Chapter 7: Deal With The Devil
Natalia's POV:
"So, do we have a deal?" he inquired, his eyes hooded and his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. Gosh, I hope Mika has already left. I didn't wish to see her or even explain the situation. The offer on the table was undeniably tempting - a life of luxury or die with nothing. Truthfully, my life hadn't been going well anyway. What did I have to lose? It seemed like the perfect arrangement, which benefited me more than he did. The tension in the confined space was palpable, causing me to inhale sharply, aware of the weight in the air.
To regain composure, I focused on calming my senses, consciously disregarding the lifeless body in the center of the room. "Fine, I'll agree," I muttered, mustering a defiant glare toward him. However, skepticism crept into my voice as I continued, "But how can I be certain that you'll keep your word?" His smile widened as he elegantly brushed his hair aside, responding, "Don't worry, I stay true to my promises." He stood up, adjusting his tie and smoothing out his blouse. He placed the revolver back down, and I watched him cautiously, my eyes locked onto his every movement. He reached into his pocket, retrieved a phone, and dialed a number. The sound of the ringing resonated through the room. Who was he calling anyway? Is it even my business at all? I stood there like a trapped rabbit, waiting for him to let me leave.
"Van, can you remove a dead body here in my office? And prepare a car while you're at it," he commanded, causing my eyes to widen in astonishment. Wait, his office? But I thought this was the manager's office. I had never encountered this man in this building, yet he spoke with an air of authority as if he owned the entire casino. Who is he, really? I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, suddenly questioning my decision to agree to his proposal. In all honesty, I had no clue what I was getting myself into.
"Let's go, shall we?" His voice abruptly pulled me back to the present, snapping me out of my thoughts and grounding me in reality. In a matter of seconds, he was there in front of me, gazing down to make eye contact. I mustered an awkward smile and nodded in response. Goodness, I hadn't even realized he had finished his call. What was wrong with me today? I seemed unusually distracted and inattentive. He led me out of the office, and I followed obediently, leaving behind the somber scene of the crime that had unfolded mere moments ago.
As we made our way through the casino's lobby, a sense of stillness hung in the air, amplifying the echoes of our footsteps along the corridor. The sound of the door closing behind us reverberated through the space. Suddenly, I paused, pivoting to face him. My goodness, he was tall. I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze, his deep blue eyes capturing mine. My breath caught in my throat for a brief moment, and I found myself lost in his gaze. He raised an eyebrow, his voice cutting through my trance. "What is it?" he inquired, and I instantly shook my head, attempting to clear my thoughts. Ah, I was too distracted.
"I never got your name," I responded, avoiding direct eye contact with him. He paused briefly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "My name is Theodore, or Theo for short. I'm sorry that you had to see that," he stated, his demeanor surprisingly composed given the recent act of violence I had witnessed. Was this a regular occurrence for him? Despite the lingering unease, I couldn't help but wonder if he was as bad as he appeared. After all, if he intended to harm me, why hadn't he killed me already?
"I..." I was gonna tell him my name as well, but a piercing scream shattered the air before I could, causing both of us to turn our heads. Running towards me with sheer urgency, a voice called out, "Nat!" My eyes widened as I recognized the source, and Mika launched herself into my arms, squeezing me tightly. "Oh, hey, Mika," I responded, returning the embrace and gently rubbing her back. "Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere for you," she exclaimed, her face etched with worry. I chuckled, trying to ease her concerns. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just took a quick trip to the restroom," I lied, offering her a playful smile. Why was she here in the middle of the night? Did she wait for me?
Mika directed her gaze towards the person standing next to me, her eyes assessing Theo's appearance as if trying to judge him. "Who is this?" she inquired, pointing in his direction and then glancing back at me. Panic surged through me as I realized I would have to find a way to explain his presence to her. Sweat trickled down my forehead as nerves tightened my throat, making it difficult to speak. "Mika, I..." I stammered, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
"Girly, you're not giving me an answer," Mika pressed, her frown deepening as she glared at Theo, who remained silent, observing her with a calm expression. Suddenly, he chuckled, adjusting his tie and offering an explanation. "Oh, I'm just a friend of hers who recently returned from Europe. My name is Theo," he said, extending his hand in a gesture of greeting. My eyes widened in disbelief. Was that the best excuse he could come up with? There was no way Mika would believe such a flimsy story. I exhaled slowly, fixing my gaze on Mika, anxiously awaiting her reaction, unsure how she would respond.
