The hospital corridor was quiet, punctuated only by the occasional beep of a monitor or the hurried footsteps of a nurse. Mia moved briskly, her mind still reeling from the visit to her mother's ward. Her mother was stable for now, but the truth weighed heavily on her: the surgery couldn't proceed until the fees were paid, and every second felt like an eternity.
Her thoughts were consumed with numbers, calculations, frantic planning. Where will I get the money? How will I save her?
Lost in her panic, she barely noticed the sudden presence in front of her until she almost collided with a tall figure.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" she exclaimed reflexively, taking a step back.
"I didn't see you there," came the smooth, casual voice, laced with that infuriating charm.
Mia's heart skipped. She looked up and froze.
Dallas.
He was leaning slightly forward, hands casually in his pockets, his ever-present smirk curling across his lips. His eyes scanned her like a predator assessing prey, calculating, and she forced herself to straighten, plastering a polite smile on her face.
"I'm fine," she said lightly, trying to keep her voice steady. Don't let him know why I'm here, she told herself. She nodded and started to walk past him, hoping he would let her go.
Dallas, however, stepped lightly in front of her path, subtly blocking her way. "Wait a moment," he said, voice calm but heavy with authority.
Mia felt a flicker of unease. She gave him a careful smile, saying nothing, hoping to pass him quickly.
Dallas tilted his head, dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "I hear about your mother's surgery," he said, his tone casual but oddly intimate. "I'm sorry. That must be… terrifying."
Mia stiffened slightly. She nodded, forcing herself to appear calm. "Yes… thank you," she said softly, keeping her voice steady, though her chest tightened painfully.
Dallas took a slow, deliberate step closer, letting the smirk linger. "I can help," he said, his words measured, almost hypnotic. "I know the surgery is expensive… but I can take care of it. I can cover the full fee and more."
Mia froze, her pulse jumping. "More?" she asked cautiously.
"Two million," he said, voice smooth, controlled. "One million covers the surgery. The other million… well, that's yours. Completely yours. Consider it a bonus for your… cooperation." His eyes glittered with a dangerous amusement.
Mia's heart pounded. Two million. Enough not only to save her mother but to give her a small safety net for the future. She wanted to argue, to refuse, to walk away but the temptation clung to her like a vice.
Dallas stepped slightly closer, leaning in just enough to make the offer feel like it was wrapped in silk, irresistible. "All I ask," he said, his tone soft but firm, "is that you work for me. Some tasks… discreet, simple things. Nothing that will draw attention. Help me, and your mother's surgery is fully covered and the rest… well, that's up to you."
Mia's chest tightened further. She could feel her mind teetering between desperation and defiance. She wanted to refuse, to declare she didn't need anyone's help, that she could handle her life on her own but the reality was far crueler.
Her mother's life hung in the balance. Two million could change everything, protect her from weeks of worry and debt.
Mia forced a calm, polite smile, keeping her voice measured. "I… I'll think about it," she said softly, though inside, a storm of fear, suspicion, and cautious hope raged.
Dallas' smirk widened slightly, almost approving. "Take your time," he said, letting the words linger like a slow, dangerous echo. "But don't take too long. Opportunities like this… don't wait forever."
He watched her with a calculated patience, every movement precise, every word designed to unsettle and tempt her in equal measure. Mia could feel it the underlying weight of his presence, the subtle assertion of control.
She nodded once more, forcing herself to turn away, to keep her composure, even as her mind raced with fear, guilt, and the allure of his offer. Every step she took felt heavier, burdened not only with the responsibility of her mother's life but with the shadow of the dangerous deal dangling before her.
As she pushed the hospital door open, the cool night air brushed against her face, and she took a deep, shaky breath. Dallas' smirk, the casual tone of his threat, and the unsettling weight of the deal he had just offered lingered behind her, like a shadow she couldn't shake.