Chapter 4

CELESTE

Well, I had no other choice, so I went back to him.

I stood in front of the door to Lazarrus’s private office on the top floor of Walkez Tower. The clock showed seven in the evening. The office building was almost empty, and the corridor lights were only half on. I took a deep breath, then knocked softly.

“Come in,” his deep voice came from inside, calm and firm as always.

I opened the door and stepped in. The room was large and dark, lit only by the city lights from the big glass window that covered one whole wall.

Lazarrus stood with his back to me, facing the window. He was tall and strong, his broad shoulders clear under the black shirt that fit his body perfectly. The shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing muscular arms and veins that stood out when he held a crystal glass filled with golden whiskey.

The city lights reflected on the glass, making his drink look like liquid gold. His hair was thick black, combed neatly back, and his posture was so commanding, as if he owned the entire city spread out below him.

He had not turned around yet.

I closed the door gently, then stood in the middle of the room. My voice sounded small when it finally came out. “I’m back, Sir.”

Only then did he turn around slowly. His eyes caught mine right away, sharp and deep like a starless night. He took another sip of his whiskey, then placed the glass on the small table beside him. A thin smile appeared on his lips, the kind I already knew, the one that always made my stomach feel strange.

“You accept my offer, Little Doe? About the dirty deal?”

I had not nodded yet. I took a deep breath, then asked what had been bothering me since that afternoon.

“Did you profile me before? Did you know I had a lot of debt? Or... did you tell the debt collectors to threaten to seize my house today?” I asked.

He was silent for a moment, just looking at me with a flat expression. Then his smile widened a little, almost as if he was proud. “You are very smart, Little Doe.”

Damn!

So it was true—Everything was planned. The sudden threat to seize the house that appeared today, even though in the previous months, when I was sometimes late with payments, they never went that far. It was all because of him!

I let out a long sigh and closed my eyes for a second. I had no savings left. Leon had spent it all. I had no other choice. That house was the only thing left for my mother and my little sister.

“So... because I have no other way to pay that bill,” I said softly, my voice almost gone, “I accept your offer.”

His eyes flashed for a moment, like a predator that finally caught its prey. He stepped closer.

“Now explain to me,” I continued, trying to make my voice stronger even though my hands shook, “what exactly is in the dirty deal you are offering?”

He stopped a few steps in front of me, his hands in his pants pockets. “Like I said this morning. You become my personal assistant. You live in my mansion. I will pay for all your needs and clear all your father’s debt.”

“You only need to follow what I want and be there for me whenever I need you,” he added.

I swallowed hard.

“Then why do you call it a dirty deal?” I asked again, my voice smaller. “What is dirty about all that?”

His eyes looked deep into mine, as if he could see right into my soul. The smell of whiskey and his expensive cologne grew stronger as he came closer again, making my breath catch.

“Good question, Little Doe,” he said softly. “I just like the name. Dirty deal. It sounds tempting, doesn’t it?”

I bit my lower lip, trying to process his words.

Tempting? Maybe for him, but for me it felt like selling my soul.

“How long?” I asked again, my voice firmer even though my chest pounded hard. “How long do I have to be your personal assistant?”

He gave a thin smile, then shook his head slowly. “Until you give up.”

I frowned. “Give up? What do you mean?”

He did not answer right away. He just looked at me with eyes that grew darker, as if he was already imagining something I did not understand yet.

I swallowed again, but finally nodded slowly.

I accepted. What else could I do?

Lazarrus walked to his desk, took a thin black folder from the drawer, came back, and handed it to me. On the first page, big bold letters read—A DIRTY DEAL.

I opened the pages with shaking hands. My eyes went straight to the opening sentence. “This agreement states that Celeste Harper becomes the personal property of Lazarrus Walkez V...”