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Chapter 17
Last Updated:
2024-06-19 07:06:41
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A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 18
A driver was outside the door early the next morning just as Ethan promised, but so were a few reporters. I don’t know if they were there of their own accord or if Ethan had dropped an anonymous tip. Either way they were outside when I left the house, and they took several photos of me in my red waistcoat and matching pleated skirt before the driver opened the car door. Contrary to Ethan’s believe I had good looking clothes, I had spent the most part of my high school, making outfits I dreamt I could wear to a fashion school.I greeted the driver politely just as I slipped into the back seat. Only when he had turned , gotten into his side of the car and pulled away from my home, did he answer me,“Good morning miss Ricci. My name is Gideon and I was instructed to take you wherever you need.” He finished looking at me in the rearview mirror.“It’s nice to meet you, Gideon.”“Would you like some recommendations? I’ve driven lots of celebrities to fashion stores before I started wor
Last Updated : 2024-06-19A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 19
“…so I told her that if she wanted Anchovy’s in her salad, she could just fucking buy em instead of screaming like a toddler. Let’s just say the whole dinner went smoothly after that.”I doubled over, laughing my head off. Wynona was the easiest person to be around.“Did you get the contract after that?”“What do you think?” she smirked as she pulled a blue sequined dress from a hanger and pressed to her body. So far, we had hit three stores.“What do you think about this one?”“I think it takes away from you, rather than compliment your tone.” Since she learned that I was passionate about fashion, she would constantly ask my opinion.“You don’t let people walk over you especially now that you’ll soon be Mrs. Crowe. They didn’t get their reputation from being softies. The black or the green?”“Black’s better, but we can do better.”“Just find a dress for me!”I lay the dress in my hand gently on the lounge. “I think your color should be purple. “ I rooted around for deep colo
Last Updated : 2024-06-20A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 20
I was disappointed by Ethan’s reaction to my dress when he picked me up in the evening. He took a hard look at me and then frowned as if my very presence was going to ruin his entire evening. I mean I didn’t expect him to fall head over heels in love with me, but the dress…It deserved a little bit of attention. I would have settled for a backhanded compliment too but none was forthcoming. He remained silent the entire drive, making me more nervous.When the driver stepped out to open the door for us, he spoke for the first time.“They will be more than a dozen eyes on us tonight. There won’t be any cameras on the inside so we can relax a little. But people will be watching. A few of them will report to my grandfather by dawn tomorrow.We have to give them a good show.”“Nice pep talk. I don’t feel nervous anymore.” I answered, sarcastically.“Then it’s a good thing we’re not here to please you.”He got out first, and then extended a hand to me in the car. Here goes nothing, I si
Last Updated : 2024-06-20A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 21
Ethan leaned back in his seat while I remained frozen in mine.“Ethan.” She said coolly. “Can we talk?”“I’m occupied right now”“Surely, you can make time for an ‘old friend’, just a few minutes.” He watched her quietly like he was considering it, and then to my dismay, he stood up. I felt the spindly claws of jealousy wrapping its fingers around me.“I’ll be back, beautiful. “ He told me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. Ava’s eyes darkened at the gesture but she said nothing.I watched them walk away before I realized how alone I was at the gala. I was grateful the room was dark around me, so no one could see me or my embarrassed face. I emptied my glass of wine and looked around for Cartwright and Wynona. I could not find them anywhere on the floor. That was just great.Maybe they were hidden among the other dancers. As I contemplated leaving the comfort of my chair in search of them, a waiter approached me with a bottle and fresh glass in his hand.“Gift from Mr E
Last Updated : 2024-06-21A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 22
He wasn’t joking about taking me home. We pulled into the drive of a house secluded in the forest, while I watched in amazement. I was staring wide eyed at the dark building when he stepped out and rounded to my side of the car.“Can you walk, Mae.” Of course, I could. I might have enjoyed the ride in the wheelchair at the hospital but it did not mean my legs were incapable of movement.I stepped out, still wearing my dress from the gala, my heels were in Ethan’s hand. After he closed the door to his car, he watched me take a few steps to the marble doors of his home. The first steps were easy, but then the world slipped under my feet and in a split second, I was falling forward. My hands shot out to catch my weight.I never made contact with the floor because I was swept up by Ethan and crushed into his hard chest. I sighed in relief. That could have been a nasty fall.“Thanks.” I muttered, calculating my path again.He let out an exasperated sigh before he lifted me, bridal sty
Last Updated : 2024-06-22A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 23
While I’m sitting there sipping the rest of my soup slowly, A young woman walks in, in shorts and a baggy shirt. She paused when she saw me sitting by the counter.“Oh hi! I’m sorry, I heard the car leave, so I assumed it was both of you.” “Are you Gladice?” I asked cautiously. She gave me a toothy grin.“No, that’s my mum. I help out here a few times, to take the load off her. I’m Cecelia.” She extended a hand towards me, which I shook lightly. “how’s the soup? The boss said you were feeling under the weather last night.”That was an understatement, I could not recall a good chunk of the evening. This brought me to a question I had been avoiding, something I was too shy to ask Ethan.“Did you…help me out of my clothes last night?” “Oh no, we came this morning. I guess your fiancé did.”Of course. Or maybe I changed myself but didn’t remember it.“Miss Ricci.” An older woman announced as she walked into the kitchen, a small duster in her hand. She shared similar feature with Cec
