Contract

"What condition?" Maril frowned, disliking where the situation was going.

The man before her was someone she had a crush on some time ago. But her lack of control over her current predicament made her antsy and she fidgeted in her spot uneasily.

"Don't worry. I won't ask you to do something immoral," Rhysand assured her when he noticed her unhappy expression.

However, it only heightened her discomfort and Maril looked at him warily.

"What's your condition, Mr. Moretti?"

Rhysand felt bitter inside. He wanted to eradicate the distance between them and start addressing each other by first name. But he didn't dare try it. Neither was it the time nor were they familiar with each other.

Moreover, Maril would be apprehensive and might even increase the distance between them due to his recklessness, which was the last thing he wanted. He couldn't hurry in her matters.

"From today onwards," Rhysand started, holding Maril's gaze, "you'll be working with me."

"What?" Maril almost screamed, flummoxed by his words.

"Yes. You'll work with me and be available whenever I want your assistance," Rhysand stated his condition, his expression oddly calm.

However, the three people were anything but that, especially Maril.

"Mr. Moretti, I don't work for anyone," Maril clarified, making her stance clear.

"But from today, you will," Rhysand deadpanned, not correcting her words. She wouldn't be working for him, she would be working with him.

"No way. I don't..."

"Lady, weren't we discussing our terms to ward off your punishment for kidnapping me? This is my condition. Either you agree to it or...." Rhysand stopped at that, hoping she'd agree on her own accord. He had no intention of threatening her. 

"What are we going to do, Diva? Will we start working for him now?" Yoda questioned nervously. He was accustomed to working with Maril. He didn't know if he could cope with Rhysand's demands and working style.

"Wait a minute," Rhysand interrupted their conversation. "I think I didn't make myself clear. My condition involves the lady alone. If she agrees, she'll be the only one working with me, not you three together."

While Yoda and Rambo were in disbelief, Maril was genuinely annoyed and she glared at the man who was staring at her like a devil.

"First of all, I'll not be working for anyone else. And secondly, I don't work alone," Maril didn't say explicitly. But Rhysand got her answer and he nodded lightly, clicking his tongue pitifully.

"Fine. In that case, I have no choice but..." He retrieved his phone from his pant pocket...

Maril's eyes widened in horror and she bit her lip, disgruntled. 'What sin did I commit to attract the devil's eye?' she wondered. She was in a dilemma and glanced at her underlings, who were watching her with nervous expressions.

Letting out a deep breath, she clenched her fist, wishing to chop the man who had reduced her to such a pitiful state. To hell with her crush! Why did she even have a crush on the devil?

'I can't put my people in danger. I'll have to agree.' She gritted her teeth, finding the man before her extremely repulsive.

Rhysand quirked his brow at her. Although he didn't want to use this route, he didn't know how else to bring Maril to his side. He could only resort to such evil methods to attain his goals.

"Fine, I agree." Maril relented. Her blood was boiling and she wished to slap Rhysand's smile off his face.

"Maril, no. You can't do this," Rambo objected vehemently. 

Rhysand was a powerful man, even more than their Godfather, and working for him only meant trouble at all times. The world was cruel out there and joining the mafia could be dangerous, especially for Maril who was innocent in a painful way.

Rhysand looked at Rambo coldly and the poor man broke out into a sweat instantly. The suppression was so strong that he was almost compelled to hold his words back.

But when he thought about how Maril's life would be in danger, Rambo remained adamant and continued to persuade her. "Maril, he's the mafia. You could be in danger."

Rhysand understood the man's concerns and he pursed his lips. He didn't deny that bringing Maril to his side didn't come with troubles, the biggest one being her life in danger. 

Still, Rhysand had no intentions of letting her go. For the first time in his life, he had taken a liking to someone and had no desire to thwart his feelings without even trying.

Maril's lips thinned and she closed her eyes. When she opened them after a few seconds, they were filled with determination and a strange kind of glint that attracted Rhysand all the more.

"I can do this."

"Maril, no..."

Maril gave Rambo a look that shut him up.

"Mr. Moretti, I agree to your condition. What do I have to do?" 

"Very well," Rhysand nodded, his heart flipping in joy. "Since you have agreed, let me clarify a few things for you."

Maril waited silently, suppressing her desire to run to another country for a few days. 'I should have executed my Switzerland trip. I wouldn't have been stuck in this situation.'

"You'll be working with me and me alone," Rhysand explained, ensuring that Maril understood him. "You'll not be involved in the mafia work."

Maril's brows contorted into a confused frown and she blinked at him blankly.

"Your life will not be in any danger and you have my word on it."

Maril scratched her head, still not understanding where this was going.

"Then, what will I be doing?" 

Rhysand's lips arched into a smirk and he looked at her mysteriously. "You'll find out later. Now, tell me, lady. Do you agree?"

Maril rolled her eyes at him and folded her hands. "Do I have a choice?"

'Oh, you do, Maril. You'll always have a choice. It's just that I don't know how else to bring you to my side. I apologize for forcing you,' Rhysand thought.

"Since you agree, let's sign a contract."

"Contract?" 

"Yeah. I need to have everything in writing. What if you run away? What am I going to do?" Rhysand teased.

Maril's eyes widened in horror. 'How did he find out? Is he a mind reader? Shit, he found out my plan. I'll have to be careful in the future.'

Rhysand was amused. He hadn't missed her sudden change in expression and perceived what was running in her mind. 'Fortunately, I acted quickly. Otherwise, what will I do if you actually run away?'