04. Contract

Elena's hands shook violently, making the chain that forced her arms backwards jingle annoyingly. James grinned.

"Glad you understand how things work, girl."

She tries not to spit in the billionaire's face, pursing her lips before glaring at them once more.

"What do you want me to do?" Elena asks, trying to control the tremor in her voice.

James approaches her, and Evan puts away his pocketknife. The tension in the room is palpable.

The two men look at each other once more, as if they are having a mental conversation. Finally, the conclusion comes. They would be straightforward in their proposal.

James's response comes in a low, calculated tone:

"We have enemies, people who want to bring us down. We need someone like you, with your journalistic skills and your determination, to help protect us and make sure our secrets stay buried."

"So you want me to be a spy?"

The man with honey-blond hair clarifies:

"Spies are expensive and skilled. I highly doubt you can unlock a door with a pin, or handle a gun. What we want is for you to tell them exactly what everyone inside your dirty little newspaper knows."

"You will do to them exactly what you tried to do here. And for you to see how willing we are to have that information, we'll even provide fake news for you to take to your paper. You know, so that you gain more credibility."

Elena's lips are dry as she tries to argue:

"But... If you give me fake news, I will become popular because of lies. That's the biggest affront you can do to a journalist."

"That's not our problem, dear," says James. "And after all, wasn't it you who told us you'd do whatever we wanted?"

"Yes, but-"

"No 'but', dear. It's your life that's being negotiated here."

The girl's eyes fill with tears. "Before you answer, however, we believe we can offer you something more."

Confused, the girl just waits for what they have to say.

A truly sadistic grin takes over both their faces, but it is in Evan that the sick, lust-filled glow lingers longest. And it is also he who asks in a whispering tone:

"Tell me: what did you know about us before you came here?"

She looks down and answers truthfully:

"I knew that many millionaires and billionaires came here to meet. That there was a strong suspicion of illegal schemes, links with the mafia, political corruption... A lot."

"And they sent you into this nest of snakes, of all people who could come? Maybe a policeman? A whole team?"

"I volunteered."

They both make an expression of genuine surprise. Elena continues:

"I've been working in that place for almost five years and no one even looks at me. I wanted to make a difference in the newsroom; I wanted to be noticed, recognized. But... But I'm here."

James crosses his arms and lets out a wry laugh.

"What a defeatist speech, young lady. You just hit the jackpot!"

"Yes, I'm lucky to be alive and thank you for sparing me," she mutters, totally dejected.

"Not only alive, but you'll get a promotion at work and have direct contact with the Black Wolves."

"Black Wolves?"

Evan rolls his eyes.

"Yes. Me and James."

"You're the leaders of all this, aren't you?"

Their silence is confirmation enough. Elena just sighs and looks down again.

"The added bonus, dear, is that since you will be working directly for us, you will be extremely closely watched and controlled. We will need to know exactly where you are and what you are doing."

Before the woman can say anything, James continues:

"This means there will be a radical change in your life. Everything must change, and that includes your address, the places you go, your dress."

"But... I don't understand."

"Then allow me to be clear. What is your name, girl?"

"Elena."

They both repeat in unison, as if the whole thing were some kind of bizarre ritual:

"Elena..."

The girl frowns. Evan speaks again;

"Elena, you will belong to us. Your life, your existence, your body... All of it will be ours."

The way he says it, the certainty in every word...

"I still don't understand what they mean," she replies, looking from one to the other.

Evan slowly approaches Elena, his eyes scanning her every detail with a hungry gaze. She feels a shiver run down her spine, a sense of unease taking over her body. The billionaire's sadistic smile widens as he continues to speak, his voice now even more charged with lust and domination.

"Dear Elena, you will be our submissive. You will give yourself completely to us, obeying every command we give you. Your body will be our playground, and we will do with it as we please."

Elena's eyes widen in shock and horror.

"You are insane! This is unacceptable! I am not an object you can control!" she protests, trying to resist the terrifying idea before her.

James laughs.

"You have no choice, dear. You're already cornered, and now you must decide whether you want to do this the hard way or whether you'd rather be a good girl and cooperate."

"That's disgusting! You are monsters!" exclaims Elena, with tears of indignation in her eyes.

"Monsters? Perhaps. But we are the monsters who run this world, and you have no choice but to bow down to us," James says with a cold, implacable stare.

Evan steps even closer, touching Elena's face with a predatory expression.

"You have no idea what you're missing, darling. This will be a unique and pleasurable experience for all of us. Don't you realize what we're offering? Tonight you would be nothing more than a mere dead corpse, lying in a place so dark that not even the sunlight could reach you. But now... Now you have everything. Everything you want at a simple reach."

Elena feels a mixture of fear and disgust, but she also realizes that she is faced with an impossible choice. If she refuses, they could kill her right there, or hold her captive indefinitely.

And if she agrees, her life will be completely in the hands of these predators.

She closes her eyes for a moment, struggling with herself, but she knows she has no choice.

Survival is a basic need, and she will do whatever it takes to survive.

"Okay," she murmurs, her voice shaky. "I... I'll cooperate."

James's deep yet husky voice is filled with pride and happiness.

"A wise decision."

A sharp hiss sounds in the room as James purses his lips. It was a signal.

Seconds later, Valentina reemerges from wherever she was. She was probably aware of the whole conversation, but was not allowed to participate.

"Bring the documents now. Change of plans," Evan orders.

Meanwhile, the dark-haired man turns around and starts removing the chains that bind Elena's arms. As soon as he's done, she can't hold back the relief of feeling her limbs free again, moaning.

"What a beautiful sound, Elena," he says in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "I wonder what else I'll be able to do with you when all this is finally settled."

Valentina returns with a clipboard and pen in one hand.

Evan and James, still standing, smile at her.

Elena says nothing, just continues to stare at them, utterly defeated... and curious.

It is the blue-eyed billionaire who says then:

"Let's draw up your contract, our little pet."