"I never thought I'd see you again."
I replay his words in my head.
He remembered.
For some reason, I thought he'd forgotten that night, passing it off as one of the many blurred evenings he must've had. It wasn't like I was that memorable anyway. Just another girl in a room, lost in a moment.
But he remembered.
My skin prickled with unease. I had imagined a thousand scenarios of how this would go, and none of them ended well. Then again, what good comes out of signing a deal with the devil?
Forcing a smile and feigning ignorance, I said, "I'm sorry. Have we met before?"
He frowned. "You… don't remember me?"
"I'm sorry, I think you mistook me for someone else. It's my first time meeting you, and I'm here for the job." I gestured toward the contract that lay perfectly centered on the wide, king-sized bed.
He narrowed his eyes. His gaze lingered on me with suspicion. Then he stepped back. "You're right. My apologies."
I exhaled quietly, hoping he bought the lie. "No worries. I guess I must have one of those faces," I laughed, awkwardly scratching my thumb like a nervous tick I hadn't outgrown.
"Please, have a seat," he said, motioning toward the pair of velvet chairs near the large hotel window.
We sat across from each other. He was cool, composed, and unreadable. And me? A storm under a calm mask.
"Have you had time to go through the contract?" he asked, folding his hands neatly on his lap.
"I have," I nodded, though my throat was dry. I needed to find a way out of this quickly, before I caved under the weight of all the things I wasn't ready to say. The offer was favorable. Too favorable. And if there's anything I've learned over the years, it's that you don't mess with powerful men. Especially when the person in question happens to be the father of your children. And he doesn't even know it.
"Any questions?" he asked. "The benefits are clear, and you won't have to worry about anything that might—"
"Uhm, sir," I cut him off gently. "The offer is quite generous, but—"
"You're not taking it," he finished for me.
I bit my bottom lip, anxiety chewing at my insides, and nodded.
"Is there any part of the clause that might've put you off? We could arrange something more appealing."
I shook my head quickly. "No. No, it's perfect. A little too perfect, if you ask me." I gave a soft chuckle, but it came out wrong. "I just wasn't expecting this level of… pay. It's a bit too overwhelming." A lie. A neat, practiced lie I was barely holding together with tape.
He looked at me in disbelief and amusement. "I'm surprised you're turning down the offer because of the pay."
"Yeah, well, so am I," I muttered. My chest clenched. That was life-changing money, and I just let it roll off my hands like pudding. I winced thinking of all the wonderful toys and things I could get the kids with this kind of money. They would live comfortably, and so would I.
I sighed, thinking of the elephant in the room. Of course, I wanted the twins to have a father figure. But not like this. Not because of a contract. Not because the devil came dressed in a tailored suit, pretending to be an opportunity. And judging by the number of zeros on that page… it was clear. He had soul-crushing money. Money that could reshape your future or wreck it.
People like him didn't play fair. And people like me? We didn't survive long in games like that. We're the hunted, they're the hunter.
The worst part - the part that gnawed at my soul - was that I was walking away from the one thing that could pay for Em's treatment in a heartbeat.
Why does money have to be so tempting? I groaned internally, holding back the sting in my eyes.
He seemed to notice the war in me. The way I was halfway between fleeing and falling.
"Why don't you sleep on it?" he said. "Think it through. Give me a decision after."
I got up quickly before I cracked, before the truth fell out of me and ruined everything. "I'm really thankful for this offer, and I'm sorry to have wasted your time, but my mind is made up."
He stood, pulling a small black card from his pocket. "Just in case you change your mind," he said, handing it to me.
I hesitated. I wanted to say no. Wanted to reject it, toss it back, and run. But instead, I reached for it. My fingers brushed his, and I hated that my hand trembled.
I looked down at the card. No name. Just a number. A thread tying me to a past I wanted to forget and a future I couldn't afford.
"Once again," I said, "I'm sorry for wasting your time."
I turned on my heels and walked as fast as I could to the door. The doorknob was cool in my hand, and I was seconds from escape.
But then his voice came, stopping me in my tracks. "See you soon, L."
I froze.
L.
I hadn't heard that singular letter in four years, and all it took was two seconds of hearing it to make me undone.
I turned the handle in a daze, heart slamming in my chest, and practically ran out. My heels clicked against the hallway floor like gunshots.
He knew.
This man wasn't just a threat to my secrets. He was the walking embodiment of every consequence I had tried to outrun.
And now, I had two little lives at home… and everything to lose.
I quickly left the hotel and hailed a cab. As soon as I slipped into the back seat, the weight of what I'd just done came crashing down on me. I'd walked away from the one chance - the only chance I had to turn our lives around. Now we were right back where we started. Square one.
Emily was still in the hospital, her condition hanging in limbo, and every second felt like a ticking clock counting down to what could very well be the end of her life.
I let out a heavy sigh and sank into the leather seats, staring blankly out the window as the city blurred past. "Where am I going to get this money?"