A/N:

Updates, I've worked out, would be once in a week. And if I'm unable to make it, then it'd be a double update the next week.

Happy Reading!

*

"Here you go."

A glass filled with water appeared in her line of vision.

The hand holding the glass looked familiar, so did the voice.

In fact, Angelo was the last person she expected, but the man was a mercurial, walking contradiction, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise to her.

Elodie accepted the glass without a glance, then set about rinsing the vile taste lingering in the back of her throat.

"Today is the last of our agreement."

"It is," she replied, keeping her gaze on the open water, even as her fingers clenched around the glass to keep her tremble from becoming obvious.

Angelo was like a shark with a blood sensor; the minute he smelled her fear, she was sure to be drawn into one of his sick, twisted fantasy.

"I know you're thinking something along the lines of me not letting you go," he said, leaning both of his elbow on the rail beside her.

She studied his fingers.

There were dark inks on four of his left fingers—the ring, index, fore, and middle finger—and while she couldn't see what it was clearly, Elodie was able to to make out the shapes of numbers.

On the back of his hand was an elaborately done rose in a shade so dark that it glinted in the mild sunshine. Falling around the petals of the rose was droplets of what could only be blood, but the sleeve of his shirt stopped her from studying it further.

After a while, Elodie came to realize that he was waiting for her to say something.

She chose to keep quiet.

With what little time she's spent in his company, Elodie had been able to gather a bit about Angelo.

He liked it when his audience for him to ask a direct question before speaking. Anything aside from that could trigger him.

Besides, there was no telling if he was still smarting from Fabian's betrayal from earlier—still in a volatile head space—and until she figured out if he was back to being Angelo, Italian mobster extraordinaire, she was keeping her mouth shut.

"I'll have one of my men drop you off at the Agency in the morning," he continued, sensing that she wasn't ready to budge. "Your phone would also be returned to you when you're set to leave."

Elodie turned to look at him, clocking her head slightly to the right. "You're letting me go?"

He met her gaze, a dark brow raised. "Do you want me to keep you here?"

Was that a trap question?

It was definitely a trap question.

If she said no, he might be offended that she wanted to leave his company so quickly, and if she replied in the positive, then he'd be tempted to keep her longer.

There was no winning, was there?

"Why did you kill Fabian?" When in doubt, deflection was the best option.

The slight upward tick of his lips told her that he knew what she just did.

Angelo broke their stare-off, looking back out to the shimmering waters. "I don't take betrayals lightly. He killed a whole family just for their possessions."

Her eyes went wide.

Elodie wasn't sure what was more surprising: Angelo answering her question, or letting her off the hook.

He was really a walking, thousand shades of contradiction for sure.

"Fabian killed for the wrong reasons. You see, if he'd killed the man because he was stealing from me, then I'd have not batted an eyelid." He paused, face darkening as though he was imagining the encounter. "Greed makes a man foolish enough to go against whatever authority that's over him. If I'd let him off the hook, then he'd go after something bigger next time, motivating others to do the same."

"Hmm," she hummed, because in retrospect, what he said made sense.

But still, violence would never be okay in her book.

It went against everything she believed in.

Killing someone just because of something the law could handle was just excessive.

There were many other ways to handle things rather than resorting to bodily harm.

"I have a gift for you."

Angelo reached into the pocket of his jacket, withdrawing a powder-blue pouch with the Tiffany & Co. logo emblazoned on it.

He held it out to her.

Elodie accepted it, opened the flap and upturned it over her opened palm.

A chain-link silver bracelet with a moon shaped dangle dangling from it fell onto her palm.

While she wasn't the most fashionable person all round, Elodie knew enough to know that this particular brand products prices were no walk in the park.

It must have cost hundreds of dollars.

"I-I can't accept this," she said, returning the jewelry back to its pouch, holding it out to him. "Thank you for the thoughtfulness, but I just can't accept this."

Angelo's gaze was indecipherable. "Returning a gift after it's been given, especially one as tasteful as this, is an insult to me."

Her fingers buried themselves into the pouch, but she kept her hand stretched toward him. "It's too much."

