The Business Deal

EMMA

Sunday. The day I have to give Diablo my answer. After Travis left Carly blushing and handed me his direct number, he headed off to the club. I have a lot to mull over.

~Do I want to work for Diablo?~

~Do I want to be his and only his?~

~How long will he want me?~

~Does he even know I’m still a virgin?~

One thing I do know is that if I choose this path, I’ll need some backup.

My late father had a friend, Dean, who he mentored during his Navy SEAL days. Despite what you might think, Dean’s only thirty. I’ll have to give him a call.

I’ll need to be able to protect myself, so training is a must. Especially with the job offer, the Mafia, and Diablo in the picture.

I won’t depend on anyone else, man or woman, to keep me safe if I choose this life. And once I’m in, there’s no turning back. My biggest fear is failing…

I call Dean and fill him in on what I need. I give him the training specifics because he’ll need to pull some strings for me. I know I’ll owe him a few favors in return, but he’s the best person to make this happen.

I decide that if he can arrange the training I need, it’ll be a sign that I should work for Diablo. If not, then my answer will be no.

Honestly, I don’t know which outcome I’m hoping for. Either way, it’ll change the course of my life forever.

I decide to hang out with Carly while I wait for Dean’s call. It could take hours, maybe even days. Diablo will understand if it takes a few days, right?

Deep down, I know he won’t. He’s not a patient man and he doesn’t take kindly to disobedience. And I can be as stubborn as they come. ~How will that work out?~ I wonder.

I sit at the kitchen counter, lost in thoughts of Diablo. Not about the job offer or the punishments, but about him. His looks.

The way he commands attention without uttering a word, his lips, his eyes. I wonder what it would be like to be his, as he puts it.

Is he really that possessive… my thoughts wander, imagining his touch on my skin, his large hands exploring every inch of my body.

Damn, I’ve been sitting here daydreaming about Diablo when I decided to spend time with Carly. Shit! Shit!

I get up, pour her a cup of coffee, and head to her bedroom.

I knock, and she calls me in. The sight of the coffee makes her light up, and I sit down on her bed. She immediately starts gushing about Travis.

Eventually, I have to ask her to stop. TMI! She’s clearly smitten with him.

“So, what about Cashè?” I ask when she finally takes a breath from her Travis monologue.

She shrugs and says something I never thought I’d hear from her.

“I think I’m in love.”

What! Carly, the girl who loves to play the field, is in love with one man. This is big. We continue our chatter and laughter until my phone rings.

It’s an unknown number, but I instantly know who it is. Diablo.

“Hello, Emma speaking.” I try to sound casual but fail miserably.

“Do you have an answer for me yet? I’m not waiting past 5 p.m. today. If it’s no, just say so, but stop fucking around.”

I gasp at his harsh tone. He must hear me because his next words are a bit more composed.

“I just need to know where I stand. I need to make plans.”

“Well, so do I,” I snap back. “This isn’t a decision to be made lightly, Diablo. This will completely change my life and future, so excuse me if I take a bit longer than you’re used to.”

“I will have you one way or another, baby love. Don’t ever forget that.” And with that, he hangs up. I just stare at my phone as if it’s an alien until Carly snaps me back to reality.

“What was that about? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I might as well have,” I whisper.

I offer to make us lunch to distract her from her probing questions. First, I signed the NDA, and second, I don’t want her to know anything about the job offer—if you can even call it that.

I try to justify my guilt. ~I know she’s my best friend, but some things are best kept secret until they’re a reality.~

^A LITTLE WHILE LATER^

As usual, the guys come over for Sunday lunch and movie day/night. This is usually their hangover recovery day and a nice time for all of us to catch up.

Cashè tries his best to get Carly’s attention but fails miserably. She must really be smitten with Travis to ignore Cashè’s advances.

I always end up making lunch, and today is no different. Rick comes into the kitchen and offers to help me. I look at him as if he’s grown horns.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing, it’s just you’ve never offered before. Why now?”

His cheeks turn red, and he avoids my gaze.

“What is it, Rick?”

“It’s just, I like you, and I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me sometime?”

To say I’m shocked is an understatement. I just stare at him and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

“No, Rick. We’re all friends, and I don’t want to mess that up with a romantic relationship that could ruin our group’s dynamic.”

He looks disappointed but agrees that it could ruin our friendship.

“Look, I like all of you, but as my brothers and a stand-in ‘girlfriend’ from time to time. But mostly, I love all of you as my brothers.”

