Beautifully dangerous

The Devil’s Deal

Ivy's POV

At exactly seven o'clock,the towering black gates slid open.

I tightened my grip on the straps of my bag as I stepped through, my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

The estate looked less like a home and more like a fortress. Marble columns stretched toward the night sky, while neatly trimmed hedges lined a long driveway leading to a mansion that seemed impossibly grand.

Luxury.

Power.

Control.

Everything about the place whispered one name.

Dante Moretti.

A man in a black suit approached me.

"Miss Carter."

I nodded.

"The boss is expecting you."

Without another word, he led me through enormous wooden doors into a hall illuminated by crystal chandeliers.

Paintings covered the walls. The floors gleamed like mirrors.

Every person I passed lowered their head respectfully.

No one smiled.

No one spoke.

It felt as though the mansion itself held its breath whenever Dante Moretti was near.

The guard stopped outside a pair of double doors.

"He'll see you now."

He opened them"

Dante stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows with one hand tucked into his pocket, the city lights glowing behind him.

He didn't turn around immediately.

"You came."

"I didn't have much of a choice."

A faint chuckle escaped him.

"No."

"You didn't."

He turned slowly.

His icy ivory eyes settled on me, unreadable as ever.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Finally, he gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.

"Sit."

"I'd rather stand."

His eyebrows lifted.

"That wasn't a request."

Reluctantly, I sat.

He remained standing.

Even from across the room, he seemed larger than life.

"You received my message."

"Yes."

"The hospital bills have been settled."

"I know."

My voice was barely above a whisper.

"… Thank you."

His expression didn't change.

"I didn't do it for gratitude."

"I know."

Silence stretched between us.

I took a shaky breath.

"My sister…."

His eyes met mine immediately.

"What about her?"

"The doctors said she doesn't have much time."

My voice cracked despite my efforts to stay composed.

"They said she needs a heart transplant as soon as possible."

He said nothing.

I swallowed hard.

"You have connections."

"I know you do."

"If anyone can help…"

I lowered my pride.

"… it's you."

Dante walked slowly around the desk until he stood directly in front of me.

"What exactly are you asking for, Ivy?"

The sound of my name on his lips sent an unexpected shiver through me.

"I'm asking you to help my sister."

"I've already helped."

"You paid the bills."

"But money won't save her now."

Tears gathered in my eyes.

"She needs a donor."

"If you can find one…"

I stood abruptly.

"…I'll do anything."

His gaze sharpened.

"Anything?"

The word hung heavily in the air.

I closed my eyes.

Emma's smile flashed through my mind.

Her laughter.

Her tiny hand holding mine.

The promise I'd made to never leave her.

When I opened my eyes again…

My decision had already been made.

"If you can save my sister…"

My voice was steady now.

"I won't fight you anymore."

"I'll work for you."

"I'll follow your rules."

"I'll stay wherever you want me to stay."

"I'll do whatever job you give me."

I took another breath.

"I'll belong to you."

The room fell silent.

Dante studied me for so long that I wondered if I'd made a mistake.

Finally…

He smiled.

Not warmly.

Not kindly.

Like a man who had just won a game he'd been playing from the beginning.

He stepped closer until only a few inches separated us.

"You would sacrifice your freedom…."

"…for one little girl."

"She's not just a little girl."

I looked him straight in the eyes.

"She's my sister."

"I'd give up everything for her"

Something flickered across his face.

Gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

He reached into his jacket and removed a black fountain pen.

Then he placed a folder on the desk.

"A contract."

I frowned.

"You really expect me to sign my life away?"

"I expect you to keep your word."

My hands trembled as I opened it.

The first line read:

Employment contract

Position:Personal maid to Dante Moretti.

I blinked y.

"…A maid?"

His expression remained unreadable.

"You'll live in this house."

"You'll answer only to me."

"You'll make sure everything I need is prepared before I ask for it."

"You'll keep my schedule, my office, and my private quarters exactly the way I like them."

I frowned.

"That's all?"

One corner of his mouth lifted.

"You sound disappointed."

"I'm confused."

"I thought—"

"You thought I'd force you into something else?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I…"

He stepped closer.

"I don't need to force anyone to stay, Ivy."

"They choose."

"And you've already made your choice."

I lowered my eyes.

Emma.

Everything was because of Emma.

"If I become your maid…."

I hesitated.

"… you'll keep paying for my sister's treatment?"

"I already told you."

His voice was calm.

"I don't break my promises."

"And the donor?"

"I've already ordered my men to search."

My breath caught.

"You… have?"

"The best surgeons."

"The best hospitals."

"The best connections."

"If a compatible donor exists…"

His icy ivory eyes locked into mine.

I'll find it."

Tears filled my eyes.

"Why?"

Ge studied me for several long seconds before answering.

"Because I always protect what belongs to me."

The words stole the air from my lungs.

"I don't belong to you."

He took another step until only inches separated us.

"You signed the contract."

His deep voice was almost a whisper.

"From tonight onward…"

"You belong in this house."

"You belong under my protection."

"And as long as you're under my roof…"

"No one touches you."

He handed me the pen.

"Sign it."

My fingers as I picked it up.

This wasn't just a job.

It was the price of my sister's life.

Slowly…

I wrote my name across the bottom of the page.

Ivy Carter

Dante looked at my signature before carefully folding the contract.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Good."

He turned towards the door.

"Your room has already been prepared"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You already knew I'd say yes?"

He glanced over his shoulder.

"I've never been wrong about people."

Then he walked away, leaving me alone in the silent office.

For the first time…

I understood the truth.

I hadn't accepted a job.

I had walked into a cage.

And Dante Moretti had quietly locked the door behind me.