THE DEVIL'S MISTRESS

Chapter Eight - Problem Solved!

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV

The phone vibrated in my jacket pocket just as I tightened the noose around the CEO's neck; he had orchestrated the recent attacks on me.

I picked up without hesitation, my eyes never leaving the trembling man standing on the chair in front of me.

"She's on the move again." Fred's voice came through the line. I tilted my head slightly.

"To where?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

The sunlight streamed through the office, contrasting sharply with the fear in the CEO's eyes as he glanced up at the rope hanging from the ceiling.

"Taking a cab." Fred continued, amidst the background noise through the line. "Probably heading into town. No sign of her car though. I'm guessing she ran out of gas."

I chuckled under my breath. "Tell me, is she alone?"

My fingers absently adjusted the knot on the noose as I spoke, keeping the CEO in my peripheral vision.

"Seems like it." Fred responded. "But there's this guy, tailing her lately."

"Mid-twenties, looks like he's trying to keep a low profile." He informed as I tugged on the rope. "But it doesn't look like he's with the Cops or anything."

"Find out who he is. No one gets close to her without me knowing." My eyes narrowed as I studied the CEO's panicked expression. "If he's a threat, make sure to question him before eliminating him."

Fred replied quickly. "Got it. But how do you know she's not seeing someone?"

"She doesn't have a boyfriend. Trust me on that." I smirked, reminiscing a vivid memory of her curved, perky nipples outlying through her t-shirt as if she was subtly untainted.

Fred's laughter echoed over the line. "Alright, Boss."

I ended the call and slid the phone back into my jacket. The CEO's eyes followed my every move, wide with terror.

His lips trembled, still sealed with the duct tape I'd used earlier. The pathetic sounds of his muffled pleas filled the room.

Ripping the tape from his mouth, I watched him gasp for air. "Let's just forget my foolish mistake of double crossing you and start fresh, huh?" He pleaded, chuckling nervously.

"Please." He begged, his voice breaking as he spoke. "I never intend on violating our contract, but you gotta..."

I raised a hand, silencing him. "You thought you could easily eliminate me to protect your business by covering your tracks after hiring me to kill your brother and in doing so, you endangered my daughter." My tone remained cold, emotionless, as I spoke the words he already knew.

He shook his head frantically. "It was just business! A mistake..."

I cut him off with a dark laugh. "Business? You sent amateurs to kill me because you thought I would be a threat. That was your first mistake. Your second was involving my daughter."

Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued pleading. "We can fix this! I'll give you whatever you want...money, anything. Just let me go, please!"