A Deal With The Devil
973 Words
Chapter 1: A Deal With the Devil
Sophia Carter didn’t have time for nonsense.
Her morning had started with a broken coffee machine, a subway delay, and an inbox flooded with urgent emails—all before 8 AM. But none of that compared to the real disaster waiting for her inside Hayes Corporation’s towering headquarters: her boss, Damian Hayes.
As she stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor, she adjusted her blazer, squared her shoulders, and took a deep breath. She could handle anything.
Even him.
Damian was more than just a billionaire CEO. He was a force of nature, all sharp edges and unreadable expressions. Most employees feared him; others admired him from a distance. Sophia? She tolerated him—barely.
Pushing open the glass doors of his office, she found him exactly where she expected: standing behind his desk, staring out at the city skyline like it had personally offended him.
“You’re late.”
The deep timbre of his voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to let it faze her. “Only by two minutes,” she said, placing a stack of folders on his desk. “And considering I’ve already handled three reschedules, two press inquiries, and a last-minute investor meeting, I think you’ll survive.”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face before disappearing just as quickly. “Remind me why I keep you around?”
“Because no one else can put up with you,” she shot back, arching a brow.
He smirked. “Fair point.”
Sophia wasn’t sure if it was an insult or a compliment. With Damian, it was always hard to tell.
She cleared her throat. “Your schedule for today is packed. You’ve got a lunch meeting with Mr. Carlson, the finance team wants an update on the merger, and your father called—twice.”
Damian’s jaw tightened at the mention of his father. Interesting.
“You didn’t put him through, did you?” he asked, voice clipped.
“Of course not,” she replied. “I figured if you wanted to talk to him, you’d do it yourself.”
His gaze flicked to her, assessing. “You’re too smart for your own good, Carter.”
She gave him a tight-lipped smile. “It’s part of the job description.”
He didn’t respond, just turned back to the window, lost in thought.
Something was definitely wrong.
She’d worked for Damian for nearly three years, long enough to recognize when something was off. He was always composed, always in control. But today, there was a tension in his posture that hadn’t been there before.
Sophia hesitated before asking, “Everything okay?”
For a moment, he didn’t answer. Then, he exhaled sharply and turned to face her. “Close the door.”
Her stomach tightened at his tone. She did as he asked, shutting the door behind her before crossing her arms. “What’s going on?”
Damian studied her, his piercing blue eyes unreadable. Then, finally, he spoke.
“I need a wife.”
Silence.
Sophia blinked. Did he just say—
“I’m sorry, what?”
His expression remained unreadable. “You heard me.”
She let out a startled laugh. “Okay, you’re messing with me. This is some kind of joke, right?”
“I don’t joke.”
She stopped laughing. Oh God, he was serious.
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the absurdity of what he was saying. Damian Hayes—the man who barely tolerated social interactions—needed a wife?
“What—why?” she stammered.
His jaw clenched. “Because my father is trying to force me into a marriage I don’t want. If I don’t find a wife on my own, he’ll choose one for me—and that’s not an option.”
She frowned. “And what does this have to do with me?”
His gaze locked onto hers, intense and unwavering. “Because I want you to be my wife.”
The world tilted on its axis.
Sophia’s mouth went dry. “You’re out of your mind.”
Damian crossed the room in slow, deliberate steps. “Think about it. You already run my life better than anyone. You know my schedule, my business, my habits. If I have to be married, I’d rather it be to someone competent.”
Her pulse pounded in her ears. “That’s not how marriage works, Damian.”
“It’s not a real marriage,” he said smoothly. “It’s a contract. One year, and at the end of it, you walk away with enough money to never worry about anything again.”
Her stomach twisted. It was tempting.
She needed money—badly. Her mother’s hospital bills were piling up, and her younger brother’s college tuition was a constant source of stress. The amount of money Damian could offer her? It would change everything.
But this… this was insanity.
“This is crazy,” she whispered.
“It’s smart,” he corrected. “You need money. I need a wife. It’s a win-win.”
She shook her head. “This is your solution to your father’s ultimatum? Fake a marriage?”
He shrugged. “If it keeps Celeste Morgan away from me and secures my position, then yes.”
Sophia swallowed hard. This was dangerous—playing pretend in Damian Hayes’s world was bound to end badly.
And yet…
She thought of her mother’s frail figure in the hospital bed. Thought of the past-due notices piling up on her kitchen table.
One year.
That was all.
She exhaled slowly, meeting his gaze. “What are the terms?”
Damian’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. “I knew you were smart.”
And just like that, she made a deal with the devil.
- Writer
