The devil's prey

Her heart was unsteady, beating frantically and palpitating as she took each rigid step towards the huge mettalic office door.

She wanted to be anywhere but here again but sadly she couldn't snap her fingers to make herself vanish from the predator who was confidently waiting for her inside his office.

Camilla felt hard and multiple knots tie up in her stomach.

A bitter gal was felt rising up to her throat and her palms became sweaty.

Her mind raced, trying to conjure the different reception she would recieve from Braden but all she could see was him laughing at her and belittling her for coming back to an offer she bodly rejected.

It was tempting. A hundred thousand dollars a month would go a long way to solve all her issues.

She would start by paying her brother's medical fees and go off to pay part of her bank debts.

She would also offer Olga, the bubbly elderly lady part out of the money for she had done so much for Camilla.

And by the end of the five months, she would have probably saved enough money and she would find herself a new apartment and a job.

Or if she could not still find a befitable job, she could start a small scale business---like a bakery.

Camilla thought about all these as she strode onwards determinedly.

She couldn't let the terrors of the past stop her from getting a job that would enrich her life and that of her brother's.

Bracing up herself, Camilla gave off a deep sigh and straightened her skirt.

She then proceeded to knock on the door, waiting for response from within.

"Come in" the distinct gruff tone said to her.

Her legs suddenly became jelly and her knees threatened to buckle her to the ground but Camilla gripped on to the door for support.

Pushing it open, her orbs fell upon the already familiar cold blue eyes.

A manaic smirk carved by the corners of his lips as he monitored her steps like a predator watching its prey.

Braden knew she would be back. Camilla didn't even wait for the third day to reach before she stumbled back into his company. This was just the second day.

His guts were never wrong. From how she spoke, he knew fully well that she was in dire need of money.

Her body said it in millions.

He was going to give her money but this time, he would make sure she danced to his tunes and beat.

She hurled insults at him back in college even after jilting him for another. He kept on going back because of the deep love he had for her.

But Camilla made it clear to him that she never loved him and he wasn't up to her taste. He was mocked and ridiculed, belittled and treated like a piece of rag.

Braden sighed with that same devilish look on his face as he recounted his past.

Time for her to dance to his tunes and this time, he would show no mercy.

Camilla forced her legs to move further and pulled out a chair, sitting on it.

Silence settled in, giving off an aura of uncertainty in the air.

"G-good morning Mr Braden" Camilla found herself stuttering.

What was wrong with her voice? Why couldn't she speak up well?

Gulping, she flashed him a faint smile.

"You are back" his voice was so low as he spoke, shaking the air around them.

Camilla nodded. "Yes I am" she had been able to stop the chills running down her spine.

Braden gazed at her intently, making Camilla feel like she was naked underneath his heated stares.

"I knew you would come Camilla. Now you are interested in working as my maid?" Braden rhetorically asked even though he knew what her reply would be.

Camilla nodded once more. "Yes I am interested. If you keep to your words then I'll gladly work for you" Camilla spoke up.

"And what were my words?" Braden gave her puckered brows, his fingers tapping on the huge mahogany table that seperated them.

"You said I'll work for you for five months which is the duration of months we dated and you would pay me a hundred thousand each month" Camilla reminded him with shaky breaths.

Braden gave a deep chuckle and bolted up in a flash, Camilla's restive orbs following his every movement.

He came to stand behind Camilla, and descended his head towards her ear.

Camilla felt jittery and shivers ran down her spine the moment his lips grazed the skin of her earlobes.

Her heart skipped a beat and the knots that had once began loosening within her tied themselves back up.

"Baby girl..." Braden's husky voice spoke in her ears.

"I'll keep to my words. You don't have to worry about that. I just hope you keep to yours" he whispered.

Camilla almost forgot to breathe listening to how sensual his words sounded. Her throat tightened in anxiety. It took every self restraining cell for Camilla not to walk out on Braden but she had to put down her dignity and offer herself to him.

It was all for her brother.

"I will keep to my own part of the deal. You also don't have to worry" Camilla dislodged the lump in her throat and spoke.

"Great then" Braden smiled, standing upright once more.

He sauntered back to his chair and pulled out a document from his desk.

Swiftly passing it to Camilla, he ordered, "Sign that".

Camilla felt stuperfied by this sudden command. What was she signing?

"I don't seem to understand" Camilla told him.

"What don't you understand? Was I speaking latin or french? Sign the fucking contract" Braden gritted in annoyance.

"What contract is this?" Camilla felt hesistant to sign it.

Braden gave her a dark look. "This contract here binds our agreement legally. You work for me for five months and I pay you. And it stops you from quiting your job before the five month elapses. So sign it"

Camilla drifted her eyes from his hot stares and reached for a pen with trembling hands.

Was she ready to do this? Was she ready to submit herself to her ex for five months?

Signing this would put a stamp to it and heaven knows what Braden has in store for her as his maid.

Her breathing became rapid and her hands quivered as it held the pen.

"Sign it Camilla" Braden ordered, his eyes having slits of fury in them.

Taking a deep breath, Camilla flipped the document open and signed it.

Quickly, she slid the document back to him and faced him.

"I have signed it. Happy now?" Camilla scoffed.

"You have such a huge ego for someone who will be feeding off my table" Braden mocked her.

Camilla had her pain demanding her to leave and it tightened her chest.

She stood up instantly, about pivoting when Braden called her.

"Where are you going?" He suddenly asked out of the blue.

"What sort of question is that? I am going home" Camilla replied irritated.

Braden slowly walked towards her.

His frame towered above her petite body. "No you are not. You will be following me home"

"Why?" Camilla asked, her brows raised.

"It's stated in the contract that you are going to abide in my residence until the stipulated months are over" Braden announced to Camilla.

Camilla became doe eyed in an instant. This was even more worse than she thought.

How could she live under the same roof with Braden?

She thought she would be going from her house to his every day not that she would habit with him.

He would make her life hell!

Why didn't she read that contract before signing it?

What more did Braden state in that contract that she signed to?

"Shocked?" Braden smirked.

"Braden you can't do this to me please" Camilla pleaded, tears threatening to spill out.

"It's in the contract sweetheart and you signed it. Going against anything in that contract means you would have to pay a fine for breach of contract" Braden dropped another bomb.

"What?" Camilla gasped, waves of shock coursing through her.

She already had bills to clear. She couldn't bear adding another to it.

"So are you staying with me or you are going back home sweetheart?" Braden leaned in forward, their faces in close proximity with each other.

Camilla adverted her gaze from his. "You win" Camilla whispered, a lone tear trailing down her cheek.

The devil had gotten his prey. Now she could only imagine how hot his flames would be.