Chapter 7 - The Deal

Sitting inside the car, was a girl. She was a little younger than him. Her hair was loose in soft brown curls and the off shoulder beige dress she wore was perfectly complementing her curves.

Ash was taken aback. She was the old man's madam? Ash thought. Was she the wife or daughter of a wealthy family.

"I'm not the wife nor am I thendaughter of a wealthy family," the girl said, reading his mind. "Are those your usual clients?"

"Uhh..." Ash fumbled.

"Get in," she ordered. Ash got in the car, hesitantly.

She stepped on the paddle and they sped off into the night. The girl drove very smoothly through the road.

"How long have you been working for them?" she asked casually.

Ash stiffened. "I highly doubt you'd need to know," he replied. "We're just in a contract right now. After you've satisfied your needs for a year, we'll go our different ways."

The girl stared at him before bursting out into a musical laughter. "Needs?" she snorted. "Don't worry, no one will force you to do anything like that!"

Ash was confused. "Then why did you spend 200 million dollars on me?" he demanded.

"You seemed like you were being forced to sell yourself," she said. "I simply pitied you."

"Pity?" Ash chuckled in a sarcastic way. "That's the first time, a client pitied me."

The girl suddenly swerved off course. She came to a stop near a secluded spot at the Han River. She unbuckled her seat belt and suddenly sat on Ash's lap, facing him. She cupped his face in her tiny hands and moved closer. He felt his body freeze.

"Client huh?" her green eyes pierced into his hazel ones. He was stunned.

"I thought you weren't going to sleep with me," Ash gulped. Her lips were a little too close.

"I said no one will force you," she whispered. He felt her breath on his face. His heart was beating fast. She felt his body heat rising.

"Should I stop?" she asked, smiling seductively. Ash did not reply. She leaned in closer. He could almost count her eyebrows. Their lips were almost meeting. Ash braced himself, his hands moving towards her hair. Suddenly, she leaned back.

"I think that's enough teasing for today," she announced before getting off his lap and settling back on the driver's seat. Ash was left dumbfounded.

"What the hell was that for?" he demanded furiously.

"Should we continue what we were doing then?" the girl asked in an indifferent tone. Ash pursed his lips. He would be lying if he said he did not want to continue.

"Why did you buy me off?" he repeated.

"You have direct links to the Cartel," she stated. "That Madam Lim. I need you to spy on her for me. She can lead me to the head."

This piece of news stunned Ash. "Who are you?" he whispered. "Are you Jiwon's new neighbor? The Founder of Abyss?"

The Founder of Abyss was notorious for not having a public identity. No one even knew the Founder's gender. And now, not only was it a girl, but also revealed her face to Ash.

The girl did not reply. "So, are you in or out?" she asked. "The job is very dangerous and they may harm you if they find out."

"I don't care about myself," Ash shot back. "But my sister-"

He broke off. "I don't want her to be threatened. If anything happens to her...I will burn down anyone who will harm her!" he threatened, closing his eyes.

The girl was quiet. "Your sister will be under our direct protection," she promised him. "The Cartel won't be able to harm her. I will move her abroad and she will live in one of my personal properties. Abyss will give her the highest protection They won't be able to trace her at all."

Ash observed her quiet determination. This woman meant her words. She would not let Jea fall into harm's way.

"Funny how her own brother could not protect her," Ash lamented.

"Who said that?" she snapped at him. "You protected her all these years from becoming the Cartel's pawns. You fled your abusive household with your infant sister. You worked your ass off to give her a proper upbringing. If there was anyone who protected her, it's you. So stop wallowing in regret. No one protected her better than you!"

The girl's words snapped him back to reality. Ash was looking at her in a new light. The girl sitting in front of him was no frail, porcelain beauty. She was a fighter and gave courage to others as well. If there was anyone he could trust his sister with, was her.

"I'll do it," he finally decided. "I'll help you bring down the Cartel. But in exchange, you will protect my sister."

"Deal," she extended her hand. Ash took her hand. Their eyes were locked in an unspoken agreement.

The girl reversed the car and they drove off towards the city. After half an hour, they pulled up at the parking lot of Ash's apartment. She escorted him to the elevator.

"I'll make the arrangements for your sister's departure," she explained. "We'll put her in a private school in the USA. She'll be safe there."

Ash nodded. He was grateful to the girl but did not know how to express it in words. He merely nodded.

"So," he smirked. "I'm all yours for one year. I'll work as per your orders."

"Careful, now," she teased. "You just met me. What if I make you get intimate with me? Surely, you'll hate it like you did with all those other women."

"I won't," Ash replied in a serious tone. The girl stiffened a little. She felt her skin heating up. They were fighting a mutual attraction all night and she felt her barrier crumbling.

"Prove it," she breathed.

Ash took a step towards her and lifted her up. The elevator opened and he swirled her, pushing her back against the elevator walls. Before she could catch a breath, he crushed his lips on hers. She felt his tongue twirling in her mouth, looking for an opening. She let him explore her mouth, aggressively kissing him back. He was nipping on her lower lip and she pulled him closer as their mouths fought for control. His hands were exploring her delicate curves before she felt one stroking her right breast. He thrust her upwards and his lips moved down to her neck, biting into her skin. She held onto him for dear life, her hands squeezing his hair. She felt his hardness slightly bumping into her through their clothes. Wrapping her thighs around his waist, she demanded him silently to keep going.

The elevator came to a halt. They were snapped out of their little euphoria. Both of them were in a disheveled state. Ash smirked as he gave her a little peck on her sore lips and whispered in her ears "That was for earlier."

The girl was stunned as he smiled mischievously and put her down. He turned away, smiling. They could have gone further, but Ash knew that they would not be mere bed partners, but something much more.

Before he could unlock his apartment, he felt someone turn him back and his lips were captured in another deep kiss. She kissed him with a fierce passion before letting go, their breaths turning heavier.

"I'll wait for my full repayment," she whispered, their lips barely touching. "And I'm very thorough."

She pecked his lips once more before heading towards the elevator. She winked at him playfully before disappearing behind the lift's doors.

Ash found himself smiling like an idiot. The one year was going to be an interesting one.