Cruelty and deceit

The Mayor's smirk widened as he watched Iris' reaction to his words, clearly enjoying her growing discomfort. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a soft whisper as he continued.

"You're going to be his weakness, his drug. You're going to make him feel like he's the luckiest man alive. And then – when he's completely under your spell – you'll manipulate him to get whatever we need from him."

The Mayor's smile grew cold and calculating as he spoke, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Iris. He could see the fear and confusion in her expression, and it only fueled his desire to torment her even more.

"And make no mistake," he continued, his voice growing cold. "There will be consequences if you fail. No matter how much I enjoy this little... 'game' we're playing, I won't tolerate failure. Do you understand me?"

Iris could do nothing but nod, her throat dry and her heart racing. She felt like a lamb led to the slaughter, completely at the mercy of the Mayor's twisted plan. She tried to keep herself from trembling, but she couldn't help the small shudder that ran down her body.

"Y-yes," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I understand."

The Mayor chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the power he held over her. He reached out, tracing a finger along her jawline, the touch making her skin crawl with dread. He leaned in closer, his voice a soft, menacing whisper in her ear.

"Good," he said, his tone almost affectionate. "I knew you were smart enough to see that cooperating is in your best interest. Now, there are a few more things we need to discuss."

The Mayor's smirk widened as he savored the fear and helplessness in Iris' eyes. He withdrew his hand from her face, returning to his previous position across from the bedside. He continued talking, his voice steady and unshakeable as he outlined the next steps of the plan.

"First, you'll need to learn everything you can about De-Martin. His likes, dislikes, his schedule, his habits. The more you know about him, the easier it will be to play your part."

The Mayor paused for a moment, watching Iris to make sure she was listening. He let her absorb the information the he continued, his voice never faltering.

"Second, you need to act the part. You need to flirt with De-Martin, tease him, make him think you want him. You need to make him obsessed with you, make him think you're the only thing that matters in the world. Do you understand?"

Iris nodded again, her heart racing and her mind spinning with panic and fear. The thought of having to seduce some man she didn't even know, under the order of the town's slimy Mayor, made her feel sick to her stomach. But she knew she didn't have a choice, and that the consequences of refusal would be dire.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice nearly shaking.

Iris mustered what courage she could, steeling herself to speak up. She took a deep breath and looked the Mayor in the eyes, trying to keep her voice steady and firm.

"I just need... more time," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "One day won't be enough. I need more time to get ready."

The Mayor's smile faded slightly, his expression hardening as Iris spoke up. But he seemed to consider her words, his eyes narrowing as he thought for a moment. After a beat, he spoke, his voice smooth but with an underlying threat.

"Fine. You can have more time. But don't try to be clever, or try to betray me. If I find out that you're up to something, there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

Iris let out a small sigh of relief, thankful that the Mayor had agreed to give her more time. But she couldn't let down her guard completely - she knew better than to underestimate the Mayor's cruelty and deceit. She gave a nod, trying to keep her voice steady as she spoke.

"I understand," she said firmly. "I won't try anything foolish. I just need time to prepare."

The Mayor studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowed and calculating. After a beat, his expression softened slightly, and he gave a small nod, seemingly convinced by her words.

"Good," he said gruffly. "You'll get the time you need. But don't test my patience, or you'll regret it."

Iris nodded again, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety wash over her. On one hand, she was grateful that the Mayor had agreed to give her more time. But on the other, she knew that she was treading on thin ice.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice just barely above a whisper.

The Mayor reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a thin folder, holding it out to Iris. He gives her a cold, commanding look as he speaks.

"Here, take this," he says. "It's everything you need to know about De-Martin, as well as your new ID and a list of your new personal details."

Iris takes the folder with a sense of trepidation, her fingers trembling slightly as she opens it. Inside, she finds a stack of papers with information about the person she's supposed to seduce, as well as a crisp, new ID card bearing her new persona's details and a list of instructions.

Iris leafed through the papers, her heart racing as she took in the information. The Mayor watches her intently, waiting for any sign of hesitation or reaction. Finally, she looks up at him, her eyes wide and scared.

"Is this... everything?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

The Mayor nods, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. He leans back in his chair, looking at Iris as if she was his pet project, his tool to use as he pleases.

"That's everything," he says. "All the information you need to play your part convincingly. Read it, memorize it. Leave no room for mistakes."

The Mayor pushes his chair back, the legs scraping against the tiled floor with a loud screech. He stands, looking down at Iris with a cold, calculated expression. He straightens his jacket, preparing to leave.

"Well," he says, his voice cool and business-like. "I have other matters to attend to. Remember what I said - don't try anything foolish, and don't waste the time I've given you. I expect results."