Devil

I wait in my lobby by the staircase in my black suit, gazing at the door, eager to open it as soon as possible, anticipating Emily's arrival.

My heart hammers against my chest as I check my watch for the third time in the last five minutes.

“You really think she will come?” Keith asks as he’s leaning against the wall. His tone is light but with a hint of doubt.

I nod.

“She said she would, and I believe her,” my eyes flicker in Keith’s direction.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Man, I have never seen you like this before. This girl has really got you all worked up, huh?”

I smile, a rare softness in my expression. “She’s not like anyone I have ever met. When she looks at me, it’s like she sees something more than just…this,” I gesture vaguely around me, indicating the opulence of my surroundings, the wealth and the power that comes with my position.

“Yeah, we can take the last incident as an example,” Keith mocks causing me to groan in irritation.

“Shut up,”

He laughs.

“But Zack, are you sure that she….is the one?” Keith is a bit hesitant to ask me and I can understand. He just doesn’t want to get hurt.

“I know what I’m doing, Keith. I have never been more sure about anything in my life,” I assure him.

Before Keith can respond, the sound of the door opening interrupts us. The moment my head spans in that direction, my breath catches in my throat.

There, standing in the doorway, is Emily.

She’s wearing a long yellow cowl-neck dress that hugs her figure in all the right places, the fabric flowing gracefully down to her ankles. Her blonde hair cascades down her shoulders in soft waves. But it’s her smile. Radiant and genuine, it makes my heart skip a beat.

Keith lets out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “Damn Zack, you weren’t kidding,”

She looks like a vision, an angel standing in the midst of my dark world, and for a moment I forget how to breathe.

“Zack,” her voice is soft, but it brings me back to reality.

She spins around slowly, showing off her dress to me. “How do I look?”

“Like the woman I would get on my knees for,” I mutter softly.

She lingers as her light freckled cheeks turn slightly red and that makes me realize the words I said to her.

“You…you look stunning,” I clear my throat.

It’s not often that I’m at a loss for words, but tonight, she has rendered me speechless.

Her beauty is unexplainable.

I don’t take my eyes off her as I approach her, getting closer. My movements slow, almost hesitant, as if I’m afraid she might disappear if I move too quickly. I gently take her hand in mine.

“Shall we?” I kiss her knuckles before she nods.

I lead her further into the lobby, toward the grand dining room where the table has been meticulously set. Flowers of every kind and color are arranged in elegant bouquets and soft candlelight flickers, casting a romantic glow over the room.

“This is so beautiful,” Emily almost gasps, her voice filled with surprise.

“Not as beautiful as you,” I squeeze her hand earning a wide smile from her.

As we approach the table, I pull out a chair for her.

My moment is filled with a gentleness that even surprises me. I’m to be in control, to be the one people fear. But with Emily, I’ll do whatever satisfies her. Even if I don’t like it, I’ll do it for her.

Right now, she has no idea how much power she holds over me.

I may rule the whole of America, but she rules me. She has the control to make me do whatever she wants.

“Thank you,” she says softly as she sits down. I take a seat across from her, watching as she admires the flowers.

“I wanted tonight to be special,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “You deserve the best, Blossom,”

She looks at me, her amber-gold eyes shining. “Zack, this is…more than I ever expected. It’s perfect.”

I pour two glasses of wine, offering one to her as she accepts it and then lean back in my chair, trying to relax. But it’s hard when all I think about is how I can make this night unforgettable for her.

“It’s good,” she compliments after taking a sip of her wine.

“I’m glad you like it,” I say, my voice softening. "I know I don’t exactly have the best reputation, but I want you to know that… I care about you, Emily. More than I’ve cared about anyone in a long time."

Her eyes ease, but there is no fear in them, no hesitation. Instead, she reaches across the table and rubs her palm gently against my fist.

“I know you are not what everyone else thinks you are. There’s more to you than that.”

I feel a warm spread through me at her words, a feeling I haven’t experienced in years.

“Sir,”

I glance up and meet with one of my servants' eyes. He’s holding a dish in his hands, while the other one serves Emily, with full respect. A few more servants arrive placing more dishes on the table and once everyone is gone, I catch a glimpse of Keith, who’s been silently observing us from a distance, finally stepping forward., clearing his throat to announce his presence.

“Alright, I’ll leave you two to your dinner,” he gives me a pointed look as if to say, don’t mess this up, before turning to Emily with a charming smile. “Have a nice dinner, Emily. I hope we see more of you around here.”

She smiles back. “Sure.”

He nods, giving me one last look before making his exit, leaving the two of us alone in the intimate setting.

The moment Emily shoves a piece of lobster roll in her mouth and chews on it, her face lights up.

“This is really good,” she says after swallowing her food.

I smirk proudly. “It’s because I’m the one who made this all,”

She stares at me with a blank expression.

“You know how to cook?”

“It’s a basic skill, sweetheart.”

“Oh well, then you are a good man,” she giggles before shoving another piece in her mouth.

Sometimes I wonder if she actually takes my words as a friend or more than that.

As the night goes on, we talk and laugh, sharing stories about our lives, our hopes, and our dreams. I listen to her with rapt attention, hanging on to every word as if each one is a precious gift. I find myself opening up to her in ways I never thought possible, sharing parts of myself that I have kept hidden for so long.

My mind races, thinking about how far I have come in such a short time with her. How she has managed to break through the walls I have spent years building.

As we finish our dinner, I get up from my seat and walk around the table to reach Emily.

“Come let me show you something,” I offer her my hand. She hesitates for a moment but then places her hand in mine, trusting me without question.

She raises up on her toes, and we walk out of the dining room and walk up the spiral stairs as I take her to the third floor.

I lead her through the hallway. Emily’s heels click softly against the polished floor.

The hallway is long and lined with large windows, each framed with heavy velvet curtains.

I turn left, guiding Emily down another hallway that leads to a large set of double doors at the end.

I pause before opening them, glancing at her with a smile. Then I swing the doors open, revealing a wide, airy balcony beyond.

She gasps as she steps outside.

The balcony is expansive, with a stone balustrade that stretches the length of the space. Potted plants and small lanterns are placed around the edges. The floor beneath our feet is cool marble, smooth and polished, reflecting the soft light from the lanterns.

But it’s not the balcony itself that makes Emily gasp. It’s the view.

From this height, the entire city stretches out before us, a sea of twinkling lights and towering buildings that seem to go on forever. The sky above is clear, the stars scattered across it like tiny diamonds.

“So beautiful,” she mutters to herself as she moves closer to the edge, her hand still in mine.

“I thought you might like it,” I say, stepping beside her.

“I love it,” she replies, her eyes still fixed on the city below.

“This is where I come when I need to think,” I admit, my voice low. “When everything down there gets too overwhelming.”

She looks at me with a slight smile. “I can see why. It’s so peaceful up here.”

I smile back as I gently raise my hand and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

We are so close that our breath mingles.