Doris Elizabeth Corday

Yep. It seemed I was done for.

Mr. Illion and his guards loomed like shadows, their presence suffocating the room as they blocked the only exit. I was still on the floor and angled my head to check the window in the living room.

Would I survive if I jumped?

Realizing I could get nowhere with a broken leg, I faced Mr. Illion once more.

"Who is this Doris you speak of?" I asked.

Mr. Illion's face stayed stone cold. He stepped further into my apartment, walking like he was inspecting a gruesome crime scene.

"Miss Corday," he began, his low and smooth, "I have sufficient evidence that one week ago, on the night of the twenty-fourth of September at an Illion company gathering, you stole a pocket watch from me called the Cronos. A timepiece now valued at fifty million dollars." He paused, his gaze narrowing as he caught the slight shift in my posture. "And unless you can pay me back right here and now, I will have no choice but to involve the authorities."

My breath hitched.

How did he know my name? My full name at that.

"What evidence?" I asked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

No matter what, I cannot admit to stealing from this man. He killed a guy for attempting to steal from him. What would he do to me?

Mr. Illion skulked about, as though to see which part of the apartment was the messiest. I gritted my teeth at the humiliation.

"We do have evidence, Miss Corday," he replied without missing a beat. "Fingerprints, in fact."

"Fingerprints? I never—" I stopped the wrong words from leaving. "I've... never even met you before. What fingerprints are you talking about?"

The corner of Mr. Illion's mouth twitched up for the briefest second.

"When you stole the Cronos from my possession, you did leave fingerprints."

Impossible. There had been at least two hundred people at that party, and I'd been meticulous, blending into the crowd like a ghost. Elevator buttons? Cocktail glasses? Those prints would have been gone within seconds, smudged or wiped clean by countless others. There was no way he could trace this back to me.

This jackass was bluffing.

But the way he looked at me, like a wolf eyeing wounded prey, made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

"I've never even heard of your company gathering," I said, my voice defiant despite the pulse hammering in my throat. "Even if I was there, there were hundreds of people leaving their prints on everything. How could you pin something like this on me?"

Mr. Illion passed me and headed towards my bedroom. He lingered there, just long enough to unsettle me, before strolling back to the living room.

What the hell is this creep up to?

"It's simple..." he said, stopping in front of me and casting his shadow over where I sat. "There was one thing that nobody except you touched, Miss Corday."

"What?" I asked.

There it was again. The corner of his mouth curled up for a second. It wasn't a smile, not even close, but he was enjoying this. Every second of it.

"Me, of course," he said with a chilling calm.

"What?"

This had to be a joke. Did I touch him? Well, of course I touched the man but there was no way I was the only person that entire night that grazed his oh-so-expensive suit.

"You're full of it," I laughed, the sound hollow in my throat.

"Actually," a new voice cut in.

A blonde man emerged, adjusting his glasses with a measured precision.

"Mister Illion has a company policy of no contact between him or anyone under his employ. Upon inspecting the suit from that night, only a single set of prints was found. And thanks to your criminal record, when you beat a man half to death, it was rather easy finding your identity from there."

A knot twisted in my gut.

He wasn't lying.

Everything he said had to be true, because how else could they have known my one mistake that got me a criminal record? I did not regret beating that guy up, but I knew deep down that one day it would come back to bite me in the ass.

My shoulders slacked and I hung my head in defeat, staring at my empty hands.

The debt... My mom... It all slipped out of my grasp so fast.

"Thank you for the explanation, Secretary Coy," Mr. Illion said. "So, Miss Corday, as you can see, we are not bluffing. You have four options. And I consider them quite generous."

I was done for.

This either ended with me in prison or buried somewhere nobody could find me.

"Your first option," he continued, "is to hand the Cronos over to me right now."

"I can't," I whispered, feeling the life drain from my voice.

He knew I couldn't. He had to know. After all, he was likely the one who bought it back at the auction.

"Your second option is to pay me the worth of the Cronos — fifty million dollars."

"I can't," I repeated.

He already knew that too. Even if I hadn't handed Rico and Diego their cut, there was still the auction fees. And this asshole knew I did not have anything else saved up.

I guess I could pay with the remaining $35,000,000 that was stuffed in the couch, but what would the point be in that? I set it aside to pay King. And I would still owe Mr. Illion another fifteen million dollars.

I very much doubted he was the type to take IOU slips.

"Your third option," he continued, leaning closer, "is to surrender and wait here while I call the authorities."

That was probably the best option I had. And yet, my life would be as good as over. There was no way for me to pay King back if I was in prison. And he'd have my head if I got out.

"I can't," I said stubbornly, gritting my teeth.

Mr. Illion sighed as if this whole exchange was merely tiresome to him. He crouched down, leveling his eyes with mine. My heart beat faster than before.

