” His smirk darkened. “We remind them who’s in charge.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
“You’re afraid,” he observed.
Isla straightened her back. “I’m not stupid.”
He smiled. “Good.”
Their gazes held, something unspoken passing between them.
Then, Alessio leaned back, his tone shifting. “Go home. Be here by eight.”
Isla blinked. “You’re actually letting me leave?”
He smirked. “For now.”
---
The drive home felt surreal.
By the time she reached her tiny apartment, she felt like she had lived a lifetime in one night.
She kicked off her shoes and sat at the small kitchen table, pulling out the contract again.
Her grandmother’s surgery would be paid for. That was all that mattered.
At least, that’s what she told herself as she crawled into bed.
But as she closed her eyes, one thought haunted her.
She had just sold her soul to the devil.
And his name was Alessio Moretti.
- Writer
