chapter 13.The Devil's Offer
855 Words
The elevator doors slid open with a metallic hiss.
Victor Sterling stood before them, impeccably dressed in a charcoal-gray suit, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. A faint smile curved his lips, but there was nothing friendly about it.
"James," he greeted. "You've kept me waiting."
James stepped out first, placing himself between Rose and Victor.
"What do you want?"
Victor chuckled softly.
"Straight to business. I expected nothing less from my dear cousin."
Rose's heart skipped a beat.
"Cousin?"
James had never mentioned Victor was family.
Victor noticed her surprise and smirked.
"He never told you? I'm hurt."
James's jaw tightened.
"Blood doesn't make us family."
Victor laughed.
"Still as cold as ever."
Armed men emerged from the shadows, surrounding the hallway. There were too many to fight.
Richard instinctively reached for his gun.
Victor raised a hand.
"I wouldn't do that."
Within seconds, laser sights appeared on every member of James's team.
Rose froze.
One wrong move...
And they would all die.
Victor's smile disappeared.
"I didn't bring you here to kill you."
"Then why?" James asked.
"To make you an offer."
James remained silent.
Victor slowly walked toward Rose, stopping only a few feet away.
"You've changed him."
Rose frowned.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, but you do."
Victor looked directly into James's eyes.
"The ruthless billionaire who never trusted anyone now risks everything for one woman."
He smiled again.
"That makes you... His greatest weakness."
James's voice turned icy.
"Stay away from my wife."
Victor laughed.
"See? Exactly my point."
He snapped his fingers.
A large screen lit up on the wall.
Rose gasped.
The screen showed her father.
He was tied to a chair inside a dark warehouse, bruised but alive.
"Dad..."
Her voice cracked.
James clenched his fists.
Victor folded his arms.
"He's alive—for now."
Rose stepped forward.
"What do you want from us?"
Victor's expression became deadly serious.
"I'll release your father..."
He paused.
"...if James signs Sterling Group over to me."
The room fell silent.
Rose turned toward James in disbelief.
The Sterling Group was worth billions.
Everything James had built.
Everything his parents had left him.
Victor smiled.
"You have twenty-four hours to decide."
"If you refuse..."
He pressed a button.
The screen changed.
A countdown timer appeared.
23:59:59
Victor's cold voice echoed through the room.
"When that timer reaches zero..."
"...your father dies."
"No."
James answered without hesitation.
The single word echoed through the silent room.
Victor arched an eyebrow.
"You didn't even think about it."
"I don't negotiate with people who threaten innocent lives."
Victor chuckled.
"You've changed, James. Years ago, you would've sacrificed anyone to protect your empire."
James took a step forward, his gaze never leaving Victor's.
"And years ago, I never had someone worth protecting."
Rose's breath caught.
He wasn't just talking about her father.
He was talking about her.
Victor noticed the look they exchanged and laughed.
"How touching."
"But love makes people stupid."
He snapped his fingers.
One of his men dragged an elderly man into the room.
Rose's eyes widened.
"Dad!"
Tears filled her eyes as she struggled against the guards holding her back.
Her father's face was pale, his clothes stained with blood, but he managed a weak smile.
"Rose..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm so sorry."
Rose broke free and rushed toward him, but two guards blocked her path.
"Let me go!"
"Please!"
James reached for her hand, pulling her gently behind him.
"I'll get him out."
Victor slowly applauded.
"Wonderful."
"The fearless James Sterling."
"But tell me..."
"Can you save your wife..."
"Or her father?"
His smile disappeared.
"You only get one choice."
Silence settled over the room.
Rose looked at James.
She knew the answer before he spoke.
He would choose her.
He always would.
Her heart ached.
She couldn't let her father die because of her.
She took a slow step forward.
"I'll stay."
James turned sharply.
"What?"
Rose forced herself to smile, even though tears blurred her vision.
"If my staying here keeps my father alive..."
"I'll do it."
"No."
His voice was firm.
"I won't allow it."
She looked into his eyes.
"You promised to protect me."
"I am protecting you."
"Then protect my father too."
For the first time since they met, James looked helpless.
Victor smiled with satisfaction.
"This is much more entertaining than I expected."
Just then—
BANG!
A deafening explosion shook the entire building.
The lights flickered wildly.
Alarms screamed through the hall.
One of Victor's men ran in, panic written across his face.
"Sir!"
"We're under attack!"
Victor frowned.
"By whom?"
The guard swallowed hard.
"We don't know..."
"But they've already breached the outer security!"
James's lips curled into a faint smile.
"I guess you're not the only one with enemies."
Victor's expression darkened.
Before anyone could react—
The ceiling above them cracked.
Concrete rained down.
A steel beam crashed between James and Victor, separating them.
Smoke filled the room.
In the chaos, someone grabbed Rose's wrist.
She turned—
And gasped.
It wasn't James.
It was a masked stranger.
"Don't scream," the stranger whispered.
"I'm here to save you."
- Writer
