Chapter 5 Selling my Soul to the man I had a one-night stand with

Megan's point of view

I was annoyed. No, I was burning in rage. The way he walked into my home like he belonged there, like I was the intruder and not him, made my blood boil.

My fingers curled into a fist with the urge to tear him apart, taking the better part of me, to demand that he leave and never show his face again.

But instead, I froze. Fear settled in my bones, cold and making my bones stuck to the ground. How did he have this power over me just by stepping into my space? My room.

I hated how weak I felt. His piercing eyes locked deep into mine, stripping me bare under his gaze, taking every detail of my body as his eyes roamed around my body.

It was supposed to mean nothing, just a mistake, a night I could forget, a happy memory to keep.

But the weight of it sat heavy in my chest, making it hard to breathe. My body was shaky, not just from the cold, but from the way he stood so close, his dominance wrapping around me.

I should have stepped back, pushed him away, said something, anything.

But I couldn't move. My hands curled into fists, nails pressing into my skin, but the sting did nothing to take me out of it.

His eyes were on me, steady and cold without any expression, and my body reacted before my mind could catch up.

A shiver ran through me, deep and I didn't have control over it, I felt something inside me was breaking apart.

The child was mine. Not his. He had no claim over me or my future. And here he was, standing there, I felt like I was losing control. Like my pain was coming in different forms refusing to let me know peace.

I needed to clear my head, I wanted to talk to someone, so I headed to work, slipping into the familiar routine of bartending.

The soft clink of ice hitting against glass, the loud chattering of conversations, and the warm flicker of the dim lights wrapped around my body.

Anabel was already behind the bar, moving with a smile on her face as she poured drinks and chatted with customers.

Her presence made me release my breath.

I didn't know I was holding one of the few things in my life that hadn't changed.

She looked up as I walked closer to her, her sharp eyes reading something in my expression.

"Rough night?" she asked, sliding a freshly poured drink toward a waiting patron.

I heaved, raising my shoulders, holding the edge of the counter as I took a slow breath. Anabel was the only person I could talk to, the only one who might understand.

I rested waiting for my shift workload to reduce, then I had a moment to be alone with Anabel, I moved my body closer , my mouth in her ears, and my voice low. "He just walked in. Like he still had a right to be there."

Her hands froze mid-wipe on the counter, her eyes narrowing. "Wait...you're serious? He just let himself in?"

I loosened my neck, giving out a nod, my fingers curled tightening around a bar towel. "Like nothing had changed. Like I was still his."

Anabel's jaw clenched. "That's not okay. You need to call the police."

I shook my head quickly. "It's not that simple."

Her eyes searched mine, anger boiling within her, flickering on her face. "What's not simple about it? He can't just show up and act like he owns the place."

I swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. "I just... I don't want to make it a bigger deal than it is."

Anabel's face folded, her brows raised lifting only her third eyes. "It already is a big deal. And if you don't do something about it, he's going to think he can keep getting away with it."

"I'm scared," I lied.

She sighed, reaching for my hand. "Then stay calm, Megan. He just wants to ruin your life. Don't let him. Everything will be fine."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But nothing about this situation felt fine.

I wiped my palms which were stained with alcohol against my apron before stepping into my boss' office.

The small room smelled like stale whiskey and leather, the sound of the bar just a quiet echo stopping at the closed door.

Rick raised his head up from his paperwork, his sharp eyes flicking over me. "What's up? You don't look so good."

I forced a tired smile. "I need to cut my shift short tonight."

He rested his back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Not like you to go early. Everything okay?"

I took a deep breath playing with my fingers, the weight of the night pressing against my chest. "Just exhausted," I said after a short silence. "Didn't sleep much, and my head's aching, I need to rest."

Rick's eyes studied me for a short while, then he exhaled through his nose. "You're one of my best, you know that? But if you need time, take it. Just don't make a habit of this."

I felt relief surge through the tight knot in my stomach. "Thanks, Rick. I'll make it up to the next shift."

He waved a hand urging me to leave, he was busy. "Go home. Get some rest."

I nodded and walked out, untying my apron as I made my way outside. The cool night air hit me , but it did little to clear my mind.

Sliding into the backseat of a taxi, I allowed myself to relax, my head sinking against the plush material.

The city lights blurred past the window, my thoughts tangled in a mess of fear of Alexander, and how to resolve the issue while not being with him.

I had a plan. I was going to the police station. I was taking back control of my life.

Then I noticed the driver. He was wearing a suit. It was strange, but not impossible. Maybe he had just finished another job. I brushed the thought aside. We need more than one job to survive though.

Until the car took a wrong turn.

"Hey," I called out, sitting up. "You're going the wrong way."

The driver didn't respond. Instead, he reached into his coat, pulling out a gun and stretching his hands at me. My heart stopped.

"Stay calm," he ordered. "Or I pull the trigger."

My teeth clattered from the fear, my bones trembling.

Sweat beads formed on my forehead, and I wiped it away with shaky fingers. I forced myself to keep my mouth shut, biting my lip so hard I tasted my blood.

The car slowed, then stopped. The back door opened, and another figure stepped inside. I turned my head just enough to see him.

Alexander.

My breath got caught in my throat.

His lips curled into a smirk, his voice deep. "That was a stupid move, Megan. Thinking you could just go and report me?" He leaned in closer, his domineer suffocating. "I own this city. Every cop, every official, you think they'd help you?"

I wanted to argue, to fight, but my tongue got tied.

He let out a small laugh. "You're just making this harder on yourself."

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered.

He leaned back, stretching out like he had all the time in the world. "Because I don't like imperfections."

I swallowed hard. "I'm not perfect but that doesn't make me perfect."

He tilted his head, his brow raised, shock flashing in his eyes. "Aren't you imperfect?"

I wanted to scream, to lash out, but then he said something that made my blood turn to ice.

"The clock has stopped ticking, Megan."

The words hit me hard on my skin.

"You have two choices," he continued with ease. "Willingly come with me to meet my parents or... well, you won't like the alternative."

I stiffened. "You can't force me."

He laughed, a low, cold sound. "Oh, sweetheart, age doesn't give you a choice." He pulled out a document and dropped it onto my lap. "Sign it."

My hands became shaky as I looked at it. My breath cut in my lungs. A marriage contract.

"No."

His smile didn't disappear "Just a reminder, the driver? My best hitman. And I won't mind giving you a bullet."

My throat felt dry.

"It's simple," he said. "Either I lose both you and the baby, or just you. And to be honest, I only need the baby."

My stomach twisted. There it was. The real reason he was doing this. He knew. He knew I was pregnant.

Tears burned my eyes, my nails digging into my palms. I had spent days convincing myself that I was strong enough to handle this alone. But now? The reality was suffocating.

There was no escape. Not when his blood ran in my child's veins.

I had no choice. With shaking hands, I picked up the pen and signed the document.

The moment my name was on the paper, Alexander's face had a grin, taking the contract like it was a prize he had just won. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my skin.

"Good girl," he murmured.

A single tear slipped down my cheek.

I had just sold my soul to the devil, to a man I had a one night stand with.