He just nods in agreement, hugs me, and kisses my forehead.

“I love you, sis.”

“I love you too, Rick.”

Lunch is up next: roast chicken and potatoes, rice, oven-baked veggies, and for dessert, a chocolate mousse.

I always go all out, but the guys seem to appreciate it. I set the table and holler for them to come and eat.

“The food is amazing, it’s orgasmic,” Rick comments, shooting me a knowing smile. Carly and the others just exchange glances between Rick and me.

My phone rings, interrupting the moment. Thank God. I see it’s Dean.

“Keep eating, guys. I need to take this.”

“Hey, Dean. You sure took your time.”

“Your demands aren’t exactly simple, Ems. I had to pull a lot of strings to make this happen, so you owe me big time. You leave in a week, next Monday.”

“Is it exactly what I asked for?” I ask, a bit unsure.

“Only the best for you, Ems.”

“Will I see you there, Dean?”

“No, but with the favors I called in and your specific requirements, you’ll be done in eight weeks, if you don’t kill yourself first,” he laughs.

“You can come stay with me for a few days once you’re done. It’d be nice to see you and also to test what you’ve learned.”

I thank Dean and promise to visit him once my training is over. He insists it must be a week-long visit. I give in and agree.

Men! So demanding, but considering what he just pulled off, I actually owe him more.

I return to the living room to find everyone has finished eating and are lounging on the couches. At least they had the decency to clear the table and wash the dishes.

Now I have to face the music. I have to call Diablo. My nerves are shot.

He answers on the third ring.

“What’s your answer, baby love?”

No “Hello, how are you?” Just “What’s your answer.”

This just pisses me off.

“I want a business meeting. I have a few demands that I want to discuss.”

“I don’t usually negotiate terms, but for you, I’ll make an exception. I’ll send Travis to pick you up. Be ready in twenty minutes.”

“And for God’s sake, please wear something that suits you and not something that looks like a paper bag.”

And with that, the line goes dead.

~What the hell! How dare he?~

I’m going to give him a piece of my mind when I see him.

Exactly twenty minutes after the call, Travis knocks on the door. Carly jumps to open it. He walks in, and all the guys stare at him, especially Cashè.

She quickly introduces everyone, and when I enter the living room, I can feel the tension between Travis, Carly, and Cashè.

“Let’s go, Travis,” I snap.

He looks surprised at my tone, shrugs, says goodbye to everyone, kisses Carly—to everyone’s surprise, especially Carly’s—and we head to the Mercedes GT63.

I know I look a lot better than when I went to my interview. I borrowed my entire outfit from Carly. Thank God we wear the same size, even shoe size.

I’m wearing tight black skinny jeans, a yellow top with a low neckline, and black high heels.

When we get to the club, I march straight up the stairs to Diablo’s office. I walk in without knocking. I’m mad at him.

I immediately regret it. Spread on his table is Diablo fucking a woman whose moans I should have heard a mile away if I wasn’t so angry.

He looks at me with his piercing green eyes in shock, I think, and calmly asks me to give him fifteen minutes.

“I’ll give you five. If you’re not done, I’m gone, you fucking jerk.”

With that, I walk out and slam the door. I’m surprised by my reaction and how I’m feeling right now.

I’ve never felt like this before.

Am I jealous of the woman?

No, it can’t be. We haven’t even had sex yet or closed the business deal. He’s not mine and I’m not his, so I’ll just chalk it up to being annoyed with him because of the phone call.

I walk downstairs and see Luis. He blushes. He must have heard his boss and me arguing. He tries to start a conversation with me, but being the stubborn person that I am, I don’t respond.

Eventually, he just sits next to me on a barstool in uncomfortable silence. After seven minutes, I get up and walk toward the exit to leave.

I did give him an extra two minutes after all. I’ve done my part.

I turn when I hear a woman shrieking at the top of her lungs.

“Her? ~Her?~ Seriously, Diablo, you know you and I would make a better team. I also have connections and you can’t deny, the sex is great. What the hell does she have that I don’t?

“She has a fat ass and an ugly face.”

I can’t hear his answer over the clicking of her heels on the stairs. Boy oh boy, she is ~mad~. She walks toward the exit where I stand and brushes past me, almost knocking me over in the process.

I turn to see a fuming Diablo.

“Are you happy now?”

I nod and walk toward the stairs.

When we reach his office, I see a woman cleaning the desk and trash can. He yells at her to get out and closes the door.

