I couldn’t believe it! Here? Now? Of all places and times?
My jaw felt like it was cast in iron as I gave that impeccable face of his the once-over. He looked as if he'd struck a deal with Lucifer himself to get a mug like that.His hair, black and short, was always slick as the silk pillow I buried my face in every night. His eyes, dark as an insomniac night, twinkled like stars making light of the moon's absence. And that jawline... oh, that jawline..."Reina?""Damn!" I cursed, louder than I intended."What?""Nothing!" A little too quickly, I collected myself."Are you okay?"Of course I wasn't. The CEO of the company I worked for – the stingy, insufferable, unrecyclable piece of trash – was the VIP guest. How could I be okay?"Absolutely! Why wouldn't I be?" I forced the corners of my mouth to curl up in a smile, while my right eye twitched like it was sending Morse code for 'SOS.'"Good! I need you for your A-game today."Easy for her to say. Her boss wasn't sitting right across from her, looking like a Greek God in Armani."Count on me! I won't disappoint!" I summoned my best fake smile – one of my proudest achievements in this lifetime."Good. Now go introduce yourself." She shoved me forward, as if a gentle push was all I needed to plunge into this social abyss."Just you wait till I hit the jackpot." I muttered, adjusting my dress."You must be-""Queen Leita." I arched an eyebrow and stretched my lips into the most humanly possible smile."Pleasure to meet you, I'm Aryan." His hand reached out, ready for a shake.'Oh, I know who you are...' I thought, maintaining the Cheshire Cat smile, while my teeth gritted against each other like tectonic plates. 'You're the reason I'm in this godforsaken place.'"Nice to meet you, Aryan." I took his hand and shook it, pretending I wasn't imagining tossing him into the Mariana Trench."Please, have a seat. Let's get to know each other."'Oh, how charming! Aren't you supposed to be working overtime, Mr. CEO?' I thought, while sarcasm was dripping from my every word."Of course, I apologize for my rudeness." I took the seat across him, crossing my legs and taking in the full view of the devil in a three-piece suit."So, Reina, how long have you been working here?"His outfit was no different than his usual office attire: a nude-colored jacket with matching pants, dark shoes, a cloud-white shirt spotless as a teenager's search history, and a black tie that I'd love to use as a garrote someday..."I know you were in need of money, but I didn't know you were this desperate."His words were washing over me like a monotonous tide. My mind was too occupied with his hair, always looking like they were combed by the wind. His sense of style seemed to be a homage to the 1890s, yet he managed to make it look more alive than any trend you'd find on a Paris runway."As I was saying, perhaps you would be interested in signing a contract with me...?"His words flew in one ear and out the other, like a bored pigeon on a sightseeing tour. I had zero interest in the babble of this maleficent creature."Reina, are you listening to me?""What? Oh, yes! I'm sorry!" His voice yanked me back to reality."So, as I was saying, maybe you would like to sign a contract with me?""A contract? What contract?" I leaned back, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion."Reina, were you even paying attention?" His voice inched up a notch.Hold on a sec! Reina? 'How does he know?' I thought, my eyes bulged out like a cartoon character."How did you know?" I slapped the table with both my hands, causing a minor seismic disturbance in the room.The room filled with murmurs, and all eyes turned our way. The music was loud, but my talent for making a scene was louder.A short laugh escaped from his lips, a snort more like, echoing of mockery. He leaned back, nonchalantly placing a dark cigar from a golden plate into his mouth, puffing it like he was auditioning for a gangster movie."You'd be better off asking what I don't know..." he finally replied, his words suddenly hanging heavy in the air.I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly felt drier than a desert at noon. His black eyes felt like they were boring holes into my soul and extracting it through my nostrils. No!"I won't repeat myself, how did you know?"Ignoring me yet again, he began to speak his cryptic language."I have a contract for you..." He placed the cigar back onto the golden plate and clasped his hands together, pointing them at me like a preacher mid-sermon."What contract?" My lips twisted in distaste. 