CHAPTER 3 — Deal With The Devil
1883 Words
The room was quieter than it should have been.
Jamie paced.
Not nervously—he wasn’t that kind of man. But there was an edge to his movement, a restless energy that hadn’t settled since morning.
Liana sat by the window.
Still.
Composed.
A cup of coffee rested untouched in her hand, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond the glass—past the city, past the noise, past everything that didn’t matter.
Her phone lit up beside her.
A name flashed across the screen.
Aayan.
It rang once.
Twice.
Jamie noticed.
Of course he did.
“You gonna get that?” he asked casually, though his tone wasn’t casual at all.
Liana didn’t move.
The call kept ringing.
For a second—
just one—
something shifted in her expression.
Not weakness.
Not hesitation.
Something quieter.
Something human.
Then the call stopped.
Silence again.
Jamie exhaled slowly. “That’s what we’re doing now?”
Liana blinked once, slow, then finally looked at him.
“It’s moving,” she said.
That was it.
Jamie’s jaw tightened slightly. “Yeah. I can see that. I’m asking how fast.”
Liana placed the cup down with quiet precision.
“Faster than expected.”
Her phone buzzed again.
This time—a message.
She glanced at it.
Aayan: “You didn’t come home last night. Everything okay?”
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
A pause.
Long enough to matter.
Then—
she locked the phone.
Face down.
“It can wait,” she said.
Jamie watched her for a moment longer than necessary.
Then—
her phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
Liana picked it up without hesitation.
“Liana.”
A voice responded on the other end—calm, measured, impossible to place.
Her expression didn’t change.
Jamie watched closely.
Always watching.
“Yes,” she said after a moment. “I understand.”
Another pause.
Her gaze shifted slightly, thoughtful now.
“I’ll handle it.”
The line went dead.
Jamie stepped closer. “Who was that?”
Liana slipped the phone onto the table.
“The Web.”
The words didn’t land like a name.
They landed like something… larger.
Jamie’s expression sharpened. “Already?”
“They’re watching,” she replied simply.
A beat.
“They always are.”
Jamie ran a hand through his hair, exhaling a quiet curse. “What do they want?”
Liana leaned back slightly, her posture still relaxed—but her eyes had changed.
“They want to know our move.”
Silence settled between them.
Then she added—
“Make sure you keep them updated.”
Jamie looked at her.
Not questioning.
Not arguing.
Just… acknowledging.
“Yeah,” he said quietly.
Another buzz.
This time—
a message.
Liana picked it up.
Read it.
And for the first time that morning—
a faint smile touched her lips.
Jamie noticed immediately. “What?”
She turned the screen toward him.
Camilla Anderson.
Car will be sent. Mr. Wolfe prefers to meet in person.
Jamie let out a low breath, almost a laugh.
“That was fast.”
“Desperate,” Liana corrected.
Jamie’s brows lifted slightly.
“You think so?”
She stood.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
“I know so.”
She reached for her bag.
Paused.
Her eyes flicked—just briefly—to her phone again.
Aayan’s message still there.
Unread.
Waiting.
Something tightened in her chest.
Small.
Sharp.
Unwelcome.
She picked up the phone.
Typed.
Stopped.
Deleted it.
Then without looking back—
“Let’s not keep them waiting.”
---
Across the city—
power wore a different face.
Colder.
Sharper.
Less forgiving.
The Wolfe Corporation tower stood like it owned the skyline.
Because in many ways—
it did.
Inside, everything moved with precision.
Assistants. Executives. Security.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary noise.
Just efficiency.
Control.
Damon walked through it like he belonged at the center of all of it.
Because he did.
His presence alone shifted the air.
People moved faster.
Straighter.
Quieter.
He didn’t acknowledge any of it.
Didn’t need to.
He stepped into the elevator, pressing the top floor without a word.
The doors closed.
Silence.
By the time they opened again—
he was already different.
Colder.
Untouchable.
The assistant outside the office stood immediately.
“Mr. Wolfe,” she said, voice tight. “Mr. Richard Wolfe is expecting you.”
Damon didn’t slow.
Didn’t respond.
He pushed the door open.
Inside—
they were already waiting.
Richard Wolfe stood near the window, hands behind his back.
Still.
Immovable.
Mark leaned against the table, arms crossed, watching the door like he had been counting seconds.
Damon stepped in.
Uninvited.
Unbothered.
Richard didn’t turn immediately.
When he did—
his gaze was sharp.
Assessing.
“Care to explain your whereabouts last night?”
No greeting.
No pretense.
Damon let out a quiet breath.
Almost bored.
“I’m not having that conversation again,” he said, voice even. “Especially not this early.”
Mark let out a short laugh.
“Early?” he echoed. “It’s past noon.”
Damon’s eyes flicked toward him.
Unimpressed.
Mark pushed off the table, straightening.
“If you’re done wasting time,” he continued, tone sharper now, “we have foreign investors waiting.”
A beat.
Then, with deliberate emphasis—
“Or should we reschedule that too?”
The air tightened.
Richard stepped forward.
Not raising his voice.
Didn’t need to.
“We move,” he said.
That was it.
A command.
All three men turned toward the door.
But the balance?
It wasn’t equal.
Not yet.
And Damon knew it.
---
The car ride was silent.
Not tense.
Not awkward.
Just… quiet.
Liana watched the city pass by through tinted glass, her reflection faint against the window.
