Chapter 5 Deadly Deal!

"Well, keep your word," Vincenzo chuckled, his voice dripping with arrogance, lips curling into a sly grin.

Seraphina let out a slow breath. Her shoulders relaxed, and she rose from the edge of the bench, trying to steady her nerves. She felt a little more at ease, unaware that the calm before the storm had just begun.

Vincenzo sprawled back onto the leather bench like a king expecting to be served. His bare back gleamed under the low, golden lights, a sheen of sweat tracing the lines of ink tattooed across his skin. She took a deep breath and reached for the oil bottle. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she masked them well.

As she pressed her palms into his muscles, her touch still cautious, he let out a low groan. "Mmm.... baby, that's so good. "You've learned so fast... yes right there" he said, turning his head slightly to flash a grin. His amber eyes gleamed with mischief.

Seraphina rolled her eyes, but a faint blush betrayed her. Still, she pressed harder on his back, earning another guttural sound from him.

"Ah! Are you trying to hurt me?" he teased, his voice deeper now. "Go ahead; press me as hard as you want... I don't mind pain when it's coming from you." He chuckled, low and shamelessly.

She looked away quickly, the corners of her lips twitching as she tried not to smile. 'Why is he always like this?'

"Why do you always behave so shamelessly?" she asked, narrowing her eyes, her voice dry but firm.

He turned his head slightly, his golden-brown eyes flicking to meet hers with a mischievous glint. "I don't know," Vincenzo said lazily, not bothering to hide the mischief in his voice. "When I want something, I take it by force, if necessary. But you..." he opened his eyes, turning slightly to look at her, "You make me want to tease and flirt. You make me feel things I haven't felt in years."

Her spine stiffened. That sudden confession wasn't something she expected from him, especially not in such a low, husky tone. She stared down at his broad back, her hands stilling mid-press. "So many things... like what?" she asked warily, her voice sharp with suspicion.

Vincenzo slowly pushed himself up and moved toward her, maintaining eye contact. The massage bench creaked softly as he sat, pulling her by the wrist until she stood between his legs. Her breath caught again.... His hands found their way to her waist, then trailed up to rest on her hips.

"I want to do everything a couple does with you." He whispered, his breath warm against her face, his eyes locked onto hers with dangerous intent. One hand lifted to her chin, tracing her lower lip with his thumb, and then his tongue brushed it lightly.

Seraphina's eyes widened in shock, and her heart raced wildly in her chest. "Si.... Sir.... I'm not that kind of girl," she stammered, stepping back, but he pulled her closer again, tightening his grip.

"Oh, come on," he whispered with a smirk, his voice soaked in desire. "You're enjoying it too, your body's trembling... but not out of fear. Trust me, I can feel it."

"No!" she said sharply, trying to push against his bare chest. "This is wrong! Let me go."

"It'll stay between us," he coaxed. "Just you and me Seraphina, I promise....you're going to enjoy this...."

"Enough!" she snapped, her voice cutting like glass. "You filthy bastard."

Vincenzo arched a brow, his smirk growing more amused than offended.

"I'm not asking you to do it for free," he said, his voice low and devilish. "I'll pay you. Whatever you want tonight, this moment... you just name your price..... Tell me whatever it is you want."

That was the final straw.

With a swift, sharp motion, Seraphina's palm cracked across his cheek. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.

SLAP!

Her hand smacked across his face, loud and sharp. The sound echoed through the walls.

Vincenzo's face turned with the blow. A red mark instantly formed on his cheek.

Seraphina's chest heaved with rage. Her eyes were blazing, her eyebrows furrowed in pure contempt. "What the hell do you think I am?" Seraphina's voice was venom. Her face burned with righteous fury, her lips curled with disgust, her eyebrows knotted into a tight scowl. "You think you can buy anything in this world with money?"

Her chest rose and fell with every breath, but her gaze didn't waver. Vincenzo slowly turned back to her, his expression unreadable.

"Vincenzo De Luca, listen. You may own this mansion, those guards, those cars outside....but you don't own me. I'm not one of your disposable girls. I belong to myself....and the man who loves me. Not to a soulless, arrogant devil like you. I don't belong to you get that straight into your head. You think you're scary? No, you're not because you don't scare me."

He was silent. Stunned. She could see the twitch in his jaw, the flicker of fury in his golden eyes. "Are you done? So you think you can just slap me and walk away?" he hissed.

Seraphina turned slowly, meeting his wrath with a cold, defiant glare. Her arms folded across her chest. "You deserved worse," she spat. "You think you can treat people like toys? Like they're disposable?"

"You forget where you are," he growled, stepping forward.

"No, Vincenzo De Luca. You forget who I am," she countered the attack with her chin raised high; her voice now sharp enough to cut steel. "I came here to work; I didn't sign up to be another name on your list of victims. Just take a look at yourself; you call yourself a boss, but you behave like a street pimp. Oh! What am I even saying you're not different from a curb crawler"

His breathing deepened, the rage threatening to boil over. But Seraphina didn't blink. "So keep your filthy money, your shameless proposals, and your twisted ego to yourself. I'm done. I resign with immediate effect."

She stepped back, yanked her jacket off the chair, and stormed out of the room, her heels clicking with purpose. Her hair whipped behind her, anger oozing from every movement.

Vincenzo stood frozen. His hand lifted to touch his cheek. The sting wasn't physical....it was pride, shattered. No woman had ever dared hit him. Not once.

His jaw clenched. The air around him thickened with silence.

"What the fuck? Wait....wait did she just call me a curb crawler? This place... this is my empire," he hissed to himself. "Who the fuck does she think she is?"

The devil within him awakened. That slap didn't just insult him; it burned into his skin like a brand.

His fury uncoiled like a beast as he shot up and stormed out, his bare feet pounding across the marble floor. Emma, standing outside the door, flinched as he brushed past her.

His eyes were wild, dilated, and burning with rage.

Emma was overjoyed to know the two were at loggerheads. She had pressed herself against the wall listening to their conversation. 'That bitch is dead today, it's obvious she doesn't know who exactly Vincenzo De Luca is. I need to add more fuel to flame his anger.' With that in mind, she quickly follows Vincenzo.

"Sir... please calm....."

"Shut up," he growled, not even sparing her a glance. "Get the hell out of my sight."

Emma backed off immediately, her heart hammering.

Vincenzo stormed down the corridor, every step louder than the last. His breath came in short, angry bursts. A vase crashed to the floor as he shoved a table in the hallway aside.

Seraphina reached her room seconds before he did. Her hands were shaky, her eyes wide but determined. She dragged her suitcase out from under the bed, threw open her closet, and began tossing her clothes into it.

Zip! Snap! Fling! She didn't even care if things got wrinkled, she just wanted to get out.

"I'm not staying here one more second," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling but strong. "He must have thought of himself as a god, he should fucking look for someone else to butter up his bad character."

She grabbed her charger, purse, and the few books she had. Her toothbrush was already in her bag.

"You think just because you're my boss, you get to control everything?" she whispered bitterly. "You bastard... absolute bastard," she didn't stop whispering into the empty room as she packed her things. "Devil, monster. Tyrant. Vincenzo, you arrogant prick. Trash, Just... filth. A demon in human skin. I should've never taken up this job..."