I felt like I was about to be eaten alive.

"Then it seems you have but one option left, Miss Corday."

He had the face of an angel. But the personality of a devil.

What was my last option? To die like the last poor soul who crossed this man? Surely it wasn't to forget about all this and keep the money? Ha. No. Lady Luck had abandoned me the moment I messed with Rob B. Illion.

"Sell yourself to me," he said, dead serious.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Did I hear that right?

He offered no further explanation. Just that unnerving, relentless stare.

I tilted my head, lips curving into a bitter smile.

"You're fucking nuts, aren't you?" I asked.

"Do mind your language in front of me."

"You're asking me to sell myself and the problem here is swearing?" I kept the smile, a vein popping in my jaw at dealing with this lunatic.

Mr. Illion straightened up again, motioning for his secretary. The blonde man moved swiftly, producing a file and placing a few papers in front of me alongside a sleek, polished fountain pen. On the first page, bold letters glared at me:

FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

My smile faded.

"What's this?" I muttered, eyes narrowing.

Though King had always wanted me as well, at least he wasn't so weird about it.

"A full-time employment contract. Can you not read?" Mr. Illion asked in that deadbeat voice of his. "I could have Secretary Coy verbally relay the document to you if you have some sort of reading impairment—"

"I can read, dammit."

"Language, Miss Corday."

My fists balled and my jaw set. Taking a breath to stop my blood from boiling, I read the first paragraph.

Employment Contract

This contract, dated on the [01 of 10 in the year 2011], is made between [Rob B. Illion] and [Doris Elizabeth Corday] of [New Hale, Almoney]. This document constitutes an employment agreement between these two parties and is governed by blah blah blah...

"Jeeze, I'm getting a headache from just looking at this nonsense," I yawned. "Just tell me what it's about."

"Secretary Coy, a verbal relay, if you will," Mr. Illion said as he turned to the blonde man.

"No, no," I interrupted. "Just give me the general gist of it." I leaned back from where I was still on the floor, my dress probably ruined by now.

"It's not very complicated. You'll be using your skills to serve my purposes. It will be permanent, full-time employment with no termination option — unless you are willing to hand yourself over to the authorities that is. You'll work until you manage to pay off your debt. And to ensure you don't escape with any sensitive information, you'll move into my residence, where you'll remain under my watch."

This was definitely some kinky fucked up shit.

I looked up at Mr. Illion with my brows furrowed. He was handsome, that was without question. Even with the dark circles under his eyes, my body flushed in betrayal whenever our gazes met. I bet if he did not have that perpetually bored expression, he would have looked even better.

"W-what is the job description?" I asked. I needed to hear it.

Was this man some sort of perverted jackass who got a kick out of keeping someone trapped in his home?

"Thievery, of course," Mr. Illion said in deadpan. "You'll work as my personal thief."

I blinked.

"Your... What?"

"My thief," he repeated. "I've had plenty of people attempt to steal from me, but this is the first time someone succeeded."

"Seriously?"

He nodded, his dark eyes cutting through me like a knife.

"We do not take kindly to thieves," Secretary Coy added.

My stomach twisted at that.

"Yet you're employing one right now?" I challenged.

"Let me correct myself. We do not take kindly to bad thieves," he replied.

"Ha."

I rested my head on my hand, rubbing the worry from my face.

My options were bleak. Prison? Or working for a murderous crime boss? A prison sentence would mean an eternal debt to King I could never hope to repay. But what horrors awaited me if I accepted this lunatic's twisted proposal?

Better the devil you know...

"How much is the pay?" I asked, looking down at the contract.

"It is commission based," Mr. Illion answered. "Every item you steal for me will have ten percent of its value subtracted from your debt."

I thought about that. With this deal my debt could either be paid in a few months or in fifty years.

"Fifty percent," I countered.

Mr. Illion quirked a brow.

"Twenty," he said.

"Forty."

"Ten."

"Hey, why did you go back down?!" I argued. "We're supposed to meet in the middle!"

He picked at the stitching in his gloves.

"We meet where I say we meet. And I only offer a chance once."

I sighed, realizing there was no reasoning with a man like him.

"Fine, twenty."

"Ten," he repeated. "As I said, I only offer a chance once."

"Are you kidding me!?"

"You'll find I do not kid, Miss Corday."

I laughed louder than I should've.

"Oh, in that case, of course I'll accept. Where do I sign? And do I sign with my own blood as well?"

This man was the devil. It was official. The devil wanted to hire me as a thief.

"No, blood is certainly not required, Miss Corday."

"I'm sarcastic, you jackass," I retorted in monotone.

"Miss Corday, we have a no swearing policy in the contract."

