Tempting Fate
Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Reed

It surprised Emy with what Reed had told her. She immediately distances herself from the man. It suddenly confused her with what she had heard. No one knows that secret but her and whoever granted her request.

Reed noticed Emy’s reaction. “You are cute every time you show a reaction. I like it.” Reed said, smiling.

“What do you know about my wish? How did you know that?” Emy asked.

Reed caressed his chin as he smiled, looking at Emy. “How? Because I fulfilled your wish.”

“Impossible,” said Emy.

“Why is it impossible? You suddenly screamed at that smelly bridge. Crying. Do you want me to say exactly what you said that night?” said Reed. “Whoever hears me, I will trade myself for anything. Just get me out of this cursed life!”

Emy’s eyes broadened. That’s exactly what she said. “Impossible. There was no one else on the bridge that night. I am the only person there.”

.....

“But I am there. I am actually beside you that night, watching you weep,” said Reed. He stepped closer to Emy, but Emy stepped back. “Anyway, I am not human. No human can grant your wish instantly.”

“T-then, what are you? Genie? Fairy? Elf?” Emy asked. She was stunned to feel the wall behind her. There is no place for her to go. Reed cornered her.

Reed stopped walking, placed one hand on the wall next to Emy’s head, and smiled.

“I’m a demon,” Reed said.

“You’re a what?” Emy asked in shock. She looked at the man’s face and his entire body. ‘Is he crazy? He doesn’t look demon to me.’ Emy thought.

Reed chuckled as he read Emy’s mind. “If you didn’t know, we have a magically binding contract,” Reed said.

“A contract?” Emy asked.

“Yes, it’s our deal. And you know what? I can’t wait for the price,” said Reed.

Emy swallowed. “If it were a deal, I would have signed nothing. That could be invalid,” said Emy.

Reed laughed. “The moment you accept the roses I give you, you already bind a contract with me. And I am here to take the price you offered me. ”

Emy became restless when Reed’s handsome face was too close to hers. As their eyes met, he slowly brought his face closer to hers and planned to kiss her. Emy pushed Reed slightly away from her.

“I do not believe you,” said Emy. “What proof do you have that you gave the fulfillment of my wishes?”

Reed smiled. “You lost your job, your father imprisoned, and you shouted at the bridge. It all happened in just one day. Do you know how painful my ear was when you screamed that night? And think about it. I know you notice that after the chilly feeling I give you, you know something has happened. ”

Emy thought, and she remembered everything. First was in the office, where the enforcer temporarily took her because of jaywalking. She first felt the chilly feeling there.

‘That’s impossible. I screamed on the same day, but it was nighttime. The officer caught me early in the morning.’ Emy thought.

She also remembered the BPO company where Miss Joy interviewed her.

“And Joy called her friend, the manager here, to hire you for a job you didn’t apply for,” said Reed.

‘Miss Joy?’ Emy thought.

“Do you remember outside the convenience store? I, myself, gave you a burger and soda. Remember?” Reed asked. “You also collide with me the day after you make a wish. I even tap and caress your hair.”

‘Is he the man with the facemask? How did he know all of that?’ Emy thought.

“I know you remember everything. And to make your judgment easier.” Reed pulled out a red rose and handed it to her. “Every good thing that comes to you always receives red roses. Even earlier, I gave you three.”

“Oh, my god...” said Emy.

“Stop that word...” Reed said.

“Oh, my?” Emy asked.

“No, the other one. I had goosebumps every time I heard that word,” said Reed. “As a demon, I’m not used to hearing a word like that. It sounds creepy to me.”

“The word God?” said Emy. “How come it sounds creepy?”

It surprised Emy when she suddenly lay down on the model bed, and Reed was on top of her. He held her two hands, placed just above her head. She never expects him to be that fast.

“You are such a tease, Emy,” Reed said with a smile. “I told you not to say that word, but you still say it out loud.”

“What will you do to me? Will you kill me?” Emy said as her eyes broadened.

Reed smiled mischievously. “Yeah, you will die in pleasure. You will die screaming my name and...” Reed brought his face closer to Emy’s ear, then whispered. “Ask for more.”

Emy suddenly blushed. “Y-you want my body for the price?” Emy asked.

“Not just your body, all of you, of course. You offer yourself, so who am I to refuse?” Reed said with a grin.

It startled Emy as he lowered his lips on her neck to her ear and slightly bit her earlobe.

“Can we do it now?” Reed whispered.

That was new to her. Emy couldn’t help but moan. It was her first time feeling that thrill as if it excited her that something will go to happen.

Reed smiled as he noticed Emy’s reaction. ‘She’s confused now. Damn, I can smell her excitement. It makes me excited too.’ Reed thought.

Reed left Emy’s top and held Emy’s hand to help her stand up. “I want you and your family to live in my house so I can watch over you,” Reed said with a serious reaction.

“What?” Emy asked in shock.

Reed frowned at Emy’s reaction. “You are mine now, Emy. You have no right to refuse,” said Reed. “And besides, you can’t do anything. I can bring you to my house without your permission anymore.”

“But how can I tell my father about that? He knows nothing about the wish.” Emy said. “And you’re a demon. How can I trust you?”

Reed placed his hand on Emy’s head and caressed her hair. “If you didn’t comply with our deal, you or one of your family will pay the price.”

Emy suddenly got nervous. “D-don’t lay fingers on my family. It’s me who has an agreement with you, not them.”

Reed smiled. “I know that’s why I am asking you politely.” Reed turned his back on Emy and vanished.

“Shit, he vanishes from the air. How can he do that? Is he truly a demon?” Emy said as her hand covered her mouth.

Emy was restless all day after she met Reed. She doesn’t know how she will explain to her father that they are moving tomorrow morning. She didn’t know what to say if her father asked about him. Emy’s companions noticed her being agitated. She disappointed the manager because she couldn’t keep Reed in the unit but made up for the other customers. Emy could sell three units that day. While preparing to go home, she saw four roses in her bag. That was the three earlier, and the one Reed had given her personally.

She bit her lower lip, remembering what Reed had done to her. ‘If he’s a demon, how come he has a handsome face?’ Emy thought.

Emy held her neck and remembered how Reed’s lips had passed there until he reached her ear and bit her earlobe. Emy suddenly felt she was blushing, just imagining what he did to her.

“Let’s go, Emy.”

It startled Emy when the other agents called her. She smiled. “Okay.” She removed her hand from her neck.

Emy didn’t know that Reed was watching her at that moment. He smiled to see Emy’s reaction as she caressed her neck.