His Billion Dollar Contract

1. The Contract

CHAPTER 1 - THE CONTRACT

"Alright. I think I'm done here." Siara arranged all the papers in front of her and pass it to me. "It's your time to interview the subject, Alejus."

She stood up and fix her coat then she walks to her. May binulong siya dito and patted her shoulder. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay when she looked at me at mapang-asar na ngumiti sa akin tsaka umalis na. Damn. My sister is really annoying.

Inayos ko na ang sarili ko at kinuha ang papel na babasahin ko na ako din naman ang nag-prepare for my interview sa subject, but I didn't expect it was her, the subject.

I cleared my throat. A peaceful silence surrounds my office as she waits for my word. She just sits there while looking at me.

"Alright. These interview questions will be quick." I started.

But I need it long. Bakit ba kasi ang simple lang ng mga ginawa kong tanong? I wanted to know her more, if she's willing to work with me and cooperate with my experiments. But she shouldn't be here. She's really strange.

"I need you to answer honestly and be straightforward with me, do you understand?"

I again noticed that she swallowed and nodded at me but this time she speaks.

"Ye-yes."

I sigh. It's getting hot. Kasalanan kasi ni Siara ito. I told her that she's in charge with the interview pero anong ginawa niya, she left me intimidated with our subject. A beautiful subject.

"Hmmm-hmmm." I cleared my throat again.

Alejus, I need you to focus on the interview.

Shit. I feel like I'm drunk.

"So, what's your full name?" I started and came with my ballpen in my right hand as I ready to write her full name on a blank sheet of paper.

"Johanna Elano." She speaks.

I wrote it down on a paper.

Johanna Elano. Sounds great to me, huh.

"Do you have a middle name?"

I ask full name but she only said her last name. What do you mind?

"None. First name and last name only."

Wow, she's very straightforward.

"No mother?"

Tumigil muna siya bago sumagot.

"My mother raised me alone, so she put her last name to me."

"Okay, no father."

I wrote her details carefully.

"Any siblings you have?"

I looked at her again then back to the paper that I'm holding.

"Nothing."

"Your mother, is she..."

"She's gone." Mabilis niyang sagot.

She's all alone in her life. She got nothing to lose. This might work for me.

Tinignan ko ulit siya. She looks relaxed now and sitting in her most comfortable position.

"Alright." I cleared my throat. I scanned the questions. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Yeah, I'm hella high when I created these questions but indeed that question is necessary. We can't involve personal matters in the contract.

"None. I'm single."

That sounds so great.

Napangiti ako pero hindi ko pinahalata. Why would I smile in the middle of an interview?

"Alright. So why do you choose to work in this project? Do you have any idea about this private contract?"

I was waiting for her answer because it became silent again.

"I need money."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sagot niya.

Just for that money? Ano bang ginagawa niya sa buhay?

"So, you need money and... Are you aware that we forbid you to use mobile phones?"

"Yes,"

"Do you know what that means?"

"Of course, Sir. I uhmm… I can't use phones."

"And you know what it will be in you? You can't communicate inside my house using your phone."

"Sir, I'm aware. I have no family. No one to communicate with."

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa paper. She's aware of what she's been doing.

I moved on to the next question.

"Do you have any allergies? Phobia to injections?"

I look at her again and she shrugs.

"Wala,"

"Alright."

I wrote down 'no allergies'.

"Medical history like anemia, diabetes, serious medical conditions?"

"None, Sir."

"You can call me Alejus."

She nodded.

I don't like being called ‘Sir’. I have a name so I don't care if they're being respectful but I don't like calling me Sir.

"So, you're clean. Let's have a look."

I stood up. Kinuha ko ang flash light on my pocket at binuksan ito tsaka nilapitan ko siya. Tinitignan niya lang ako hanggang sa makalapit ako at kuhanin ang braso niya. I checked her smooth beautiful pale-white skin. Mas nilapit ko pa ang mukha ko nang i-check ko ang mga mata niya. I checked it and lit the flashlight to her eyes.

