The Devil in a tailored Suit

CHAPTER 1 Rain hammered against the city with relentless force as darkness swallowed the sky and thousands of lights illuminated the streets below. Expensive cars moved smoothly through the crowded roads while people rushed toward shelter hoping to escape the storm. Christen Wood stood beneath a small bus stop with soaked hair clinging to her face and shoulders. Her fingers tightened around a worn envelope as she stared blankly at the numbers printed across the page. Forty thousand dollars. The amount seemed impossible. The amount haunted her every waking moment. She closed her eyes and released a shaky breath. For months she had been struggling to keep everything together. Her rent was overdue. Her savings were gone. The bills kept growing while opportunities continued disappearing. Life had become an endless cycle of disappointment. Her phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up. Landlord. Again. Christen swallowed before answering. Hello. Miss Wood where is my money. I told you I need more time. Time does not pay rent. I am trying. You have until tomorrow morning. If I do not receive payment then you will need to leave the apartment. The call ended. Christen lowered the phone slowly. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. Instead she stood silently in the rain. Everything around her seemed to be moving forward while her life remained trapped in place. She glanced toward the busy street. People laughed. People smiled. People made plans for tomorrow. Meanwhile she was wondering if she would still have a home next week. A bitter smile crossed her face. What a joke. The rain continued falling as she started walking without any destination in mind. Minutes turned into an hour. Before she realized it she was standing in front of one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. The Grand Meridian. The kind of place where wealthy people celebrated million dollar deals and expensive engagements. The kind of place where someone like Christen did not belong. She looked down at her soaked clothes. Maybe she should leave. Yet something stopped her. Something urged her to step inside. The moment she entered the hotel warmth surrounded her. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The marble floors sparkled beneath golden lights. Everything reflected luxury. Everything reflected wealth. Christen felt completely out of place. She turned around intending to leave. Miss Wood. Christen froze. A woman dressed in an elegant black suit stood behind her. Are you speaking to me. Yes Miss Wood. Do I know you. The woman smiled politely. We have been expecting you. Confusion filled Christen's face. I think you have mistaken me for someone else. No Miss Wood. Please follow me. Before Christen could protest the woman guided her toward a private elevator. The doors closed. The elevator began ascending. Ten floors. Twenty floors. Thirty floors. Christen felt her heartbeat quicken. Where are we going. You will find out shortly. That answer only made her more nervous. The elevator finally stopped. The doors opened. Christen stepped into a private office unlike anything she had ever seen before. Floor to ceiling windows overlooked the entire city. The lights below looked like stars scattered across the earth. The room was silent. Powerful. Intimidating. And behind a large desk sat a man. His face remained hidden by shadows. Yet somehow his presence dominated the entire room. Christen immediately felt uneasy. Who are you. The stranger remained silent. Several long seconds passed. Then he spoke. You are seven minutes late. His voice was deep and calm. Christen frowned. I do not even know why I am here. A faint smile appeared on the stranger's lips. Interesting. He reached for a folder resting on the desk and slid it toward her. Open it. Christen hesitated. Then she stepped forward and picked it up. The moment she saw what was inside her eyes widened. A contract. And beneath it. A check. A very large check. Her breathing stopped. The amount written on the check was enough to erase every problem in her life. Every debt. Every bill. Every fear. She looked up sharply. What is this. The man folded his hands together. An opportunity. Nobody offers this kind of money without expecting something in return. You are correct. Who are you. The room fell silent once again. Slowly the man stood from his chair. His expensive black suit fit him perfectly. Every movement radiated confidence. Power. Control. As he stepped forward the city lights revealed his face. Christen felt her stomach tighten. Sharp features. Dark eyes. Cold expression. The kind of man who looked as though he belonged on the cover of every business magazine in the country. The kind of man who could destroy lives with a single decision. His gaze locked onto hers. My name is Dominic Hale. Christen's heart nearly stopped. Everyone knew Dominic Hale. Billionaire. CEO. Business genius. The most powerful man in the city. The man competitors feared. The man newspapers worshipped. The man employees secretly called the devil. Dominic studied her expression carefully. Then he pointed toward the contract. Sign it Christen. Her throat suddenly felt dry. And if I do not. Dominic's expression never changed. Then you walk out that door and continue living exactly as you are now. His eyes shifted toward the check. But if you do sign it. Everything changes. A chill ran through her body. Every instinct warned her to leave. Every instinct warned her that this man was dangerous. Yet the check lying on the desk represented something she desperately needed. Hope. And for the first time in a very long time. Christen did not know which choice was more terrifying. Walking away. Or staying.