'What in the world is this man blabbering about now?'"I know about your mother's health... ahem, she'll soon be crossing the Styx if you don't settle the hospital bills..."His words knocked the wind out of me, 'how does he know about my mom???'"But I could help." He suggested, "I mean, the contract I offer could help."He leaned back again, making himself comfortable while placing his arm on the armrest."What contract???""I believe if you sign it, you could achieve anything you desire, and I would get what I want as well. It's a win-win situation, darling."This didn't sound like a win-win to me. More like a scam email from a Nigerian prince.I couldn't back down here, "And what exactly is it that you want, Mr. CEO?""What I want wouldn't interest you, but what you would get in return... it could chase away all your worries in life..." he paused, then looked around, "and perhaps help you escape this dreadful place?"He wasn't completely wrong about the place, but the people here were at least bearable."What are the conditions?" I leaned in closer.I saw the corners of his lips lift slightly, "Well, there's just one..."Of course this son of a rock would say something like this. “Eh?”“I know that I’m charming, but you can never break this confidion.”“As if! Have you ever looked in the mirror?” I yelled at him, knowing damn well he did. The beauty of this man was like a grocery store’s new and untouched plastic bag. It was me who couldn’t look into the mirror without cracking it. “I’m sorry?”“Yes! There’s no way in the world I could fail this confidition…” now I was the one laughing it.“So, would you be ready to sign it?”“I would like to see the contract first.” I crossed my arms around my chest and lifting my right eyebrow, I stared into him. A short sigh left his lips like a cunami in the middle of the ocean, for no reason.“Yes, of course.” While I looked at the bar, through the darkness of this room to see what Brett was doing, surprisingly the contract appeared on the table. I don’t know how he did it, maybe he was keeping it ready just in case he knew I’d say yes. I felt like a used
"Seriously, what the hell!” I sputtered, my lips twisted into a frown. The absurdity of his declaration was absolutely baffling."Your slave? Are you joking? First thing in the morning, no less!" I raised my voice, incredulity seeping into my tone. 'What an idiot!'"Reina," he began, his voice held a hint of impatience. "I know it's difficult for you to act with any semblance of normalcy, but I'm not here to engage in some childish game." He lifted his head, his gaze pierced mine with a startling intensity. His eyes, they usually were so calm and unreadable, now seemed to glow, reflecting a brilliant, almost demonic red. "Are you wearing lenses, by any chance?" I attempted to divert the conversation, his intimidating countenance made me feel quite uncomfortable."No. I will explain more when the time is right." he answered casually, adjusting his tie as he did so. I had to admit, the man had a sense of style. His wardrobe was a walking, talking fashion trend. Or maybe it was just his
As we stepped through the red door, I was momentarily blinded by the sudden darkness. My eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light revealing a room bathed in an eerie, crimson glow. The walls were draped with red velvet, and the air was thick with an intoxicating mix of incense and something metallic I couldn’t place. People moved about the space fluidly, their identities concealed by dark, ornate masks. It felt like we had stumbled upon a clandestine gathering, a secret society hidden beneath the bustling business above. The sight was so outlandishly strange that I couldn't help but gawk, even though I remained silent as he had instructed. We navigated through the masked figures, their hushed whispers were creating an ominous hum in the background. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat was echoing the rhythm of my mounting anxiety. I couldn’t understand what was happening, but there was no denying the aura of danger that permeated the room.Finally, Aryan guided me into a smaller
