Page 25 of Promise of Destruction (Destruction & Vengeance Duet #1)

twenty-five

Soren

The accusation has just left my mouth when there’s a quick rap on the door that makes me jump.

When I do, it nearly sends me careening across the desk, right into him.

I catch myself moments before our lips would have touched, but the near-miss is enough to rattle me.

I straighten, pressing the backs of my hands into my blazing hot cheeks, hoping they’ll help chase the blush from my skin.

“Am I… interrupting something?” The woman at the door looks almost amused as her eyes flicker from me to Declan and back. She presses her lips together, but it doesn’t erase the curve of her lips.

From the outside, it probably looks like we were just flirting.

God, I hope my colleagues don’t think I’m flirting with the boss after a day of working for him.

“Not at all, Misha. Please, come in.” Declan gestures for her to join us in the office, and she obliges with a few careful strides of her patent heels. They shine in the fluorescent lights, and I recognize an alligator print.

How retro.

Misha shifts the manila envelope clutched against her chest and holds it out to Declan, who takes it with a friendly-enough nod and removes a stack of papers. He surveys them for half a second before dropping them on the desk in front of me.

“Your contract.” He explains. “I’ll give you a moment to go over it.”

The nervous sensation I know to associate with an impending anxiety attack explodes over my flesh, like spiders scurrying over my skin.

I manage to suppress a shudder, but I can’t quell the pit of despair in my stomach as I reach for the stack.

How nice of him to offer me a moment to review a contract I’ll be signing.

When I lift the stack, it’s not quite as thick as I expected. In fact, the top sheet which says CONTRACT FOR WORK PERFORMED ON BEHALF OF EVERGREEN INDUSTRIES, isn’t even a full page of text. I lift it up and flip it over, but the back is blank. And the page after…

“A non-disclosure agreement?” I blink up at him and then turn toward Misha, wondering why she’s even still here.

“NDA’s are fairly typical in my line of work.

The job comes with a fancy title, but you’ll be the equivalent of my assistant here.

You’ll be handling a lot of sensitive data and find yourself with access to privileged information.

The things you’ll see while you work alongside me are simply not fit for discussion with people who don’t work for this company.

I also can’t risk you spilling company secrets to our competitors in the event of any… grievances.”

I stare him directly in the eye. His face doesn’t waver. I don’t know if I should be impressed that he manages not to grin as he puts me in check or if I should be annoyed that he thought of this.

Misha clears her throat, smiling when I glance up in her direction. I flip back to the contract and read the single paragraph printed there.

I, Soren Palmer, hereby agree to provide personal assistant services to Declan Evers as a contractor of Evergreen Industries.

I recognize the challenges of my position and declare that I will fulfill my duties to the full extent that I can.

As part of my responsibilities, I hereby declare that I will satisfy all reasonable work-related requests on behalf of Declan Evers.

There’s a couple of blank lines for me to sign and date, but I’m more focused on the information below it.

The agreed upon sum of five hundred thousand dollars will be paid in twelve monthly installments of $41,666 dollars deposited directly into an account of Soren Palmer’s choosing on the first of every month.

Initial deposit of $10,000 US dollars will be deposited upon receipt of this contract, with a holiday bonus to be paid out in November, with the amount to be determined upon merit in the months of work ahead of accrual.

Health insurance at no cost to the signee will begin 30 days from date of contract.

This contract will be deemed null and void one year from its inception, wherein all concerned parties will be required to re-negotiate their terms.

My breath has caught in my throat, and new air seems to be incapable of moving past it. I don’t know if this is a joke or a dream, or if he’s just trying to buy my compliance for the next year, damn the cost.

He offered me an insane salary—one that is too good to be true on its own.

He didn’t say anything about benefits or even tell me how the payments would be divided.

I’d assumed that the number on paper was just that, and while I figured it came with some strings attached, there’s no denying that this isn’t the sort of offer you can walk away from.

I finally swallow and look up at Declan to see him watching me coolly, hands in his pockets as though he’s simply waiting for me to review an article he’d worked on. “Did you read this contract?”

He laughs, a deep, smoky sound that I want to deny has any effect on me, but it does. It chases something over me that I haven’t felt in years.

I don’t even know what to call it— some sort of dark thrill. “I wrote it.”

My gaze flickers to the terms of the contract. I hereby declare that I will satisfy all reasonable work-related requests on behalf of Declan Evers.

He’s a clear sociopath, but is the language of the contract intentionally ambiguous?

‘Work-related requests’ makes me feel better than if it just said I hereby agree to be Declan’s bitch for the next year, but what does he consider reasonable?

And should I be alarmed that he took out a life insurance policy for me?

Not to mention, the NDA. I left things with Marissa and Khan in an awkward spot the other day, but I can’t imagine not being able to vent to them when I’m overwhelmed.

Declan smiles at Misha, thanks her for her patience.

It reminds me that she’s here and we’re not alone.

Part of me wants to ask for her to step out so we can discuss the non-existent fine print.

I’m not comfortable asking him the things I want to know; There’s not a chance in hell that I’m doing it in front of her.

But there’s one thing I can ask in her presence.

“If I break the contract,” I clear my throat, wanting to rid the weakness I hear in my voice. “If I’m unable to serve out the full contract, what happens?”

“Nothing.” Declan shrugs, gesturing at the stack of papers.

“There’s no recourse if you decide that the position isn’t for you.

The contract is pretty black and white. You keep what you earn, so if you decide after two months this isn’t fitting your needs, you’d be within your rights to take those two months of pay and step down.

If you should leave in the middle of the month, your paycheck will be pro-rated.

Of course, any insurance would be terminated with the contract.

” He turns to Misha, as if he’s expecting her to remind him of anything he’s forgetting.

“And, of course, you don’t get paid at all unless you complete your first month. ”

My stomach drops at the mention. I imagine him hazing me for the next month, making every moment of my life in this office miserable so that he won’t have to pay out.

But even if I only make it one month, I can pay off the credit cards I used to finance Vin’s funeral and headstone.

If I make it four months, I can pay off my car, too.

And if I make it six months, I can pay off the balance of my mortgage.

I’d own everything free and clear; I could stay in the home I made with my husband.

There’s a small voice in my head telling me not to do it, to rip the paper down the middle and run as far and as fast as I can. But I can’t, because Declan has me in a chokehold and he knows it.

To him, this sum of money means nothing.

To me, it means everything.

And it’s not just the money. Being at Declan Evers’ side for a whole year will bring me as close to him as I’ll ever get.

If there’s any information to be had about his involvement in my husband’s murder, this is the best chance I’ll ever have of obtaining it.

An NDA means no more articles slandering him, but it won’t exempt him from a crime when I prove his guilt.

He breaks the silence by clearing his throat and I look up to see him offering me a gold fountain pen.

There’s just the barest hint of a smile on his obnoxious full lips, but it’s enough to bring his dimple out.

Combined with the lock of dark hair falling in his eyes like it broke free from his swept back style, it makes him appear maddeningly sexy.

It shouldn’t be possible for someone so foul to look so appealing, but I guess nature has to weed out the weak somehow.

Declan is a predator with the perfect camouflage. Beauty, power, and wealth all create immaculate armor, drawing people into his trap.

And here I go, offering myself up as prey.