Elle POV.
Paul’s boss is the same guy from the Cafe, the one from the old diner, Paul’s boss is a mafia boss, but that means Paul is also into the mafia, that scared me, but in same time made me feel better, he can help me get Devil back. Paul and the guy went to have a private talk, probably talking if they need to kick me out or help me, I was hoping for help.
There were other people in the house, the smell of food was filling the place, some were joking others were laughing, but everyone did a double take at me, making me blush, I never loved being the center of attention, only Devil’s attention, not everyone. It’s why I always preferred books over human interaction, that and coffee, coffee is always number one.
After too long of me standing there like a human plant, Paul and the guy came back, the other guy had a smile on his face, but Paul didn’t look as happy, he looked worried. I looked at Paul what do we do now?
“Why don’t we sit down and have dinner first, Paul, invite our guest over” the guy says with a big smile, his smile kind of scared me.
“Uhmm…I should get going” I say worried, I wasn’t here for dinner.
“Stay Elle, we’ll talk afterward” Paul says offering me a hand, I take his but still worried about how things are going.
We sat on the large dining table, plates were filling the place, food from all kind of colors, it all smelled and looked delicious, but I wasn’t that hungry, I got some food on my plate and simply pushed it around, taking few bites although it was delicious my stomach was hard as a rock, food was making me feel nauseous.
Dinner took forever, some of the people were still looking at me, mostly glaring at me, I blushed and looked away, the guy, he was sitting at the head of the table he too was looking at me, people were talking to Paul, welcoming him back, did he came back cause of me? I hope I didn’t get in the way of his work, but he seemed to be happy to be back home.
I was worried he’d make me stuck for dessert but when the diner was over, Paul excused us and walked away from the table taking me with him, I walked after him, he got us outside toward what looks like a backyard. I looked around but it was dark now, no one was out here but us, I turned to Paul worried still.
“What did he say?” I ask, I can’t wait anymore, I want to know what he said, are we gonna save Devil or should I do this alone.
“He…well Elle there’s this thing” he starts.
“Paul just tell me did he say yes?” I ask my eyes filling with tears, I want to know and be over with it, I can’t wait anymore.
“He said yes, but he got a price” Paul explains, what’s his price? I don’t have money, but Devil does, she won’t be mad to use some money to save her, would she. She can get mad at me later, but for now I got to save her.
“What’s his price?” I ask crossing my fingers, hoping his price would be something Devil could afford, I’ll pay her back later.
“Elle, you know he’s not a bad guy, he just…” Paul starts.
“He’s what Paul? What’s his price?” I ask frustrated with him.
“Well just so you know, he promised to never ever hurt you, but Elle his price is you” he says making my heart skip few beats.
“For…for how long?” I ask him, I did that with Devil before, it still scares me, it makes my heart skip, but I need to save her, I’ll do this for her.
“That’s the thing Elle, he…he wants you forever” he says, now my blood is running cold, he’s not like Devil, he doesn’t want me for four months, he wants me forever and forever is a very long time.
“What about Devil?” I ask him, I think I’m in love with Devil but I’m about to lose her now, I’ll be selling myself to a mafia boss, not to Devil, not the woman who I got to know over the time, the one who was okay with me being simply me, all my craziness, all my issues, all my coping mechanisms.
“We’ll save her, she’ll be set free, and you’ll be taken in instead” Paul says.
“Would I be a prisoner? Is that it? Would he hurt me?” I ask again, I was scared, I was extremely scared this time.
“Not a prisoner, I told you Elle he saved me before, he’s not a bad guy” he tries to explain to me but I was still scared, this would end badly.
“I…I don’t know” I say stuttering, my fear getting the best of me now, I didn’t even know his name.
“It’s up to you Elle, is Devil, you know would you sacrifice yourself for her?” he says.
“You said he won’t hurt me!” I say scared, is it really a scarification unless if I’m getting hurt, badly, he’s gonna hurt me!
“He won’t relax, relax, breathe” Paul says holding me closer to him this time hugging me while my tears did a free fall into his shirt, this is really bad, I’ll never get to see Devil again, my life would be over for real this time.
“I mean it Elle, he’s not a bad guy, you’ll even enjoy your life with him, but just think about it. Do you want to spend your life with him, in return for Devil’s freedom?” he says making me calm down, okay maybe it won’t be that bad.
“I need to think about it” I say, before getting away from Paul, I need to get home, I need to think, I need to clear my head, this is scary, this is my life and Devil’s!
“Wait Elle, I’ll drive you home” Paul says getting up after me, he runs inside and get a car key, we came here in a taxi, he got into a small sedan car and told me to get in.
“What’s the address?” he asks, I had to give him Devil’s address, I was too disoriented to say no or not share her home address, she’s gonna kill me but I have to keep her safe first before she could kill me. He drove us there quietly, we didn’t talk about anything, I was lost in my own world and my own head, would moving in with this new guy would be that bad.
“Elle…. Elle…Elle…” my name was being called over and over again but I was still zoned out, when a hand landed on my shoulder that’s when I noticed Paul was calling me.
“Yeah?” I answer, my voice breaking.
“We’re here, do you want me to walk you in?” he asks, I look out of the window to see we really have made it, it’s time to get out.
“No thank you Paul, you’re a great friend” I thank him one last time giving him a hug before getting out of the car and dead walking back inside the building and into the elevator.
I wrote the symbol, got inside the apartment, looking around it, I felt broken, this wasn’t my home, I shouldn’t be here. I started to cry, I couldn’t help it, this all going so badly, what do I do now? Life made me grow up quickly, but even with how old I feel I’m stills scared of taking the wrong decision, just because Devil was nice doesn’t mean this one would be too.
Is it a risk I’m willing to take? To sell myself for her, I know I’d give my life for her, after spending too long of a time thinking, I made my decision, I called Paul, it was late, but he still answered me.
“I made my mind, but I got some terms” I say trying to sound firm.
“This should be fun, I’ll come get you in the morning” Paul says before ending the call.