Chapter 3: The Bargain

It has been days since he last heard from him. Luca Moretti stood by the window, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a tumbler containing something smooth and amber. Behind him, the skyline sprawled across the glass like a painting of power. ” Daniel is not just sceptical; he's strict with his words. What do you suggest we do, Jordan”.

“I asked my friend, a cyberstalker, to look into his profile,” he replied. Luca was filled with some sort of excitement; his eyes flickered, and he slid into his seat, heart pounding in his stomach.” So what?”.

“ Daniel is barely surviving; he owes a bank, his landlord, his ex; the only thing he has to himself is his bag of clothes and his name, Mehn! He's a walking debt,” Jordan says with no form of pity or sympathy.

He let out a breath, which he hadn't realized he’d been holding,

stood from his seat and grabbed his car keys from the desk, “Where are you going? “Jordan asked in curiosity.

“To settle some unfinished business”, Luca says while dragging his suit jacket. His footsteps echoed against the hardwood floor, and slamming the door behind him.

****

Rain lashed against Daniel Reyes' fragile doors, the wind howling through the cracks in the window frames. He sat at his kitchen table - the only piece of furniture not salvaged from the restraint - staring at the eviction notice trembling in his hands. Three months behind rent. The red stamp bled through the cheap paper like a fresh wound.  The Landlord was not just mean, he was wicked. A man whose wife absconded with his kids and life savings, Hheww!! What else is expected from him, frustration lurks around in the image of cruelty.

His phone buzzed. Another text from his mother:  

*Mum*: The bank called again. I don't know what to tell them; you really need to do something fast Dan, or we will be thrown into the streets or possibly prison.

Flashback ****

After a long church service at Faith's Bible Church, Daniel and his mum decided to take a cup of chilled ice cream on their way home. “ Oh! I think I forgot my wallet”. Daniel says rushing back inside to grab it before a clever thief does. As Mum was standing by the doorpost of the Ice cream shop, waiting patiently for him, a reckless driver ran her over without stopping. Daniel rushes out to see his mum, her blood gushing along the tiles of the road, bones almost shattered. He screams and wails at the top of his voice, rushing her to the hospital with the aid of the Emergency Hospital Centre. Too bad he didn't get to see the driver. He would have had to pay with his blood.

Daniel's thumbnail split the paper. He'd promised her. After the accident, after the medical bills exhausted their savings, he'd sworn he'd fix everything. Two years at The Brooklyn Independent and all he had to show for it was a maxed-out credit card and a reputation for being "difficult."  

A knock shattered the silence.  

Not the polite tap of a neighbour. Three sharp raps shook the door in its frame.  

Daniel froze.” Landlords didn't knock at midnight but mine could”. “What is the worst thing that could possibly happen?”.

He peeped through the hole and saw Luca Moretti drenched in rainwater, his usually perfect hair plastered to his forehead, designer jacket clinging to broad shoulders. The bruises on his knuckles had darkened to ugly purples.  

Daniel threw open the door. "What part of 'go away' -"  

"You're being evicted,” He said.

The words punched through him. Luca's gaze flicked past Daniel's shoulder to where the notice lay crumpled on the table.  

Daniel blocked his view. "Get the fuck off my doorstep."  

Luca didn't move. Rain dripped from his lashes, carving paths down his sharp cheekbones. "I'm offering you a job."  

"I don't want "  Daniel struggles to speak.

"Fifteen thousand dollars. Upfront."  

Daniel's throat closed. That would cover the back rent. The medical bills. His mother's loan.  

Luca stepped inside without invitation, water pooling around his thousand-dollar sneakers. He tossed a manila envelope on the table. It landed with a heavy thud.  

"Become my social media consultant. Six months. Full access to my team and me" Luca's voice dropped. "No restrictions."  

Daniel's fingers itched to open it. To see that number in print. "Why me?"  

"Because you're the only person who looks at me like I'm not a goddamn meal ticket."  

The raw honesty startled them both. Luca recovered first, flipping open the contract to the compensation page. The numbers swam before Daniel's eyes.  

He could walk away. Let Luca drown in his own scandals.  

His mother's voice echoed in his head: “We will lose the house next week”.

Daniel grabbed a pen. "Three conditions."  

Luca's lips twitched. "Name them."  

"One: I control the narrative. No inspection of my copy."  

"Done."  

"Two: No babysitting. I'm not your assistant."  

"Wouldn't dream of it."  

"Three..." Daniel met Luca's gaze. "You tell me the truth about that photo."  

Luca went very still. The rain sounded louder suddenly, and the apartment became smaller.  

"Deal," Luca said finally.  

Their handshake lasted a second too long. Luca's palm was warm despite the rain, his grip firm. A movie star's hands shouldn't be calloused, Daniel thought distantly.  

Luca was at the door when he dropped the bomb. "Pack for two weeks. We leave for LA tomorrow."  

"Like hell I -"  

"Check clause 4-B." Luca's smile was all teeth. "Travel requirements."  

The door clicked shut.  

Daniel flipped to the page. There it was - mandatory travel, all expenses paid. He should have read the fine print.  

His phone buzzed. Unknown number.  

**You should have asked for more. He can afford it.**  

Daniel's blood turned to ice. The blackmailer knew about the deal. Knew Luca was here.  

Outside, thunder cracked like a gunshot. Somewhere in the storm, Luca Moretti disappeared into the night, taking Daniel's last shred of pride with him.

“I have got him right in my net” he mutters to himself. “He dances to my tunes”.

Daniel was in his apartment, his expression unreadable; he gazed at the money, a sense of relief passing through his spine. Bills are covered.

“I am going to expose your hypocrisy, Golden Boy,” he speaks to himself.