She's really healthy.

But wait...

"Any HIV or AIDS?"

Halatang nagulat siya sa tanong ko dahil napaatras siya bigla habang bumalik naman ako sa upuan ko at sinulat sa papel na wala nga siyang sakit at healthy siya. Hindi pa din siya sumagot sa akin so I throw her an intimidating look.

She gave me irritated look and began speaking.

"Do you think I have that kind of disease?"

"Do you mind me asking you that question again?" Pagmamatigas ko.

Medyo palaban din pala ang inosenteng mukha niya.

"Wala. I'm clean," she emphasis.

Good. She'll be good. But I don't trust her.

"Let's have some tests to prove that."

"Really?"

Natigil ako sa kasusulat ng detalye niya at tumingin ulit sa kanya.

"Of course. I don't trust words."

Hindi siya umimik kaya nagsulat na lang ako ulit.

"You need to answer these tests." Binigay ko naman ang mga analytical tests sa kanya pati na din ang iba pa.

She focused her attention to the papers and I gave her a ballpen 'cause she's waiting for it.

"I’ll give you fifteen minutes to answer that then we'll get you to the OB to test if you're really clean." I instructed.

She looked tense now at masama din ang tingin niya sa akin.

Napikon ba siya sa last question ko? That question is necessary when it comes to experiments. Hindi biro ang gagawin ko sa kanya so she has to be clean. She must be clean.

Habang hinihintay ko siyang matapos ay binasa ko na din ang personal details niya on her resumé. She's twenty-three, no siblings, no father, she got her first job as private escort when she was twenty-one.

What is private escort really?

"Johanna," I called.

She managed to look at me.

"What is private escort? What's this work?"

"Uhm..." Umayos siya ng upo pero hawak pa din ang ballpen for the tests. "Escorting businessmen in the event. Like... Like..."

"Stripper?" I ask.

Hindi siya sumagot sa akin pero parang ganon na ang ang ibig niyang sabihin.

She was a stripper? A high-class stripper. Pinaganda lang ang tawag.

Fuck it. I wonder how many guys or old men entered her. s**t!

She got many experiences to it. Kaya pala napikon siya nang tanungin ko kung may HIV or AIDS ba siya.

"Come on..."

Tumayo ako at mabilis na lumapit sa kanya tsaka hinila ko siya sa braso. Nagtataka siyang sumunod sa akin habang hila-hila ko ang braso niya.

"You shouldn't be here." I said.

"Wha... What is..." Nanginginig ang boses niyang hinarap ako nang makalabas kami sa office.

"You've got to be kidding me. What do you mean by that huh? Do you think I'm idiot to believe you?" Marahas kong binitawan ang braso niya na nagbakat pa ang pagkakahawak ko dito.

"What are you saying?"

"Do you think that I'm not using any tests for you? Johanna this won't work. Pwede ka nang umalis sa building at maghahanap na lang kami ng iba." Diretsahan kong sabi.

Hindi pwedeng madumi ang ilalagay kong subject sa contract. I need her to be clean and have years of trauma. I need to extract her emotions well for this contract.

"I need this contract please..." Pagmamakaawa niya.

"But your background didn't match for being the subject."

"Alejus, please..."

Damn. She got my name in her sexy apologetic tone. Nanginig ang katawan ko hearing her.

"I need the money." She pleads.

"You need money for what? Your mom died years ago, you have no siblings or relatives written in your personal background. You have nothing to share or spend the money with." I elaborate.

Natahimik siya. What I said is true. Success and money are nothing when you have nothing to share it with.

"What is happening here?!"

Tumingin ako sa papadating na Siara habang may hawak-hawak na papel.

She's here again. Damn it.

Nasa labas na kami ng office ko at bukas ang pinto kaya tuloy-tuloy siyang pumasok doon habang tinitignan lang namin siya.

"Alejus and Johanna, come inside. I think we're having some problems here, right?"

Nilapag niya ang papel na dalahin niya and we came inside following her.

