The deal
1154 Words
Liamh stood outside the private dining room, her palms damp. The hostess had left her here with a polite smile, but now she was alone. There was no going back.
She inhaled sharply and pushed the door open.
The first thing she noticed was the stillness.
Inside, a long, polished table sat in the center of the dimly lit room. Across from her, Hanson Hill sat at the head of the table, his presence as sharp as a knife. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his sleeves pushed up slightly, revealing strong forearms. A glass of whiskey rested in front of him, untouched.
His blue eyes lifted to her, cold and assessing.
Liamh swallowed. She had seen his face in magazines, on TV interviews—always distant, always controlled. But in person, he was something else entirely. There was a weight to him, an unshakable stillness, like he owned every inch of space around him.
Beside him, Anita Hill sat with her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her beauty was delicate, refined. Unlike her husband, she smiled when she saw Liamh.
“You must be Liamh,” Anita said softly. “Please, have a seat.”
Liamh moved stiffly toward the chair across from them. Hanson didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge her presence beyond that first glance. He simply waited, silent, unreadable.
A waiter stepped forward to pour water into Liamh’s glass, but Hanson lifted a hand. The waiter froze.
“No need,” Hanson said, his voice low, deep—commanding without effort.
Liamh stiffened. The waiter hesitated before retreating.
Hanson’s gaze was locked on her, sharp and direct. “I won’t waste time,” he said. “My wife has chosen you, but I need to know if you understand what this deal actually means.”
Liamh met his gaze, forcing herself to hold it. “I understand.”
His lips pressed together slightly, like he was testing her with just his stare.
“You’ll live in our home,” he continued. “You’ll follow strict medical protocols. You’ll have everything you need.”
His voice was measured, his words precise.
“But,” he added, his eyes narrowing, “you’ll stay out of my way.”
Liamh blinked. “I’m not here to get in your way.”
“Good,” he said flatly. “I don’t like outsiders. I don’t trust them.”
The tension in the room thickened. Anita shifted slightly beside him, like she wanted to ease the conversation, but Hanson’s grip on the table tightened just a fraction.
Liamh’s fingers curled into her lap. “I just want to do this and leave.”
Hanson tilted his head slightly, considering her. “Are you always this blunt?”
“Are you?” she shot back before she could stop herself.
Silence.
Anita let out a quiet breath, almost like she was trying not to smile.
Hanson didn’t react at first. He simply studied her, as if he was weighing her answer, as if he was used to people bending around his authority—but she hadn’t.
Then, after a long, stretched pause, he exhaled through his nose. Not quite amusement. But something close.
“Fair enough,” he murmured.
His gaze dropped to the contract sitting on the table. He tapped his finger against the thick stack of paper. “You’ll sign this tonight.”
Liamh frowned. “I need time to read—”
“No.” His tone left no room for argument. “This isn’t a discussion.”
She tensed.
He leaned back, his fingers tapping idly against his glass. “This arrangement requires complete commitment. If you aren’t sure now, you never will be.”
Liamh looked at Anita, hoping for a sign of hesitation, but Anita only nodded encouragingly. “It’s just a formality,” she said. “Everything is clear.”
Liamh’s heart pounded. Her fingers hovered over the pen. She thought of Mary, of the hospital bills, of why she was sitting here in the first place.
Then she picked up the pen and signed.
Hanson’s gaze didn’t waver. His fingers stopped tapping.
For a moment, the silence stretched.
Then he reached for the contract, flipped through it without really looking, and nodded once.
“Welcome to the Hill family,” he said.
But it didn’t feel like a welcome at all.
Liamh put the pen down, her fingers slightly numb from gripping it too tightly. It was done. She had signed.
Hanson flipped through the pages, his movements precise, controlled. He barely looked at them, yet she knew he missed nothing.
For a few long seconds, he said nothing.
Then, finally, he closed the contract and placed it in front of him. “We’ll finalize everything in the morning.”
Liamh forced herself to breathe.
Anita, sensing the tension, leaned forward slightly. “You’ll move in tomorrow evening. We have a room ready for you, close to the medical wing.”
Liamh hesitated. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes.” Hanson’s voice was sharp, cutting. “You’ll be under supervision for the entire process. Regular checkups. Routine monitoring.” His eyes met hers. “There will be no surprises.”
Liamh swallowed. No surprises. No freedom.
She nodded stiffly. “Understood.”
Hanson exhaled, barely a sound. He stood, his chair scraping back slightly. Even standing, he moved with precision, like a man who had already calculated his next five steps.
Anita stood as well, more graceful, her expression softer.
“We’ll have someone pick you up tomorrow,” she said gently. “Pack only what you need.”
Liamh blinked. “What I need?”
Hanson looked at her like the answer was obvious. “Clothes. Personal items. Anything else will be provided.”
She clenched her jaw. She had barely anything of her own anyway.
Anita gave her a small smile. “Don’t worry, Liamh. You’ll have everything you need.”
Liamh didn’t respond.
She wanted to believe Anita meant well, but she could feel Hanson’s gaze still on her, sharp, unwavering.
She was no longer just a woman walking into a deal.
She was walking into his world.
And Hanson Hill didn’t share control with anyone.
---
The Next Day
Liamh stood outside her tiny apartment, staring at the sleek black car parked in front of her building.
A man in a suit stepped out. “Miss Liamh?”
She adjusted the strap of her bag. “Yeah.”
He opened the door. “Mr. Hill is expecting you.”
Liamh hesitated for half a second before sliding into the car.
As they drove through the city, she forced herself to breathe. She had made her choice.
But deep down, she knew—she was stepping into something far bigger than she had ever imagined.
And Hanson Hill?
He wasn’t just the man behind the deal.
He was the one holding all the power.
- Writer
