Chapter 11: The Devil’s Contract
Charles sat in the backseat of a sleek black Maybach, the kind of car he used to dream of from behind greasy diner windows. Now, the scent of Italian leather mixed with the crisp air conditioning and the faint whiff of Lila’s perfume beside him.
She looked stunning. Not the business-stunning from their usual meetings, but dangerously feminine in a crimson silk dress that clung to her curves. Her legs were crossed elegantly, and her eyes were unreadable.
"Are you sure you want to meet him?" she asked, not looking at him. "People don’t walk out of dinners with Elias Moretti the same."
Charles’s phone buzzed.
> [System Notification: Hidden Objective Triggered – "The Devil’s Table."]
"Survive a high-stakes negotiation with Elias Moretti. Reward: Strategic Investment Network (Passive). Failure Penalty: Credit Score Freeze."
Charles’s lips thinned.
"I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?"
Lila glanced at him then, searching his face. "Just don’t try to outplay him. He’s not someone you play. He is the game."
The car pulled up in front of a private restaurant nestled behind the marble lobby of a luxury tower—La Caelum, one of the most exclusive dining spots in the city. No sign. No menus. No guests without bloodline or billion-dollar net worth.
Charles adjusted his cufflinks. They were fake gold—but no one here needed to know.