Chapter 5 – The Devil’s Eyes

Chapter 5 – The Devil’s Eyes

I stood frozen in place, my heart hammering in my chest.

The man in front of me was tall, broad-shouldered, and intimidating in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. His dark eyes assessed me slowly, taking his time, like he was deciding whether I was worth his attention.

I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know why Liam had brought me here.

But everything inside me screamed that this man was dangerous.

"You’re quieter than I expected," he finally said, his voice calm but edged with something sharp. "Not a bad thing."

I swallowed hard, unsure if I was supposed to respond.

"Answer him," Liam muttered from behind me, his tone amused.

I clenched my fists. "I—I'm just here to work."

The man chuckled. "Good answer." He leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. "Liam tells me you’re obedient. That true?"

I stiffened. The way he said it—like I was some kind of pet—made my skin crawl.

I forced myself to nod. "I do what I’m told."

Liam smirked. "Most of the time."

The man hummed in approval, pushing off the doorframe. "Follow me."

I hesitated, but Liam gave me a small shove forward.

"Go on, little sister," he murmured. "Don’t keep him waiting."

I bit my tongue and stepped inside.

A Deal I Didn’t Make

The office was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of cigars and leather. A large desk sat in the center, papers scattered across the surface.

The man walked around the desk and sat down, gesturing for me to stand in front of him.

"Liam told me you need a job," he said, lacing his fingers together. "That you’re willing to work hard. That you won’t ask questions."

I didn’t look at Liam. I didn’t trust him to speak for me.

"I just want to do my job and go home," I said quietly.

The man’s lips curled slightly. "Simple enough."

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a folder, flipping it open. "You’ll clean, run errands, and do whatever else I tell you to do. No complaints. No mistakes. Understood?"

I nodded. "Understood."

His gaze sharpened. "Say it properly."

I hesitated. "I understand, sir."

His smirk widened, satisfied. "Good girl."

I hated the way my stomach twisted at those words.

Like I was something he owned.

He slid the folder across the desk. "Sign."

I blinked. "What?"

"It’s a contract," he said casually. "Standard employee agreement."

I didn’t move.

Liam stepped beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. A silent warning.

I knew what would happen if I refused.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the pen and signed my name.

Rules of Survival

The moment the ink dried, the man leaned back in his chair, satisfied.

"Welcome to your new life, Evelyn."

Hearing my name from his lips made me feel sick.

I looked down at the contract, my pulse racing. I had no idea what I had just signed.

But I knew one thing.

I wasn’t free anymore.

"First rule," he continued. "You don’t speak unless spoken to."

I nodded.

"Second rule." He leaned forward. "You belong to this club now. That means you don’t leave without permission."

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay still.

"Third rule." His voice lowered. "If you ever think about running, remember this—"

He reached out and lightly touched my wrist.

I flinched.

His grip tightened for just a second before he let go.

"There is nowhere to run."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

Liam chuckled. "I told you she’d be easy to handle."

The man smirked. "We’ll see about that."

First Task

I spent the rest of the day cleaning the club from top to bottom.

The floors. The tables. The private rooms.

I worked in silence, my body aching, but I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

I wasn’t just cleaning.

I was surviving.

As the hours passed, I learned the unspoken rules of this place.

Men watched me as I worked. Some whispered among themselves. Some smirked.

But no one touched me.

Not yet.

When I finally finished, I stepped into the backroom where Liam and the man were waiting.

"Done?" Liam asked, lazily glancing at me.

I nodded, too exhausted to speak.

The man studied me carefully, then stood up.

"Go home," he ordered. "Be back tomorrow."

I let out a shaky breath.

It was over. For now.

But deep down, I knew—

This was just the beginning.

------

The Ride Home

Liam drove in silence.

The city lights flickered past the car windows, casting shifting shadows across his face. His grip on the steering wheel was relaxed, his expression unreadable.

I sat rigid in the passenger seat, my mind spinning.

What had I just agreed to?

Who was that man?

And what did he really want from me?

"You’re quiet," Liam remarked after a few minutes.

I didn’t answer.

He sighed, drumming his fingers against the wheel. "You’ll get used to it."

I turned my head sharply. "Get used to what?"

"This life," he said simply. "The rules. The expectations. The way things work."

I clenched my fists. "You didn’t even tell me his name."

Liam smirked, as if amused by my anger. "You’ll find out when it matters."

I swallowed my frustration. Pressing for answers would only make things worse.

So I stayed silent, staring out the window, feeling the weight of my decision settle in my chest like a heavy stone.

---

The House That Isn't Home

By the time we pulled into the driveway, the house was dark.

Liam turned off the engine but didn’t move.

Neither did I.

"Listen, Evelyn," he said suddenly. "I know you don’t trust me. And I don’t care if you hate me. But if you’re smart, you’ll follow the rules."

I swallowed hard. "And if I don’t?"

His smirk faded.

"Then you’ll regret it."

A chill ran down my spine.

Without another word, I pushed the door open and stepped out.

My legs felt shaky as I walked to the front door.

The house loomed in front of me—silent, waiting.

I took a deep breath, reached for the handle, and stepped inside.

---

Another Nightmare

I barely made it to my room before the exhaustion hit me.

The moment I closed the door, my knees buckled, and I slid to the floor.

My hands were trembling. My head was spinning.

I had survived the day.

But what about tomorrow?

What about the next day?

I curled up against the door, my arms wrapped around my knees, trying to push away the thoughts clawing at my mind.

I had signed a contract.

I had agreed to their rules.

I had stepped into a world I didn’t understand.

And there was no way out.

Tears burned at the edges of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Crying wouldn’t change anything.

I forced myself to stand, to move, to go through the motions of getting ready for bed.

But when I finally lay down, staring at the ceiling, I knew sleep wouldn’t come easy.

Because deep down, I already knew—

The worst was yet to come.

---

End of Chapter 5

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