The mansion was quiet after dinner. The soft hum of the night air outside mingled with the distant ticking of the antique clock in the hallway. Inside, tension hung heavy, thicker than the velvet drapes, as secrets and schemes silently coiled like predators waiting to strike.
Mila paced the guest wing, her thoughts storming. Every time she glanced toward Mia, she felt the burn of jealousy, watching her hold Aiden's subtle attention, and worse seeing Dallas now showing interest as well. No, she thought, teeth clenched. Mia can't have both of them. Not Aiden… not Dallas.
Her decision was swift. She would act. She knew exactly who she needed to find.
Dallas had retreated to his study, claiming urgent "business" with the company. Mila knocked lightly, then stepped inside without waiting for an answer.
Dallas looked up from the papers on his desk, his familiar smirk curling across his lips. "Mila," he said smoothly. "What brings you here?"
"I want a deal," she said, stepping closer, her voice steady but carrying the weight of desire and calculation. "Aiden… he's mine. But I see how you're interested in Mia. I can make this simple for both of us."
Dallas arched a brow, intrigued. "Go on."
"I'll let you have Mia," Mila whispered, leaning closer, her breath brushing against his ear. "You take her. I take Aiden. But…" Her eyes glinted dangerously. "There's a price."
Dallas leaned back in his chair, studying her. He had expected cunning, but Mila's audacity amused him. He had been planning to use Mia, yes but this… this could be even more advantageous. She wanted the man he desired, and he could get what he wanted Aiden's empire, his influence while keeping Mia as both a pawn and, secretly, a temptation.
"And what's your price?" he asked, voice low, a dangerous undertone threading through it.
Mila's lips curved into a seductive smile. "Me. You get me… first. Tonight. Then we can talk business."
Dallas' eyes darkened as desire flickered through his calculated expression. He had always underestimated Mila's audacity. And the thought of claiming her… of having her completely… made his pulse quicken.
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You understand, though… Mia is just a maid in my eyes. But I won't lie—she's beautiful. Attractive. And she will be useful in my plan for Aiden's company. So this deal… it's tempting."
Mila's smile widened, triumphant. "Exactly. You take her. I take him. And together, we control everything."
Dallas leaned back, smirking. "Very well. But first… I get you."
The air between them shifted instantly from business to dangerous desire. Mila stepped closer, letting him close the distance, letting the room itself hum with the intensity of their agreement.
In that moment, Dallas saw it: power, lust, and strategy entwined. He would get Mia not just as a pawn, but as a prize, a tool, and perhaps, for reasons he wouldn't admit, an irresistible temptation. And he would get Aiden's empire through Mila.
The deal was sealed, though unspoken truths lingered: Dallas had a plan, Mila had ambitions, and Mia… Mia remained blissfully unaware that the quiet, tense game around her was about to spiral into something far darker than she could imagine.