“If you ever, and I mean ever do that again, I will kill you, do you understand?” he says with pure venom in his voice.

I just nod at him, too scared to answer.

Diablo makes a call. I assume he’s telling Luis to come to his office. Sure enough, two minutes later Luis walks in without knocking.

“Yes, boss?”

“Sit so we can get this shit over with,” he barks.

“The floor is yours, Emma.”

I know he’s mad because he usually calls me baby love. ~Damn!~

“I accept the proposition, but only with the following conditions.”

Diablo raises an eyebrow.

~Focus, Emma, focus. This is a business meeting.~

“Conditions? Are you fucking kidding me, you have ‘conditions?’ Who the hell do you think you are?”

The anger in his voice sends shivers down my spine. His eyes turn even greener when he’s angry, and his anger is aimed at me. ~Damn!~

I take a deep breath and start.

“First off, you can’t—ever—talk to me like you did just now or earlier on the phone. If I’m going to be ‘yours,’ as you say, you need to treat me with respect.”

“Second, I’m going to get some special training.” He tries to interrupt, but I stop him with a raised hand. “I’ve already set it up,” I tell him.

“It’ll be eight weeks of training, then I’ll spend a week with the friend who arranged it. So, if everything goes as planned, I’ll be gone for nine weeks.”

“Third, when I come back, I’ll pick my own bodyguard and train them to work with me.

“Fourth, I want a real contract, which I’ll write for us to sign.

“Then, I’m all yours.”

Both men look at me like I’m speaking a different language. Luis is the first to break the silence, laughing.

Diablo just keeps staring at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I can’t quite place. Anger, hatred, desire—I’m not sure, but I hope to understand him better soon.

I’m usually good at reading people, but he’s a tough one. He’s a master at hiding his feelings.

Finally, Diablo speaks, his gaze still locked on mine.

“Your first condition—it depends on how you treat me. My words and actions will mirror yours. No exceptions. If you act like a bitch, I’ll be a bastard.”

“Your second condition—when do you leave?”

“Next Monday,” I whisper.

“I’ll agree to it on one condition—you become mine before you leave. This way, I can leave my mark on you. Let’s plan for Friday.”

“Fine,” I mumble, “but then I want a fully paid going-away party here on Saturday night!”

“Agreed. Your third and fourth conditions are accepted. Just make sure whoever you choose also signs a non-disclosure agreement.”

“Just so you know, while I’m away, I’ll be studying law. I think a third degree would be useful in this situation. Oh, and you’re paying for it,” I say, fully expecting him to refuse.

To my surprise, he agrees. Damn, he’s hard to read today. I have no idea what he’s thinking.

“Last…”

“There’s more?” Diablo interrupts, sounding annoyed.

“Yes, if I sleep with you, you can’t sleep with anyone else until our arrangement is over.”

Diablo stands up so fast I start shaking in my chair. I’ve seen him angry before, but this is something else. He looks almost unhinged.

“So, let me get this straight. I fuck you on Friday night to make you mine, and then for nine weeks, I’m supposed to abstain from sex, waiting for you like a lovesick puppy?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Who the hell do you think you are? You walk into my office making demands—”

“Conditions,” I interrupt, earning a glare from him.

“—and then tell me to abstain from sex while you’re away? Am I hearing this right, Luis?” he asks, smirking.

“Yes boss,” Luis answers softly, clearly aware that his boss is pissed.

“Well, if I can’t be with another man for the nine weeks I’m away, then you can’t be with any woman.”

He keeps staring at me, and when he speaks next, I can practically feel the venom in his words.

“Get the fuck out of my office and never come back!”

“Gladly,” I say, standing tall. I grab my purse and walk out of his office.

Luis chases after me, yelling at Travis to take me home.

“Listen, he’s not used to anyone, and I mean anyone, talking to him like that.

“We all treat him with the utmost respect and would never dare speak to him that way. If we did, we’d be dead.”

“I don’t care! What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If he wants me to be faithful, then he has to be too.”

“It’s non-negotiable. But honestly, Luis, I don’t think Diablo and I are a good match. Maybe this is for the best.”

Luis looks like he wants to tell me something important, but we’re interrupted by Travis.

“Goodbye, Luis. Maybe I’ll see you around.” With that, I give Luis a quick peck on the cheek and follow Travis to the GT63.

Well, that was the worst business meeting ever. I’m wiped out. I’m glad Travis is quiet during the drive to the condo. I’m not in the mood for small talk.

I just can’t wait to put all of this behind me.