3: The Deal With The Devil

Maria followed Luca into SpitFire Autos, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt small.

Not because she was intimidated—but because this place was huge.

The main hall stretched out before her like a grand atrium, its ceiling impossibly high. A massive chandelier hung above, its golden arms spiraling outward, dripping with thousands of tiny crystals that caught the light. It was the largest she had ever seen—bigger than the one Edwards had installed in their penthouse, bigger than the one in his company’s lobby.

Her gaze moved downward, following the elegant design of the escalators.

There were several, each leading to different sections of the building.

Some moved slowly, taking employees to open workspace floors. Others had security scanners at their bases—meaning they required a special pass to access. Those escalators led to the more exclusive parts of the company.

Maria recognized this kind of system. It was something only powerful, wealthy men designed to keep everyone in their place.

And Luca Avancii was powerful.

He walked through the grand hall without hesitation, his broad shoulders squared, his presence commanding.

He wasn’t loud.

He wasn’t boastful.

But the way people instinctively stepped aside as he passed told her exactly what kind of man he had become.

The kind of man who didn’t need to demand respect—he already had it.

Luca walked toward the far right side of the building, where a sleek elevator was built into the wall. It was separate from the others, with no escalator leading to it.

A private elevator.

The doors dinged softly before sliding open.

Maria stepped inside after him.

The doors closed, and a gentle, classical tune played in the background—so soft it was almost unnoticeable.

Maria exhaled slowly.

This was surreal.

Only an hour ago, she had been on her knees in Edwards’ office, begging.

Now she was in an elevator with Luca Avancii, her brother’s best friend—the man who had just told her she would have everything.

Her stomach twisted.

The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open.

The floor was quiet.

The walls were transparent glass, making the whole space feel open and modern. The few people working behind the glass looked up when Luca stepped in, their gazes immediately flickering to Maria in confusion.

But no one asked questions.

They simply nodded in greeting before returning to their tasks.

Maria followed Luca through the silent hallway until they reached a set of black double doors.

He pushed them open, revealing an office larger than most apartments.

One side of the room was a fully equipped workspace—a massive dark-wood desk, shelves filled with books and car models, and two large monitors set up on a sleek glass table.

The other side…

Maria’s lips parted slightly.

It looked like a lounge.

A deep leather couch stretched along the wall, flanked by two matching armchairs. A bar cart sat in the corner, stocked with whiskey, rum, and bottles of expensive liquor. The entire space smelled like leather and cedarwood, with a hint of something unmistakably Luca.

Masculine. Powerful. Unyielding.

Luca nodded toward the couch. “Sit.”

Maria hesitated before moving toward it, sinking into the soft cushions.

Luca pulled out his phone and sent a quick message.

“Are you ordering something?” she asked quietly.

He smirked. “You looked like you could use some snacks.”

Maria blinked. She hadn’t even realized how hungry she was until he said it.

Luca dragged a chair in front of her, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp.

Then he said the last thing she expected.

“Marry me.”

Maria froze.

Her heart stopped.

“What?”

Luca leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. “We need to be wedded on paper if you want to start your revenge.”

Maria stared at him.

He wasn’t joking.

Marry him?

Marry Luca Avancii?

She had spent fifteen years away from him, and now he was suggesting this?

Maria swallowed. “Luca, this is—”

“A contract marriage,” he clarified, his voice firm. “We make it legal. Edwards will see it. He will panic. And then…” He smirked. “We take everything.”

Maria clenched her fingers against her lap.

This was insane.

But was it any more insane than her begging on her knees for fairness?

Luca was offering her power.

A way to fight back.

A way to make Edwards pay.

She didn’t trust easily.

But she trusted Luca.

She had trusted him when she was fourteen, when she had lost her parents, when Johan had died, when she had been left alone in the world.

And now, he was here again—offering her an out.

Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door.

One of his assistants entered, carrying a tray of pastries and coffee.

Maria swallowed.

Her stomach tightened.

She had spent the last three years watching Edwards eat while she barely touched her plate.

Luca placed the tray between them, grabbing a croissant and handing it to her.

Maria hesitated before taking it.

The assistant left, and Luca sat back, taking a sip of coffee.

Then, instead of pushing for an answer, he asked, “Where have you been, Marie?”

Maria exhaled softly.

She broke the croissant apart, watching the crumbs fall onto the napkin.

Then she spoke.

“After Johan died, I ran away.”

Luca said nothing, just listening.

“I tried finding work. Restaurants, a fish market, hairdressing… anything. I was barely surviving.”

She swallowed. “Then I met Edwards. He gave me a job. We worked together. I helped build his empire. I handled his finances, his networking, his marketing. I built him up.”

She inhaled sharply.

“And then he threw me away.”

Luca exhaled, running a tattooed hand down his face.

Then he smirked without humor.

“Well, that’s his biggest mistake.”

Maria lifted her gaze.

Luca leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs.

“You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Maria’s breath hitched.

“From now on,” he murmured, “you’re my responsibility.”

Maria clenched her fingers around the croissant, feeling something deep and unfamiliar settle inside her chest.

For the first time in years, she didn't feel alone.