Alle Kapitel von A Deal With The Devil: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 9

Today was Selene's twenty-fifth birthday. The banquet hall was packed, but it felt alive in that fake way only a ton of money can buy. Everything was super polished and shiny. The flower arrangements were huge and everywhere, looking almost too fresh. In the corner, a string quartet played some fancy European music, while three hundred guests moved around the room like a slow wave. They all walked around with drinks, smiling at each other with those bright, plastic smiles people use when they know everyone is watching them. Up by the high ceiling, loud laughs floated up and just kind of got lost in the rafters. At exactly eight o'clock, Selene walked through the main doors. She was wearing a light purple dress that hit the floor in totally straight, clean lines. She had a cream-colored shawl draped over her arms to block out the November cold, since the building's heaters couldn't really warm up the giant room. She held a silver purse in front of her with both hands,not bec

Jessica was standing exactly where one of her text said she'd be. She was leaning against the second big pillar by the entrance, holding a glass of champagne in each hand. It looked like she'd given up on waiting around and just decided to be her own bartender. She was wearing this deep red dress that did absolutely everything it was supposed to do, and she knew it, too. The second Selene spotted her, Jessica looked up and locked eyes. She immediately started weaving through the crowd with that classic Jessica energy, fast, and trailing a scent of peach and rose perfume that reached Selene a second before she did. "Happy birthday, honey." Jessica threw her arms around her. It was a real, tight hug, the exact same way they'd been greeting each other since they were fifteen. Neither of them had ever found a reason to change it. "Thank you." Selene hugged her back, and for just three seconds, she let herself completely mean it. Jessica pulled away. She held Selene out at arm'

The silence stretched. And stretched. Somewhere in the middle of it, Selene became uncomfortably aware of exactly what she had just said. She realized how crazy it sounded coming out of her mouth, and how Finn Leighton was staring at her in the dim light. He looked at her like she was some random object that had dropped out of the sky right in front of him, and he hadn't decided what category to put her in yet. She kept her chin up anyway. Inside, she was beginning to feel spectacularly stupid. Then he laughed. It wasn't the kind of laugh people make when they are genuinely surprised. It wasn't big or unguarded. It was a short sound that lived entirely inside his chest and never quite made it to his eyes. It was a boardroom laugh. It was the response of a guy who had heard weird things before and had a professional way of handling them. "Miss Calloway." He tilted his head slightly. Those ocean eyes carried a tiny hint of amusement, if amusement was something he actually

The caller ID read: Unknown. Selene stared at it for exactly one second, then picked up. "Hello?" Silence. It wasn't the kind of silence where the call dropped. It felt like someone was actually on the line, just choosing not to speak yet. It was way creepier than hearing static. Then, a voice broke through. "Morning, Miss Calloway." She felt a lump in her throat. She knew that voice. She had only heard it once, out on that dim terrace during that crazy conversation, but it had apparently locked itself inside her brain forever. She stepped a little further away from her security guard. "Morning," she said, keeping her voice soft and giving nothing away. "Mr. Leighton." "So." He paused. It was deliberate, like someone who knows you're waiting on his every word and wants to see you sweat. "I thought about your offer." She completely stopped breathing. She didn't mean to, but her lungs just decided to go on strike until further notice. She closed her eyes, stood

She took the folder. Inside were nine rules, neatly listed. No complicated legal talk, just straight-to-the-point terms. It was exactly how a guy like Finn Leighton would do things. She read through them all. ---- CONTRACT OF ARRANGEMENT Between Finn Leighton and Selene Calloway 1. Duration This deal will last for six months from the day it is signed. No extensions unless both parties agree in writing. 2. Physical Boundaries No kissing. No hugging. No physical contact unless it is absolutely necessary for a public appearance. Any PDA must be agreed on ahead of time. 3. Separate Rooms Both parties will have completely separate living spaces in any house they share. Privacy is non-negotiable and must be respected at all times. 4. Public Appearances Both parties agree to go to at least three public events together every month. Schedules must be shared at least seventy-two hours in advance. 5. Secrecy Neither party will tell anyone about the true nature of thi