Loving The Devil's Son

"It used to be a hug with two people standing," Mrs. Morrison said quietly from the other side of the bed. Tears ran down her pale cheeks, and her voice trembled with sorrow. "Now one can't stand... and the other one is breaking. Ayla swallowed the sob that was building in her throat. Her mother's remarks hurt her deeply, revealing the wound she was trying to cover. The mess of tubes and cables made her father, the strongest man she knew, look so little. "Mom," Ayla cried, "I can't do this. I—I don't want to lose him. She shook her fingers as she pushed a strand of hair away from her father's brow. "There has to be a different way." Mrs. Morrison pointed to the calendar posted to the wall and wiped her eyes with a wrinkled tissue. A red circle showed how many hours were left till the important surgery. "We don't have time to wait for miracles." Lucas Steve has given the money. We only have to say yes. Ayla's gut hurt and twisted into a knot. Lucas Steve is a heartless businessman and a vicious billionaire. He was known for making money by turning firms that were having trouble into gold mines, but only after taking away their soul. If she took his bargain, she would have to give up the heritage her father established from scratch. Her eyes moved to her father's old hands. The same hands that taught her how to figure out profit margins when she was twelve. The same hands that planted flowers in their backyard every spring because her mother loved lilies. How could she let him give up his life's work? Her mother knelt down next to her and whispered, "I know it's hard." "But we don't have any other choices. "We lose everything if we lose him." Ayla opened her mouth to say something, but a quiet, raspy voice stopped her. "Ayla..." Her dad. She jumped up and leaned across the bed as his eyes opened. His eyes, which used to be keen and full of life, were now glassy and unfocused. He twitched his lips while wearing the oxygen mask. Mr. Morrison pulled the mask off with shaky hands. He was working hard, and his chest was heaving. "Save... the company," he said, his voice rough. "Even if it costs you." The heart monitor made a loud noise. As he had trouble breathing, the green line on the screen jumped up and down. Nurses ran into the room and yelled orders. "Sir, don't move—" "Get back!" As the team of nurses rushed around her father, Ayla lurched away from the bed. Her mother's grip tightened around her waist. The beeping of the machine sped up and turned into a sharp, constant tone. The flat line. "No! Dad!" Ayla cried and tried to get away, but her mother held her close. "Clear!" Mr. Morrison's body got a shock of electricity. His chest rose off the bed and then slammed back down. The monitor kept screeching endlessly and lifelessly. "Again!" Another surprise. Ayla cried and buried her face in her mother's shoulder. A nurse ran into the hallway and picked up the phone on the wall. "Code blue, ICU." "Code blue!" Ayla's heart broke. This couldn't be going on. Not after all the work they had done. As the nurses gave her another shock, the world around her became blurry. Please, God. Please let him return. All of a sudden, the monitor made a crackling and stuttering sound. A slow, uneven beep broke the silence. The doctor said, "He's back," his voice full of relief. "His pulse is weak, but he's back." Ayla's knees gave way. Her mother caught her crying into her hair. The nurses moved Mr. Morrison's oxygen mask and turned up the ventilator's settings. The doctor went outside, looking quite serious. "He's stable for now." But his health is getting worse faster than we thought it would. If we don't conduct the operation within twenty-four hours... He didn't finish what he was saying. He didn't have to. Ayla made fists. It cost millions of dollars to have the procedure. They didn't have any money. And the sole deal on the table came with a devil's price tag. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Lucas Steve—Call coming in. She couldn't breathe. Just hearing the term made her feel like a noose was tightening around her neck. Don't go through with it. Her father's comments from years ago rang in her ears: "Don't give the company to anyone who doesn't care about its heart." But what good was a business without its owner? Without the man who made it and cared for it? The cardiac monitor made an inconsistent beep. Another reminder of how fast time is passing. She answered the phone with a nervous gasp. "Ms. Morrison." The voice on the other line was calm, collected, and entirely detached. Ayla held the phone so hard that her knuckles became white. "Mr. Steve... I… I'm ready to sign. Three agonizing seconds of silence passed. "Okay." There was nothing surprising about his voice. Just happiness. "My office. At ten o'clock tomorrow. "Don't be late." The line went silent. Ayla put the phone down, her hand shaking. Her mom held her arm tightly. "We'll get through this," she said softly. Ayla nodded without thinking. But how much does it cost? The Next Day As it went up to the penthouse floor, the polished steel elevator of Steve Enterprises made a quiet humming sound. Every second that went by made Ayla's heart race. The signed contract was weighty in her bag, like a stone bound to her destiny. She tried to get ready for the man she was about to meet. She had seen his pictures in business journals. He was tall, had dark hair, and eyes that were as sharp as his business sense. A man who loved having power and authority. The elevator made a noise. The doors opened. Ayla walked into the big office. The New York City skyline was framed by the windows that went from floor to ceiling. The room was full of golden light from the early sun, but the air was cold. From the shadows by the window, a deep voice whispered. "Ms. Morrison." "On time." She turned around. Lucas Steve stood with his back to her and his hands behind his back. His dark gray suit fit him perfectly. Her breath caught when he turned around. His eyes. It was icy blue and had a piercing intensity that appeared to cut her in half. His lips curled into a thin, hungry grin. "Sit." He pointed to the chair on the other side of his desk. Ayla's legs moved before her head could catch up. She sat up upright and held on to the strap of her purse like it was a lifeline. Lucas walked over to the desk and reached out his hand. "The deal?" Her throat got constricted. She took it out of her bag and gave it to him. He opened it and looked at the pages with lackadaisical accuracy. "Seventy percent control," he thought. "The Morrison family's legacy... mine now." "You said you would save the company," she murmured between clenched teeth. "I will." He signed the last page with a flourish. "But not the way your dad did. He was careful. No, I don't. Ayla's heart skipped a beat. "If you mess it up—" Lucas leaned forward and put his hands on the desk. He looked straight into her eyes. "Ms. Morrison, you signed. I now own the business. Her stomach turned. This was the man who now ran her father's business. The life of her father. Her own future. Lucas's phone buzzed on the table. He looked at the television and then stood up. "That's it for the meeting." I have more essential things to do. He moved to the window and ignored her like a boss. Ayla stood up straight and looked up as she walked to the elevator. But when she got to the door, Lucas's voice halted her in her tracks. "You look like your dad." Ayla turned around. "Excuse me?" He didn't look at her. "Stubborn. Very passionate. It will either save you or kill you. The doors of the elevator slid shut behind them. Ayla's phone buzzed again as the elevator went down. Unknown Number: Don't talk to Lucas Steve. He'll kill you, just like your father killed him. Her heart sank. His dad?