The Devil Rose

"Pick up... pick up, dammit!"

The phone on the vanity vibrated violently, breaking the silence of the dark apartment.

Agatha Arionsa Elara stared at the screen with a flat expression. She had just finished cleaning bloodstains from her body. She took her pistol and leather gloves, then stored them in a hidden drawer behind the mirror.

Silas Elara.

Agatha knew the meaning of a call at two in the morning. Her adoptive father must be in big trouble. However, this time Agatha did not snort in annoyance. A thin smile, very thin and cold, actually appeared on her lips.

"Finally. The time has arrived," she murmured softly.

For six months, she had been looking for an opening to get close to Xavier Calestiano Valois, the ruler of the underworld who possessed the power that could help her find information about her past. And if her guess was right, tonight Silas was dragging her straight into that devil's lair.

Agatha slid the green button, changing the tone of her voice to slightly panicked.

"Hello? Dad?"

"Agatha! Help Dad! They're going to kill me!" Silas screamed hysterically from the other end, his voice mixed with fearful sobs.

"Calm down, Dad. Who wants to kill you?" Agatha baited.

"Xavier Valois Calestiano! He gave me one hour! Come to Club Everos right now! Bring whatever you have for collateral, Agatha! Please, you are my only hope!"

Click...

Agatha turned off her phone. Her panicked face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold mask like someone with a split personality.

She stood up and opened the wardrobe. Her hand passed over rows of leather jackets and black tactical gear, then stopped at a pure white chiffon dress. A dress that looked innocent, fragile, and very... simple and modest.

"Let's play the role, Mr. Devil. Wait for my performance," whispered Agatha while reaching for that white dress.

Club Everos, VVIP Floor.

Suffocating silence dominated the spacious room filled with the scent of musk and expensive alcohol. In the center of the room, Silas Elara prostrated on the cold floor, his face bruised and bleeding, his forehead full of cold sweat.

Creak...

The door opened.

Agatha stepped in, her steps slow and graceful. Her appearance that night was in stark contrast to the nightclub atmosphere.

Her white dress waved gently around her knees, her long hair was left loose, and her face was polished with thin make-up that highlighted an impression of holiness and purity.

"What is this?"

The heavy and cold baritone voice sounded from the direction of the leather sofa in the center of the room.

Xavier Calestiano Valois. The man sat with his legs crossed arrogantly, a glass of whiskey in his right hand. An aura of dominance radiated from him so strongly, making anyone breathing near him feel suffocated.

Agatha bowed her head slightly, hiding the sharp glint in her eyes. 'Target locked,' she thought with satisfaction.

She needed Xavier, or rather she needed this man's power. And if she had to become a doll to get it, she would do it perfectly.

"Mr. Valois... th-this is my daughter," Silas's voice trembled. He rose half-crawling, pulling Agatha's hand roughly until the girl stumbled forward. "Her name is Agatha."

Xavier lifted his face slowly. His sharp emerald green eyes immediately collided with Agatha's hazel orbs.

At that second, Agatha felt an uncomfortable feeling on the back of her neck. Xavier's gaze was not just looking, but as if stripping her bare.

Agatha immediately put up her best defense, a slightly trembling body, teary eyes, and tightly pursed lips.

"One hundred million dollars, Miss Elara," said Xavier flatly, his voice low but echoing. "Your father lost badly at my gambling table tonight. Do you have that much money in your small bag?"

Agatha shook her head slowly, squeezing the hem of her white dress with pale fingers. "I-I don't have that much money, Sir..." she squeaked softly, her voice trembling convincingly.

Panic-stricken Silas immediately interrupted, gripping Agatha's shoulder. "But she can pay for it in other ways, Sir! Look at her! She is beautiful, clean, and very obedient! Take her as payment!"

Silence.

Agatha held her breath. She let fake tears pool in her eyelids, looking at Silas with a perfectly 'hurt' expression. Even though deep down, she cheered coldly. 'Good, Silas. Sell me. Hand me over to him.'

Xavier placed his glass on the glass table, making a soft sound. He stood up. His tall, sturdy body towered, making the room feel even narrower.

He walked slowly approaching Agatha. His footsteps were silent and deadly.

"Lift your head," Xavier commanded.

Agatha straightened her back but kept looking down, playing the role of an innocent girl scared to death.

Xavier stopped right in front of her. The distance between them was so close that the scent of tobacco and sandalwood from the man's body filled Agatha's sense of smell. The tip of Xavier's expensive leather shoe touched the tip of Agatha's heels.

Xavier's rough fingers reached out. He gripped Agatha's chin, forcing her to look up.

"Look at me."

Agatha dared herself to look into those green eyes. She let her body tremble as Xavier's thumb stroked her cheek with a slow movement.

"Beautiful," murmured Xavier. His eyes narrowed, staring sharply into Agatha's hazel eyes.

Xavier's devil instinct screamed that something was wrong. This girl was trembling, but the heartbeat in her neck artery was too regular for someone who was scared.

"You look very innocent in this white dress," whispered Xavier, bringing his face closer until their noses almost touched. "But your eyes... there is something dark hidden there."

Agatha's heart beat faster. 'Damn, his instinct is so sharp,' she thought.

"I... I'm just scared, Sir," whispered Agatha, breaking eye contact as if unable to withstand the man's intimidation.

Xavier smirked thinly. 'Interesting. Very interesting,' he thought.

His hand went down from her face, tracing Agatha's slender neck, then stopping at the shoulder wrapped in thin white fabric. He could feel the warmth of the girl's skin.

"You sold your daughter for one hundred million dollars, Silas?" asked Xavier without taking his eyes off Agatha's luscious lips.

"Yes! Yes! She belongs to you! Do whatever you want to her! As long as my debt is paid and I can leave!" shouted Silas hopefully, not caring about his daughter's fate.

"Good," Xavier released Agatha's chin roughly, then turned his back on them. "Get out of here before I put a bullet in your head, Silas. Your debt is paid. This girl is mine now."

Silas almost cried with relief. Without caring about Agatha, without a word of farewell, without looking back, the old man got up and ran out of the room like a coward.

Bang...

The door closed.

Now only the two of them remained.

Agatha sighed faintly. Her plan worked. She was already inside the Devil's cage, exactly where she needed to be to carry out her mission.

Xavier turned slowly. He looked at Agatha who was still standing frozen in her white dress in the center of the room. The man sat back on the sofa, patting the empty space next to him with a dangerous inviting gesture.

"Come here. We need to discuss the rules of the game in my territory."

Agatha gulped. This was the beginning. She stepped closer obediently, hiding an invisible dagger behind her innocent smile.