8. Deal

Richard was amazed by her bravery. The little fear he saw in her eyes a while ago has vanished. She was staring defiantly at him as someone who had something dangerous off her sleeve. Somehow, he's interested to know how she will actually ruin his reputation.

“Believe me, Mr. Presley. I can ruin your reputation. Just like I said, don't underestimate me.” Elizabeth said plainly. She looks damn serious. “Let's be an adult and talk business, Mr. Presley, if not…. I'm going to release these pictures to the press.”

Elizabeth smirked as she showed the pictures to Richard. It is the pictures of them on the bed half naked.

Richard scoffed, staring at the pictures. He knew it…. She was going to blackmail him. He believes nothing happened between them. She just got them half naked and took the pictures. Well, he should give it to her because she's actually smart, but not so smart.

“Do you think this petty thing can ruin my reputation? May I remind you who I am, Miss Elizabeth. I am Richard Presley. No one can blackmail… not a little kitten like you.”

Elizabeth knew it won't be easy to make him yield with just these pictures. The Presley family is powerful. They hardly get in any scandal because they are so good at handling the media. That is why she came prepared and she can't mess this up.

“Of course I know who you are, Mr. Presley and I also know who this man is.” She said as she slid through her phone and showed him a picture of a black man who could be in his early fifties. Richard's eyes dilated in a bit of shock, but it was gone in a split of second as it came.

“I believe you know who he is, Mr. Presley.” She withdrew her phone and gently made herself comfortable on the bed, making it as sexy as possible. “Of course you do. Everyone knows Mr. Reynolds, he's one of the richest and powerful men in the whole world. He is known for his good moral standards, and he hates scandals.” she whispered the last words with a sly grin. Richard clenched his fist as he was slowly getting where she was driving. Why didn't he think of this? She won't be so bold to blackmail him if she wasn't so prepared.

“But that isn't the interesting part. I heard a whisper that he's planning to partner with the Presley corporation per your request for him to do so. This partnership will be of great value to the Presley corporation and to you, too. It will be a great honor for you to be the one that will convince Mr. Reynolds to partner with the Presley corporation. I believe you know where I'm driving at, Mr. Presley. Even though these pictures won't do any harm to your career, it could stop your biggest achievement, especially if it gets directly to Mr. Reynolds.” Elizabeth said with a satisfying smirk.

She did a lot of research before taking this step, and as if the heavens were on her side, she found this useful information. This is a deal, Mr. Presley wouldn't want to lose. She believes that he will do everything to secure it. Seeing the anger on his face, she believes that she has hit the nail. This deal is as important to him as she predicted, and he's angry that she knows about it. And it is something she can't be careless about.

“I won't ask you how you know of this because I'm sure you won't approach me without being prepared. But I want to know why you want to marry me to the point that you went to this extent.”

Elizabeth smiled as she stood up and got close to him. “It looks like we are slowly getting to business, Mr. Presley and I like it. Well, I believe that you can easily guess why I want to marry you. I'm sure it is the dream of half of the girls in this city to be married into the Presley family, and I am not an exception.”

“What do you want, money? Name your price, I can give it to you.”

“I didn't do all this for just money. I have a dream and I want to achieve it.”

Richard scoffed. “That's a good way of calling yourself a gold digger.

“At least I'm not a murderer.” Richard saw the flicker of coldness in her eyes when she said those words, but it was gone in a split of a second.

“I believe we can seal the deal now, Mr. Presley.” She added after a few seconds of silence.

“You won't really enjoy being married into my family, Miss Elizabeth. It's not a bed of roses, as you may think.”

“I know, and I am ready to walk the path. And you will be there too,” She said with a flirtatious smile.

“Fine then, deal.” Richard said with a devious smirk that didn't go unnoticed to Elizabeth. Does she need to be scared of that look in his eyes? No, she has come so far, and there's no going back.

Richard was suddenly interested in the game she's trying to play. He knew she wanted something out of this marriage. If she thinks she's clever, then she's mistaken. He will find out who she is and what her game is all about. He will make her regret ever trying to play this game with him.