The deal

The door to Dante’s penthouse shut with a soft click, sealing Amara inside his world. The tension in the air between them was palpable, the unspoken agreement already hovering over them like a cloud ready to burst. She sat stiffly on the leather couch, her gaze shifting between the opulent surroundings and Dante, who stood calmly across the room, watching her like a hawk.

Her mind was still spinning from the events of the last hour. One minute, she was counting tips at the restaurant, and the next, she was here—inside the home of a man whose very presence was both intoxicating and terrifying.

“I know you have questions,” Dante said, breaking the silence as he poured two glasses of whiskey. His movements were smooth, almost too calm, like someone who was always in control.

Questions? Amara had a thousand. What was she doing here? Who exactly was this man? What kind of “deal” had she just walked into? Her instincts screamed at her to leave, but she felt paralyzed—trapped between curiosity and the dangerous allure of what he was offering.

She accepted the glass he handed her, though she didn’t intend to drink it. “Why me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dante’s lips curled into a half-smile as he sat across from her. “I’ve been watching you for a while, Amara.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Watching me?”

“I don’t mean that in the way you’re thinking,” he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “I frequent Le Croix often. I’ve seen how you work. How you handle people. You’re strong, but you’re also struggling. You’ve been given a raw deal in life, and yet you still stand. That caught my attention.”

Amara felt a strange mixture of flattery and unease. The idea of being “watched” didn’t sit well with her, but there was something about the way he spoke that made it hard to look away. His voice was calm, controlled, as if nothing in the world could shake him.

“And what exactly do you want from me?” she asked, setting the whiskey down without taking a sip.

Dante leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “I need someone I can trust. Someone to be by my side, no questions asked. You’ll have access to things most people only dream of—money, protection, luxury. In return, you’ll be mine.”

The word “mine” sent a shiver down her spine. It was possessive, almost predatory. “What does that mean, exactly? Yours in what way?”

His gaze darkened. “You’ll be with me. No one else. You’ll live here, and I’ll take care of everything—your bills, your sister, whatever you need. In return, I expect loyalty.”

Amara’s pulse quickened. The offer was outrageous, too tempting for someone in her position. But it wasn’t just the promise of money or stability. It was the way he said it, like he was offering her more than just material wealth—like he was offering her something deeper, something she couldn’t quite understand.

“What if I say no?” she asked, testing the waters.

Dante’s expression didn’t change. “You can walk out that door right now, and nothing will happen. You’ll go back to your life—working long hours, struggling to keep your head above water. You’ll keep fighting for scraps while others feast. That’s your choice.”

Amara swallowed hard. His words struck a nerve. She’d spent years fighting for every inch, every dollar, every opportunity, and here was a man offering her a way out. A way to stop struggling, to stop living in fear of what tomorrow might bring.

But at what cost?

“And if I say yes?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

Dante’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “Then everything changes. You’ll have everything you need, and more. But understand this, Amara—once you’re in, you’re in. There’s no turning back.”

Amara’s heart raced. The weight of the decision pressed down on her, and for the first time, she realized just how dangerous this man really was. This wasn’t just about money or security. There was something darker lurking beneath the surface, something that told her this was no ordinary arrangement.

But wasn’t that exactly what she needed? Something extraordinary? Something that would finally lift her and her sister out of the crushing weight of poverty and uncertainty?

Her thoughts drifted to Olivia, her younger sister, lying in bed at home, her body frail from years of illness. The medical bills, the mounting debt—they were drowning her. This could be the answer, the way out of the nightmare they’d been living in.

Still, something in her resisted. “I don’t know you,” she said, her voice trembling. “How can I trust that you’ll keep your word?”

Dante’s eyes hardened. “You don’t know me, but you’ll learn. And as for trust, that’s something we’ll have to build. But make no mistake, Amara—I don’t make offers I don’t intend to keep.”

The room fell silent again, the air thick with tension. Amara looked down at her hands, her mind racing. This was madness. But when she thought about the alternative—the endless struggle, the hopelessness—madness didn’t seem so bad.

“What happens if I break the deal?” she asked, needing to know the limits.

Dante’s expression turned cold, his voice sharp. “Don’t.”

The warning was clear. There was no room for mistakes, no room for rebellion once she stepped into his world.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “What about my sister? What happens to her?”

“I’ll make sure she has the best care. You won’t have to worry about her again.”

Amara’s chest tightened. The offer was almost too good to be true. Her mind screamed that it was dangerous, reckless, but her heart, her exhausted, desperate heart, saw it as a lifeline.

“What would you want me to do?” she asked, a final test to understand the full scope of his demands.

Dante’s gaze never wavered. “I’ll need you by my side. At events, at meetings. Sometimes, I’ll need you to stay quiet and listen. Other times, I’ll need you to act. You’ll learn as we go.”

She frowned. “Act? Act how?”

His lips curled into a small smile, though it was far from reassuring. “You’ll see soon enough. For now, just know that I’ll need you to be adaptable. There are things about my life that you don’t understand yet, but in time, you will.”

The cryptic answer only made her more nervous, but it was clear that pushing further wouldn’t get her anywhere. He was offering her a life of luxury, but there was a price attached, a price she didn’t fully understand yet.

Amara bit her lip, torn between fear and the temptation of the escape he was offering. This wasn’t just a deal. This was a life-altering decision.

Dante watched her intently, waiting, the silence between them growing heavier by the second.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Amara exhaled, her decision made.

“All right,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m in.”

Dante’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he leaned back in his chair. “Good.”

Amara felt a rush of emotions—relief, fear, excitement—all swirling together in a confusing haze. She had no idea what she was stepping into, but it was too late to turn back now.

“Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to collect your things. You’ll move in here, and from then on, you’ll be under my protection,” Dante said, standing up and adjusting his suit. “For tonight, you can stay.”

She stood, her legs shaky. “And what if I change my mind?”

“You won’t,” Dante said, his voice full of certainty. “You’ve made your choice.”

Amara nodded, though a part of her still wanted to run. But where would she go? Back to the small, rundown apartment she shared with her sister? Back to a life of uncertainty and fear?

No. She’d made her choice. There was no going back.

Dante walked toward the elevator, signaling the end of their conversation. “Rest, Amara. You’ll need your strength. Tomorrow, everything changes.”

She watched him disappear into the elevator, the doors closing behind him with a soft hum.

Alone in the luxurious penthouse, Amara sank onto the couch, her head spinning. She had no idea what she had just agreed to, or what her future would hold.

But one thing was clear: her life was no longer her own.

And that terrified her more than anything.