Chapter 56 - Neither Friend Or Foe

"So, this is how it feels like to be the CEO of a large and successful company? It feels like I'm on top of the world!"

The devil came to pay him a visit and he himself was happy. Watching him invade the privacy to his office without permission, his happy mood fell apart completely.

Who was it that Dane needed to fire?

The entire female population in Silver Linings?

If he tried, Leo could probably seduce a goat. Dane folded his arms across his chest and arched an eyebrow at him.

Leo nonchalantly sat in Dane's black chair with legs crossed and eyes glowing like the devil.

"Who let you in? Get out," came Dane's quick reply.

"I let myself in. After all, I've become rather well acquainted with the ladies of this company," he added with a knowing smile.

Dane immediately picked up the phone and tried to dial for someone but there was no ringtone. He turned and found Leo holding up the disconnected phone lines.

"What do you want? I thought I paid my dues already. I'm certain visiting your clients in person is not part of the deal we agreed on."

He opened his arms and moved with the rolling chair to hug Dane but he evaded it so Leo could hug air.

Don't be so cruel. I missed you."

"Like hell you missed me," Dane growled in annoyance. "What. Do. you. Want?"

He made sure to emphasize every word.

"I'm bored. You're one of my most interesting clients so I thought I'd drop in after hearing a funny rumor."

"I got married," Dane finished Leo's plaguing thoughts before he could even ask.

The devil only stared at him for what seemed like minutes. And then, he simply laughed. He laughed like a deranged mad man.

"Surely you jest?"

"I don't joke round, especially with the likes of you."

"...Who?"

"Why should I tell you? Besides, I know you love suspense and surprises. It's better I keep you in the dark."

Leo chuckled and the laugh sounded almost dark to his ears, as if the laugh were too genuine for his own good.

"You know me all too well."

The devil finally stood from Dane's chair and walked over to the glass window to peer out under at New Jersey's bustling city which looked like miniature ants. Dane moved over to sit in the chair so that he could start rifling over the documents.

"That's not the only reason I came. I found that man you've been looking for."

His heart almost stopped but his face never betrayed his emotions. He paused what he was doing and swirled around in his chair to face the devil.

"Enlighten me."

"Everything I do, comes with a price."

"I promised you everything I own after this is all over. Do you wish to have my soul too?"

"What about your...Wife?" he smiled and Dane felt an anger so horrid that it moved his body faster than he could think.

The moment Leo spoke of her, Dane had him pinned down against the glass window pane in seconds. His arm trapped Leo's neck so that he had trouble breathing. And still, the devil continued to smile even as he faced the beast. God, Dane wondered what if anything, could rattle this devil and leave him grovelling to repent for his sins.

"Don't you dare. If you touch her, I'll forsake everything and end you with my own hands."

"...Hah. Is that the one? The woman that you love?" a knowing smile crossed his features.

"No," Dane refused to admit no matter how much the universe willed it to be.

There was a mad deranged laugh that shook Leo's whole entire body. Then, his face turned starkly serious and devoid of that laughter.

"So she is. I've never seen you bare so many emotions. But what will you do, when you have conquered your demons and and lost all, riches and soul, again in the blink of an eye?"

Some part of him knew that the devil was right. He knew this happiness wouldn't last long and that beautiful lies they've built would later come crashing down to ugly truths. But he was selfish. He wanted to experience a life with her even if it was temporary. Then, he could let her go without regrets when she got rid of him.

"What you said...She's not something I own but her own person. She will never be mine. Not yours. No one's. We'll be divorced before you can lay your sinful hands on her."

"Ah~ What a tragic yet beautiful love story headed straight for ruin. I can't wait to see how the story will unfold."

Leo pushed Dane back so that he could escape his arm hold. He patted the area away that Dane touched and then reached into his suit pocket. A piece of paper emerged from his fingertips.

"Here you go, my friend. An eye for eye. A tooth for a tooth. When I ask for you after your complete ruin, you will do my bidding."

"Foe," Dane said, snatching the piece of paper. "We aren't friends."

"How rude. Though I do like it when you play hard to act like we're not friends."

"You're twisted. Unbearable. A walking devil without disguise. We could never be grouped as anything but foes working the same agenda."

"Heh. We're alike in many ways. Though you won't admit it, men like us can never have a chance at true happiness. In the end, we're doomed for the bad ending."

Leo's words struck him hard in the gut. They rang in his ears like bell chimes relentlessly repeating in his head. The devil dealt the final blow before making his way out the door.

"Did you hear? There was this rumor that the Elias Blackwell gifted a woman a glass rose from that auction. My sources told me this woman in particular disappeared that same night. Do let me know if you have any idea where she has gone. After all, it's one of my most recent clients that are on the lookout for this woman and I want to make sure he is well informed.

His back was toward Dane as he waved a hand farewell.

"See ya friend."

"Foe," Dane mumbled under his breath as the door shut behind the devil.

On this piece of paper, what was inside, would lead him one step closer to finding the ugly truth on what happened that fateful night. Dane's trembling fingers opened the small piece of paper and his eyes uncovered an address.

That man he spent three years looking for has finally emerged from the shadows.

Images of a future with his petite lynx and him began to slowly fade away as he considered his next move.