Deal With The Devil

"I can help you with your falling company as long as you help me. In two days, let's meet and discuss the other details." Alric's grip on the door tightened.

From the day first he knew that the girl was not any damsel in distress but a sharp tigress hiding her claws. She could fool Max and his other staff but she could not fool him. 

He waited for the conversation to die before opening the door. She was sleeping with her eyes closed. Looking so serene that even he was fooled for a second.

He entered and pushed the door with force earning a gasp from her. She sat up with a start as if she was shocked by the sudden noise. Her face looked dazed and it took her a few seconds to come to her senses and notice his presence in her room.

Such a flawless act. He wanted to applaud and congratulate her for being such a good actress. But he wanted to see more of her act so he took the seat.

"Sir Graystone. You are here?" she looked at him in confusion. Out of everyone she had predicted, Alric did not hold even the last place.

"I heard that your family is blackmailing you to the limit that you were thrown out of the school and your aunt came to strangle you." he titled his head. His face had a mysterious smile that did not show his thoughts.

Nora was reluctant to chat with this man. For some reason, she knew he would not fall for her acts. So she only nodded as she held the sheets tightly in her hands.

"But the boss did not need to concern himself about it. I am sure you have so many tasks to handle." she shook her head only to earn a chuckle from him. It left a chill down her spine. It reminded her of the time she was locked in the dark room for a day and she could only hear the chuckle of her husband.

The feeling of helplessness made her claws visible further. 

"Oh, but I have already planned to help you. I have brought a gift for you already." his arrogant voice filled the room as he passed her a small envelope.

She frowned. Several photographs fell on her bed making her eyes widened. One was where her aunt was paying money to a woman. In the second picture, the woman was entering her room wearing the uniform of a nurse.

Another where her uncle had a gun in his hands. One where he was giving money to corrupt officials. Her hands shivered and she did not dare to pick another photograph. Each of them was enough to destroy her uncle and aunt completely.

Or at least wound them enough to get free from their clutches. 

"I have much more than this. But I will show the rest when the time comes." her head snapped toward him and her eyes narrowed at once.

She picked up every single photograph and placed them back on the envelope. Closed it as it was before. The devil had offered the deal to angels and destroyed them in the process. 

"What do you want from me?" She returned the envelope to him without showing any reluctance. 

"You are not pretending anymore?" he raised a brow, looking amused, "that was enjoying to be honest." Nora gritted her teeth. Her matter of life and death was enjoyable for him. 

But Alas she did not know anything about him to blackmail him. In the past they have never crossed paths. She had heard about his achievements occasionally in the newspaper and his untimely death too.

But nothing worth blackmailing him.

"If you think my injuries are an act, then I would not waste my breath on you. I do not need your help. And I am leaving the hospital by tonight. So you need not concern yourself with my matters." Her voice was sharp and cold and her eyes were clear as a river. 

",....." his lips curled and he gave an admiring note. He was not expecting this kind of reply from her. He was expecting her to already ask for a deal no matter what he wanted.

"Looks like that did not impress you as i have expected." he gave an exaggerated sigh and took out another envelope from her pocket. As his hands take out another envelope, a sudden fear sent chills creeping up Nora's spine.

His smirk made her shiver. But she would never show her fear in this life. What her family cared more about was their wealth and their name. As long as she targeted their name and their money, she would win but this man. 

"I do not understand why Mr Graystone is interested in my life so much? We have never crossed paths in the past. Have we?" she leaned on the bed but did not hurry to take the envelope from him this time.

He shrugged and placed the envelope on the corner of her bed.

"Well, you caught my eye when I found you in that room. Max gets emotional easily. He did not notice the details. But I noticed them. And i would not lie, i am always interested in smart girls like you.'' The compliment only felt like a cold slap to her face.

She gritted her teeth.

"Do you think I am acting? Do you think all these wounds on my body? All the humiliation I have endured was an act? These marks on my neck." She pulled out the bandage and showed him the marks on her neck. It was a red and purple mark that looked gruesome.

Her voice rose and for a second he flinched when he noticed raw pain in her eyes. At that moment he knew that it was not an act.

"No, I do not think that you are acting. But your ways are not enough. Deal with me and i am sure you will get your revenge."

"...."