"Fuck your contract! There's no way I'm signing this piece of crap."

This guy was nuts. Who in their right mind would work under these terms?

Yet, beneath all my bravado, my heart raced, and my hands felt clammy.

"So, is it a no? If so, you'll be arrested on the spot," Mr. Illion said.

Of course, it was a no. A couple of years in prison and an eternal debt to King would be much better than working for this jackass. Imagine living with the guy that ruined your life? Seeing him every day like that... Doing his dirty work... and...

Potentially discovering all his secrets...

"Miss Corday, an answer, if you will."

I snickered.

What am I so worried about?

I acted as though signing the contract meant I was actually going to work for him until the debt was paid. When in reality... I've just been given the opportunity to get revenge.

A wicked grin crept onto my lips.

"We have a deal, Mr. Illion," I smiled up at the man.

And just like that, the devil has invited a demon into his home.

With a slight tremor in my hands, I signed the papers in front of me, glancing up as I flipped through each page. Mr. Illion's cold, unflinching eyes remained fixed on me, watching my every move. He might have been an arrogant jackass, but he wasn't an idiot. He had to know that inviting me into his life meant inviting chaos.

And I would bring it.

Done signing, I got up and dusted myself off. My dress was a mess, but worse was being barefoot. Without the advantage of heels, I felt like a mouse. Why the hell were these people so damn tall?

"It's an honor to work for you," I smiled as I handed Mr. Illion the contract, my words dripping with sweet poison.

Mr. Illion only gave me a once-over before motioning for his secretary and turning around.

"Let us go then. We don't have time to waste, Miss Corday."

Right.

Secretary Coy took the papers as everyone left the apartment.

"Uhm, I still need to pack though," I said.

"That won't be necessary," the blond man dismissed, guiding me toward the door with a firm hand on my back. "Everything you need will be provided for at Mister Illion's residence. All we require is your services."

"Stop making it sound so weird," I groaned.

Other than the key to the apartment, I had nothing with me. Not even a phone. And with $35,000,000 stuffed in my couch, I was pretty terrified of getting mugged.

"At least let me change into comfortable clothes."

"Not necessary."

"Shoes then?"

"No need."

My knuckles whitened. This secretary sure matched his master's personality. I stared at him more closely. There was a chestnut hue to his wavy blonde hair and a sharpness to his face.

"I can still keep my apartment, right?" I asked, while one of the security personnel fitted the door back into its frame.

"How will you pay rent?" Secretary Coy questioned.

We walked down the stairs, some neighbors eyeing me warily. I must've looked like a cheap hooker. Though saying that was more an insult to them than to me.

"I... uh... I need a place ready for when my mom gets back," I admitted, wrapping my arms around myself. "I can't have anything happen to the apartment."

Or the thirty-five million dollars, I refrained from adding.

If everything went according to plan, I would bankrupt Mr. Illion, pay my debt to King, and live happily ever after with my mom. But if that didn't work out and I needed to run away... The money would come in handy.

Secretary Coy thought about my words for a moment.

"Fine, I'll arrange for the door to be fixed and the apartment to be kept safe," he said reluctantly.

Ah, so there is hope with this one. I'll be sure to test my luck with him later.

We stepped out of the brick building and onto the grimy street. Crumpled newspapers, broken glass, and half-smoked cigarettes littered the sidewalk. Most of the security personnel entered the first matte black SUV while Mr. Illion, Secretary Coy, and I climbed into the second. Mr. Coy took the front seat next to the chauffeur, while I found myself seated in the back with the devil himself.

My hands trembled, so I pressed them against my legs before anyone could notice.

There were questions muddling my head. Would I see Rico and Diego again? Is Olivia okay? Would I be able to get my revenge? How much longer would Mom be in hiding? And... What happens if King comes to collect the money on Monday and I'm not there?

No, calm down. I can still pay the money.

If I got on Mr. Illion's good side, there was nothing stopping me from coming back here to clear my debt with King. Then there was only one devil left to deal with.

The tiniest smirk came to my lips.

Time to pull off my biggest haul yet....

I'm going to strip Rob B. Illion of everything he owns.

The thrill of it steadied my trembling hands. But before I could relish my plan, Mr. Illion's voice sliced through my thoughts.

"I know what you're thinking," he murmured, his dark eyes holding me captive. "But it's best to behave, Miss Corday."

My mouth dried, making it harder to swallow. I was sure staring at a snake wouldn't even make me feel this... nervous. My legs pressed together as I tried my hardest not to look away.

His lips curved into a subtle, predatory smirk, like he could see right through me.

"I've buried too many people who think like you," he added. "I hope you're different."

I finally tore my eyes away, staring out the tinted window, willing my heartbeat to steady.

This man... I thought with a shudder. This man is not to be taken lightly.