Devilish Deal by Jenna Wolfhart
6
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Serena asked as she perched on her twin-sized bed, watching me pack. It wouldn’t take me long. When I’d run from my parents’ home in Nashville, I hadn’t brought much with me. A few changes of clothes, a Polaroid photo of me and my sister from when we were ten and eight, and a bucketload of bad memories.
“No, I’m not sure, but I need this job, Serena. I can’t keep living like this. Neither can you.”
Serena hugged her polka-dotted pillow to her chest. “Of course I can. You’re my best friend, Mia. I said it before, and I’ll say it again. You can stay here for as long as you need.”
“I don’t want to be a burden,” I said. “I’ve been in the city three months now. This apartment is barely big enough for one person, and I know you and Noah want your own place. Your life is on hold because of me.”
“On hold?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as sadness flickered in her brown eyes. “I don’t look at it that way.”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it? You and Noah want to move in together.”
“Yes, but…”
“And you’re waiting for me to move out before you do.” I sighed and dropped the last shirt into my black duffel bag. “Noah told me what’s been going on.”
She stiffened, and then slowly stood from the bed, her arms still latched around the pillow. “He did what?”
“He told me you’re waiting to move in with him until I’m out of your hair. And he told me what’s been going on at your job.” I zipped my bag shut and strode over to her, slowly prying the pillow out of her arms. “You could have told me.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I didn’t tell you because the last thing I want to do is hurt you. And I knew it would. I can’t believe Noah did that.”
“He’s only trying to look out for you.”
Her eyes flipped open. “And I’m trying to look out for you. Mia, you can’t move in with that guy and pretend to be his girlfriend. Not only is it bizarre as hell, he was an asshole to you, and you know next to nothing about him. For all we know, he could be the serial killer we saw on the news.”
“He’s not. I looked into him. He’s been seen in public at the same time as some of the murders. It can’t be him.” I took her hands in mine and squeezed tight. “Serena, I love you, and you have no idea how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’re the only person in the goddamn world who believes I didn’t kill Audrey. You gave me a home when I had nowhere else to go. But I need to move on with my life now, and so do you.”
“We can get a place together,” she said fiercely. “A bigger place.”
“And how would we afford it? I don’t have a job.”
“You’ll find one eventually.”
“What about Noah?”
“He’s not really in my good books now,” she muttered. “He never should have told you about any of it. It wasn’t his place.”
“Maybe not. But I’m sure he’ll make it up to you. He just cares about you. Same as me.”
The doorbell buzzed. I dropped her hands, stepped back, and grabbed my bag. It was eight on the dot, and Asmodeus’s driver was here to collect me. I tried not to think about how weird it was that Asmodeus had his own driver. There were far too many other weird things to comprehend already.
“That means it’s time for me to go.” I slung the bag over my shoulder, smiled. “I’ll text you as soon as I get there.”
“You better.” She rushed forward, sniffling, and threw her arms around my neck. The scent of her lemon body wash swirled into my nose. The same scent I’d smelled every morning for the past three months, every time she took a shower. I’d miss it. “Text me constantly. Let me know what’s going on at all times. If at any point you want to back out of this, call me. You have a place to crash always.”
With a sad smile, I clutched her back. If I had to abort this crazy mission, I didn’t think I would have it in me to call her. If this was only about her future with Noah, I might have felt less firm in my decision. But I would not let her risk her dream career, the one she’d lost sleep, sweat, and blood over the past decade of her life. I’d never seen anyone work harder for what they wanted. I wouldn’t be the thing to knock her down.
“I love you, Serena,” I whispered into her hair. “I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
* * *
Asleek black sedan with tinted windows stretched out along the curb outside of Serena’s brownstone. I swallowed hard and inched forward as a desperate urge to flee rushed through my stomach. The driver’s side window whirred down to reveal a suited man at the steering wheel. He motioned for me to get inside the car.
“Hello, Mia.” His voice was deep, like the bass notes of a blues song. “I’m Asmodeus’s driver. I’m here to take you home.”
Home.
My gut clenched. Regardless of my new residential status, I would never consider my new boss’s apartment home. A house was not a home, and it had been years since I’d felt like I truly belonged somewhere.
I cracked open the door and braced myself. But Asmodeus wasn’t waiting for me inside. The smooth leather seats were empty. The chilly, air-conditioned air whispered across my bare arms. Before I could change my mind, I slid across the seat and slammed the door behind me.
The driver revved the car and took off through the streets.
He said little during the journey through the city. Every now and again, his dark eyes flicked up to his rearview window. I wondered how much he knew. Did this guy think I was Asmodeus’s girlfriend? Or did he know I was an employee and nothing more? Either way, he didn’t let on.
An hour later, the driver pulled up to the curb outside of a building located within the depths of Hell’s Kitchen. I should have known Asmodeus would live close to his club. In fact, we were only three blocks south.
Situated on the corner, the sleek dark building rose high above the others around it. Large windows looked out onto the city streets, basking in the sunlight. A revolving door led into a spacious lobby with marble-tiled floors and sparkling chandeliers. I could see it all glisten even from inside the car.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
Asmodeus pushed through the revolving doors and strode across the sidewalk, sporting a lazy smile that made my insides melt. He stood out from everyone else bustling past him. Probably because of the rich black suit that looked as though it had been made to fit his body. His dark hair matched the color of the fabric, making his bright blue eyes pop.
I swiped my sweaty palms against my jeans. At least I’d changed out of my ice cream sweatshirt.
The driver leapt out of the car and opened the door. I stepped onto the sidewalk, hoisting my bag behind me, but the driver quickly tugged it out of my arms. My whole face flushed.
