Good girl

That night, Jason tried to touch me after six months of shoving me away for stupid reasons.

"No," I said, a statement that made the room cold instantly.

"What?" He gasped in confusion.

"I'm just... tired," I explained, trying to keep head.

"Whatever. You should be glad I even pitied you."

He turned around and began snoring.

I rushed to the bathroom and cried again, until all that remained was anger and resolve.

The next morning, Jason is ready to leave even before I'm awake.

He's knotting his tie when my eyes caught his.

"I won't be able to pick you up for the gala. Ivy's car is bad and I'll have to pick her up. But that's no excuse for you to be late to the event."

"Okay," I replied, waiting impatiently for him to leave.

The second he was out of the gates, I found that black card and called The Devil.

"Lucian," he grunted in my ear the second it rang.

At least he's a good businessman.

"Hi, it's Carmen. From... last night."

"Hm. So. What did you decide?"

"I'm in."

He was quiet for a few uncomfortable seconds before he gave me an address.

"Meet me there in an hour. Don't be late."

"Yes sir."

The call ended and I took a deep breath.

I guess we're doing this.

When I was dressing up, something grew inside of me.

A feeling I couldn't justify.

But by the time I finally had some clothes on, my entire closet was on the ground.

When I looked at the mirror again, I still felt disappointed. Who would want to touch me with these?

But I'd changed clothes enough times to know the clothes weren't the culprit.

I rushed out of the room before I could kill my self-confidence any further.

Lucas rushed out from the staff quarters, ready to drive me.

"Don't worry, I'll drive."

His brows furrowed but he didn't ask questions. He dropped my keys in my palm and ran back.

I turned off the car tracker and then drove to the port where Lucian was waiting for me.

The port was filled with containers stacked in threes all through, and the wind blew so wildly that I had to hold my gown.

People were at work and giant cranes were moving things.

I quickly found the Don at the Berth.

Seeing him at night inspired fear, now, I was in awe.

He wasn't bloodied up and dusty.

He had cleaned up and didn't look anything like the man that had killed a traitor last night.

Gosh, look at me trying to make it look like he's not all that bad.

He's a murderer, Carmen.

When he set his eyes on me, I suddenly felt naked.

No one has ever looked at me like that before.

If I was delirious, I'd think it was desire but who in their right senses would want someone that looked like me?

"You came," he said when I got closer, the wind playing with my hair.

"I need him dealt with and you're the only option that doesn't lead to my death."

"And the other part of the deal? You're okay with it?"

"Yes."

I thought about it, on one hand, it can't be that bad. He's the one who should be feeling bad he has to have sex with a cow.

On the other hand, his men say he only sleeps with a woman once so that is settled too.

I'll have my revenge and start everything afresh.

He pulled out his phone and typed a text.

A lady wearing a pencil skirt and a tailored suit to match walked out of a car parked far behind.

"Here, Don Lucian," she said, handing him a paper.

He extended his hand to her, "Pen."

Suddenly her eyes widened.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot it in the car! Let me —"

"It's fine. There are other ways to do this."

"There are?" The words tumbled out of my mouth in confusion.

"I'm a man of tradition, Little Dove."

He pulled out a pocket knife and to my horror, he nicked his thumb and pressed it on the paper.

"Your turn," he said, extending his hand for mine.

This man is insane.

But I let him cut my finger, and I let him sign this deal of ours in actual blood.

Shit, I've just made a deal with the Devil.

Revenge for my body.

Will I regret it?

"What's the next step?"

I'd insisted everything go according to my plan but I didn't think he'd respect my wishes.

No one really does except Jason gives the word.

"He um.. there's a gala tonight. He wants to sell off my shares."

"You won't sign."

I nodded.

"Go. I'll be there."

As I walked back to my car, I suddenly realised that this deal didn't have an exit clause.

***

The night rolled around and I was dressed in a suit that was too tight on my stomach.

It doesn't matter what I wore anyway, I was about to have a very good night.

Lucas drove me to the hotel and I walked in with my head held high.

No one really knew who I was to him, he didn't attend these events with me.

But I had my card and I was escorted to the VIP table where other shareholders were sitting.

Then he arrived at the venue and if you didn't know better, you'd think he was married to Ivy and not me.

They went around greeting everyone, smiling and discussing while I sat back, ignored.

Finally, he came to my side and I watched the event start.

Not once did he look at me.

Maybe if he did, he would have noticed I wasn't the same woman he'd been deceiving all this while.

It was now time for the signatures and I watched with a tight smile as everyone who was supposed to sign, did.

The buyer was a man I recognised from The Sterling Architectural Empire. My rival.

He was going to sell my shares to the people who were in the number one position until I came into the picture.

Oh Jason, I'm glad I woke up on time.

"Alright darling, it's your time to shine," Jason chuckled next to me. "Go on. Sign the papers."

I held the pen in my hand and wondered what gave him the audacity to treat me this way.

Then I dropped it and stood up.

With the cameras flashing in my face, I shook my head.

"No."

Gasps filled the ballroom and my husband's face got ugly with rage.

But I wasn't looking at him, I was seeing Lucian back in the corner with a crooked smirk on his face.

"Good girl," he mouthed.