All Chapters of The Deal with the Billionaire Devil: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

TARAThrough blurry vision, I reread the email I received five minutes ago. I wanted to make sure I didn’t misread a word. The more I read it, the more my heart broke, and my fear came true. She was gone, and I didn’t even get to see her smile one last time and hear her voice calling my name. I cried in bed alone with all my raw emotions crashing down on me. Regrets cut the deepest, though. I wished I had reached out to her soon enough, but I kept my promise not to involve her more than she already had because I knew what my family could do to her. “God, I’m so sorry, Mariana.” I curled into a ball, crying in silence, but it wasn’t enough to dull the pain. Maybe it shouldn’t. Maybe I should endure it for me to feel it was real, that I wasn’t dreaming, or that it wasn’t a nightmare that she was gone. “Tara?” Mad called my name, followed by a soft knock. I froze, didn’t know what to do. I completely forgot about the dessert. When I received the email during dinner, I excused myself

TARA“What’s that baseball cap supposed to do? Hide your face? Poor disguise.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Does anyone even want your photograph here in this town?”“Anyone who hates me will because I’m a heartless, horrible person. Don’t underestimate someone’s hatred.” He fixed his leather gloves like he was about to hit someone.“Glad to know that I’m invisible, a nobody.” I snapped a picture of the mountains covered in snow. The weather was a little bit chilly, but I was used to it. My country was cold even in summer and freezing in winter. “Cold?” He turned to me, took off his muffler, and put it around my neck. I thought his gesture was sweet and thoughtful.“Do you realize I lived in a country where cold didn’t bother me? But thanks.” I pulled the collar of my coat and smiled. “Figured. Cold didn’t bother you back at the chalet.” Everytime he mentioned chalet, it made me smile. I felt like he was making fun of me.I stopped and looked around. “It’s peaceful here. Look at the

TARA“Did you just threaten me—”“In your office, in your building? No, Mr. Linden, but I’m warning you.”Instead of throwing me insults, he smiled. “Let’s not cut our heads off here. Asking about you is a double-edged sword. That’s why I went to the source. Yes, Alessia asked me to find you, but I swear, she’s a good person, and she promised me she wouldn’t do anything to harm you, but I wasn’t aware who you were until I found out you were a Serevian citizen, and a—”“Exiled.” Honestly, I exiled myself until my father stripped me of my privilege and titles.“Yes. I’m sorry to hear that,” he said genuinely.“What do you want with that information?”“A friend of mine asked a favor to dig into your life.”“May I ask who?”“I’m sorry, he’s a client. I can’t tell you that.”“You can’t or you won’t?”He chuckled. “I’ve met princesses, but you’re by far the most interesting one.”“Don’t let Caprian royals hear you say that.” I breathed deeply. “Look. I know I’m asking you a lot, and he’s al

TARA“So, are you gonna tell me what you’re writing about?” “No.” I was already pushing him to the door. “Go home, Mad. It’s late. I need to sleep.” “Why can’t I stay? I can crash on your couch.” He was not serious, was he? “No way.” I suddenly remembered something. “Wait.” I grabbed him by his jacket. “That picture was taken from the town. Are you sure Vysper didn’t send someone to catch that exact moment?” “No. I didn’t know about it until she called me. So, can I stay?” “Don’t insist. You can’t stay. There’s no place where you can hide this face. In fact, you shouldn’t be here.” When I pointed at his face, he took my hand and kissed it. “No promises. Good night, Tara.” “Good night.”***“You didn’t have to come here. I sent you everything I wrote. You will get another five by the end of this week.” Olive asked me to meet at the taco stand near my work, but she didn’t just come here for the tacos or to get an update. She wanted to know something. When she looked at me, I lo

TARA“Oh, wow. It’s so loud.” That was the first thing I said, making Olive laugh. We were still on the front porch, and I could hear the music blasting from the house. Scratch that. It was a contemporary mansion.“Of course, it is, goofy. It’s a party.” She grabbed my hand excitedly as she knocked— her hand hung in the air as someone already opened the door from the inside. Keith’s broad smile even widened the moment he saw us. His blue eyes overflowed with joy. “You made it!” He gave Olive a sweet kiss on the lips and then crashed me in a tighter hug. “Come here, baby girl. I’m happy you’re here.”His endearment for me still made me laugh because he always said that I was his baby sister that he never had. Keith was always carefree, sweet, and responsible, and he loved Olive so much.“Your girlfriend didn’t give many choices.” I chuckled as I returned the hug. “But I miss you. I haven’t seen you in ages.” I actually met him last month. I was the third wheel at their dinner date. If