The Contracted Mistress

It was eleven o'clock at night at the Chase Club, one of the finest private clubs in Los Angeles. Natalie Harper stood beside the black Rolls Royce and took a deep breath of the cold air that smelled of the ocean breeze. She knew that when she stepped through the door, there was no turning back. The doorman recognized her face - the once-powerful Harper Group's daughter, now reduced to seeking "help" in a place like this. Sympathy flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by trained indifference. "Miss Harper, Mr. Chase is waiting for you on the top floor." The elevator rose slowly, and she was stunningly beautiful in the mirror. The black silk gown fit her body curves perfectly, and the deep V design vaguely displayed her proud bustline. The high-cut design that opened up to the base of her thighs made her long legs visible, exuding fatal temptation at every angle. She knew what tonight meant. Knew what she would have to trade for what she wanted. The moment the elevator doors opened, she saw him. Elijah Chase. The thirty-three-year-old business emperor who controlled the capital landscape of five major industries in Asia. At the moment, he was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed in a dark gray hand-tailored suit, his slender figure looking even more erect against the night scenery. Hearing the elevator, he slowly turned around. At that moment, Natalie's breath almost stopped. Even after seeing countless photos and news reports, the real Elijah still blew her away. Deep gray eyes that seemed to be able to see into the heart, a high nose, thin lips pursed, the whole face sculpted to perfection but with a dangerous coldness. "Natalie Harper," he pronounced her name, his voice low and magnetic, like aged whiskey, "you're finally here." "You were expecting me?" She struggled to keep her composure as she walked slowly towards him on her heels. "Waiting for you to open your mouth and beg me, to be precise." The corners of his mouth curved into a mocking arc, "The Harper family's daughter, reduced to begging for a favor from an enemy, must be pretty bad." Every word stabbed at her heart like a knife, but Natalie didn't flinch. She knew it was his test, his way of enjoying the thrill of revenge. "I want to make a deal with you." She stopped two steps away from him and looked up at him. "A deal?" Elijah raised an eyebrow and turned towards the liquor cabinet, "What do you think you have left to trade with me now?The Harper Group is bankrupt, your father is in jail, and your mother ......" He paused deliberately and looked at her with cold eyes, "What do you have left?" Natalie's hands clenched into fists, her nails piercing into her palms. The mention of her mother cut her heart like a knife. "I have myself left." Her voice was clear and firm, every word enunciated. Elijah's hand stopped in midair, and the wine he was about to pour froze. Turning, his eyes became dangerous, "Do you realize what you're saying?" "Of course I do." Natalie walked slowly toward him, each step seductive, "I'll trade myself for your complete destruction of George Harper." The air seemed to freeze. Elijah set down his bottle, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's, "You want me to destroy your own father?" "He doesn't deserve to be my father." Natalie's eyes burned with hatred, "He killed my mother and destroyed our family. And ......" She paused and looked deeply at Elijah, "He killed your mother too, didn't he?" Elijah's pupils constricted momentarily, and the air pressure around him lowered horribly. All the pain and hatred from the car accident twenty years ago, his mother's tragic death, came flooding back instantly. "You investigated me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "It takes one to know one." Natalie slowly walked up to him, close enough to smell the faint scent of cedar on him, "Elijah Chase, you hate George Harper and want him to pay. And I, as it happens, can give you that chance." "And the terms?" His voice was lower, dangerously magnetic. "No conditions." She raised her hand, her long, white fingers brushing over the shirt on his chest, "I have only one request ...... to make his death complete." Elijah grabbed her wrist with such force that it almost crushed her bones, "How much are you worth, do you think?" The question was so blunt, so humiliating, but Natalie didn't flinch. Instead, she pressed even closer to him, her red lips almost against his ear, "It depends on how much you want." Her breath sprayed his ear, the warmth of it making him stiffen. "I can be your lover, your plaything, your anything." Her voice was light as a feather, yet every word was seductive, "as long as you make George Harper regret coming into this world." Elijah's eyes became more dangerous, he could feel the warmth of her body and smell the faint scent of jasmine on her. This woman was so dangerous, so dangerous that he almost lost his mind. "Are you sure?" His large hands slid to her waist, he could clearly feel the smoothness of her skin through the thin silk, "Once you start, there's no turning back." "I never regret my decisions." Natalie tilted her head back to look at him with a determined gleam in her eyes. Elijah stared at her for a long moment and suddenly let go. He turned toward the liquor cabinet and re-poured two glasses of wine. "You know my rules." He handed her one of the glasses, "I never lose money." "You don't lose money." Natalie took the glass, the red wine swaying in the crystal glass like her eyes, "I promise." "Then show me your sincerity." Elijah's mouth curled into a wicked smile. He didn't give her more time to think. The next second, she was pulled into his arms. His kiss came hard and dominant, with no gentleness to speak of. He nipped at her bottom lip, his tongue barging into her mouth in a dominating manner, plundering everything that was hers. Natalie's body stiffened for a moment, but soon softened in his arms. She knew this was the beginning of the deal and the first step in her plan for revenge. She responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck to bring herself closer to his body. Elijah felt her response and a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes. This woman was more forthcoming and dangerous than he'd expected. His hand slid up her back, caressing the smooth skin beneath the silk gown. Her body trembled lightly under his hands, but she didn't push him away. "You're beautiful." He whispered in her ear, his voice hoarse as a wild animal, "So beautiful that you want to destroy it." "Then destroy it." Her voice was equally husky with deadly seduction. He looked into her eyes, and there was determination, hatred, and despair in them, but only no love. Good. Love would only complicate things. "Remember what you said tonight." He pressed her against the leather couch behind him and leaned down, "From now on, you're mine." The couch was soft and her body sank into it. Moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making her look like a fallen angel. Elijah's hand explored the zipper of her gown in a slow, ritualistic motion. Every inch of exposed skin made his breathing heavier. "There's still a chance to reverse it." He stopped moving, giving her one last chance to choose. "I won't back out." Her eyes were firm as steel, "Elijah Chase, after tonight, we're partners." "No." He shook his head, his eyes dangerous as a cheetah in the night, "After tonight, you're my woman." As soon as his words were out of his mouth, his long fingers found the zipper on her back. The metal zipper slid slowly under his hands, making a slight "hissing" sound, and every inch of the zipper made her heart beat faster. Cold air burrowed through the open zipper, causing her to shiver lightly. "Scared?" His voice rang in her ear, his warm breath tingling her body. "No." Her reply was soft, but firm. The zipper pulled away completely and the black silk gown slipped like water, piling up around her ankles. Moonlight spilled over the perfect curves of her body, making her look like a fallen goddess.