Spy

"Then work for me," Reid demanded.

Valerie was stunned by that demand. She made up her mind to beg him for forgiveness if necessary. But this was unexpected and shocking.

"M... Mr. Oswald, what do you mean by working? I just graduated. I lack the experience to work for someone like you," she replied.

Reid turned his head slightly, looking at her through his peripheral vision.

"You are not delusional. But the work I mentioned is working as my spy. I know you are going to the Bahamas today. While you are there, you should let Jason see that the girl he is dating is not good for him. You do that, and I can overlook everything you did to sabotage my interests," he explained.

Valerie looked stunned.

"Mr. Oswald, Jason is my best friend. I cannot betray his trust. Please, find someone else for this work," she refused. She would never betray Jason, not even in her dreams.

"You are not betraying him. You are actually helping him avoid a future relationship crisis. You are actually helping him," Reid pointed out.

Valerie shook her head.

"No, still images cannot do this. I will be working against my best friend. Please, Mr. Oswald, find someone else for this work," she begged him to reconsider his decision.

Reid fully turned to face her.

"Then be prepared to say goodbye to your future," he started, erasing the distance between them in deliberately measured steps.

"Mr. Oswald, this is not fair," she complained.

He smirked.

"I am a businessman; I never think about unnecessary things. If I want something done, I find ways to get it done." he stopped when he was just half a foot away from her. She is so overwhelmed that she lets her eyes stay downcast. But he punched her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

"You see, Valerie, it's either you work for me, or pay for my car damages. I heard you are looking for internships. If you upset me more than you already did, I can make sure that you can never find a decent job in this city. You see, I rule NYC. My word is law here. So it's in your best interest to not cross me" he let her see that he meant every word he said.

Her eyes welled up with unshed tears.

"Jason is my only best friend. I cannot betray his trust," she whispered.

He smirked and ran his thumb over her soft cheek. He placed his other palm on the door near her head. He leaned a little closer. From this close, he is so intimidating. Her knees locked up in fear.

"I know you have a crush on my brother. Don't you want him to look at you? If you don't get rid of poisonous women around him, how will he ever look at you? Think about it. If you accept, you will have a great career and can date my brother. If you don't, you have to pay me for my car damage, Jason might never look at you, and your career will be as good as gone. So, what will be?" he inquired.

Her lower lip wobbled. The thought of betraying Jason is crushing her heart. But refusing Reid Oswald would cost her everything. She cannot afford that. Just by the look in his eyes, she knows he is not bluffing. Her decision must have been plainly seen on her face, because he smirked in approval.

"Good decision," he murmured.

To her horror, he reached inside the back pocket of her jeans and pulled her mobile out. This was the second time he had touched her butt. She froze like an ice statue. His fingers flew across her screen. The fact that he easily guessed her password and unlocked her mobile showed how sharp the man is. That scared her. Crossing him is really a death sentence.

He placed her mobile back inside her back pocket again.

"I added my number. Every night before bed, call me and report the process. My assistant packed a bag for you. Clothes and things you would need in the Bahamas. Don't dress like a tomboy again; it would repulse anyone, even Jason. My driver is waiting downstairs. He will drop you off at the airport," he instructed her.

Her head is spinning by this point. He already guessed that she would agree. Why wouldn't she? He pushed her into a corner without a way out. She had to agree.

'Clothes? I want my own clothes,' she wanted to shout, but she was terrified of Reid Oswald to even open her mouth, let alone yell.

Just when she thought she could leave, he stunned her when he leaned closer to her until she could feel his minty breath fanning her face.

"Happy vacation, Valerie," he whispered in her ear. His lips brushed her earlobes.

That small contact made her skin break into goosebumps. He pulled back and away from her. Finally, she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

Like an obedient pet, she followed after his assistant who escorted her to the waiting car downstairs. Someone opened the car door for her, and she boarded the car in a daze. After the driver dropped her off near the airport and placed a huge suitcase beside her before driving away, the reality of what she agreed to crashed into her. But before she could even panic, she heard a familiar voice that made her heart jump.

"Val? Is that you?" Jason's voice rang from behind her.

She turned to face her best friend, trying to not show how guilty she is.

"You are dressed like a girl?" Jason pointed out the obvious. If it were any other day, she would have been embarrassed. But after meeting someone like Reid Oswald, she didn't have the energy for anything.

"I am a girl," she replied, feeling guilty and on edge. She had never spoken with Jason in this way before.

"What happened? You look off today," Jason immediately noticed.

"It's nothing, let's go," she brushed it off.

"Babe, can you help me with my luggage?" Mia's voice grated on her nerves. She looked at Mia, who was wearing ripped-off shorts and a spaghetti-strap top.

'Forget about it. Getting rid of her is worth all this trouble' she decided.