The Deal With The Devil
1930 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
Elena stood frozen in the middle of the ballroom.
The music continued around her, but she could no longer hear it.
All she could hear was Alexander's voice.
“You need to leave with me.”
Three years ago, those same lips had told her he wanted nothing to do with her.
Three years ago, he had walked away from their wedding and left her standing alone in front of hundreds of guests.
Now he was standing in front of her again, looking at her as if she were the only woman in the room.
Elena swallowed hard.
“Why should I go anywhere with you?”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Because you're in danger.”
She gave a bitter laugh.
“I'm in danger because of you.”
His eyes darkened.
“You don't know the truth.”
“I know enough.”
She turned away.
Alexander caught her wrist.
Elena immediately pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
He released her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alexander lowered his voice.
“Your father left something behind.”
Elena froze.
“What did you say?”
“Your father.”
She slowly turned back.
“My father has been dead for twelve years.”
“That is what everyone wants you to believe.”
Her heart began beating faster.
“What are you talking about?”
Alexander glanced around the ballroom.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“My car.”
“No.”
“Elena—”
“I spent twelve years believing my father was dead. If you know something, you're going to tell me now.”
Alexander stared at her.
“You really haven't changed.”
She frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“You're still stubborn.”
“And you're still arrogant.”
For the first time, the corner of his mouth lifted.
It was barely a smile.
But Elena remembered that smile.
She remembered the nights when Alexander would secretly smile at her whenever she became angry with him.
She hated that she still remembered.
Alexander stepped closer.
“You should hate me.”
“I do.”
“Good.”
His expression suddenly became serious.
“Then you'll be less likely to make the mistake of trusting me.”
Elena's heart skipped.
“What mistake?”
“Believing that I abandoned you because I stopped loving you.”
She stared at him.
He looked away.
Before she could ask another question, a waiter approached them.
“Mr. Black?”
Alexander turned.
“Yes?”
The waiter handed him a small envelope.
“This was left for you.”
Alexander opened it.
His expression immediately changed.
Elena noticed.
“What is it?”
He handed her the photograph inside.
Her breath caught.
It was a picture of her father.
He was standing outside a building she had never seen before.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.
THE KEY IS WITH ELENA.
Her fingers trembled.
“What key?”
Alexander looked at her.
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“I don't have any key.”
“You do.”
“How would you know?”
“Because your father gave it to you.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
Alexander studied her face.
“Think carefully.”
She tried.
Nothing came to mind.
Then suddenly, a memory surfaced.
She was a little girl.
Her father was kneeling in front of her.
He had placed something around her neck.
A small silver chain.
At the end of it was a tiny golden key.
He had whispered:
“Never take this off, Elena. And never show it to anyone.”
Her hand immediately went to her neck.
The chain was still there.
She had worn it for years without knowing why.
Alexander noticed.
“That's it.”
Elena stepped backward.
“No.”
“Give it to me.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I'm not going to hurt you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it three years ago.”
She stared at him.
The words hurt more than she expected.
Alexander seemed to realize it.
His voice softened.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Then why did you reject me?”
He remained silent.
“Answer me.”
“My father threatened you.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“What?”
“He threatened your family.”
“Why?”
“Because of the trust.”
“What trust?”
Alexander looked toward the ballroom entrance.
“We don't have much time.”
“Then start talking.”
He took a deep breath.
“Your father and my father were partners.”
“I know that.”
“They created a private investment trust together.”
“I've heard about it.”
“You haven't heard the truth.”
Alexander moved closer.
“The trust is worth far more than you think.”
“How much?”
“Billions.”
Elena stared at him.
“And my father owned part of it?”
“Yes.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Alexander's eyes met hers.
“Everything.”
Before Elena could respond, the ballroom lights suddenly went out.
People screamed.
The room plunged into darkness.
Alexander immediately grabbed Elena's hand.
“Stay close to me.”
She tried to pull away.
“Alexander—”
“Trust me for ten seconds.”
A gunshot exploded.
Elena screamed.
Alexander pulled her against him.
Another shot followed.
Glass shattered somewhere behind them.
“Get down!”
They dropped behind a table.
Elena could hear people running.
Someone shouted for security.
Alexander looked around.
“We have to move.”
