I will make a deal with the devil

Violet

I looked at the man standing in front of me, my fingers digging tighter into the pool’s edge. He wore that smile people put on when they pretended kindness, but underneath it, all I could see was hypocrisy.

Conrad extended his hand toward me, his voice smooth. “Take it, Violet. Let me help.”

I stared at his hand. For a moment, I almost laughed. Help? From him? My disgust showed as I shoved it aside. I didn’t need his help.

I lifted myself out of the pool on my own, every pull of my muscles burning, but I refused to show it. The cold sent a shiver down my spine as my drenched clothes clung to me.

I bent down and began gathering my scattered notes. Some were wet, the ink already fading, and my chest tightened at the sight of days of my work ruined.

I was about to walk away when his voice cut through the silence.

“Are you going to continue letting yourself suffer like that?”

My back stiffened, my hands tightening around the damp papers. I didn’t need to turn to know he was smil