Chapter 4: Bargaining with the Devil

Aria’s POV

I didn’t sleep.

Instead, I sat on the edge of Noah’s bed long after his breathing had evened out, watching the rise and fall of his small chest under the dinosaur blanket.

Jason's threat kept ringing in my head, and I knew I had to do something to save the forty-one workers in my company.

One thing was for sure: if I refused Jason, he wouldn’t just take Lumina. He would burn it. Clients would vanish, contracts would be terminated. My designers, the interns who still believed in me, Priya, who stayed late without complaining, and all of them would be out of work because of my pride.

I reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from Noah’s forehead.

I had to do this for the forty-one workers. And most importantly, Noah, so I could still provide for him.

By the time the sky started turning gray, I had already made my decision.

The next morning, I arrived at Cross Group headquarters at 8:17 a.m.

The building was everything Lumina wasn’t. It had floor-to-ceiling windows, polished marble floors, and the kind of silence that felt expensive.

When I reached the front desk, the receptionist didn’t look surprised when I gave my name. She just smiled tightly and said, “Mr. Cross is expecting you.”

“Of course he is.” I murmured under my breath.

She stood up. “Follow me, please.”

I walked beside her toward the elevator. She pressed the button and swiped her keycard.

When the elevator opened, she stepped inside with me and pressed the button for the top floor. Neither of us said a word on the ride up.

The elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened.

The receptionist stepped out first and pointed down the hall toward a set of double doors. “He’s right through there.”

“Thanks,” I said, and walked down the quiet corridor and stopped at the heavy door.

My hand landed on the door handle, and for a second, I couldn't make myself push it open.

But I did. Because I needed this to protect what I spent years building from scratch.

Jason was already seated behind a long black desk when I walked in. He simply looked up, his eyes unreadable, and gestured to the chair across from him.

I didn't want to sit, I didn't want to do any of this. But I sat. Not like I had a choice. After all, my company depends on me

The acquisition folder was already open, and a single silver pen lay on top of the signature page.

“I accept,” I said before he could speak. “But I stay on as Creative Director. Full creative control over my projects. That’s non-negotiable.”

Jason leaned back slowly. For a moment, he just studied me. Then he reached for the pen, turned the page, and crossed out two lines of the original contract. He wrote something new in the margin.

When he slid the folder toward me, I read everything on it.

My office will be moved to the Cross Group headquarters effective immediately.

All major decisions would require his final approval.

I would report directly to him. I had no board seat and no independent authority.

I looked up. “That’s not what I asked for.”

“It’s what you’re getting,” he said calmly. “Sign it, or walk away and watch your company collapse by the end of the month.”

My fingers tightened around the pen.

Slowly, I lowered the pen, and signed at the required spaces.

Jason took the folder back without a word. He pressed a button on his desk, and a moment later, Daniel appeared.

“Have Ms. Bennett’s things moved to the office next to mine?” Jason said. “She starts today.”

Daniel nodded and left.

I stood. “You’re enjoying this.”

Jason’s gaze flicked up to my face, then dropped just for a second to my neck. To the thin gold chain that he gave me years ago, which I never took off.

His eyes lingered there longer than they needed to before he looked away.

I noticed every single action but said nothing.

He stood and walked around the desk until he was only a few feet away.

“Your new office is ready,” he said. “Daniel will show you. From now on, every proposal, every client meeting, every decision goes through me first. Is that clear?”

“Crystal clear.”

He held my gaze for one more second, then turned away like I was already dismissed.

“Welcome to Cross Group, Ms. Bennett,” he said. But one thing was for sure, I was never welcomed here.

I didn't respond to him; instead, I left.

Outside, Daniel was standing there, waiting to show me to my new office.

“This way, Ms. Bennett,” he said smoothly, offering a polite nod as he gestured down the corridor.

He led me just two doors down from Jason's executive suite and unlocked a set of heavy wooden doors.

He stepped aside, holding them open for me. "Your personal belongings from Lumina are already being processed and should arrive by noon. If you need anything, my desk is just past Mr. Cross’."

"Thank you, Daniel," I said.

He gave another small nod before turning and walking back toward the reception lobby, leaving me alone in the office.

The office they gave me was beautiful and empty. Floor-to-ceiling windows. A desk that probably cost more than my first year’s rent. A view of the city that could make someone lose themselves in it.

By late afternoon, I had already sent three revised proposals to Jason’s desk. Each one came back with red marks and short corrections without explaining what I did wrong.

At 7:42 p.m., I finally packed my bag. The halls of Cross Group were quiet. Most people had already left. When I stepped into the elevator, I caught my reflection in the mirrored wall. The woman staring back looked tired.

By the time I got back home, Mrs. Harris had already put Noah to bed.

And the house smelled faintly of the soup she always made when she knew I’d had a hard day. She didn’t ask me any questions; she only squeezed my shoulder once before leaving.

I stood in the doorway of Noah’s room for a long time. He was curled on his side, one arm wrapped around the stuffed dinosaur.

I closed the door gently and sat on the living room floor with my back against the couch, still in my work clothes.