"Do as you wish with it."

Knowing that this was a battle she couldn't win, Elodie let her hand drop to her side.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"See you around," he said.

Elodie watched him go, wondering what he meant by that.

Once he was out of sight, her gaze fell to the pouch clenched between her fingers.

For a hot minute, she thought of hurling it across the water, feeling dirty for taking a gift from a man who'd so openly defiled her in every way imaginable.

But you enjoyed it, E2 murmured, fanning her fake lashes.

Oh, so now you decide to show yourself, you traitor?

A queen looses her importance if she keeps showing up every time. E2 said primly, sipping from a glass of mojito. And on that note, see you later.

Wait...

Am I seriously talking to myself right now?

Elodie shook her head, pursing her lips.

Maybe she was the one who needed to get her head checked.

She stared at the pouch once more, then decided that she was going to pawn it off at the first chance she got.

*

True to his words, a car was waiting for her at the marina by the time their yatch docked.

Hana was standing beside the opened car door, holding Elodie's purse from her first night in one hand, and a large basket in the other.

Angelo was nowhere in sight.

In fact, he'd disappeared entirely after giving her the bracelet.

One of the hostess had appeared to lead her to a room, a different one from her first night there, and Elodie had lain in bed awake all night, waiting to hear the sound of the lock turning.

Angelo hadn't shown himself.

Although she knew that he'd been on board with his business partners all through the night.

He'd done his business with her, and discarded like yesterday's news just as he should, but she couldn't explain why she felt hurt by that.

"Ma'am, you look well this morning," Hana said once she was within earshot.

Elodie shot her a dubious look, knowing she probably had rings the size of saturn under both eyes.

"Thanks."

"Here's your purse."

Elodie accepted the purse, eyeing the one on her shoulder. "Am I returning this one?"

Hana looked surprised that she'd even asked. "Of course not."

Then, she leaned into the car, placing the basket on the seat, then straightening the lapels of her pink suit as she retreated.

"Mr. Angelo told me to convey his best wishes to you," Hana said. "He also told me to tell you to eat and sleep more."

So, he was too cowardly to face her in the light of the day after what he'd done?

Who knew that the cold-blooded killer wasn't unflappable, after all?

"Since he sent you to me, then would you also give him a message for me?" Elodie asked.

Hana bounced on the balls of her feet like an overeager puppy. "Of course, I would."

"Tell him I said: go fuck yourself."

The other woman's smile dropped a notch, eyes clouding with confusion. "E-W-what now, ma'am?"

Elodie shook her head. "Goodbye, Hana."

She climbed into the car, hand catching on the handle to close the door before Hana could.

The driver didn't acknowledge her, just turned on the engine and pulled away from the still dumbfounded assistant.

The basket contained several types of food: boxes of cereals, two milk kegs, fruits in plastic containers, boxes of juice among many others.

The sanctimonious bastard.

He had another thing coming, thinking he could buy her off with gifts after all he'd put her through.

Recalling what she'd witnessed, Elodie dug through her old purse for her phone.

It was still intact, to her amazement, and it worked perfectly.

She'd expected it to be out of commission, considering the baptism she'd given it on the night of her escape attempt.

It was no shock to find the video gone from her folders and backup file.

Angelo didn't look like someone willing to take any chance, no matter how little.

But what she did find, was a bill of hundreds of dollars in her purse.

Elodie clenched her jaw, breath quickening.

Did he think paying her off would ensure her silence?

Or was it to pay for the damages he did to her person?

She pushed the money to the bottom of her purse, snapping it close, trying hard to rein her anger in.

Screw him for making me feel this way.

Soon enough, they were pulling into the marked space for parking in front of the Agency.

Elodie climbed out of the vehicle, leaving the gift basket behind.

She was almost at the door when the driver caught her, basket in hand, wearing a slightly panicked look.

"Ma'am, you forgot this."

"Oh, I didn't," she told him, waving the offending thing away. "Just take it back to your boss."

The man's face turned sallow. "I'd be in great trouble if you don't take it with you."

"Fuck him," she said through clenched teeth.

How low could this man sink?

Threatening his workers into doing his bidding.

