18 The Devil's Lair

Her heart ached for that freedom. Her soul had ever been restless since that fateful day she was grabbed at the outside gates of the Stones Villa. Her life then turned into living hell. She blinked back the tears that almost crept at the corner of her eyes.

"It's time." Farrah came inside the office and handed both of them paper bags then left.

Inside Maia's office is a bedroom for when she needs to sleep overtime. It was her private quarters ever since she was introduced in the company. The room was big and it even has a shower room and a small bar counter with different kinds of wine. Daemon looked around the room and a corner of his lips raised. Maia looked back at him and realized it is his first time entering that room. "Privileges of the Mrs. Stone position." she said and she walked towards the bathroom to change.

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Red lights were stationed at every five meters within a very large meeting room. The scene is just like an ominous meeting of devils was about to begin.

The floor was all black reflecting the red light emanating from the lights inside. There were six guards inside who stood in black suits and more of them outside the room spread around the wide expanse of the area.

At the middle of the room sits a large rectangular marble table with at least 20 seats lined with red covers and cushions. There were no other furniture inside the large room but the aura and power one feels inside screams more than just riches, it exudes regality.

One by one, men and women from different races swept in filling the room. Some can be seen as heavy built with a cigar on their mouth. Some women wore makeup exceedingly dangerous that their allure can bend any man who glances their way.

Others look like ordinary people but the sharp eyes which everyone inside the room possess were all the same. They were all powerful people who belong to one society. Every step they make on their way to the table exudes dangerous auras. The guards seem to be used to the scene and never even once glanced at any of the dignitaries who arrived.

"The Queen hasn't arrived yet."

A curvy woman in a red dress shot a glance in the chair at the middle of the table. Her smile hang sexily on her lips as she rested her elbow on the table to support her lovely face. Her name is Flair Montage.

"She seems to be with her 'husband' at the moment, Flair. And here I was, thinking of a way to catch her attention. Tch." With a flick of a finger, the man who looks like a normal businessman lit up a cigarette and puffed smoke.

"BE-HAVE Aldred... you know she never liked you since the start. I heard her hubby is The Monster from the army. Nice man, nice body, but... way too brutal they say." She snatched the newly-lit cigarette from Aldred who was sitting just in front of her while every eye in the room widened as they heard the words... The Monster.

Minutes passed as the group chatted about the only person who was still not inside the room. After a while...

Click. Clack. Click. Their attention focused on the sound of clacking heels from the outside. They all know too well who owns that soft yet elegant sound. As if by cue, all of them stood up and bowed even if the door wasn't opened yet.

Their gazes stayed on the floor and no one made a sound. One can say that although these people seem to be powerful, they still appear powerless and disciplined to only one person in this city.

The footsteps stopped and the door slowly opened. "Greetings our Queen." All of them with no one left behind nor being ahead spoke in unison.

The white heeled sandal entered their lines of sight followed by a pair of black leather shoes from behind her. The Queen was also wearing white pants with a thin silk white long sleeves on top. A black ribbon was the only adornment that appeared on her suit's waistline.

The man following her have light steps that they didn't hear coming from outside. But they all saw that what he was wearing was a complete opposite of the lady. He was wearing an all black suit with a white tie. Both were quiet.

The pair stopped at the middle of the room and everyone heard a low and soft voice.

"Get up." All the people from the room raised their heads and smiled at the couple in front of the doors.

Maia swept her gaze inside the room coldly and proceeded to sit on the middle chair. Daemon glanced at a guard at the side and the guard immediately understood.

The guard placed another chair just beside the Maia's and he then sat quietly with his arms across his chest.

"This is the Devil's Lair. They are all the leaders whom your father chose. Some have been the successors, and some are still the original members since the last decades." She nodded at all of them to take their seats. She spoke as her eyes looked at the people gathered around the table. But her words were not for them but for Daemon who sat quietly by her side.

"We control every underground activity within the city and some neighboring towns as well. Since you were sent here by your father, it means that you are also now a part of this." At that moment she looked at the silent man beside her. He looked dashing and dangerous at the same time. His coldness and indifference seemed to be weighing all the people inside and they all held their breaths waiting for him to speak.

When he glanced at Maia who was looking at him, he never expected her eyes would be empty. There were no emotions. There was no light. It was as if what was happening at the moment had nothing to do with her. She was just there sitting beside him... breathing.

A question formed inside him but he didn't say it aloud. He just heaved a sigh and opened his mouth, "Since my wife says so, I will oblige."

Nobody gave away their surprised minds but that simple sentence gave them chills. The Monster? Obliging his wife's commands? What the? Isn't he from the army? Isn't he a son of a murderous tycoon? It doesn't seem right when all of them knew that the marriage was just for business and political gains but now he is displaying such affection in front of them.

The Devil's Lair. Now the atmosphere seemed to have turned to an awkward corner.

"Oh, gee. I never imagined our leader to have such an... obliging? husband? " Flair smiled widely at Maia, trying to tease her with words from her 'husband'.

But her eyes never seemed to be capable of any emotion at the moment. They never heard nor saw any reaction from her.

"Let's start." Aldred started giving out papers around the room and the meeting began.

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