Callista's words hung in the air like a challenge. Her crimson eyes gleamed wickedly as she leaned back against the desk, her tone saccharine,
"I mean it's not that hard. All I want is you. Surely you can learn how to share Seraphina? After all, you already did before."
On the outside, Aric remained calm and collected (trying to),
''Just hold on for a second.'' as he writes down some 'plans'
But inside?
Inside Aric's mind, chaos erupted with mini Aric's running in flames in his head,
I'm gonna crash out Ivy! This bitch is insane, she's doubling down! he shouted internally, desperation clawing at his mental voice.
She can't seriously expect me to be hers.
[Oh, she absolutely expects it.] Ivy interrupted sharply,
[This is exactly what I warned you about. Callista doesn't just play, she will do everything and anything to win or destroy. Let me guide you since you suck at negotiation and you crashing out won't do anything good.]
Ivy crossed her arms, her amber eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
[Here are your three choices. Listen carefully, because this isn't just about saving face—it's about survival.]
[Plan A. Deny her outright. Politely but firmly reject her condition while emphasizing that business should remain separate from personal matters. Appeal to logic—remind her that signing the revised contract benefits both of you financially and strategically. If she refuses, threaten to walk away entirely and take your inventions elsewhere. This is basically your poker skills coming to life.]
Aric frowned, considering the implications.
But wouldn't that piss her off? Knowing her, she'd retaliate by exposing our debts to everyone, keeping her ownership and going after Seraphina.
[Exactly.] Ivy replied dryly. [Which brings us to Plan B.]
[Plan B. Offer a compromise. Agree to her terms—but only superficially. Promise her 'exclusive access' to you under specific conditions, such as private meetings or dinners, without actually following through. Use vague language in the contract to ensure nothing is legally binding. Essentially, buy yourself time to find another way out before she realizes you've tricked her.]
Aric raised an eyebrow skeptically.
That sounds… risky. What happens when she figures out I'm stalling?
Ivy countered confidently, [By then, you'll have already secured enough leverage to neutralize her completely. Remember, Administrator—you're dealing with a monster. Sometimes, fighting fire with fire is the only way to survive.]
[And finally, Plan C. Whip out that ridiculous vibrator you are so obsessed and offer it as part of the deal. Frame it as a device of unparalleled pleasure designed specifically for someone of her… refined tastes. No man or woman can compete. It'll distract her long enough for you to renegotiate the terms back to Plan A or Plan B.]
Aric stared at her blankly, You're joking, right? All the options sucks right now!
Hey, don't knock it until you try it. Ivy shot back defensively.
As Ivy concluded her analysis, Aric took a deep breath while writing all the plans down while forcing himself to relax despite the tension crackling in the room. Seraphina's shadow tendrils writhed violently beside him, her fury palpable as she glared daggers at Callista.
Meanwhile, Callista watched him intently, her lips curling into a smug smile as though she already knew she'd won.
Aric muttered internally, weighing each option carefully.
Plan B is basically suicide—Seraphina will kill me in my sleep, dammit.
Aric clenched his jaw tightly, his mind racing as he weighed the risks and rewards.
Plan A... cleanest, safest, professional. But if she doesn't budge, it'll tank everything. She'll drag my name through the dirt and take Seraphina down with me. She wants the power imbalance back. That's the entire game here.
Plan B? Ivy's right—it's the smartest on paper. Play along, give her honeyed promises, delay her while we build leverage. But who am I kidding?
Seraphina would castrate me before Callista even send her first dinner invite. Callista eats lies like candy, she'd see through it in seconds and Seraphina will finally have a reason to kill me.
He glanced between Seraphina and Callista, both women radiating danger in their own ways. One was ready to tear him apart emotionally—or physically—for even entertaining such an offer. The other would devour him whole if given half a chance.
She made Vayne her toy. She used his body, his obedience, and humiliated him and Seraphina over and over for her own gain. Aric told as he recalled the videos he watched with Ivy to understand Callista's nature
If she wants control, I'll need to feed her the illusion of it. But I need to make her the one exposed, overstimulated, degraded in front of everyone in the end.
I'll force her to sign everything away in the chaos. Just like she did to him. She'll get a taste of her own medicine—with interest.
Aric lifted his head slowly, glancing down at the 'plans' he'd scribbled out.
"Lady Callista. Before I agree with your terms, I have a question." Aric began aloud,
"Do you enjoy having an audience while you're…fucking? You know, the small details."
Evelyn gasped audibly with a facepalm and Penelope flinched visibly, clutching her satchels tighter as though bracing for chaos.
And Seraphina? Her reaction was instantaneous—and explosive.