Last Updated : 2024-06-23A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 24
His eyebrows drew together in a scowl as he took in the sight.“Ethan! I would say ‘what a surprise’ but it really isn’t anymore. You seem to materialize whenever Mae’s in the house.”I looked down at my cleavage spilling out of the ill-fitting dress, hoping my red cheeks were properly hidden. He cleared his throat.“Some tsked in disapproval. “Your grandfather needs to take a break. Sometimes I feel likeEvelyn’s enabling his actions.”“I’ll look into that.”He took a final look at me before he made his way up the stairs, unaware of the four pairs of eyes that tracked his exit. I gave the women, Emma and Olivia the stink eye. Fake marriage or not, Ethan was off the market, they did not need to stare at another woman’s husband like that.“He’s absolutely smitten with her,” Grace told the girls with a grin “He’s constantly looking for a reason to be here, whenever she’s around.”They looked disappointed by the information and I tried to overlook the delight their reactions stir
Last Updated : 2024-06-24A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 25
I followed Ethan’s advice but instead of the brooch he suggested, I went with a large veil covered in small cream colored flower details that went perfectly with the dress. By the end of the evening Grace was dabbing at her eyes, pure joy written on her face. I found myself sharing in her excitement too. I was getting married.Several times I would catch myself admiring the full look in the mirror, and picturing whatEthan’s face would be like if he saw me. As soon as I noticed, I would shut the thought down. The lines between reality and out pretend marriage was blurring quickly. “It’s becoming harder to keep my hands off you”. I looked around guiltily like I suspected everyone could see my thoughts written on my faceWith my dress packed up for the reveal for my parents, I left to find Gideon to take me home. I found two men standing outside his car when I got to him.“Goodday, Miss Ricci.” The dark skinned man said, stretching a calloused hand to me. “My name is Hakeem, and thi
Last Updated : 2024-06-24
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A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 127
MAEThe moment the door opened, and I saw who it was, my heart stopped. “Dad?” I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. Tears sprang to my eyes almost immediately. I tried to sit up, but he was already by my side, gently pressing me back down. “Don’t push yourself,” he said softly, but there was worry in every word. He pulled up a chair and sat next to me, his hand covering mine. “You should be resting.”I blinked up at him, confused. “What… how are you here? Shouldn’t you also be resting?” My dad had fainted just two days ago and seeing him there made my chest ache.He gave me a small smile and shrugged like it was nothing. “I heard about a certain Mae being treated at the hospital. Someone mentioned your name, and I… I had to make sure it was you.” His voice cracked a little at the end.I swallowed hard, my throat hurting. “I’m okay now, Dad. I promise. I should be the one worrying about you. How do you feel?”“I'm fine.” He replied with a small smile. He just held my hand, his
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 126
CMAEThe moment Ethan walked in, my heart stopped. Not in a good way. He looked rough like he’d been through hell and back, but he still had this commanding presence about him. And those men in suits behind him? Yeah, that didn’t help. My stomach twisted, the knife in my throat feeling colder and sharper than ever now. Ava’s grip on me tightened, and I could feel her shaking just slightly. Their coming closer was making her nervous and her knife pressed into my neck even more, scaring me.“Ethan,” she said, her voice cracking but still carrying that desperate tone. “Tell them to stay back, or I’ll kill her.” That sent a chill down my spine, like ice running through my veins. She pressed the knife closer, and I winced, biting my lip to keep myself from crying out. It hurt, my shoulder had still not healed from the accident and the way she was pressing it down hurt badly.Ethan raised his hands, palms out, his voice calm, like he was trying to also calm her down. “Ava, just let her
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 125
ChaMAEMy eyes snapped open, and for a moment, everything was a blur. My head throbbed like someone had hit it many times, and my mouth was dry, my tongue sticking to the roof of it. My head hurt badly, like badly, especially the back of my head like it had been hit.I blinked a few times, trying to figure out where I was, trying to remember what had happened, but nothing made sense. The air was damp and cold, and there was this faint, musty smell that made my stomach twist. I looked around, my vision finally clearing, and panic hit me almost immediately, making my heart pound harder than ever.I was in a huge, dark basement, the kind you only find in horror movies, except this was real life, my life. The only light came from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly like it might go out any second. My arms and legs felt heavy, and when I tried to move, I realized why. I was tied to a chair. Thick ropes dug into my wrists and ankles, holding me in place no matter h
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 124
