DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

My hand trembled as I stared at my reflection in the dressing room mirror of the hotel where my wedding was about to take place. My heart raced, no pounding in my chest. Today, I was marrying Xavier Adonis, the most feared man in the hotel business, all to save the company my mother had worked so hard to build because it was going bankrupt.

I didn't love him, didn't even like him, but I had no choice in the matter. My gaze fell on the handmade wedding gown—a long-sleeved white dress with a V-shaped back, delicate lace trimmings, and a fitted bodice. It hugged my figure perfectly. It was beautiful, yet the thought of walking down the aisle in it made me want to vomit.

My hair was elegantly styled in a bridal bun, adorned with artificial flowers and accessories. The makeup artists Xavier had hired had kept complimenting how my natural beauty enhanced her work, but I couldn't care less about her flattery. Compliments meant nothing to me in that moment. All I wanted was to run away and never look back.

If my mother were alive, she would never have allowed this. She would have found some way to save the company and would never have let me marry someone I didn't know or love.

"She always said, 'There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.' It was one of her favourite quotes from Martin Luther," I mused silently. To me, a good marriage needed love or at least some affection, but all I felt was resentment toward Xavier Adonis.

He was a selfish, egotistical man who cared only for himself. What hurt the most was that the people I needed for support were absent. Samson, my best friend, hadn't even shown up at the engagement party, and I hadn't heard from him since our fight. I couldn't invite anyone from the foundation because it would raise suspicions, and my father would start asking questions I couldn't answer.

The only ones here who supported me were Michael and his friends. At the engagement party, Michael had comforted me after I saw Xavier kiss Arianna. Even though I'd caught Xavier cheating twice, I still couldn't say no at the altar or end this charade of a marriage.

"Please excuse me," I said suddenly, and everyone in the room stared at me in confusion. "All of you, get out," I repeated, raising my voice slightly. They scrambled out, leaving me alone with my raging thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, I stared at the wall in front of me. Once I got married, what would happen to me? Would I be tossed aside while he kept sleeping around? Would I become like my mother, waiting every night for my father to come home, only to find him reeking of perfume, drunk, and high? Would Xavier hurt me like my father hurt my mother?

A knock on the door startled me, pulling me out of my internal battle. "Nora," a very familiar voice called out. The door opened, and Michael walked in. He was dressed in a sleek black suit with a crisp white bow tie, his hair neatly gelled back. He looked incredibly handsome.

"Are you alright?" Michael asked, his voice filled with concern as he approached me and took a seat beside me.

"I can't breathe, Michael. My heart is pounding like it's going to jump out of my chest," I confessed, feeling his reassuring presence start to calm me down.

"I hate seeing you like this," Michael murmured, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace. "I wish I could whisk you away from all of this. That guy out there? He doesn't deserve you, Nora. No one does. Because they will never be able to be good enough for you."

His embrace tightened, offering me a sense of security that I desperately needed. His words, though simple, resonated deep within me, stirring emotions that were a mix of fear and gratitude. It was reassuring to have someone who cared so deeply, someone who saw beyond the chaos and uncertainty of the moment.

"I wish I could take away all your pain," he continued softly, his voice sincere. "But for now, let me hold you. Let me remind you that you're not alone in this."

"What am I supposed to do, Michael?" I whispered, feeling utterly lost. "I can't even imagine walking down that aisle without stumbling all over myself. And everyone thinks this is real. I feel like such a fraud, Michael. Like I'm deceiving everyone."

"Don't blame yourself, Nora," Michael insisted firmly yet gently, withdrawing slightly to meet my gaze. He caressed the back of my hand, a gesture that helped me calm my raging emotions. "None of this is your fault. It's all because of that deal Adam made with Xavier Adonis."

My fear seeped into my words as I voiced my darkest worry. "But what if I mess everything up and we lose the company?"

"You won't ruin anything, Nora," Michael reassured me, his voice tinged with frustration as he looked at me with a determined yet pained expression. "I'm working behind the scenes to save the company. You won't have to be stuck with that jerk for long. Just give me a little time, and I'll find a way out of this marriage for you."

"Adam said he wouldn't bother to walk me down the aisle because I wasn't worth his time," I admitted bitterly, a sardonic laugh escaping my lips.

Michael's eyes softened, and he reached out to hold my hand, comforting me with his touch. "You don't need him, Nora. You have me. I'll proudly walk you down that aisle. It would be my honour because I definitely won't be doing it for Beatrice on her wedding day," he teased, bringing a genuine smile to my face.

"You're something else, Michael," I chuckled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders momentarily.

"That's the smile I've been wanting to see all morning, Nora," Michael said warmly. "You're going to walk down that aisle without a trace of fear, and I'll be right there beside you."

"The makeup artist is going to kill you for ruining my makeup," I joked half-heartedly, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

Michael chuckled softly, his smile genuine despite the seriousness of our situation. "Let them. You don't need it anyway. You're stunning just as you are," he reassured me, pulling me into one last comforting hug.

A sudden knock on the door broke the moment. Startled, we turned towards the sound, our hearts skipping a beat. The door swung open, revealing Xavier. His presence radiated anger that filled the room. For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his face, but it quickly gave way to a fierce glare aimed directly at me.

"Why is he here? He should be waiting at the altar," I muttered under my breath, instinctively stepping back as Xavier strode toward me with purpose. Michael moved to stand between us, his stance protective.

"I suggest you back off from my sister before I make you," Michael growled, his voice low and threatening.

"I can do whatever I want. She's going to be my wife," Xavier shouted angrily, making me flinch. His rage was palpable, and I feared what might happen next. He looked ready to explode.

"Michael, please go. I can handle this," I pleaded, feeling torn.

"Not a chance. I'm not leaving you alone with him," Michael insisted firmly, his eyes locked on Xavier.

"Michael, please. Let's not cause a scene. Just wait by the door," I urged, seeing his hesitation.

"If you hurt her, I'll end you. Forget the damn deal with my father. She's more important," Michael warned fiercely, his protective words warming my heart. Despite the pain he had caused me in the past, he was trying hard to make things right between us, and I appreciated it more than words could express.

"Go, Michael," I said softly, reassuring him. Reluctantly, he nodded and left, his gaze lingering with concern as he closed the door behind him.

Alone now with Xavier, I turned to face his furious expression, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Why are you here, and not at the altar, Mr. Adonis?"

When Michael finally left the room, my gaze moved back to Nora. She looked unhinged, her makeup smeared slightly, but she put on a cold façade. Who was she fooling? I could read her like a book and had seen better poker faces than the one she wore now.

When she didn't arrive at the altar, I thought she had jilted me, which made me furious. But here she was, hiding out in her dressing room in her robe. She was fidgeting with the hem nervously when I decided to break the silence.

"You asked me why I was here," I growled, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as I stared her down. "But shouldn't I be asking you that, Nora? What are you still doing in the dressing room? We're all waiting at the church. Are you trying to humiliate me?" My frustration boiled over, eyes narrowing as I struggled to keep my cool.

"You don't get to yell at me, Mr. Adonis. I have every right to be nervous—it's my wedding, after all," Nora retorted, her voice dripping w