Dealing With The Devil

Cattleya’s POV

"What do you mean? What about this club? Do you know this club?" I showed him the flyer.

He sighed and said, "Yes, Jaxon Moretti owns this nightclub. It's a nightclub catering to the most exclusive clientele, and when I say elite, what I mean are affluent, well-connected people."

I gasped softly and sat in the chair while thinking about what just happened to my sweet twin sister. 

“Do you think Ariella….” 

“Yes,” he said. 

"Then how come the authorities didn't dig deeper into my sister's death?! They need to do their job! They need to look into this guy, the club, and everyone else!" I yelled, trying to hide my tears.

 "It's because Jaxon Moretti is the boss of a powerful mafia family known for being cruel and strict. Getting close to Moretti is an act of pure risk-taking. People have gone missing, received harsh sentences, and even faced death." 

My heart skipped a beat, and the picture of that handsome man in the picture broke in my mind. Then fear prickled my skin as I thought about my poor sister’s tragic death.

"If Ariella was involved with someone like him, I don't understand why you can't just bring him in for questioning if you know his identity!"

He shrugged and replied, "We don't have enough evidence yet and that's how justice works, Ms. Sullivan." 

I scoffed softly, rising to my feet, “I don’t care how dangerous he is. I need to get close to him. He’s the only one who can answer my question.” 

Lew's eyes suddenly widened, “Ms. Sullivan, you are only putting yourself in danger.” 

“I am looking for justice for my sister’s death, Mr. Maxwell and I think you’ll do the same if you lost someone you love.” I declared, stepping out of his office without looking back. 

****

INFERNO’S NIGHTCLUB

One week later, 

Though a week has gone by, everything that happened surrounding Ariella's death remains vivid in my thoughts. Even our wealth can't help us solve our own problems.

My mom isolated herself in her room, and my dad has been devastated for days now that he can't even manage to go to work and lead meetings with his clients. He only gave it all to his secretary to do it all while he was there alone in the dark, crying every day.

While I wait for Jaxon Moretti to show up, I'm drinking a glass of red wine here at Inferno's Nightclub. The air smells strongly of cigarettes, and people nearby laugh and clink their drinks. Looking up, I saw a woman dancing on stage and showing off her dirty moves. 

And when I looked around, I hadn't seen him until I made a mistake—I ran into him in strange ways that I didn't expect. 

The sight of the scarlet wine stains on his white tuxedo made my mouth drop. 

“Oh, s-sorry…” I said. 

Everyone paused as they all stared at me with curiosity. 

My heart began to shake as the man in front of me stared at me in the eyes like he wanted to devour me like a lion who wanted to break his prey. 

And I gasped as his blue eyes softened and he said in his deep, husky, manly voice, “It’s okay.” 

He was about to leave, but desperation clawed at me.

Did I look crazy? Probably. 

I needed his attention, and if seduction was the key, then so be it. It was a risk I had to take.

"W-Wait!" I stammered.

He turned, his gaze sharp. 

One of his men eyed me suspiciously, but Jaxon waved them on. 

He approached me, his voice low. "What do you want, Miss?"

"Let me..." I fumbled, then blurted, "Let me compensate for ruining your suit. Anything you name." 

Determination fueled my voice. I couldn't let him walk away. This was my only chance to talk to him.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, then a dangerous smirk played on his lips. "Very well," he said, his voice a husky rumble. "Then come with me."

“H-Huh?” I was a little hesitant, so I stepped back but this man held my wrist and took me out of the crowd. 

He showed me to his VIP room, where we can be alone. 

I don't know what to do. Maybe I just want to get away from him and take back what I said? Oh, sh*t. 

Here I am, there’s no turning back anymore.

 I smiled at him and pretended to be flirtatious so that I might pull more information out of him. "Hi, My name is Cattleya Sullivan." 

He took off his coat and put it on the chair. 

"You got my attention, Cattleya," he said, his hand in his pocket. "What's next?"

“Huh?” 

I finally got a good look at his chiseled, gorgeous face as he lurched forward, but his eyes were a whirlwind of icy blue mixed with amusement and steely gray. 

With a touch of wave in his slightly unruly dark hair, he framed a face that could make any woman bow down to him. 

Since I knew I was dealing with the devil, I leaned back sharply when he got closer. I can't let myself get caught so easily. 

"My name is Jaxon," he said, sending a shiver down my spine.

I faked a flirty smile and sat down on the table, slowly taking off my black coat to show the soft skin of my shoulder. His eyes went over every shape of my body, and I knew right then that I had his full attention. The intensity of his gaze both thrilled and unnerved me.

If attracting his attention was this simple, I worried about the depth of his interest.

“So, tell me about yourself.” he said, watching my every move. 

I took out my business card from my pocket and handed it to him, "I'm an art collector from London. I just moved here a week ago and found this crazy nightclub that I wanted to check out." Then gesturing to the club interior with a playful touch to his chest, smiling sweetly, to tell a joke, "Looks like I wanted to steal some of your dark and seductive decor…." 

He put my business card i

n his pocket with a smirk of danger on his lips, “Or maybe you are here to collect me?”