Her phone buzzed again.
She didn’t need to look.
She knew.
Still—
she picked it up this time.
Aayan calling.
Her thumb hovered.
Then she answered.
“Hey,” his voice came through—warm, familiar, grounding in a way nothing else in her life was.
“You okay? You disappeared last night.”
For a second—
Liana closed her eyes.
Just a second.
“I’m fine,” she said.
Too quick.
Too clean.
Aayan noticed.
Of course he did.
“That didn’t sound like fine,” he replied softly.
Silence.
The car kept moving.
“I had work,” she added.
A pause.
Then, lighter—
“You know how it is.”
Another pause.
Longer this time.
“Yeah,” he said.
But he didn’t sound convinced.
“When will I see you?”
There it was.
Simple question.
Complicated answer.
Liana looked out the window again.
At the city.
At the life she was stepping into.
“I’ll call you,” she said.
Aayan exhaled softly.
Not upset.
Not angry.
Just… something quieter.
“Alright.”
A beat.
“Just don’t disappear on me, yeah?”
Something in her chest tightened again.
Stronger this time.
She didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
“I won’t.”
A lie.
Clean.
Perfect.
She ended the call.
And this time—
she didn’t look at the phone again.
---
Camilla Anderson was already waiting.
Sharp suit. Clean posture. Eyes that missed nothing.
“Miss Liana,” she greeted.
Liana inclined her head slightly.
“Ms. Anderson.”
No hesitation.
No intimidation.
Camilla noticed.
Of course she did.
“This way.”
They moved quickly through the corridors.
Eyes followed.
Questions unspoken.
At the door—
Camilla stopped.
“No interruptions.”
Then—
“Except Mr. Wolfe.”
Inside—
order.
Precision.
Control.
“Sit.”
Liana did.
Without submission.
Camilla studied her.
Then—
“Identification.”
Liana handed it over.
Camilla worked quickly.
Verification.
Silence.
Then—
the door opened.
Damon walked in.
And everything shifted.
He didn’t look at Camilla.
Didn’t acknowledge the room.
His eyes went straight to Liana.
Locked.
Held.
Then—
he sat.
Leaning back slightly in his chair, one hand resting on the armrest.
Camilla began, “Sir, I’ve initiated—”
Damon raised his hand.
She stopped immediately.
Silence.
Then—
a quiet exhale.
“Camilla,” he said, eyes still on Liana, “explain.”
A pause.
“What’s your name?”
“Liana.”
No hesitation.
A faint flicker crossed his expression.
“Right.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Explain it to her.”
Camilla nodded once.
Professional again.
Precise.
“This is a contractual arrangement,” she began. “Terms are non-negotiable.”
Liana didn’t react.
Didn’t interrupt.
Camilla continued—
“Duration: one year. You will legally marry Mr. Wolfe.”
A beat.
“You will present as his wife in all public and private engagements.”
Another.
“You will carry and deliver an heir for the Wolfe family.”
The words hung heavier now.
More deliberate.
“Following the birth, custody transfers immediately. A divorce will be processed without delay.”
Liana’s fingers rested lightly against the table.
Still.
Controlled.
Camilla’s tone didn’t change.
“This agreement is protected under strict confidentiality. Any breach—intentional or otherwise—results in immediate consequences.”
A pause.
Then, quieter—
“Severe consequences.”
Damon didn’t move.
Didn’t interrupt.
Just watched.
Camilla finished—
“Compensation: ten million dollars upon completion of all terms.”
Silence followed.
Thick.
Expectant.
Camilla looked at her.
“Do you have any questions?”
Liana didn’t answer immediately.
She let the silence stretch.
Let them feel it.
Then—
“So I give you a year,” she said slowly. “A child.”
Her gaze shifted to Damon.
“And walk away with nothing but money.”
A pause.
Then—
“What guarantees do I have?”
The question landed.
Damon moved.
Fast.
His hands hit the table with a sharp, controlled force.
Camilla flinched—just slightly.
Liana didn’t.
Damon leaned forward.
Eyes darker now.
Colder.
“I don’t entertain doubt,” he said.
Each word measured.
Heavy.
“You fulfill your part, you get what’s promised.”
A beat.
“If you don’t—”
He held her gaze.
Unblinking.
“You disappear.”
Silence.
Absolute.
“And that,” he added quietly, “is not a metaphor.”
Liana’s expression shifted—
just enough.
Understanding.
Not fear.
Not quite.
She nodded once.
Slow.
“Alright.”
A pause.
Then—
her lips curved slightly.
“Mr… Wolfe, was it?”
A flicker of something dangerous crossed his eyes.
Camilla almost smiled.
Almost.
Liana leaned forward slightly now.
Matching his energy.
“You’re not just asking for a year,” she said softly.
Her voice dropped—
lower.
“You’re asking for everything.”
Another pause.
Then—
“And honestly?”
Her eyes locked with his.
“Ten million feels a little low for a soul.”
Silence cracked.
Something shifted.
Damon stood.
So did she.
She extended her hand.
Steady.
Unshaking.
A decision made.
Damon looked at it.
Then at her.
Longer this time.
Like he was trying to read something that refused to be read.
Then—
he took it.
Pulled her in.
Close.
Too close.
His voice dropped near her ear.
Low.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
“Congratulations… Liana.”
A pause.
And then—
“You just made a deal with the Devil.”
---
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