Her shadow tendrils surged forward, wrapping around Aric's throat before he could blink. She yanked him off his feet, slamming him against the nearest wall with brutal force. His air supply cut off instantly, his hands clawing desperately at the tendrils choking him.
Seraphina snarled, her voice low and venomous.
"You DARE ask that in front of me? Are you seriously entertaining the idea Vayne? I thought you changed!"
Aric wheezed, struggling to breathe as he croaked out a desperate plea.
"W-Wait! Please… calm down. You can skin me alive later—I swear! Just… hear me out!"
For a moment, it seemed like Seraphina might ignore his words entirely. But then, slowly, reluctantly, she loosened her grip just enough for him to speak.
Gasping for breath, Aric steadied himself, meeting Callista's amused gaze head-on. Despite the bruises forming on his neck, he forced a smirk onto his face as he put on Vayne's persona.
"I won't offer myself to you, Callista." he said with arrogance.
"But I can give you unparalleled pleasure. Something no man—or woman—has ever experienced before.''
''All I need is for you to do is spread your legs for me here. Right infront of everyone."
The room went deathly silent. Penelope looked away uncomfortably, while Evelyn's expression darkened further.
Seraphina, however, snapped completely.
Her shadow tendrils coiling tightly around his throat once more. This time, she didn't stop until his face turned red, his struggles growing weaker by the second.
Okay maybe I should've worded that better. I just wanted to get revenge on her! Aric told to himself as his vision started to darken.
"You pathetic excuse for a husband!" she spat venomously, leaning close enough for him to feel her hot breath on his skin.
"Are you TRYING to make a fool out of me? Do you have any idea what happens next if you keep pushing me?"
Aric choked out a response, his voice strained and barely audible.
"I-I'm n-not offering m-myself to her… w-wife. P-Please… listen to me…"
His words trailed off as black spots danced across his vision. Desperation fueled his final attempt to explain.
"If I d-don't do this, sh-she'll always h-haunt us. I'm trying to show her th-that there's something even she c-can't resist…"
I'm....gon..na...die!
Whether it was his sincerity or sheer stupidity, something in his plea finally broke through Seraphina's rage. Slowly, reluctantly, she released him, letting him collapse onto the floor in a heap.
I don't know what is your plan Vayne but heavens above you better have something remotely smart otherwise I'll skin you after this.
"I don't care." she hissed coldly, stepping back.
"Whatever you do next, know this—I will kill you afterward."
Aric coughed violently, clutching his throat as he crawled upright. Using Creation Magic, he healed the bruising just enough to regain his composure. Standing tall again with sore throat, he conjured the vibrator—gleaming, sleek, and undeniably provocative.
"Let's make a deal since my wife here will kill me either way."
Callista raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself.
"If this toy here can make you experience an orgasm so fast, something no man or woman ever could—then you'll sign the deal with all my terms. Full rights relinquished. Ownership revoked. Everything. But if I fail to do so…"
"…I'll sign my life away. Be your pet. Your property. Assuming I don't die after this of course."
Of course, I'm not gonna play fair. You didn't either. I'm enchanting this vibrator.
Callista tilted her head slightly,
"And if I don't want to agree?" she asked sweetly. "What if I just say no?"
Aric didn't flinch. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two dwarven notes from Prince Thorin.
He dropped them on the table.
"Then not only will you never get access to my technologies, my materials or any blueprints ever…"
He leaned in closer, voice dropping into something darker,
"I'll pay off every last debt today and then? I'll come after you."
"Well—assuming I survive the night." he added with a wry glance at Seraphina, who was still glaring daggers at him, her hands twitching as though resisting the urge to strangle him again.
"But even if I die, my wife won't stop. She'll burn your entire estate down and salt the ashes."
Callista's smile didn't waver, but her fingers twitched slightly against the armrest.
"So let's make this crystal clear." Aric continued now as he gestured to the vibrator in his hand, then pointed at the contract beside it.
"You're the one who demanded the terms that included power, control, humiliation all in the form of ownership over me. You owned me like a toy before and made me sign documents while overstimulated and humiliated in front of your guests."
"Well, Callista, if you want to own me again then you have to play by your own rules this time. You want dominance over me? Then spread it. Right here, in front of everyone."
He walked forward, slowly placing the vibrator beside the contract.
"And there's something in it for you of course. If you don't cum, you humiliate me. You prove my invention is useless. That I'm a failure. That I deserve nothing but to crawl back to you, collar on, leash tight."
"So, what do you say?" as Aric sat down on the desk with his legs cross and has the look of the devil himself.
Come on, I know you feel challenged now. You the control freak can't ever let the pet win right?