MAEIt was Julianna. Of course, it was Julianna. Why did I think she wouldn't come? Of course, she would. Seemed like everyone knew her except me and it was killing me. I wasn't even sure if she and Ethan had dated before. I wasn't sure about anything anymore.She walked onto the balcony like she owned the world, dressed to kill in this beautiful black dress that hugged her figure perfectly. She looked completely perfect. Her makeup was flawless, not a smudge out of place, and her hair looked like it had been styled by some overpriced Hollywood professional. She had this effortless grace about her like she knew people were watching, and she loved it. I felt tiny in comparison. I felt out of place at that moment. She was like the epitome of beauty, and I was the epitome of nothing. Well, not nothing. I believed in loving my body, but she just suited him perfectly while he and I were odd together.She made her way over to us with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, slipping he
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 123
MAEI spotted him the second Lindsey walked away like my eyes had been programmed to find him in any crowd. He stood near the far wall, looking way too good in a perfectly tailored suit, a drink in his hand, and that confident, effortless stance that used to make me melt. My stomach did this weird flip, and for a second, I thought about bolting right back out the door. But then Lindsey’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts. “Okay, I'm back.” Before I could react, she handed me another drink, her energy as bubbly as ever. “Thanks for coming. Seriously, it means so much to me!” I forced a smile, trying my best to match her enthusiasm. “Of course. I’m honored to be here.” She rolled her eyes and smacked my arm lightly, laughing. “Oh, stop being so modest. You’re family. I'm surprised you and Ethan didn't come together, but oh well. Couples always fight, right? Now, eat whatever you want, okay? I’ll be right back. Again. I have to say hi to a million more people.” “Go, go,” I s
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 122
MAEIt was another picture of Ethan and Julianna. They were holding hands, her other hand clutching a bouquet like they were in some sort of romantic movie, which made me sad instead of happy.My chest felt tight like someone had taken a fistful of my heart and squeezed it. And it hurt badly. I wished there was medicine for heartache because I couldn't take any more of this pain. I just wanted peace. Sighing, I tossed my phone to the side, the screen going dark as it hit the pillow. My fingers brushed against my cheeks, and I realized tears had started falling again. Why couldn't I stop crying? It was definitely because of my pregnancy. Not because of Ethan. Not.I curled up on my bed, wrapping my arms around my stomach without even thinking about it. My voice cracked as I whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry you can’t be close to your father right now.” My hand instinctively rubbed the small curve of my belly, as I could somehow comfort the little life growing inside me. The ac
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 121
MAEEthan walked toward us, his chest rising and falling like he’d just sprinted a marathon. “How’s your dad?” he asked with worry. He sounded sincere, like he was genuinely worried, but I couldn't think about why he was there or how he even knew my dad was at the hospital. I glanced at Miles, waiting for him to answer, because I sure wasn’t about to and the only other person who could have told him was Miles. I'd been with Mum all night so it sure as hell wasn't her and if it was Miles, I was going to kill him. Tear him in half.Miles rubbed the back of his neck, looking awkward, and said, “He’s stable now. My mom's with him now.” I stood there, my arms crossed tight against my chest, looking between the two of them. My brain was spinning. Why was Ethan here? He couldn't have magically known Dad was here. My eyes narrowed suspiciously at Miles, and he caught the look. He sighed like he knew what my question was. “I called him,” he admitted, shrugging like it was no big deal. “W
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 120
MAE Miles and I bolted outside, my heart hammering in my chest. The second we stepped out, I froze. My dad was lying on the ground, his face pale, his eyes closed. My mom was kneeling over him, her hands on his chest, crying. “Oh my God! Honey!” she sobbed. “Please, get up! Don't do this to me!”“Dad!” I shrieked, running toward him, my broken foot hurting way worse than earlier. Miles sprinted past me, grabbing his phone and already dialing. “I’m calling 911!” he shouted, his voice shaking, not helping my frayed nerves at all.I dropped next to my mom, my hands hovering over Dad like I didn’t know what to do. “Dad?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Come on, wake up. Please.” He didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. My mom’s cries were breaking me into a million tiny pieces. My heart was pounding hard, blood rushing to my head, making it very hard to think or breathe. The walls seemed to be closing in on me.It felt like forever before the ambulance arrived, though it couldn’t have b
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 119
MAEI zipped up my bag with shaky hands, my chest heaving as I threw the last of my stuff inside. My heart was screaming at me to stop, to wait, to give him a chance to explain, but my brain wasn’t having it. I wanted him to also say something, anything, apologize, beg me to stay, tell me what actually happened, at least explain, but Ethan? Ethan didn't seem to care.He wasn’t even begging me to stay. He wasn’t apologizing. He was just standing there like I wasn’t literally packing my things and leaving, like I didn't mean a single thing to him, like what we had, our love, our bond, our marriage meant nothing to him. And it fucking hurt. It hurt to not see him fight for us. Did he even care about us at all? Did all this even mean anything to him?And then he said it.“Maybe we do need a break from each other.”I froze. A break? I wanted to believe I'd heard wrong, but I didn't. He had said we needed a break and I wanted him to say that he was kidding. I wanted him to say he wasn't s