"Alejus, you're doubting the subject again. I already run some tests on her and she's negative in HIV or AIDS. Her medical history is clean, she's healthy and perfect for the subject. Are we done here?" Siara's sarcastic voice got in my nerves.

Inabot ko ang mga papel na result ng tests niya na gusto kong ipagawa pero meron na pala dito at ang magaling kong kapatid ay tinapos na ang lahat.

Nilapitan ko si Siara. "What are you doing?" Mahihina lang ang boses ko.

"You. What are you doing?"

"You know the consequences."

"I know, Alejus. Ano bang gusto mong mangyari? She volunteered."

"Does she know about it?"

Hindi umimik si Siara at umiling lang sa akin samantalang bumalik ang tingin niya kay Johanna. She's sitting again.

"Johanna, I'm sorry about that. Anyway, the contract is all yours. Take that tests, okay?"

Tumango lang ito sa kanya while Siara passed the test papers to her. Napailing na lang ako tsaka minasahe ang sintido ko.

Siara came near me and whimpered again. "Don't do anything stupid. This contract will change the world and it's worth billion. Do you understand me?" She sounds like she's warning me.

I didn't respond and she left us again.

I get back to my seat and scan all the test results Siara gave me. She's clean and she really volunteered to this.

"Uhm, Alejus. I think I'm done." She passed the papers to me.

Kinuha ko ang mga 'to. I think we're done here. If she passed wala din naman akong magagawa dahil pinipilit na ni Siara na siya na ang magiging subject.

"I think we're done here." Tumayo ako and loosen up my neck tie. I remove it to where it was.

"Stay still." I ordered.

Nagtataka siyang tinitignan ako hanggang sa makalapit ako sa kanya. I blindfolded her using my neck tie. She didn't resist or I don't have any word from her.

"What are you gonna do with me?"

"From now on, since you signed the contract, you must follow what I instruct and order you. Do you understand me?" I demanded.

"Ye-yes," she stuttered.

"Follow me."

She stood up and I hold her smooth skin through her wrist. Lumabas kami using my private lift and we came into my car.

I don't want her to see the direction of my house.

"Cortana, drive us home." I instructed my AI driver and I buckled our seatbelts. Nasa passenger seat kami ng kotse and Cortana started the engine.

"Okay, Alejus. Buckle up."

The AI said and begin driving home. We became silent inside the car.

"You didn't say anything about the contract," she started speaking.

Although nakablind fold lang siya ay tahimik siyang nakaupo sa tabi ko. She looks sexy in it, but I'm a bit disappointed because of her recent job as a private... what do you call that again... Stripper. She was a high-class stripper.

"We'll discuss that once we got into my house."

"I have too many questions to ask." She said.

"Now you sound like you're backing out, huh." Pang-iinis ko.

I'm annoyed really. Knowing that she's not... Ugh! What is really wrong with me?

"Well, I'm not. Just asking you about the contract." She insists.

I could say that she's really something for me. She looks innocent but she hissed like a tiger.

"We'll discuss it later."

Hindi na siya umimik as we wait. Huminto naman ang kotse at alam ko nang nasa tapat na ako ng mansion tsaka nagsalita si Cortana.

"Arrived safe at your house, Alejus. Any concerns about my driving?" Her AI voice doomed over the car.

"Nothing, Cortana. Unlock the doors."

“Okay, Alejus.”

The doors unlocked. Lumabas ako at inalalayan ko naman siyang bumaba din. Nasa garage na kami at papasok na sa maindoor nang maisipan ko na dala-dala niya ang mga gamit niya.

Seriously? Hindi ba siya nasabihan ni Siara na dapat hindi na magdala ng damit or any personal belongings?

"Pass me your things."

Hinawakan niya ito ng mahigpit while still on blind fold.

"What I say, you follow. Remember?" I repeat.

Hindi na siya nagsalita at binigay sa akin ang bag na alam kong may lamang mga damit.

I let my biometrics opened the main door at my house.

Plinth started greeting me.

"Good morning, Alejus. You are early today from work."