“I’m glad to see you didn’t back out.” Asmodeus curled his lips into a wicked smile. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
“There is nothing humble about this abode.”
Asmodeus led me through the revolving doors and into the lobby while the driver trailed behind us with my bag. My boots clicked against the marble, and the door man glanced up from behind his podium. He gave a smile and a nod to Asmodeus before turning back to the screen before him. I gazed around as we continued toward a bank of elevators along the back wall of the lobby.
Everything glistened and sparkled as if every single surface was polished clean each day. The chandeliers flickered with luminous light, and expensive paintings adorned the cream walls. I couldn’t guess how much one of these apartments cost, but I knew it had to be way more than the salary of a nightclub owner. Right?
After the elevator hurtled us up to the top floor, I followed Asmodeus into his penthouse apartment. I tried to swallow down my shock. Everything was sleek and black. The luxurious space ended with floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a view of the sparkling city lights. I trailed over to them and pressed my hand against the glass. My breath stuck in my throat as I gazed down at the very distant street.
Asmodeus stepped up beside me, following my gaze. “There’s nothing else like New York City at night. Welcome home.”
Darkness settled over my awe. I narrowed my eyes and stepped away from the window. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my bag beside the door. The driver had dropped it and left me alone with my new boss and his dimpled smile.
“This isn’t home. I’m only here for a month.” My tone was sharper than I intended, but this guy really set my nerves on edge.
“You’re welcome, Mia.” Sighing, he strolled over to the kitchen. With the open floor plan, most of the apartment was in one big space. The living room, dining room, and kitchen all fed into each other. There were three doors leading off from the main room. While Asmodeus rustled around in the kitchen, I let my curiosity lead me to the first of the doors. I cracked it open and peered inside. A luxurious bathroom looked back at me. A clawed tub sat in one corner where a rainfall shower-head hung low over the center of it. Plants dotted the entire room, basking in a strange humid heat that seemed to seep out of the floor.
I closed the door and moved on to the next room. Peering inside, I spotted a massive bed that hunkered beneath black silk sheets. The windows were covered completely with dark curtains.
“That’s my bedroom. Not yours.” His voice sounded right in my ear, and something skittered down my spine. I jumped and twisted to the side, heart hammering. Had the asshole crept up on me? But no…Asmodeus was still in the kitchen, pouring some gin into two tall glasses.
I blinked at him, my blood rushing through my veins. “How did you do that?”
He lifted his eyes from the drinks. “Do what?”
“You…” I pointed to the spot beside me, as if he’d been there only a second ago. “Your voice. It sounded like you were right beside me.”
His brows arched, and he shook his head. “You must be tired. How about we have a quick bite to eat, and then you can get an early night? Tomorrow is your first day at your new job, after all.”
“I thought I didn’t start until eleven at night.”
“You’ll need to come in early, sign some paperwork, and go over some things with the other dancers.” He lifted two plates from the counter and carried them over to the dining table. “And we’ll need to take you shopping for a few outfits.”
“Excuse me?” I asked as I joined him at the table. “Are you insinuating my clothes don’t fit in at your fancy club?”
“That’s exactly what I’m insinuating.” He plopped the drink next to my plate and scowled. “You take everything as an insult, Mia, when you don’t stop to think how your own words come across. You can’t wear that to dance in my club. There are threads hanging off your shirt.”
I glared at the plate before me. It held a steak with some butter-coated potatoes. My stomach growled, despite myself, and I pushed up from my chair. “You’ve insulted both my appearance and my clothes. How would you react to that?”
“Some jobs require a uniform. Being a dancer at a club is one.” With a frustrated sigh, he took a long gulp of his drink. “I was hoping we could have a nice, enjoyable first dinner together to cheers to our new partnership, but I was an idiot to think you’d do anything other than pick a fight.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to have dinner with you.”
“Good.” He gave me a bitter smile, and this time, no dimples dotted his cheeks. “I don’t particularly want to have dinner with you either. I was dreading it, actually.”
With narrowed eyes, I whirled away from the table and grabbed my bag. I pointed at the only door I hadn’t checked. “I’m assuming that’s my room.”
“That’s the one.” He picked up his knife and fork, and cut a piece of his steak, while my plate sat abandoned on the table. “You can show it to yourself. Sleep tight, Mia.”
I squeezed the strap of my bag and stormed into the room. Once the door was firmly shut behind me, I let out an anxious breath. A large space stretched before me, cozier than the other. A thick rug spread across the marbled floor, and the draping curtains hung open to reveal the city beyond. I dropped my bag and kicked off my boots, curling up on the king-sized bed. The silk sheets brushed against my cheek as tears spilled out of my eyes.
What was I doing here? How had my life become this? I was surrounded by glittering, sparkling things, and yet I’d never felt more unmoored. It was so quiet, eerily so. The blare of the taxi horns was distant and muted. I couldn’t hear the rumble of trucks or the clatter of the subway. We were too far above it all.
A knock sounded on the door. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to pretend I hadn’t heard it, but it would do no good to ignore my new boss. If I kept this up, there was nothing to stop him from firing me. With a heavy sigh, I pushed off the bed and padded over to the door. When I pulled it open, Asmodeus was nowhere to be seen.
Frowning, I began to push the door shut again but stopped when something glimmered in the corner of my eye. I dropped my gaze to the floor, and my stomach twisted. He’d left the plate of food there for me.
I glanced around the dark, silent penthouse. He must have left to go to his club for the night. And he hadn’t tossed out my plate. I knelt, grabbed the food, and then toed the door shut.
“This doesn’t mean I like you,” I muttered out loud to no one but myself. But then I had that same skittering feeling down my spine again, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d heard me after all.