To my surprise, Mika's eyes lit up, her expression transforming from suspicion to genuine delight. She dropped the glare and warmly smiled at Theo, "Oh! Nat, you never mentioned this was your friend. Nice to meet you, Theo. And by the way, you have a lovely accent," I stared at her, dumbfounded, my mind struggling to process her unexpected acceptance of Theo's explanation. What? Was she actually believing this? I couldn't even respond clearly, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. Meanwhile, Theo chuckled awkwardly, running his fingers through his hair, clearly caught off guard by her compliment.
Mika playfully nudged my shoulder and whispered, "You had a friend this hot, and you didn't tell me?!" Her excitement was noticeable, and I rolled my eyes, lightly pushing her away while trying to maintain my composure. She was hopeless when it came to attractive men. I sighed, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, rubbing my temples as she continued to fangirl.
Theo interrupted the moment, clearing his throat to get our attention. "My apologies, but we must leave now. We're trying to catch up in time. Isn't that right, Nat?" His voice was soft, and he looked at me with warmth, using my nickname. My heart skipped a beat at his intimate tone and how he referred me. I couldn't believe his audacity, taking control of the situation as if we were familiar with each other on a personal level. Despite my inner turmoil, I managed to nod in agreement, trying to conceal any hint of vulnerability that might betray my genuine emotions.
Mika squinted at us, her eyes filled with suspicion as she observed our interaction. "I see how it is. Have fun, Nat!" she playfully waved us off, raising her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I shook my head, trying to dismiss any misconceptions. Mika laughed, clearly enjoying the moment, before grabbing her bag and bidding me goodbye. I watched her leave, a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling within me. What was she even expecting?
Turning my attention back to Theo, I noticed him sigh and start walking in a different direction, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. Without clear instructions, I followed him, my steps lacking purpose as I pondered where he was leading me. The sound of our footsteps echoed through the corridor, the distinct click of my heels resonating against the floor. Where is he even taking me? Despite gambling here for so long, I didn't know where we were going.
He led me towards a fire exit, opened the door, and left the building. The moonlight shone through the door, making it clear it was already nighttime. I stepped out with him, the door closing behind us with a thud. Seriously, how long did Geraldine and I gamble? Once I stepped out, it was already night, the moon shining down on us.
My eyes widened in astonishment as I focused on the sleek, spanking black car parked at the entrance. It was a sight to behold, but to my surprise, Theo seemed unfazed by its presence. With ease and familiarity, he circled around the car and settled into the driver's seat, revving the engines as if it were an everyday occurrence.
He rolled down the window, looking at me with a hint of amusement. "Aren't you gonna get in?" he asked, gesturing to the open passenger's seat. Skepticism tugged at me as I hesitated for a moment. "Where are you taking me anyways?" I finally questioned, my curiosity overcoming my reservations. With a mixture of suspicion and intrigue, I stepped forward, lowered my head slightly, and entered his car, quickly closing the door behind me. Adults always say not to enter suspicious vehicles, but I am, entering one. Sigh, what is wrong with me?
"I'm taking you back to your house, obviously," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. He skillfully adjusted his seatbelt and positioned his hand on the steering wheel, prompting me to do the same. As I fastened my seatbelt, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his confident assertion.
"Do you even know where my apartment is?" I questioned, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism coloring my words. I studied his face, searching for any signs of uncertainty or hesitation. But his gaze remained fixed ahead, and without missing a beat, he responded, "Just tell me on the way. I don't have time." The assertiveness in his voice left little room for further inquiry.
With a sigh, I resigned myself to the situation, realizing that I had no other choice but to trust him, at least for now. I leaned on the car window, gazing at my surroundings. So many things happened today. Losing a gamble, meeting this man, seeing someone get killed, and almost getting killed myself! God, what else do you have in store for me?