As Aryan's gaze locked with mine, his strict look softened, and a ghost of a smile danced at the corners of his lips. The oppressive silence that had cloaked the room lifted momentarily as he pondered my question. The air was still thick with the remnants of our earlier confrontation, and curiosity gnawed at my insides. But before I could voice my thoughts, he beat me to it."Reina," his voice was like a soothing balm against the tension, "what you've stumbled upon today is just the tip of an iceberg. The truth is a labyrinth, and I promise to guide you through it. But understand this: I'm not the man you think I am."His words were like a siren's song, luring me into a mystery that begged to be solved. My heart pounded a tribal rhythm in my chest, *thump* *thump* *thump*. Each beat was a battle between the instinct to bolt and the desire to decipher the enigma that was Aryan."As for 'Devil,'" he continued, a wry smile tugged at his lips, "it's a moniker that holds weight in this w
Author Here: Aryan’s and other characters’s pov will be written in the third. Aryan: “Rise and shine, my dear," a rich baritone with a hint of sarcasm reverberated through the dimly lit room as Aryan sank into the well-worn leather chair. His gaze was intensively and unyielding, remaining locked onto Reina who passed out on his desk. Her expansive and cerulean eyes were like the summer sky, now concealed beneath closed lids, harboring a world of secrets. Her countenance, typically an array of animated expressions, had transformed into a tranquil tableau of serenity. A soft, barely discernible smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he observed her. Even the devil himself, in all his cunning and might, would find himself disarmed before such a woman. She bore no regal lineage, possessed no grand narrative of her life. Her beauty was not the kind to inspire poets or artists, and her dubious occupation had seemingly secured her a spot in the inferno.Yet, there was an aura about
Reina’s POV‘To a meeting filled with devils…’ I mumbled. What on earth was this guy talking about here now? As we walked through the buzzling mall, butterflies kept dancing in my belly. I felt the joy filling it up inside my heart. I was happy to receive this bag, very happy. But seeing how easily I got it, it makes me wanna think if this contract with him was something that I complained about too much. “Here, this way.” He gently placed his right hand near my back to protect me from something, and allowed me to get inside first into the dimly lit room. “Aryan, where are we?” “Sshh. Don’t say anything, just follow me.”Walking through the door, I had no idea what awaited me in that meeting. But the sight that greeted me was anything but expected – a sex shop filled with an assortment of toys and bondage items. “What is this…?” I mumbled, and glanced at Aryan. ‘Why did this weirdo bring me here?’My discomfort was obvious, and now I couldn't help but label Aryan as a pervert in
As I pointed out the man who had caught my attention, Aryan's eyes followed my finger. His expression turned from annoyance to a guarded vigilance as he studied the man I had identified. It was clear that Aryan took my unease seriously, his protectiveness came to the forefront. The tension in the room seemed to escalate as both men locked eyes, a silent exchange that I couldn't fully comprehend. I clung to Aryan's hand, seeking his reassurance as the encounter unfolded before us. What is happening?’Aryan's grip on my hand tightened as he remained locked in an intense stare with the man who had made me uncomfortable. The air seemed to grow heavy with an unspoken tension, and I felt anxious, this weird-shaky vibration kept washing over me. The man's expression was inscrutable, his eyes pierced into Aryan's.A low, cautious voice emerged from Aryan's lips, "Stay close to me, Reina." His protective instincts were comforting, and I could sense his readiness to shield me from any percei
Aryan picked up Reina in his arms and carried her into the hotel. He walked up to the reception and looked at the woman. "Give me the keys to an empty room," he whispered.The woman looked like she was hypnotized. She handed the room key to Aryan like a zombie, without talking back.Aryan walked inside with Reina in his arms. He looked around and dropped her on the bed, gently. Then she brushed her shoulders off and woke up, looking at Aryan standing in front of her.“Do you still want to be pleased?”Her face boiled in heat, but she answered, “yes…”He then got closer and started to unbutton her blouse again, saying, "Will you let the devil take you tonight?"Reina nodded and lay on the bed, with only her bra saving her chest from exposure. Aryan smirked and leaned forward. The muscles of his arms tightened when he looked at her eyes.Aryan's lips brushed against Reina's neck. He kissed her gently, then passionately. “Aah…” Reina moaned softly and wrapped her arms around his neck.