"I got our subject, Plinth. She's Subject Five."

We walked from the front door to the living room. She’s a little anxious this time.

"Welcome, Subject Five." Plinth greets her.

"Alright, Plinth. Untie her blindfold. Burn her personal things. Take care of her. I'll get back to you later."

"Copy, Alejus. Enjoy your day."

Pumiglas siya nang maalis ang blindfold niya and the other nano-drones carried her bag and strated burning it. Iniwan ko siya doon habang si Plinth na ang gumawa kung anong dapat gawin sa kanya. Kinuha ko naman ang rules ng contract sa kwarto ko tsaka ako bumaba and good thing nasa library na siya.

Naupo ako tapat niya. Halatang kabado siya sa kung ano ang nangyayari. She didn't expect this, I know.

"I'll read the contract for you, Johanna." I began.

Kinuha ko ang isang folder as her policy book and I begin reading the rules of the contract.

"Rule number one; No personal questions will be ask about me."

She just nodded at me.

"Rule number two. Only follow what I order. The subject must obey his/her superior’s command."

I sigh.

"Rule number three. You sleep for eight hours in a day. No work should be done by you but only experimental works. You should maintain your healthy body. It is necessary, Johanna." I looked at her.

"What am I gonna do here?" She asks.

"Your question is for rule number four. All you have to do is take the tests that Plinth will give you."

Tumango siya sa akin. It sounds really interesting taking this job, but it has consequences.

"Let's move for rule number five. It says that you'll stay here for two months. No mobile phones, no internet access, no communications from outside. Nothing, but to focus working on the tests."

"That's odd."

"Kung ayaw mo na, you can leave. Cortana will drive you back." Paalala ko.

"I don't want to. I need the money." She insists.

Alright. Matigas ang ulo. Ayoko din namang mag-back out siya.

"Okay. Rule number six. There's no turning back. Once signed, the contract is effective immediately."

Hindi siya umimik so I continued.

"Rule number seven. There will be no personal relationship between the Superior and the Subject, which means I’m the Superior and you’re the Subject."

Binasa ko lang kung anong nandito and I can't explain.

Fuck this rule number seven. Why did I write this? It's too personal.

I then heard her chuckled.

"Rule number eight. Once the tests start, the Subject is prohibited to escape. He/She will finish all the tests given to her each day. Once not finish, she will not be paid for a day. A payment in full for a day will be deposited at the end of the day if she finished the tests well."

Magsasalita pa lang sana siya pero tinaas ko na ang kamay ko to stop her from talking.

"Rule number nine. The contract is very private and should be discuss only between the Superior and the Subject. Experiments should be done at the laboratory."

"Your house have a laboratory?"

"Yeah,"

Inayos ko ang upo ko at tumingin sa kanya.

"Rule number ten?" She asks waiting for me to read the last rule.

"Rule number ten. Once the Subject abide the rules, he/she will not receive full payment of the contract and a legal process should be filed against him/her." I emphasis.

Halatang kinakabahan siya sa huling rule na binasa ko.

"Any questions?"

She bit her lower lip before speaking.

"What will be the tests?"

"Nothing serious."

Tinitigan ko siya ng seryoso. She signed the contract rules and gave it to me.

"Any concerns?"

"I want real food. I want clothes because you burned them and I want to listen to music. It seems like I'll get bored in this house." She demanded.

"Alright. Plinth will take care of that. You won't get bored, Plinth will accompany you."

"That sounds great."

"I'm sure you won't fail me, Johanna."

Tumayo na ako at lumapit sa kanya.

"All you have to do is follow the rules and my orders, understand?"

She looks intimidated.

"Yes."

"Don't worry. I won't bite." I even chuckled.

Napalunok naman siya and I speak for Plinth.

"Plinth, take her to the bathroom and make sure she's really clean. Alright?"

Nagtaka siya sa sinabi ko but Plinth started walking inside the room.

"On your command, Alejus."

Plinth took her out while she's looking at me still in shocked.

Johanna, I like the way you became fearless for me.