Elena's heels clicked against the marble floor as she exited the lounge, her mind racing. The weight of what she had just done settled over her like a thick shroud—she had crossed the line, no longer a mere spectator in Nathaniel's world but an active participant.
Victor was waiting by the car, his arms crossed, expression unreadable as always. "How did it go?" he asked as he opened the door for her.
She slid into the back seat, her fingers tightening around the clutch still in her lap. "He took the letter."
Victor arched a brow. "And?"
Elena met his gaze through the rearview mirror. "He didn't throw it away."
A ghost of approval flickered in Victor's eyes before he turned forward, starting the car. "Then we wait."
Back at the Sinclair estate, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Nathaniel stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching as Elena entered. He didn't turn to face her, but she knew he had been waiting.
"Well?" he asked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Elena stepped further into the room, setting her clutch down on the polished oak desk. "He read it. He didn't dismiss it. But he didn't commit to anything either."
Nathaniel finally turned, his cold blue gaze scrutinizing her. "And what do you think?"
Elena tilted her chin, refusing to let the uncertainty show. "I think he's weighing his options. And I think he's watching us very closely now."
A slow, amused smirk pulled at Nathaniel's lips as he stepped toward her. "Not bad," he murmured. "You might just be more useful than I anticipated."
Elena narrowed her eyes. "I wasn't trying to be useful. I was protecting myself."
Nathaniel chuckled, taking another slow sip of his drink. "Same thing in this world."
She clenched her fists at her sides. "You keep throwing me into the fire, Nathaniel. At some point, I'll stop fearing the flames."
His smirk deepened. "Good. Because you'll need to."
Before she could respond, a sharp knock interrupted them. Victor entered, his usual composed demeanor slightly tighter than before.
"We have a problem," he said simply.
Nathaniel stiffened. "What kind of problem?"
Victor stepped further into the room, his gaze flickering toward Elena before settling back on Nathaniel. "Our friend from earlier just sent a response."
Nathaniel's jaw tightened. "And?"
Victor hesitated, then handed him a small, neatly folded note. Nathaniel took it, his eyes scanning the words in an instant.
Elena watched as a muscle in his jaw ticked. "What does it say?" she asked.
Nathaniel didn't look up. "He wants a meeting."
Victor exhaled sharply. "At midnight. Alone."
Elena's stomach twisted. "You can't go alone."
Nathaniel's eyes flicked up to meet hers, something unreadable in his gaze. "Of course I can."
Elena stepped closer. "It's a trap."
"Everything in this business is a trap," Nathaniel muttered, tossing the note onto the desk. "The only question is who's smart enough to escape it."
Victor folded his arms. "You know this could be an ambush."
Nathaniel smirked, a slow, dangerous look that sent a chill down Elena's spine. "Then I guess we'll see if I make it out alive."
Elena's pulse spiked. "I'm coming with you."
Nathaniel turned fully to her, his expression suddenly colder. "No."
She stood her ground. "Yes."
A long silence stretched between them, tension crackling like static in the air.
Then Nathaniel exhaled, shaking his head. "You're either the bravest woman I've ever met, or the most foolish."
Elena lifted her chin. "Maybe both."
Nathaniel studied her for a moment longer, then turned back to Victor. "Prepare the car. We leave in an hour."
Victor nodded before slipping out, leaving Elena and Nathaniel alone once more.
Nathaniel drained the last of his whiskey before setting the glass down with a soft clink. "You wanted a seat at the table, Elena?" His voice was quiet, almost dangerous.
She held his gaze. "Yes."
His smirk returned, slow and knowing. "Then let's see if you survive it."
YOU ARE READING
A Deal With The Devil
RomanceElena Carter never imagined her life would become a pawn in a ruthless game of power and revenge. Forced into an arranged marriage with the enigmatic and dangerous billionaire, Nathaniel Sinclair, she must navigate a world of secrets, betrayal, and...
