Sophie Evans
I wanted to pull away from the kiss, but I couldn’t.
For a brief moment, I was trapped in the past. Memories flooded my mind, our first kiss, the way my heart had pounded in my chest, the way I had felt weightless, like nothing else in the world mattered.
I had been so certain, so hopeful. I had thought that kiss meant something. I had thought that he would ask me to be his girlfriend, that we would start something real, something lasting.
But he never did.
Instead, he disappeared. No explanation. No goodbye. Just silence.
Reality came crashing back like a slap to the face. And so, I gave him one.
The sound echoed through the car, sharp and brutal. My palm stung from the impact, but not nearly as much as my pride. I wiped the back of my hand over my lips, trying to rid myself of the lingering sensation of him.
Liam didn’t flinch. If anything, he smirked, like he had expected it. Like he had wanted it.
My throat tightened, and before I knew it, tears slipped down my cheeks. Not because of the kiss. No, it wasn’t that simple. It was because of what I felt when he kissed me.
And I hated it.
I quickly wiped my tears as the black car pulled up in front of a luxurious penthouse. Liam stepped out without a word, completely unaffected by what had just happened.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to pull it together. I had no time for emotions. I needed to finish this and get back to the hospital.
I stepped out of the car and followed him inside.
The penthouse was exactly as I had imagined, grand, sleek, and completely devoid of warmth. The entire place screamed Liam Devereux, cold with dark colors, powerful and untouchable with luxurious pieces of furniture and fittings.
I watched him move towards a sleek printer, grab some papers, staple them together, and toss them onto the glass coffee table in front of me. His arms folded across his chest, and when he looked at me, the cruelty in his eyes was back in full force.
"Let’s just get this over with," I said, dropping my bag onto the floor.
Liam said nothing. He simply watched me, his expression unreadable.
I sat down on the couch, smoothing out the contract in front of me. If this had been anyone else, I might not have bothered to read the fine print.
But this was Liam, the last person I would ever trust. If there was one thing I had learned about him, it was that he never did anything without an ulterior motive.
I flipped through the pages carefully, scanning the terms of our agreement. Everything seemed straightforward. The money, the duration, three months. But then my eyes landed on a clause that made my stomach drop.
"The parties hereby agree that Sophie Evans shall reside with Liam Deveraux in the penthouse for a period of three (3) months
A gasp escaped my lips. My head snapped up to look at him, disbelief and anger bubbling inside me. "What the hell is this?"
Liam leaned against the wall, completely unbothered. His lips curled into that infuriating smirk. "Exactly what it says."
"You never mentioned this," I accused, slamming the contract onto the table.
"You never asked," he countered smoothly.
I clenched my jaw. "You think you can just make me move in with you like some—some possession?"
Liam shrugged. "You need the money. I need you here. It’s a fair trade."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Fair? There’s nothing fair about this. You’re manipulating me, Liam."
His gaze darkened, and for the first time, something flickered in his expression, something dangerous. He took a slow step toward me, closing the distance between us.
"I told you, Sophie," he murmured, voice low and deliberate. "This isn’t just about money. This is about you and me. And for the next three months, you belong to me."
I swallowed hard. I wanted to scream at him, to throw the contract in his face and walk out of this penthouse without looking back. But I couldn’t. I had no choice. Lucas was running out of time, and this was the only way I could help him.
My hands curled into fists at my sides. "You’re a monster."
Liam smirked again. "You say that like it’s news."
I exhaled shakily and turned my gaze to the briefcase beside the couch. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I knew exactly what was inside.
"Six hundred thousand dollars," Liam said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Sign that, and it’s yours."
I hesitated.
My fingers hovered over the pen, my mind racing. If I signed this contract, I would have willingly walked into Liam’s trap. I was handing him control over my life for the next three months.
But if I didn’t sign, Lucas could die.
I shut my eyes for a brief moment, steadying my breath. Then, without another word, I grabbed the pen and scrawled my name at the bottom of the contract.
Liam’s smirk widened. "Smart choice."
I ignored him. I grabbed the briefcase and stood up, my body tense with rage. "We’re done here."
"Not quite," Liam said, turning toward the hallway. "See you tomorrow."
And just like that, he was gone. I stood there for a long time, my heart pounding in my chest, my hands trembling against the handle of the briefcase.
I had just sold my soul to the devil.