"Give it to me."

The man nearly peed himself with relief when she took it from him.

He didn't even stay to ensure that she didn't toss it, and hurried his steps to car as though he was afraid she'd change her mind.

Sighing, she walked into the building.

Mila was already seated behind the desk, typing away on the keyboard as usual with a bored look.

However, she perked up when Elodie stopped by the desk. "You look like someone who's been dragged through the Bay water by her ear."

"Thanks for the compliment, Mila," she intoned dryly. "You look as good as ever."

Mila's face became awashed with delight. "I heard you switched roles four days ago."

"Gossip sure travels fast in this place."

She shrugged. "You know how it is."

Elodie hefted the basket onto the stone washed desk with a small smile. "I brought you this."

Mila's bug-eyed blinks were comical, and if she had enough energy left in her body, Elodie might have laughed.

"Wow," Mila whispered breathily.

"You're welcome."

Elodie gave her a two-fingered salute, then started toward the bank of elevators.

"Wait," Mila called, prompting her to turn around. "Boss says you should should see her first."

I requested specifically for you, she recalled Angelo telling her.

Boss had set her up, ruining her life in the process.

Elodie stabbed at the button for Boss's floor with her index finger, dark clouds gathering over her face.

The woman could explain herself.

Once she was admitted to the tenth floor, Elodie breezed out of the elevator, ignoring the greeting Boss's assistant tossed her way.

She didn't bother knocking, and swept into the room like a mini hurricane.

Boss looked up from her laptop, lips pressing into a disdainful line. "Did your little outing infuse you with so much power-trip that you've lost your manners?"

Elodie dropped her bags onto the visitor's chair, crossing her arms under her chest. "You lied to me," she accused, narrowing her eyes. "Why?"

Boss leaned into her chair, hands falling onto the hands of her seat. "You weren't saying this four nights ago, I seem to recollect. In fact, you were all too happy to do the job."

"Yeah, well, that was before I found out that I'd been hoodwinked into accepting a job I was clearly under qualified for."

A contemplative look entered her gaze. "What happened between you and the client to bring out your wrath?"

"I was raped, chained, and almost killed!"

Boss's perfect brows didn't rise as she was expecting.

"Didn't you hear me?"

"I warned you, didn't I?" Boss leaned forward now, both elbows resting on the table, voice colder than the arctic in the peak of winter. "Being a Dark Angel isn't a walk in the park. You have to do everything the client wants you to."

Elodie's shoulders sagged, hands falling to her side. "You didn't tell me I'd be used to fulfill some sick, rich psychopath's fantasy."

A shuttered look fell over Boss's face, leaving a blank slate in its place. "The road to success is never easy, Ms. Evans."

Elodie blew out a breath, heart sinking with each words.

Here was a woman like her—programmed to be naturally sympathetic—telling her to suck it up and stop whining in not so many words.

She'd always thought Boss was the kind who cared about her workers, but money clearly meant more to her than anyone.

She couldn't carry on working for some so callous.

Someone who didn't give a damn if she'd ended up, face-down floating in the Bay, or carved-up like a Christmas turkey.

There was only one thing left to do.

Elodie stood to her full height, hands clenched by her thighs, heart thumping.

Boss raised a brow now, awaiting what nonsense she'd spew next, but nothing could have prepared the other woman for what came next.

It was evident in the way she inhaled sharply, standing abruptly from her leather throne.

"I quit!"

*

Ohhh, more problems.

Elodie seems to go from one thing to another, doesn't she?

What do we think of Angelo's Gift to her, and his views on betrayal?

Do you think Hana would tell Angelo what Elodie said?

Would Boss accept her self-termination?

Please do comment, vote and share!

The reads keep increasing, I've noticed, but few comments are dropped.

Don't worry, I don't bite, plus I also reply to comments, so please, lay it all on me.

For those of you new readers, thanks for taking a chance on me.

And many thanks to @elusive_6788, for her many words of encouragement.

You should totally check out her books, too. They're amazing!

Random Question: What's the best book you've read so far, both on and off Wattpad, this year?

Xoxo, Jasmine❤️