Locked in the Devil's Deal

“You must have been really desperate that you had to come find me in person.” Emery Hart had barely moved her eyes up to look at the woman standing in front of her. 

Camila Martin, the new sensational actress who had been making the headlines for quite some time now, was standing in front of her with a huge smile plastered on her face. “Miss Hart, it’s a pleasure to meet you here.” 

Emery acknowledged her with a nod, and Camila continued, "I have been sending my assistant to Miss Hart for quite some time now, but it seems like Miss Hart doesn't like the deal I am offering her."

“It’s not like that, but...” Emery put down the glass she was holding onto and said, “I would suggest you not waste your time here and go to Mr. Harper if you want me to amend any of the clauses in your prenup contract.” 

Camila gritted her teeth but still tried to maintain calm composure. “Miss Hart, I am soon going to be Mrs. Harper, and I don’t think you would want to be on bad terms with me over a contract? I can give you money no matter how much you want, and in return you can include some of the clauses I want you to add to that contract; it’s a win-win situation for both of us.” 

Emery chuckled lightly as she gave her an indifferent look. “I am sorry, Miss Martin, but I don’t like to double-cross my clients. I have a reputation in this field, and as Mr. Harper is my client, I don't plan on betraying him.”

Camila’s face twisted with anger as she gave a hard glare to Emery. “Put your facade aside. I know you have betrayed him before. If you can do it once, you can definitely do it again.” 

Emery was momentarily stunned; she hadn't anticipated her bringing up the subject.

Emery had been married to Darren Harper for three years before they divorced. Not many people knew about their marriage and divorce; only some of their closest ones knew.

Gritting her teeth, Emery tried to keep herself calm as she said, “I like to keep my personal and professional lives separate, and I would appreciate it if Miss Martin didn't spread rumors about my personal life.”

“Why? Did I hit a nerve?” Camila gave her a smirk. 

Emery stayed calm as she ignored the sting of her words. She simply glanced at Camila and said, “Not really! But I will give you a piece of advice: be careful what and where you dig. You may not like what you find. If you can’t control your man, it’s not my problem; buying me will get you nowhere.” 

With that, Emery turned around and walked away, leaving Camila standing there, fuming with anger. 

Soon Emery got out of the party, but not before congratulating her uncle on the launch of a new brand. 

Stepping out, she made her way to the parking lot and got seated in her car.

Just as she was about to start the engine, her phone rang. 

Darren… 

The name flashed on her phone screen. She let it ring two more times before heaving a huge sigh and picking up the call. 

“Yes?”

“Did you fight over Camila?” Darren’s voice came from the other end of the call. 

Emery let out a small chuckle as she said, “Your fiancée has already run to you to cry and complain.” 

Darren was silent for a moment before he continued saying, “Come to my office.”

Emery rolled her eyes. She hated his commanding nature, and he was hell bent on testing her patience.

“I will come tomorrow...”

“No! I said right now.” He replied, his voice getting slightly higher. 

“Listen, I am not your servant or something." Before Emery could even complete her sentence, the call had already ended from Darren’s side. 

“Ahhhh.” She yelled in annoyance as she threw her phone on the passenger seat. “Does he consider himself the king of this world?” 

Even though she didn’t want to go meet him at that moment, she was well aware of his temper. She knew that if she didn’t go to meet him herself, he would find other excuses to make her come to him. 

Nevertheless, she started the car, and soon her car was on the road and heading towards Darren’s office. 

Emery entered Darren’s company, and soon she went near the receptionist's desk. 

Upon seeing her, the receptionist bowed her head slightly as she said, “Good evening, ma'am. Sir is waiting for you in his office. You can go there now.” 

Emery has been coming there for quite some time now, so all the receptionists there know about her already. 

Saying a quick thank you, Emery went quickly towards Darren’s office. 

She was nearly at Darren’s office when someone called her from behind, making her stop in her tracks. Recognizing the voice immediately, a scowl appeared on her face; nevertheless, she turned around. 

“Emery Hart,” Shyla Walker, Darren's stepmother, said, stressing the words. She was dressed in designer clothes from head to toe and looked every bit the part of a high-society matriarch. 

Shyla eyed Emery up and down, and a smirk appeared on her face when she realized she wasn’t wearing any expensive branded clothes.

“Mrs. Walker!” Emery greeted her even though she wanted to turn around right there and walk away from her.

“Even after three years, you are still trying to milk more money out of Darren now?”

Her words made Emery grit her teeth, but she still tried her best to put a calm expression on her face. “Mrs. Walker, I would suggest that you mind your words. I don’t have a reason to tolerate your words anymore.” 

“Hah!” Shyla gave out a sarcastic laugh before she continued saying, “You’re as shameless as ever. Just because you were once married to my son before doesn’t give you the right to keep hovering around him. Everyone knows that no man would keep a woman like you around for too long. You were just a plaything that he tossed around once he got tired.” 

Emery’s nails dug into her palms as much as she was trying to stay strong; her words did feel like a stab in her heart. 

The time Emery was married to Darren, Shyla was hellbound on giving her a hard time. At that time, she bore everything thinking that she was just an elder, but her behaviour got worse and worse. 

Emery looked up at her with a bored expression on her face, and her next words shocked Shyla: “I’m here as Darren’s lawyer, nothing more and nothing less. But what about who is hovering around him... shouldn’t you know better? You have been trying to make him agree to your demands, but he never listens to you.” 

At that moment, Shyla lost her cool and yelled at Emery, “My son will...”

Just as she was about to complete her sentence, Emery pointed her finger at her and corrected, “You mean Stepson?" 

Shyla’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you? But don’t forget, you’re nothing without that family name, and even that’s slipping through your fingers. Your father was smart to leave all his inheritance for your step brother. He knew you were worthless; that's why he threw you out of the house.” 

Shyla was trying her best to trigger Emery, but seeing the bored look on Emery’s face, she was taken aback. Shyla’s taunts about her father’s inheritance had once been an open wound for her. But now she was used to Shyla’s attempts to twist the knife, and over time, she’d learnt to not make herself affected. 

“Is that all, Mrs. Walker?” Emery asked coolly. “Because if your intention was to remind me of things I’ve already overcome, you’ve wasted both of our time. My past doesn’t control me.”

Emery raised an eyebrow. A faint and mocking smile appeared on her lips as she said, “Perhaps you should save your concern for Darren’s fiancée. From what I hear, she might need more luck than me to handle his world.”

Shyla’s expression faltered. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. Emery knew that Shyla was as insecure about Darren’s choices as she was controlling. Camila was hardly Shyla’s ideal pick for a daughter-in-law, and Emery had a feeling she was already scheming to find her own way to influence Darren.

Emery continued, “And one last thing, I’m a professional. His personal life doesn’t interest me. He hired me to handle his business, and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

With that, Emery turned and walked away, not sparing Shyla another glance. She could feel Shyla’s furious gaze burning into her back. 

Just as she reached Darren’s office door and raised her hand to knock, it swung open. Darren stood there with his arms crossed. 

“You are late.” His voice was sharp, and his gaze hardened as he looked at her from head to toe.