THE CONTRACT WITH MY DEMON

Chapter One — The Freedom Mission Anny POV I stared at the document in front of me and couldn’t help but scoff as I glared at my boss, who was also my heartless and most annoying friend. “This is not the deal.” “Really?” she asked, looking at me as if she genuinely didn’t understand what I was talking about. “Huh?” She tilted her head. “What deal are we talking about here?” “Will you stop acting like that?” She smiled as she got up from her chair and walked toward me. Before I could react, she forced me back into my seat. “Why don’t you check it first?” I stared at her, completely at a loss for words. “You know you promised to let me go after I was done with the last mission. Well, that’s what you called it. So what is this?” “Huh? This is your freedom mission.” She gave me a teasing smile. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Freedom mission? You make it sound like I’m a harlot.” “Hey, that’s not a good way to describe yourself.” “Then what am I?” I asked. She reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear. “You’re my secret agent, not a harlot. You talk like you’re a newbie in this company.” She returned to her chair and sat down. I bit my lip, not knowing what else to do. “Beatrice, this is not what you promised me.” “I know, and I promise you, it wasn’t easy convincing those idiots sitting at the top. You understand?” “I don’t,” I replied sternly. I wasn’t mentally prepared for another heartbreaking moment. Not again. “Can you stop making things hard for me?” she asked in a babyish voice. “Making things hard for you? I think you’re taking my words like we both have a deal. You said that would be my last mission, and now you’re…” “Huh?” She cut me off. “You’re angry?” I smiled bitterly. “Am I not supposed to be angry?” “I understand you’re angry, but it’s not my fault.” I smiled. “Then is it mine?” She nodded with a smile. I gave her a questioning look. “Sweetheart, you’re the best in the company. Do you know how investors behave when they hear that you’re backing out? And, to be sincere, it’s not like you don’t enjoy being someone’s wife.” “Someone’s wife?” I snapped. “Do you know what it took for me not to slap some men across the face? Do you know what it took for me not to walk out of some deals?” “But you handled 104 contracts successfully and received a good review from each of them. Isn’t that why you’re the best?” I scratched my head. She really knew how to get under my skin. “You know, whenever I see you, you make me remember how we started. So can you not back out now? I can’t really do this without you.” She gave me that cute little look. “It won’t work this time. I’m quitting.” “Huh? What do you want to do when you quit?” she asked, staring at me. “I’ll start my own company and live my life.” “Oh, and this is the perfect job for you.” She pointed at the files placed in front of me. “What do you mean?” She smiled. “Do you know how much the person paid to get his son a wife?” “Did I need to know?” I asked uninterestedly. Deep down, I wanted to know, but I knew that curiosity would drag me straight into whatever hell the demon in front of me was preparing. “One billion dollars.” I froze. “Is the person mad?” Who paid such a huge amount of money to get a wife for his son? The highest I had ever heard of was thirty million, but this person had paid a billion. She stared at me. “Will you take the job, please?” I smiled. “Are you pushing me to hell?” “No. I’m pushing you to heaven. If you take the job, it will be a ticket for you to live your dream life.” I looked at her and smiled. “Not interested. Get my resignation letter signed as soon as possible.” “Really?” She rested against her chair. “Wow. Seems I can’t help a friend who is hell-bent on making herself poor.” I turned toward her. “What did you mean?” “Simple.” She smiled. “The commission for this is high.” I stared at her. “What does that have to do with me?” “If you’re able to get all the useful information needed to get him a wife, you receive seventy-five percent. Do you know how much that is?” I stared at her, unable to believe my ears. The highest commission I had ever received for a successful contract was fifty percent. But this was different. All I needed was information, and I would get seventy-five percent. It was tempting. But behind every temptation, there was a reason. She stared at me expectantly as I tried to weigh the pros and cons. “Are you sure?” I asked. She smiled. “Have I ever lied to you?” She removed the contract and placed it in front of me. I smiled at her. “Why is it me you picked? Why not Betty? She is almost in my range, and if you help me resign, she’ll be the next best. This will help you get on her good side.” I was trying to find the secret behind what she was doing. “She’s not my best friend.” “Wow. So I am?” She nodded and shifted the contract toward me. I stared at her, but she tried to avoid my gaze. “Tell me the truth, Beatrice. What is in this project?” “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” She smiled. Her smile gave her away. “The truth,” I demanded, more determined this time. “Huh? Because he is rich and Betty seems unreliable. What if she makes herself his wife and breaks the rules? You know that will be on me.” I stared at her. She smiled. “But I trust you. Nothing can move you. So, my love and life, please. Just this one, and I’ll help you get your resignation letter signed with immediate effect.” I stared at the file. I wished I could open it to see what was inside, but I couldn’t. After all, that was the rule of the matchmaking business. You didn’t get to see the file until you signed the contract, and after that, there was no backing down. I swallowed hard and signed the contract. My friend finally gave me a beautiful smile as she blew on the contract. “That is why I love you.” “Wait. I’m going as his secretary?” She stared at me in shock. “Huh?” She gave me a nervous smile. “What does the contract say?” I asked. “Huh? Don’t worry about what the contract says.” “Tell me!” I shouted. “Huh?” She smiled. “As his wife.” “Change it right now.” She pouted. “You ought to have read it before signing. You can’t back down now.” She said it with a smile. “Have I ever told you something?” I asked. “What?” I stared at her. “I hate you.” “Huh? I’ll take that as a compliment.” I ripped the files open. What I saw made my feet go cold. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Did I just sign a contract to my death?