PANDEMONIUM

                                                                        MIA

The dress I wore was made of expensive golden crystals. Being from the city of fashion and glamour, I had calculated that the dress was at least worth about ten thousand dollars.

I inhaled sharply when the figure totalled in my mind. Ten thousand dollars for just a dress was simply mind blowing.

They finished off by adding a fur coat made out of pure wolf skin.

By the time I was led out of the room I thought was going to be my prison, my stomach was clenched tightly, but boy, did I feel over the moon.

I was unsuccessful in Hollywood, so my decision was final. I was about to step into the role of the greatest character of my life. One that would actually define my future. And I wasn't going to fail.

Mrs bird cager pulled me into an elevator that was darker than sin. 

“Oh and by the way, you’re in new york now,” she said so casually my heart rate surged.

Back to the city where my father breathed the same air as me. 

“No,” I whispered internally the second I felt myself being sucked onto the web of thoughts about my father. He wasn’t worth an appearance in my mind anyway.

“Are you ready?” she asked as the elevator doors opened.

“I am,” I breathed out.

We stepped out of the elevator, and she immediately went into details explaining everything to me, the way it would go down.

The pathway we had walked into was just as dark as the elevator, and there were no living things other than us present. It just felt endless, making me worry we were going to a place of doom.

“You’re going to be hoisted into the air, and let into a golden glass made in the shape of a heel. You'll be behind the curtain. When that curtain drops, you'll be gently lowered down. Your job is to find the sexiest pose whilst laying in the golden glass chair. Don't worry, there are screens there to project your face for everyone to see. But you're going to be looking in one direction.”

My mind instantly went to the former band, and I chuckled internally.

We took a turn, and finally saw another living person.

“Lena, what is this?" a man asked, coming our way.

He stopped in his tracks, and looked at me. “So it's true?"

“Gerald spilled right? I bet you have the cues up. Her name is Mia Nova, and that's exactly what must be displayed,” she paused and turned to me. “He’s part of the tech group handling the technical aspect of your presentation. You'll be given a little ear plug, so they can communicate with you for today. But after today, if the boss is pleased with your performance, then you'll have to learn to do without the plugs, okay?”

I nodded positively, digesting everything she said. It was like Hollywood when the directors dished out directives, only this time, I was playing the role of a semi hooker.

We walked past a man who whistled, and a shudder of disgust ran through me.

“Ignore every other person looking at you lustfully. You're eye candy for them. Your focus must be on the boss. He’ll be at a table to your left, talking to the man he needs help trapping. Your gaze must rest on that table. Do you understand?”

“Yes I do,” I quickly replied.

She stopped by a door, and I followed suit.

“As soon as we cross through that door, it's game time. Are you ready?’

I took a deep breath, and  smiled. “I am ready.’’

The door opened, and my heart dropped.

Pandemonium, Ms bird cager had called it. And what a suitable name for this deliciously dark hole that smelled like power, and a shit ton of money.

Although I was behind the scenes, I could see the main room through the screens displayed all over.

Before I could look any further, someone pulled my arm, and in a split second, the coat came off my shoulders.

“Hoist her up now,’’ someone else said, as an ear plug was gently placed into my ear.

It happened so fast I didn't have time to catch my breath before I found myself in the golden glass. 

My heart began to pound heavily.

“Are you ready, Miss Mia?” a voice travelled into my ear.

I was already jolting in shock when I remembered a device had been plugged into my ear for communication.

“Yes I am,” I replied, hoping my voice was steady enough to be believed.

My heart began to pound faster when I heard counting in my ears. The voice counted to ten, and then began counting from ten backwards.

It got to one, and the curtains, like a veil, dropped. The glass began to go low, and I heard a robotic voice announce my name.

“We told you we'd be right back, and now it is time to unveil our new queen of the night. Mia Nova!”

My cheap model posing lessons paid off, and I curved my body into the perfect sexy pose, as the glass lowered to a stop.

I heard gasps and wondered if they were good or bad. But just like Ms bird cager warned,

I didn't look around but straight to my left.

However just before my eyes reached its destination, it stumbled on a guy with striking blue eyes that almost made me pause and stare. Instead, I continued the journey down to my left.

My heart skipped a beat when I eventually saw him. Dressed in a black suit without any inner, and its first button opened.

His eyes found mine too, and our gazes locked.

It felt like his eyes widened a little, but I couldn't figure it out before he turned away from me.

My eyes rested on them, because stealing wasn’t the only trick I had picked up from the streets.

The man spoke first and I read his lips.

“You didn’t tell me you finally replaced Passion."

“You seem interested in her.”

“Well I've never seen beauty quite like that. The deal is yours, Diavolo. I'll even add an extra five hundred million dollars for it to become a billion dollar deal.”

“Whats the catch?” 

“I want the girl.”

My stomach flipped as I saw the devil cosplayer rise to his feet. He said something I wasn't fast enough to catch, but on closer inspection, I realized he was talking into the plug he had on.

The curtain began to close. I was helped out of the glass. Before I could blink, everyone backstage had disappeared.

I heard footsteps behind me and on turning, I saw the devil.

“Well played.’’ He clapped.

“You can’t sell me!’’ I blurted in panic.

His gaze dimmed into a suspicious squint. He obviously wanted me to carry on since he didn’t say anything.

“I bet I can make you more money than what that man offered you.”

He sniffed into the air, and then smiled cockily. “Finally, your fear,’’ he said with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Thats what you've been fishing for? Of course I don't want to sleep with random men. I had the opportunity to choose, and chose being a thief instead. Let me make you a fresh deal, Mr devil. I come down every night and make you more money. If I could make you an extra five hundred million dollars tonight, I imagine I can make you more.”

He closed the gap between us in one stride, and my breath sharpened.

“How do you know about the deal?”

I could tell that question had been at the tip of his tongue all this while. 

“I read your lips,’’ I confessed.

“Hmm–’’ he sniffed again and I shivered. “You want me to turn down five hundred million dollars for a flimsy hope of you making more? I don’t think so.”

“No, I want to make a deal with the devil.”

He smiled, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

“A deal over a deal? Since you’re so confident, here’s my deal. Make me six billion in six months? That's the only way I won't sell you off.”

It was impossible. I knew it was, but I needed time and time wasn't on my side at the moment.

“I can and will do it. Six billion in six months. You have a deal.”

From your father, and now you. If you fail me, I'll kill you with my bare hands." He breathed down on me.

“I know.”

“Good, then let's seal the deal.”

His lips crashed down hard on mine in a blink, and instead of revulsion, I felt a tear drop down my thighs.