“Who is shooting?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“Not this time.”
He pulled her toward a side door.
They rushed into a narrow corridor.
Alexander locked the door behind them.
Elena leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
“You knew this would happen.”
“No.”
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“I didn't.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“I didn't invite you to this event.”
Elena stared at him.
“Then who did?”
Alexander's expression became cold.
“That's what I'm trying to find out.”
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?”
A distorted voice spoke.
Alexander's expression changed.
“Where is she?”
Elena couldn't hear the response.
Alexander's grip tightened around the phone.
“Don't touch her.”
The caller said something else.
Alexander hung up.
Elena stepped closer.
“Who was that?”
“My security team.”
“What did they say?”
“They found something.”
“What?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Your mother's car.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
“My mother?”
“They found it abandoned outside the city.”
“No.”
She immediately pulled out her phone.
She called her mother.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
“Mum!”
Her voice cracked.
Alexander placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We'll find her.”
Elena turned toward him.
“You promise?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Yes.”
For a moment, the anger between them disappeared.
There was only fear.
And something neither of them wanted to admit.
Alexander's phone rang again.
This time, it was an unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice came through.
“Alexander Black.”
“Who is this?”
“You know exactly who I am.”
Alexander's face hardened.
“Richard.”
Elena's eyes widened.
Richard was her uncle.
The man who had always pretended to care about her family.
“What do you want?” Alexander asked.
Richard laughed.
“The key.”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“She doesn't have it.”
Richard laughed again.
“Don't insult me.”
“What did you do to her mother?”
“She's alive.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Let me speak to her!”
Richard paused.
Then Elena heard her mother's voice.
“Elena!”
“Mum!”
“Don't give him anything!”
A slap sounded through the phone.
Elena covered her mouth.
“Please!”
Richard returned to the phone.
“Bring me the key.”
“Where?”
“Your father's old warehouse.”
“Which one?”
“You'll know.”
The call ended.
Elena looked at Alexander.
“I have to go.”
“No.”
“My mother is alive.”
“That's exactly why you can't go.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Let me handle it.”
“You've already handled enough of my life.”
She pushed past him.
Alexander caught her hand.
“Elena.”
She turned.
His eyes were filled with something she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
“Please.”
It was the first time Alexander Black had ever begged her for anything.
Elena's anger weakened.
But she pulled her hand free.
“I can't sit here while my mother is in danger.”
Alexander nodded slowly.
“Then we're going together.”
“Richard specifically said I should come alone.”
“I don't care.”
“You could get killed.”
“I know.”
“Why would you risk your life for me?”
Alexander stared at her.
“Because I already lost you once.”
Elena couldn't answer.
He stepped closer.
“And I'm not going to lose you again.”
Her heart raced.
Before she could respond, a loud crash came from the ballroom.
Someone had broken through the door.
Alexander immediately pulled Elena behind him.
His expression became cold.
“Stay behind me.”
Three armed men entered the corridor.
Alexander pushed Elena toward a hidden exit.
“Run!”
They raced down the staircase.
Behind them, gunfire erupted.
Elena clutched the key around her neck.
For the first time, she understood that the little object her father had given her as a child was connected to something much bigger than she could imagine.
And as she ran beside the man who had once broken her heart, one terrifying thought entered her mind.
Perhaps Alexander hadn't rejected her because he didn't love her.
Perhaps he had rejected her because he knew something she didn't.
Something about her father.
Something about the key.
Something about her own family.
They reached the parking garage.
Alexander opened his car door.
“Get in.”
Elena hesitated.
“Alexander.”
“Yes?”
“If you lie to me again, I'll never forgive you.”
He looked into her eyes.
“I know.”
She entered the car.
Alexander got behind the wheel and started the engine.
Neither of them noticed the black car parked across the street.
Inside it, a man watched them drive away.
He slowly lowered his phone.
“She's with Alexander.”
A voice answered through the speaker.
“Good.”
The man smiled.
“Should I follow them?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Let them find the warehouse.”
“Why?”
The voice became colder.
“Because the key isn't what we're after.”
The man frowned.
“Then what do we want?”
The voice answered:
“Her.”
The call ended.
And somewhere in the darkness, someone was already waiting for Elena.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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