Chapter 11
JORDAN
THE SILENCE IN THE ROOM WAS DEAFENING
I could almost see the distrust rolling off her in waves as she stared at me with caution in her eyes.
“What kind of proposal?” she said finally and I smirked.
I’d made her an offer she couldn’t refuse and in a few minutes, she’d see it too. I took my time answering, leisurely walking around the room and trailing my fingers on the soft padded wall
“Being here isn’t the best, is it? You must be about ready to go insane, staring at the same thing for days,” I observed, like this was just a casual conversation between friends.
“I said, what kind of proposal?” she replied. I cast a glance at her pale, sweating face. She must feel like shit after ingesting the substance, but she’ll be alright. After all, the only thing it has done at this point is make her weaker and disoriented.
I came to stand in front of her again and answered her question
“I’ve found out all there is to know about you“.
At this, her eyes widened briefly with a look of panic but she hid her expression again so I continued.
“I know you’re a con artist and a mistress of disguises. I also know you’re good at what you do. Therefore, in exchange for sparing your life, you come and work for me in any capacity of my choosing.”
I’d barely finished talking before she began shaking her head, glaring at me in disdain.
“No way. Even if hell freezes over or an Asian becomes president of America, I would never work for you.” She spat with so much venom but I wasn’t affected. I’d said I’d made her an offer she couldn’t refuse and I meant it.
“I’m afraid you’ve only got two options, little bird,” I said, stretching a hand to Blaine -who I’d mercilessly nag for being my sidekick- and he dropped the file I had on her in my
hand
Her gaze immediately dropped to it and I saw hints of nervousness in her demeanor. I opened it and carefully laid out all the pictures of the different personalities she had adopted while doing her job.
“International police still think all this was done by a group. Imagine their glee when an anonymous tip informs them that it’s actually one person they’ve been after. Or worse, when they see this same person delivered to their front door.” Her head whipped back up and her eyes narrowed, “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t” she retorted and I almost smiled.
“I don’t bluff, little bird,” I said calmly. I opened the file again and carefully brought out the contract I’d so meticulously prepared and laid it in front of her. She stared at it like it was diseased and actually attempted to shift back though her back was already against the wall. She looked almost.. afraid?
I tilted my head, watching her breathing which was just starting to get a little better, falter again.
Ta
“You work for and with me over the period of a year, filling in any position I see fit, and after that, you’re a free woman. You’ll be provided with your own accommodation and most of your expenses will be catered to. For someone who was slated to die. I think these are very agreeable conditions.” Blaine had convinced me to find a way to make her loyal to us, and nothing brings loyalty, forced or otherwise, like a bound contract.
“You are not allowed to leave the country without my express permission. You are not allowed to run and hide. You answer directly to Elaine and me and obviously, you are not allowed to steal from me or damage my property. Should you flaunt any of these terms, you will be promptly turned over to the International police to do with you as they see fit. Should you attempt to flaunt any of these terms, I punish you any way I see fit.” I concluded stating the terms of the contract, as it didn’t look like she was going to open it anytime soon.
It took me a while to draft as I tried to avoid any loopholes on her part. The fact that she was going to be under my thumb didn’t mean she wasn’t going to try and stab it. I owe it to Blaine for making me realize that killing her wasn’t the only way to prevent this from happening again and having her in my employ sends out a better note.
After all, people had always said to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Now if the voices in my head would just believe that that was the only reason I let her live, that would be agreeable.
Chapter 11
MELANIE
- NO. NO. NO. NO
Hell to the no. I’d spent most of my adult life being chained to and exploited by one man, there was no way I’d allow myself to go through that again, especially when I was just about to finally gain my freedom. What was it with men and using women anyway? And why, oh, why did I always get myself in situations like this?
This was all Cadell’s fault. He’d done the equivalent of throwing me to the dogs when he’d sent me on this mission. The rage that had consumed me back in my apartment in New York came raging back and I swore, not for the first time, to tear his world apart if I ever get out of my current fix. I clenched my fists, digging my nails hard into my palm to ground myself and remain calm.
You said anything. Melanie.” my nemesis said, reminding me that I wasn’t alone. I shot him a glance that I hope said, “Shut your pie–hole, you bloated capitalist” and resumed trying to think my way through this mess. An idea slowly started to form in my head and I resisted the urge to grin so as not to clue him in on my thought process.
My primary objective at this point is to make Cadell suffer in every way I could think of. I wouldn’t be able to do that if I was sitting in a jail cell or taking up residence at the bottom of an ocean, and his offer was the only way I was walking out of this and not being rolled out on a gurney. Working with him would also let me in on his operations and probably gain his trust so when I steal from him again, not to deliver to anybody but out of hate and spite, everything would go smoothly. Plus, it would be a big fuck you to Cadell when he finds out I work for someone powerful enough to rival him, so this contract really worked in my favor. He’d said he’d found out everything about me but didn’t mention anything about Cadell so I could assume he didn’t know about him. All I had to do was put my skills to good use for a year and I’d be home free.
I ducked my head before they could see the new light I’m sure was shining in my eyes. I can’t appear too pleased or he’ll notice and probably call the whole thing off, so I called up my acting. Slumping my shoulders and pressing my
lists to my eyes, I said in the most defeated voice I could muster…
“Where do I sign?”
