Chapter 3 Deal with the Devil

• That night’s engagement was all part of Chuck’s plan. A luxury villa project was under construction, and he’d pulled every possible string to get in touch with the construction boss. If he could land this contract, his company’s profits would soar.
• Turning to his daughter, dazzling in her attire, Chuck felt a flash of regret. If he’d realized how much leverage Serena’s looks could offer, he would have played this card much sooner.
• They’d already had most of the conversation in the private room with Victor Zoric, the potential client. The contract was nearly in hand, but Serena had slipped away to the washroom. Nervous she might back out, Chuck quickly followed.
• Serena wasn’t one to be easily controlled, but Chuck held a powerful bargaining chip. Since she had two children out of wedlock—with no registered father—Chuck had legal guardianship of the kids. Now, he was using that to force her hand, threatening to send her twins to a foster home if she didn’t comply.
• “Chuck, don’t forget,” Serena said in a low voice. “Once this contract is signed, I get Silas and Sylvie’s guardianship.”
• “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. Get this contract signed, and I’ll make sure the custody papers go through immediately.”
• Serena pressed her lips into a thin line, nodding. “Remember your promise.”
• Back in the private room, Victor’s eyes lit up as Serena walked in. He waved her over with a grin. “Nina, come on, let’s keep drinking!”
• With a bright smile, Serena took a seat beside him, chuckling, “Mr. Zoric, you sure can hold your liquor.”
• As she sat down, Victor’s hand snaked under the table, settling on her thigh. Seeing him grin, and flashing his yellowed teeth, she barely resisted the urge to vomit. Holding her composure, she poured him another glass of bourbon, acting as if she didn’t notice his wandering hand. “You’re impressive, Mr. Zoric—someone with your spirit is just the type I admire. Here, let me toast you again.”
• “Alright, bottoms up!” Victor chuckled, clearly flattered, and downed several more drinks, spurred on by Serena’s admiring gaze. Soon, he was thoroughly inebriated.
• Serena, too, felt the alcohol’s effects, her head spinning, but she forced herself to stay focused. She took out the contract Chuck had given her. “Mr. Zoric, about the contract…”
• “Sign it? Sure, I’ll sign. But… you know there are conditions, sweetheart. Tonight…”
• Serena shot him a sultry glance, and Victor was instantly under her spell.
• “Of course, Mr. Zoric. Once we’ve got your signature, I’m sure we can work everything out.”
• Victor, barely thinking, scrawled his name across the document with a sloppy flourish. Watching this, Chuck finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
• Once the contract was signed, Chuck found an excuse to take the papers and slip away, leaving Serena with a reminder, “Make sure you take care of Mr. Zoric. Don’t let anything go wrong tonight.”
• “Chuck,” Serena’s voice hardened, “I expect to see Silas and Sylvie’s names under my guardianship tomorrow.”
• “Well, it’s a bit late to arrange that tonight. Tomorrow might be a stretch, too…” Her looks had been too valuable that night; he wasn’t eager to let this tactic go to waste.
• Serena seemed to anticipate his reluctance, a cold smile tugging at her lips. She leaned closer. “Believe me, if I had the power to get you this contract, I can also tear it apart.”
• “Don’t you dare, Serena!” he hissed.
• “That depends on whether you’ll keep your word, Father.”
• For the first time, Chuck felt intimidated by her boldness, but he couldn’t afford to lose that contract now. Gritting his teeth, he caved. “Fine. Tomorrow, Silas and Sylvie’s guardianship will be yours.” He hurried out, clutching the contract tightly.
• Victor, half-drunk, wasted no time in escorting Serena to a hotel room. Once inside, Serena discreetly slipped a sleeping pill into his drink, coaxing him to finish it.
• As soon as he passed out, she finally let herself relax, slumping in exhaustion. In her past life, as a B-list actress, she’d often had to entertain clients and had built up a decent tolerance for alcohol. But in this new body, she’d clearly lost that edge. She’d barely managed to stay conscious through the night.
• The room was thick with the smell of alcohol, and Serena wanted nothing more than to get out of there. Fighting her dizziness, she staggered out of the room.
• In the elevator, she clutched her stomach as nausea welled up. When the doors opened in the lobby, she stumbled forward and collided with someone.
• “Oh, I’m so sorry…”
• Lennox Savill was just stepping into the elevator when a striking figure in red tumbled into his arms. The woman kept her head down, her pale neck exposed beneath her tousled hair. He quirked a brow, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder, an amused smile playing on his lips.
• “Throwing yourself into my arms?”
• He’d had his fair share of admirers, given his status, and women approaching him weren’t rare. But there was something about her—her hair smelled of nothing but fresh shampoo, free of the cloying perfumes others wore. His gaze lingered on the soft, exposed curve of her neck.