Chapter 7: A Deal with the Devil

I felt the blood drain from my face.

Dominic stepped out of the shadows, slow and controlled, like a predator that had just cornered its prey. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those dark, calculating eyes—burned with triumph.

I had been played.

Again.

Liam stiffened beside me. “Caldwell,” he said, his voice a forced calm.

Dominic ignored him. His focus was on me, and me alone.

“You never learn, do you, Sinclair?” he murmured.

I forced my chin up. “Looks like you don’t either,” I shot back. “Eavesdropping is a bad habit.”

His lips curved into a smirk, but there was no amusement in it.

“You thought you were so clever, didn’t you?” he mused. “Slipping away. Meeting your little ally in secret.” He took another step forward, his presence suffocating. “Tell me, Sinclair, did you really think I wouldn’t be watching?”

I said nothing.

Because the truth was, I had underestimated him.

Dominic wasn’t just ruthless—he was ten steps ahead. Always.

And now, I was trapped.

His gaze flickered to Liam. “You can leave now. This conversation no longer concerns you.”

Liam clenched his jaw. “Like hell it doesn’t.”

Dominic tilted his head, amused. “I’d be careful if I were you, Turner. I know exactly what you’ve been up to. That little offshore account? The one you’ve been using to funnel money into your… extracurricular activities?” He smiled, cold and sharp. “It’d be a shame if the authorities got a tip about some suspicious transactions.”

Liam stiffened.

And I knew.

He had him.

Dominic owned this city. If he wanted someone ruined, all he had to do was snap his fingers.

Liam’s eyes flickered to me. “Elena—”

“I’ve got this,” I cut in.

I didn’t.

But I needed Liam to walk away.

After a long moment, he exhaled sharply and turned to go. “This isn’t over.”

Dominic smirked. “Oh, I think it is.”

Liam shot me one last look before disappearing into the night.

Then, it was just me and the devil.

Checkmate

Dominic studied me for a long moment.

Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the flash drive Liam had given me.

My stomach twisted.

“Looking for this?” He held it between his fingers, twirling it like a toy.

I clenched my fists. “You had it the whole time.”

“Of course I did.” His smirk deepened. “Do you really think I’d let you get your hands on evidence that could ruin me?”

I inhaled sharply. “So this was a trap from the start.”

He shrugged. “You were never going to outplay me, Sinclair. But I’ll give you points for trying.”

Rage burned in my veins.

“You think you’ve won,” I said quietly.

His smile didn’t waver. “Haven’t I?”

I stared at him, my mind racing.

I couldn’t fight him head-on.

Not yet.

So I did the only thing I could.

I changed the game.

I stepped closer—so close that I could feel his breath against my skin. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t move away.

“You want me to be your perfect little wife?” I whispered. “Fine. I’ll play along. I’ll stand beside you. Smile for the cameras. Tell the world how much I love my husband.”

Dominic’s gaze flickered with something unreadable.

“But,” I continued, “in return, I want something too.”

His brow lifted. “And what would that be?”

I reached out, trailing my fingers down his tie, watching his expression carefully.

Then, I smiled.

“Everything.”

For the first time, Dominic’s smirk faltered.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

He wasn’t expecting this.

Good.

Because if he wanted a game, I was about to play the deadliest one yet.

****

The car ride back to the penthouse was silent.

I stared out the window, my mind spinning.

I had just made a deal with the devil.

And now, I had to figure out how to survive it.

Dominic didn’t say a word as we arrived.

But the moment we stepped inside, he turned to me, his expression unreadable.

“You surprise me, Sinclair,” he murmured.

I folded my arms. “Good. It’ll make it harder for you to predict my next move.”

His smirk returned. “Careful. That almost sounded like a threat.”

I tilted my head. “And if it was?”

He stepped closer. “Then I’d have to remind you exactly who’s in control here.”

Heat licked up my spine, but I refused to back down.

“You may have control,” I said, my voice steady. “But you don’t have me.”

Dominic studied me.

Then, he smiled.

“We’ll see about that.”

****

Hours later, I sat alone in the penthouse, staring at the city lights.

Dominic had disappeared into his office, leaving me to my thoughts.

I had to be careful.

One wrong move, and he’d crush me.

But as I reached for my phone, something caught my eye.

A single message.

Unknown Number: You’re in deeper than you think. He’s not the only one playing you.

I frowned.

Me: Who is this?

A few seconds passed.

Then—

Unknown Number: Someone who wants the real truth.

My pulse pounded.

What truth?

I typed quickly.

Me: What are you talking about?

This time, the response was almost immediate.

Unknown Number: The real reason Dominic married you.

I stopped breathing.

My hands shook as I typed—

Me: Tell me.

Three dots appeared.

Then—

Unknown Number: Not yet. But trust me, Sinclair. Your husband isn’t the only one with secrets.

And just like that, the message disappeared.

I stared at the screen, my heart hammering.

Dominic wasn’t the only one with secrets?

Then who else was playing me?

And more importantly—

What the hell had I just gotten myself into?