Chapter 5 MAKING A DEAL

"Make a guess." He said, repeating the words she had said to him in his room last night. Ramona tried hard to remember but, she couldn't figure out how he'd come across her number.

"I can't, tell me how."

"Then, a clue will do. Hmm... Let me see... Something square, holds the owner's contact and everything on it." He said, and it dawned on Ramona.

'Oh my gosh' she thought.

She had left her business card behind, how could she be so stupid? In all her life, she'd never made such a stupid mistake before.

He must have sensed her silence because his voice rang out again.

" Hello? Are you there? " He called out.

" What do you want? " Ramona asked while taking a deep breath. This was going wrong, terribly wrong.

"What do I want? Funny question coming from someone who tried to assassinate me in my bed." Dranon teased.

He said, and Ramona winced at the word 'assassinate'.

"Anyway, you're right." He continued, " I do want something from you." He said, and Ramona braced herself.

"What is it?" She said, her voice reducing to barely above a whisper.

"Meet me. Same place, same time today." He said, and ended the call, confidently as if assured that she would surely oblige.

With a helpless, strangled growl, Ramona threw her phone across the room and screamed, "Ahhhh..."

As night fell, Ramona dressed in black pants and put on a black jacket. She was dressed this way for more than one reason. Firstly, it was one of the clean clothes she had at the moment as she was usually too lazy to do laundry or, sometimes, so busy.

Two, black made her look bold, superior and more dangerous. The one time she conversed with him made her realize he wasn't as simple as she had thought he was.

This was more than just a reason, it could be a battle of wills. Moreover, she could hide a weapon, just in case there is need for self-defense. She had just tried to kill him. And her choice of clothing was perfect.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Her friend Eva asked while coming to stand near her.

"Trust me. It has to be done. Whatever it is. I'm sure, I will survive it. Maybe." She, herself, wasn't even sure.

"I'm worried." Eva said and Ramona softened.

"It's okay, I've gone through far worse. I'm your strong Ram, after all." Ramona said, holding Eva's shoulders and turning her around, to face her.

"Yeah, you're my strong 'Ram'" she said, smiling at the nickname she had given Ramona the first time they met.

Surprisingly, it was a short drive from Eva's apartment to the hotel. She didn't let Eva know, but she had been a little nervous since the call. She cursed Dranon Atticus in her mind. It was obvious that was the reaction he hoped to attain.

Lost in her thoughts, Ramona had somehow come to stand in front of the familiar hotel she had escaped through its window.

She walked in and went for the room, but two men were outside. Instead of searching for her, they gave way.

The big, dark door, the only thing that was separating her from Dranon Atticus. She pushed open the door and entered before she could change her mind. The room was lighter than it had been the night before. A desk sat in the corner. Her eyes travelled higher.

There, at the back of the table, sat the man whose gorgeous face was more familiar than she wanted it to be. Dranon Atticus. He was staring at her, she stared back.

Breaking their eye contact, she let her eyes trail lower, he was putting on a nice black suit. It made him handsome... She didn't have words for it. She could see him clearly now, see his deep grey eyes as they raked over her. She kept staring, aware of his own eyes that were on her. As she stared at him, she couldn't help but remember how sleek he'd felt under her hands.

'Stop.' she chided herself inside.

Finally, taking a step forward, she straightened her shoulders and stood upright.

"Hello, Mr. Dranon Atticus." She greeted.

Dranon's eyes met the person who stepped inside. He watched as she took in the sight of the room before she began to wander again.

She turned, and her eyes met his, stunningly blue. She had her flaring red hair in a ponytail this time.

On her body was all black. The same body that had done impossible things to him the night, only before this one.

Despite himself, he wasn't about to lie that her arrival didn't have him relieved. He had expected her to come, surely, but one couldn't always be too sure.

Her eyes trailed lower, pinning him down, and his body warmed at the thought that she was checking him out. 'Okay, that would be too much', he knew she couldn't possibly be checking him in the way he wanted but, it didn't hurt to assume.

She took a step forward and her hair swung slightly behind her.

"Do you not hear my greetings?" She asked, boldly, looking him in the eye. Good. It didn't matter if the boldness was false, he admired bold people.

"Hello Ramona. I heard you." He replied, watching her eyes flicker at the mention of her name, "It wouldn't be nice to keep you standing, please take a seat." Dranon added.

"No need. I don't intend to stay long." She said, and used her corner sight to scan the room. She could easily have him killed since it was just them in the room, but how without alarming the men outside.

"That, is left for me to decide." He drawled. She raised her left brow, and he decided to stop there.

He didn't want to rile her up just yet. The request he was about to make was absurd, and he had to think of a way to make her accept.

Dranon got up and took a drink from the wine cabinet at his side. Walking back, he poured his favorite brand of red wine into a cup, and he sipped it, not bothering to pour one for her. She wouldn't take it anyway.

"I can get rid of you right now, make you pay for your attempt at taking my life." He began.

"I know that." She said quietly, albeit gritting her teeth.

"Yet you still came, why?" He asked curiously, scanning her face for a reaction.

"I had no choice. Get on with it already. What do you want? Or do I have to attempt my act again? Because, you are obviously a loan. I just need to right way." She asked, still being cautious of the room. He might have hidden some people or cameras.

"I want to make a deal with you." Dranon said finally, not minding what she was saying. Though he might be on the edge of a sharp knife, it only made everything a bit exciting. They will both die.

"A deal?" She asked and tilted her head slightly.

"Or a game, whatever you call it." He said.

"What game?" She asked, placing both hands on the desk.

Dranon realized it was going to be harder than he thought to say what he needed. Bracing himself with a thought that she would definitely either scream or insult him, he said;

"It's simple. For every night, same time you came yesterday, I want you to seduce me. We could live together during that period. It's for you to decide, though." He said and breathed, waiting for the scream or insult.

She did neither.

" Seduce you? " She repeated those words, looking confused. "I am no prostitute. And why should I seduce you?"

"Yet, you're the best at seducing. You almost had me wanting you last night." He said, unabashedly, but only he knew the truth. She DID have him wanting her, but, he was not about to say that to anyone.

"That is the most stupid thing I've ever heard, I don't accept your ridiculous offer. I clearly see what you take me for" She said, her voice slightly strained.

She brought out a pale knife and pointed it at him, as she was about to strike.

"Look!" He pointed so calmly.

"Shit." She exclaimed angrily.

"They are watching. Maybe. But the camera will record anyway. Remember, you've got no mask on. Kill me and die too because they won't rest until, you join too." He assured her. Seeing her weak, she had become, he smiled, "Are you in?" He asked again.

Dranon swallowed, 'please' he wanted desperately to say, but he would appear weak if he did.

"There's a prize." He uttered.