Hosie~ One Shots

Payment Part 2

The door closed and the room fell into a tense silence. Josie stood frozen, her mind still reeling from what had just transpired. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears as she tried to make sense of the whirlwind encounter. Her father's labored breathing broke through the haze, and she rushed to his side, kneeling down.

"Dad," she whispered, voice trembling. "Are you okay?"

Alaric winced as he tried to sit up, still feeling the weight of Hope's bodyguard's attack. "I'm fine," he rasped, though his voice betrayed the pain. "But Josie... what did you just agree to?"

Josie couldn't meet his gaze, guilt washing over her. "I... I didn't know what else to do. She was going to hurt you. I couldn't let that happen."

Alaric placed a shaky hand on hers, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm so sorry. I never should have taken the money from Klaus. I thought I was doing the right thing for the school, for you and Lizzie. But now..." His voice cracked. "Now you're caught in the middle of this."

Josie swallowed, her emotions twisting inside her. She knew her father meant well, but the reality of what she'd just promised to Hope hung over her like a dark cloud. There was no denying the attraction she felt when Hope touched her, the way her presence had filled the room with an undeniable magnetism. But there was also fear. Hope was dangerous, and Josie had no idea what she was walking into.

"I'll handle it, Dad," she said quietly, more to reassure herself than him. "I'll figure it out."

Alaric shook his head. "You don't understand what you're dealing with, Josie. The Mikaelsons are dangerous, especially Hope. She's not just a witch or a vampire—she's the tribrid. There's no telling what she'll do."

Josie frowned, knowing full well the weight of her father's words. Hope was the most powerful supernatural being in existence, and now, Josie had agreed to be part of her game. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the way Hope had looked at her—like she was already hers.

"I don't have a choice," Josie said softly. "I'll just... go along with it. Keep her close. Maybe I can find a way to reason with her."

Alaric didn't look convinced, but he knew there was no undoing what had already been set into motion. "Just be careful," he urged, his voice thick with worry. "She's manipulative. She'll make you feel things you don't want to feel. She'll twist everything until you don't even know what's real."

Josie nodded, though deep down she wasn't sure she could resist the pull Hope had on her. The thought of her waiting outside, planning their "date," sent a strange mix of fear and excitement through her.

The next day came faster than Josie had realized. She spent most of the day in a daze, replaying the events over and over in her mind. Her stomach churned with anxiety as the evening approached, and she found herself standing in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. What was she even supposed to wear for something like this?

Her phone buzzed on her bed, jolting her out of her thoughts. She picked it up to see a message from an unknown number:

Hope: Hello Love. Please be ready at 7.
Dress nice. I'll be picking you up.

Josie's breath hitched as she read the message. Her hands trembled slightly as she replied with a simple "Okay," then tossed the phone back onto the bed. She stared at her closet, unsure of how to prepare for what was coming.

She settled on a simple, dark dress—something elegant but not too much. She didn't want to give Hope the satisfaction of knowing how much thought she was putting into this. But even as she dressed, a part of her couldn't help but wonder what Hope had planned. Was this truly just a date, or was it something more?