Chapter 3 A Contract With The Devil

• The papers were shoved under my nose the moment I walked in. It was nice to see that someone was not wasting any more time.
• “It's a thirty-six-month contract. A business conglomerate and an estate,” He meant business now as he leaned against the desk, eyes on his tab. “A hotel, mall, and the business headquarters, then two fifty-storey apartments.”
• “So I have to keep seeing your face for three years?” The words were out before I could think.
• “Yes, Miss Frost. Or do you have a professional problem with that?” His tone matched mine yesterday and as much as I hated to admit it, it hurt a little.
• “Not at all, Mr Miller.”
• “Well, in the absence of intelligent questions,” he shot me a look, “Please sign.”
• The pen felt like lead as I picked it up. Three years of seeing Jake Miller, can I do this? I could feel the familiar constricting of my throat as panic reared her ugly head in.
• “Unlike you, Miss Frost, I do have other businesses to attend to.”
• “There's a lot to consider here, don't rush me!” I snapped, sighing as I picked up the papers. The words scrambled before me as I looked at the signatory. I noticed Jake coming to stand behind me. Despite my impressive height and heeled boots, he still managed to be a head taller than me. Pushing my dark locks, I felt his hot breath beside my ear.
• “If you had so much as developed a brain in high school, you wouldn't find it hard to locate the signatory…” his finger traced the words to the dotted lines, “...here.”
• “Some space, please? I can't breathe with the stench of malice suffocating me.” He scoffed, but stepped back, regaining his cold demeanor. His foot tapped on the floor impatiently, making me cringe.
• “I'm getting five hundred million dollars for this project, right?”
• “You have eyes and a brain for a reason, Danny. Read the contract.”
• “I would if you weren't breathing down my neck!”
• “So I still affect you? So sorry, sweetheart, I don't date hideous creatures.” His smirk was back on, the Jake I knew was back and I wouldn't let him affect me.
• I signed the papers defiantly, the desire for revenge burning through me.
• “Careful there, Danny. I know you ain't signed such huge amount before, no need to tell the world about it.”
• I didn't give him the satisfaction of replying, instead, I took my copy of the contract, picked up my handbag, and turned to him.
• “Being talkative doesn't suit you, Jake. Try speaking jerk.” I strode out, flicking my hair over my shoulder, but I was barely out of the door before he stopped me.
• “Not so fast, Hot Cheeks. We’re not done yet.” He straightened his suit jacket and adjusted his tie, but I wasn't falling for those little habits again.
• “What else do you want from me?” He frowned, a snobbish look on his face.
• “Have I ever wanted anything from you? Come on, we need to go see Mr Montgomery.”
• The name sounded familiar, I knew Doris once mentioned him as the…wealthiest man in the US. What did we have to do with him?
• “Stop making your ignorance obvious. I can see your frown from here.” I stared daggers at his back as he led the way to his private elevator.
• “Cursing me in your mind won't help either.” He added, still not looking back.
• Dang it! How does he know me so well?
• We got into the elevator, a heavy silence hanging over us as a question plagued me, but I would rather walk on broken glass than ask him.
• ***
• “Please wait here, Mr. Montgomery will be with you in a few minutes.”
• “Thank you.” Jake flashed her his usual charming smile and the secretary turned beet red, scampering away demurely.
• I scoffed at his antics. “Is she the one warming your bed tonight?”
• “Why are you so concerned with what goes on, on my bed? Don't tell me you still have sex dreams about me, I might be sick.”
• I turned away from him sulking. Even the most minimal words he used affected me and I hated it. It was obvious he just wanted to elicit a reaction from him and I was obliging his wishes.
• “Hey, listen up,” he turned to me with a very serious look, “Whatever you have against me…suck it up the moment that man walks in, do you understand?”
• “Who is he?” I asked finally.
• “Our employer.”
• Danielle-stupud-Frost! Only you wouldn't know your freaking employer.
• “So, we need to act as though we—” he gagged, “—respect each other. Or we lose this contract.”
• Before I could reply, the middle-aged man walked in and Jake sent me one last pleading look.
• The devil in me wanted nothing more than to mess up the meeting, but the sensible woman Clara had raised was still there.
• “Mr Montgomery, it's nice to finally meet you.” The man nodded at us, taking his seat at the head of the conference table, his bimbo secretary making seductive faces at Jake, behind him. It thrilled me that Jake ignored her.
• “Hello, Mr Montgomery. I'm Danielle Frost.” He arched an eyebrow at me as he pulled out his cigar.
• “You look considerably younger for the work you put out there. I'm impressed.” I could feel my cheeks heating up till Jake kicked me beneath the table.
• “I apologize for my absence and…well…unavailability. You know how business is.”
• “There's no problem, Mr Montgomery. We would have started with your approval.”
• The man nodded, signaling to his secretary to go get snacks.
• “Can I see the blueprint?” He asked.
• Wait, the blueprint? We haven't had any meetings about the contract. As I opened my mouth to speak, Jake held my thighs and whipped out some documents from God-knows-where, handing them over to the man.
• Traitor!
• Anger seared through me, but I managed to subdue it as he went through the documents.
• “I know designs take a lot longer to prepare, but will it be ready by the end of this week?”
• “I'm so—”
• “It will be ready.” Jake cut in.
• The man regarded us suspiciously for a while before shrugging. He handed the file back to Jake before standing.
• “I'm glad that you two are hardworking. I will get back to you about the blueprints. Have a great day.” He strode out and I barely restrained myself from pouncing on the devil beside me. As Mr Montgomery got to the door, he turned back.
• “I'm sure you two know the terms of this project?” We nodded simultaneously.
• “Good. Because once there's a misunderstanding of any sort, you will be terminated as per the contract. I won't have anything jeopardize this project. Not even an old rivalry.”