Chapter 1 — The Devil’s Deal
Adrian Cole didn’t believe in accidents.
Everything in his world was calculated.
Controlled.
Owned.
“Sir, the man refuses to leave.”
Adrian didn’t look up from the contract in his hand. His voice remained calm, cold.
“Then remove him.”
His assistant hesitated. “We tried.”
That made Adrian pause.
Slowly, deliberately, he lifted his gaze.
“Explain.”
“He says… he’s here to see you,” she said carefully. “And that you’ll want to hear what he has to say.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly.
Confidence.
Uninvited.
Uncontrolled.
He didn’t like any of those things.
“Name?”
“Luca Reyes.”
Silence.
Then—
A faint, almost amused smile touched Adrian’s lips.
“Send him in.”
The door opened.
And for the first time that day—
Adrian’s control shifted.
Just slightly.
Luca Reyes didn’t look like someone who should be standing in a billion-dollar office.
His shirt was slightly wrinkled, sleeves rolled, collar open like rules didn’t apply to him. His hair was messy in a way that looked intentional, his expression unreadable—
But his eyes?
Sharp.
Too sharp.
Like he saw everything.
“Mr. Cole,” Luca said, stepping inside without hesitation.
No fear.
No respect.
No permission.
Adrian watched him carefully.
Measured.
Interested.
Dangerously so.
“You’ve caused quite a disruption,” Adrian said.
Luca shrugged. “You’re hard to reach.”
The audacity.
Adrian should have had him thrown out.
Instead—
“What do you want?” he asked.
Luca stepped closer.
Not intimidated.
Not cautious.
Just… certain.
“I want a job.”
Adrian’s brow lifted slightly.
“A job?” he repeated.
“You don’t look qualified.”
Luca smiled.
Slow.
Provoking.
“I’m more useful than I look.”
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Testing.
Adrian stood.
The room shifted instantly.
Power filled the space, sharp and undeniable as he walked around the desk, stopping just a few steps away.
Up close—
Luca didn’t move.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t break eye contact.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
“You walked into my company uninvited,” Adrian said quietly.
“You disrupted my staff.”
A step closer.
“And now you expect me to hire you?”
Luca tilted his head slightly.
“You’re not curious why I’m here?”
That—
Caught his attention.
Adrian’s gaze darkened.
“Enlighten me.”
Luca reached into his pocket and pulled out a small envelope.
He held it between two fingers—
Then handed it over.
Adrian took it slowly.
Opened it.
And for the first time—
His expression changed.
Inside were documents.
Confidential.
Private.
Information that should not exist outside his control.
The air turned cold.
“Where did you get this?” Adrian asked.
Low.
Dangerous.
Luca didn’t answer immediately.
He just watched him.
Studying him.
Waiting.
Then—
“I told you,” Luca said softly.
“I’m useful.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Explosive.
Adrian closed the file slowly.
Carefully.
But his eyes—
Darkened.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
This wasn’t luck.
This was a threat.
And Adrian Cole didn’t tolerate threats.
But instead of anger—
Something else surfaced.
Something sharper.
More dangerous.
Interest.
“You want a job?” Adrian said finally.
Luca nodded once.
Adrian stepped closer.
Now they were inches apart.
Too close.
“Then you’ll work for me,” Adrian said.
His voice dropped.
Controlled.
Deadly.
“But understand this…”
His gaze locked onto Luca’s.
“I don’t hire people.”
A pause.
“I own them.”
Something flickered in Luca’s eyes.
Not fear.
Never fear.
“Good,” Luca replied.
A faint smile forming.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
