Chapter3
891 Words
Chapter 3—--- A Deal with the Devil
Natalie's fingers hovered over her phone screen, her pulse thrumming in her ears. The name stared back at her: Damien Hale. It wasn’t a name she ever thought she’d reach out to, but here she was.
Their paths had crossed before—always from a distance, always as adversaries.
Damien had been Liam's biggest competitor in business and, by default, Natalie’s enemy. She had spent years watching Liam fight to stay ahead of him, pouring everything into their empire. Damien Hale was ruthless, calculating, and impossible to outmaneuver.
And now, he was the only person who could help her burn Liam to the ground.
Natalie tapped out a message. Simple. Direct.
I have a proposal for you. Let’s talk.
She hesitated for only a second before hitting send.
The moment the message delivered, doubt crept in. Was this a mistake? Damien wasn’t the kind of man who did favors. He wouldn’t help her out of pity or some misguided sense of justice. If he agreed, it would be because there was something in it for him.
But that was fine.
Natalie wasn’t looking for a savior. She was looking for a weapon.
A sharp inhale filled her lungs as she stared at the phone. It felt like an eternity before the screen lit up with a response.
Where and when?
A slow smirk curled on Natalie's lips.
Damien didn’t ask what. He didn’t demand details or hesitate. That told her everything she needed to know—he was interested.
She quickly typed back:
Midnight. Sinclair Hotel. Bar.
Another message popped up almost instantly.
Don’t be late.
The screen dimmed, but Natalie kept her grip tight around the phone. The weight of what she’d just set in motion pressed against her chest.
There was no going back now.
She moved to the window, looking out over the city skyline. Somewhere across town, Liam was likely celebrating. Toasting to his perfect new life. His perfect new wife.
And he thought she would simply disappear.
Natalie’s nails dug into her palm as she exhaled slowly.
No. He didn’t get to walk away unscathed.
If Liam wanted a perfect life, she’d make sure he never had one. If he thought he could replace her so easily, she’d remind him exactly what he lost.
And Damien Hale was the perfect weapon for that destruction.
Liam had spent years treating Damien as his worst nightmare.
Now, Damien would become hers—one she wielded to cut Liam down.
Her reflection in the window looked different—sharper, more dangerous.
Revenge had never looked so tempting.
The next day.
The bar was sleek, polished, and exclusive—the kind where billionaires made deals that decided the fate of companies, cities, and even people. Dim lighting cast a golden glow over the expensive whiskey glasses and whispered conversations. It was a place of quiet power, and tonight, Natalie had every intention of wielding her own.
She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the marble floor with practiced confidence. Every movement was measured, every breath controlled. She refused to let nerves betray her, not when she was about to face a man like Damien Hale.
She spotted him instantly.
Damien was already seated in a private booth near the back, a glass of dark liquor in his hand, his posture one of casual dominance. He wasn’t a man who needed to command attention—power clung to him effortlessly.
He exuded wealth, danger, and a ruthless amusement that made her pulse spike. As if he had already won whatever game they were about to play.
His dark eyes met hers, sharp and assessing. A slow smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back, inviting her into his world with nothing more than a glance.
Natalie refused to be rattled.
Lifting her chin, she strode forward and slid into the seat across from him.
“You actually came,” Damien murmured, swirling the liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip.
“I don’t waste time,” Natalie said coolly.
His smirk deepened, as if she had just confirmed something for him. “No, I don’t imagine you do.”
The game had begun.
Natalie meets Damien's gaze, unwavering. “You want to get under Liam's skin right? Well, there’s no better way than walking into his wedding with me on your arm.”
Damien chuckles, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Tempting, but I don’t do charity work. What’s in it for me?”
Natalie crosses her legs, keeping her expression cool despite the rapid beat of her pulse. She knew this wouldn’t be easy—Damien Hale wasn’t a man who played along without leverage.
“You want to take Liam down, don’t you?” she asks. “I’ve been in his life for a decade. I know what makes him tick, what makes him nervous. And I know exactly how to make him crack.”
Damien already knew how things went down between Natalie and Liam but he decided to act like he was hearing for the first time. Not because the story bored him but because Damien knew Liam's biggest and deepest secret and he has been looking for a chance to expose him every since.
Natalie has proposed a chance to finally ruin Liam.
- Writer
