"Devil?" Ava repeated, her voice trembling. She was certain she didn't hear that right.
James chuckled darkly.
"Sorry, I meant myself."
Ava swallowed hard.
"So, are you ready to sell your soul to me?" He asked again.
Ava sucked in a deep breath and took a second before responding.
"Yes..."
"But about the benefits..." Ava trailed off.
James understood her drift and he chuckled again.
"Don't worry about those. Everything will be covered. I don't make promises that I won't fulfill." He cut in smoothly.
"However, we need to meet now. The interview is tomorrow, and you need to be prepared. I will send the address of my office to you right away." He informed her.
"Okay." Ava replied quietly.
At that, the call ended and Sophie grabbed her sister's arm.
"Who was that? I heard something about a devil?" She asked, her curious eyes staring at her sister's face intently.
"No, definitely not." Ava denied and gently pulled away.
"So, who was it?" Sophie asked even though she didn't look convinced.
"Don't worry about it. I need to go somewhere. Just look after Mom, okay?" Ava said.
Before Sophie could protest, Ava was walking out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later, Ava stood in James' massive office, trying not to feel intimidated by the floor-to-ceiling windows and the city bustling below.
"Sit down, Ms. Collins." James said, gesturing to a leather chair.
"There are things you need to know about Ethan Gray, so you can be well prepared." He announced.
Ava sat down, quietly observing how James' friendly demeanor had vanished.
"The man is nothing but ruthless and manipulative. He has destroyed countless small businesses, ruined families, all in the name of profit." James began.
"What?" Ava's eyes widened in shock.
"Last year, he bought a pharmaceutical company just to shut it down. Thousands lost their jobs, and vital medicine prices skyrocketed." James continued, leaning forward.
"He once had his own relative arrested and made him rot in jail, forgotten, just for trying to expose his illegal activities. Ethan will do anything and everything to protect his corporate image and secrets." He added.
Ava was shocked by the information. Her jaw was almost touching the ground.
"Ethan knows no loyalty except to money. He keeps tab on every of his employees and even track their movements so you need to be extra smart and follow my instructions carefully and dutifully." James maintained firmly.
"Wait, are you insinuating that I am not even safe working with him?" Ava asked in disbelief. She dreaded the response as James' expression hardened more.
"Yes..." James replied flatly.
"What?" She was flabbergasted especially as the man was saying it calmly.
"That is why you need to be loyal to me and follow every of my instructions. That way, I will be able to keep you safe." He assured her firmly.
"Even if it goes against my moral beliefs?" Ava blurted out.
"Yes..." He added and seeing the doubtful look on her, he pressed on.
"Unless you want to end up like his previous assistants." He said. Ava sucked in a breath, fearfully.
"What happened to them?" She asked curiously.
"The first one... Mental breakdown. Complete nervous wreck. Ended up in a psychiatric home. The second one... " James hadn't completed his sentence when Ava jumped out of her seat in fright.
"I don't think I can do this." She blurted out.
"Sit down!" James said like an order. Ava was enraged.
"No!" Ava refused vehemently but before she could turn to leave the office, James spoke again.
"Your mother... Do you want her to die?" That question weakened Ava's knees and she stopped weakly.
"I don't... think I can do this." She muttered more to herself.
"You can. As long as you follow my orders. I will keep you safe." James told her assuringly. And before Ava could protest further, he picked his phone and started dialling a number.
"This is James Lawson. Authorize payment for Linda Collins' treatment with immediate effect." Ava heard him talk into the phone.
She exhaled sharply, relief flooded through her yet she felt conflicted.
"Now, we have a deal, Ava." James said after dropping the call.
"I..." Ava wanted to talk but James who was already pressing his intercom spoke up, cutting her off.
"Maya, come in." He instructed and at that moment, a sophisticated woman entered.
"Take Ms. Collins shopping. She needs to look like someone worthy of being Ethan Gray's right hand. Spare no amount in making her unrecognizable." James instructed and handed Maya a black credit card.
~~~~~~~~~~
At a luxury boutique;
"Take this!"
"And this... And this... And yeah, that also." Maya said as she kept picking up clothes, shoes and bags from their racks and dropping them in Ava's hands.
"Wait, do I really need these? I mean, look at their prices... Each cost more than I have ever earned in three months." Ava mumbled.
"Ethan Gray notices everything. One wrong outfit and you're done." Maya informed a very stunned Ava.
"You have to look perfect, act perfect and be perfect. Ethan Gray is a perfect psycho." Maya added.
Ava breathed deeply, her eyes weren't hiding her fear at all.
"Perfect? But no one is..." Ava was trying to make sense of Maya's submission but got interrupted.
"You have to, if you can't, you are going to end up like Jessica." Maya said.
"Jessica?" Ava asked.
Maya's voice dropped to a whisper.
"His last assistant before the one who had the breakdown. No one knows where she is now. She just... vanished." Maya said. And again, Ava was utterly shocked.
Then Maya's phone buzzed.
"Mr. Gray is back in town early. He wants to do the interviews tonight." She informed Ava, after checking her phone.
"Tonight?" Ava felt panic rising in her chest.
"Who does a job interview at night, anyway?" She blurted out, looking bewildered.
"Well, Ethan Gray does!" Maya replied flatly.
"It's in two hours. We have to hurry and get you dolled up." She informed Ava who was too shaken to think.
"Listen to me, whatever you do, don't look him in the eyes too long. The last girl who did..." Maya was trying to warn Ava of an impending danger but she had to stop abruptly as her phone buzzed again.
The message made her gasp.