Odessa arrived at the Midnight Eclipse Bar at midnight, dressed in a stunning black evening gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was styled in loose waves, and her heels clicked on the pavement as she walked towards the entrance. She was directed to a private area where Zaynix was waiting.
As she entered the room, Zaynix looked up and acknowledged her with a deep, sexy voice. "Welcome, Odessa. Please, have a seat."
Odessa's heart skipped a beat as she sat down across from him. "I'm here for the contract," she said, her voice firm.
Zaynix smiled and handed her a folder containing the contract. Odessa opened it and began to read the conditions. As she scanned the pages, her eyes widened in surprise. The contract seemed to be heavily weighted in Zaynix's favor, with clauses that restricted her freedom and forced her to comply with his demands.
"Most of the conditions seem to be about romance and building tension," Odessa said, her voice laced with skepticism. "But there are also clauses that limit my freedom and make me do things I don't want to do.
For example, I must be home before dinner, Mr Zaynix I'm an upcoming actress and that won't be possible"
Zaynix leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "Those are non-negotiable, Odessa. But I assure you, it'll be worth it and one more thing falling in love is not an option"
Odessa's mind was racing with thoughts of the implications of signing such a contract. She wasn't sure if she was ready to give up that much control. But a part of her didn't want any harm to befall Aiden
"What exactly do you want from me, Zaynix?" Odessa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zaynix's smile grew wider. "I want you to be my partner, Odessa. In every sense of the word, meaning throughout the time of our contract you will be fulfilling your duties as a wife"
Odessa's heart was pounding in her chest as she considered Zaynix's words.
"Mr Zaynix, I assure you, I will never fall in love with someone like you, please I am doing what you ask of me so no harm should befall Aiden"
After a moment of contemplation, Odessa decided to take the leap and sign the contract. As soon as she finished signing, Zaynix's expression changed to one of satisfaction.
"Good choice, Odessa," he said, his voice low and smooth. "You won't regret this."
"I'll give you two days to yourself," he continued. "After that, I expect you to come to New York. You'll stay with me for the duration of our agreement."
Odessa nodded, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
"When you arrive in New York," Zaynix said, handing her a small piece of paper with his phone number on it, "call me. I'll send someone to pick you up."
Odessa took the paper, feeling a sense of trepidation. She tucked it into her purse and stood up, signaling that she was ready to leave.
"Two days, Odessa," Zaynix reminded her, his eyes locked onto hers. "Don't forget."
Odessa nodded and turned to leave, feeling a sense of uncertainty about what she had just gotten herself into.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zaynix's men were discussing something in hushed tones when Julian suddenly asked, "Has Zaynix arrived?"
One of them checked his phone and said, "Actually,Julian, Boss is trending online. It seems he attended the graduation ceremony at Lendi University."
The men gathered around, looking at the phone. "Youngest Billionaire Spotted at Lendi University Graduation, Gifts Flowers to Mysterious Girl," they read out loud.
Just then, Zaynix appeared out of nowhere, his expression stern. "Don't you all have work to do?" he asked, snatching the phone from his Nicky's hand. "Get back to work!"
The men scurried away, leaving one of them to retrieve his phone. Zaynix handed it to Marcus. "Report to my office. I want to know everything about the attack in unit 8."
As they walked to Zaynix's office, Julian said, "I didn't expect you to be giving flowers to a girl at the graduation ceremony."
Zaynix ignored Julian's comment. "I have work to do. We'll discuss this later."
Once in his office, Julian brought up a pressing matter. "We've received intel about another possible attack ."
Zaynix's expression turned serious. "Have you found out who was responsible for all the attack ?"
One of his men stepped forward. "Yes, boss. We've identified the culprits. We're working on a plan to take them down."
Zaynix nodded, his mind racing with strategies. "Let's get to work. I want those responsible brought to their knees."
With that, Zaynix and his team began to discuss their next move, determined to protect themselves from any potential threats.
Zaynix's team was reviewing security footage when one of his men received a call. "Boss, we've apprehended the suspect involved in the attack of your sister," the man said, his voice firm.
Zaynix's gaze snapped to the man, his expression intense. "Bring him to me."
Moments later, the suspect was dragged into the room, battered and bruised. He glared at Zaynix with a mix of fear and defiance. "You think you're above the law, Don Domenico?" he spat. "You're just a monster in a suit."
Zaynix's eyes narrowed. "You targeted my family. You think you can just walk away from that?"
The suspect sneered, but Zaynix's expression remained unyielding. With a swift motion, he ended the man's life.
Zaynix said to Marcus. "Dispose of the body. Make it look like an accident."
As the body was removed, Zaynix turned to Julian. "We need to review our security protocols at all units. We can't afford any more breaches and also tighten security around Liana."
Julian nodded. "I'll get the team on it. We'll make sure everything is airtight."
Together, they began to plan their next move, driven by their determination to protect themselves and their loved ones.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Odessa stood in front of her closet, deciding on the perfect outfit for her journey. She opted for a casual yet stylish look, choosing a comfortable pair of dark-washed jeans, a crisp white blouse, and a lightweight black jacket to layer over it. Her sneakers were sturdy and comfortable, perfect for navigating airport terminals and city streets. She added a few simple accessories – a delicate silver necklace and a pair of stud earrings – to complete her outfit. With her hair tied back in a ponytail and a light dusting of makeup, Odessa felt a sense of resignation wash over her. She was headed to New York, a city that held a lot of painful memories for her. The thought of returning made her stomach twist with anxiety.
As she grabbed her luggage and headed out the door, Odessa's mind began to wander back to the past. She hadn't been looking forward to this trip, but circumstances had dictated that she had to go. She thought about Zaynix, and he was the only reason she she was returning to a city that held so much pain.
With her phone and wallet securely in her bag, Odessa made her way to the airport, her heart heavy with foreboding. She boarded the flight to New York, steeling herself for what lay ahead. The city might hold bad memories, but she was determined to face them head-on.