Chapter Three
1622 Words
I don’t f*****g care if it’s against the...
Get it done, Brady.
And send it over. Now.
Evelyn was sure she heard someone talking but she was so exhausted she couldn’t even lift one eyelid.
She wanted to open her eyes but the gentle hand caressing her hair made her want to curl up and sleep for a little longer.
...the lead?...find another one…want results…
Evelyn smiled after she woke up. Ito na siguro ang panaka- relaxing na tulog niya simula noong magkasakit ang kanyang lola. She sighed in pleasure and stretched her body to her satisfaction.
A hand fell on her crown. Evelyn’s heart stilled and started again.
Napabangon siya bigla nang mapagtantong nakatulog siya sa loob ng RV ng kanyang amo.
Evelyn turned her head and saw Luca sitting beside the couch she had slept in.
A glass of whisky in hand, Luca leaned back on his chair and stared at Evelyn’s bedraggled appearance. The girl was wearing a plain white shirt and faded jeans. A black sneaker who’ve seen better days adorned her feet. Luca hated her attire, he thought.
“Sorry, sir Luca. Di ko sinadyang makatulog. Ano… uh… Kasi ano…” natatarantang pagpapaliwanag niya. Baka isipin nito na hindi siya seryoso sa kanyang trabaho, na tinutulugan niya lang ang kanyang mga gawain.
He waved a hand. “Sit.”
Agad siyang tumalima at pasimpleng dinaanan ng kanyang kamay ang gilid ng kanyang labi at nagpasalamat dahil hindi siya naglaway sa pagtulog. Mas nakakahiya kapag nangyari ‘yon.
“Did you have a good sleep, little Evie?” Luca asked in a pleasant voice.
She shyly nodded her head. But Luca looked displeased all of a sudden.
“I want your words when I ask you a question, Evelyn.” Luca stated, his tone cold as ice.
Evelyn felt her cheeks redden by being reprimanded like that. But she bottled it up and answered him. “Yes, sir Luca.”
Tumango si Luca at tiningnan ang kanyang relo. “You must have since you’ve slept for…Nine hours.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalaga. Napasulyap siya sa tinted na salamin ng RV, madilim na ang paligid. Totoo nga nakatulog siya nang matagal. Gusto man niyang sisihin ang malambot na sofa at malamig na hangin sa loob ng sasakyan ay hindi niya magawa. Iniyuko na lamang niya ang kanyang ulo sa sobrang hiya.
“Sorry, sir Luca.” Mahinang sambit niya.
Napabuntong hininga si Luca. “Look at me, Evelyn.”
Nagtaas ng tingin ang dalaga. She raised her eyes to Luca. Cold, black eyes clashed with her doe like ones.
“Still remember what we’ve talked about a while ago?” in his smooth deep voice, he asked.
Evelyn stilled her heart and answered, “Yes, sir. Naalala ko po ang sinabi ko.”
“Do you really want this job no matter the cost?” he asked probingly.
Dahan-dahan siyang tumango.
“Your words, Evelyn.” Luca bit out.
Evelyn bit her lip hard before answering, “Yes, sir. Kailangan ko po talaga ang trabahong ito. Lahat po gagawin ko ‘wag niyo lang akong sesantehin.”
His eyes flashed. “Even if you have to surrender your mind, body and soul to me?”
Natigilan si Evelyn. Was she ready to surrender herself to a man she only met? Doesn’t this sound crazy? And dangerous?
Ngunit naisip ni Evelyn ang kanyang lola na nakaratay pa rin hanggang ngayon sa ospital.
Evelyn gritted her teeth and gave Luca the answer he wants. “Yes.”
Nawala ang kunot sa noo ni Luca.
“Good girl.” He said, sounding satisfied. “But I’m a businessman, little Evie. Verbal agreements have no room for me when I’m doing business. Too many loopholes.”
Luca threw two documents on the center table. Evelyn look at both warily.
“One is an NDA form and the other is a contract stating that you willing give yourself to me. In other word Evelyn Price will become Luca King’s property. Contract states that you will become my property for a year and will be heavily compensated for your service.”
Nanginig ang mga kamay ni Evelyn. It was then that she realized that she’s signing away her life to somebody. But then, it would only be for a year and she will be paid for her service.
Bayarang babae.
Magiging bayarang babae si Evelyn.
Luca avidly watched the fluctuating emotions flashing through Evelyn’s eyes.
“Why don’t you take a peek at how much you’ll get after the end of contract?” Luca offered generously and pointed at the document to her right.
With trembling hands, Evelyn picked it up and scanned through the papers. Namilog ang mga mata niya sa nakita.
“Twenty-two million…” Evelyn whispered shockingly.
Evelyn stared at the endless zeroes printed on the document feeling terrified. It’s stated there that Evelyn will have a monthly allowance of 1 million per month excluding the bonuses she’ll get if she performed her duties well. Upon the end of the contract, she will get 10 million pesos as parting gratuity. The hand holding the contract visibly shook.
“Are you satisfied with the amount, little Evie? Or do you want to negotiate the price?” Luca asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Nanlalaki ang mga matang napailing si Evelyn. “H-hindi na ho kailangan.”
Ano pa ba ang kailangang i-negotiate sa ganito kalaking pera? Sa gaanoong halaga ay mababayaran na niya ang bill sa ospital ng kanyang lola, mabibili na niya ang mga gamot para dito, at mababayaran na rin niya sa wakas ang lumulobong utang nila kay Tita Melba.
“Why don’t you read the terms and tell me if you have something against it.” Luca ordered.
Pinasadahan ng tingin ni Evelyn and nakaimprinta sa dokumento.
It says, that she was not allowed to have any romantic relations for the duration of the contract. No one can know about the contract. She should be readily available for Luca at any time. She will always obey and respect Luca’s commands. To do all this, she will stay in a condo prepared by Luca.
If one of the above were violated, the contract will be terminated and only the monthly allowance for the duration of her service will be given to her.
Napakunot ang noo ni Evelyn. “C-condo?”
“We will go there once we settle the contract.” Luca told her.
Kailangan niyang manatili sa isang condo? Paano na ang lola niya?
“Sir, Luca. Hindi po kasi ako pwedeng tumira sa condo e. Ang lola ko po kasi-”
Luca cut off her words. “Then we have nothing to discuss, Miss Price. You can see yourself out.”
Nawindang si Evelyn. “Sir, hindi po ako umaayaw sa kontrata. Bigyan niyo lang po ako ng 5 araw para masa-ayos ko ang mga dapat ayusin sa bahay.”
Luca heaved out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll give you a day to do that.”
Isang araw lang?!
“Sir, please apat na araw- uh, kahit tatlong araw lang sir, please po.” Pagmamaka-awa ni Evelyn.
Luca pinned her with a frosty look. “You have two days to settle everything, Evelyn. No more, no less.”
“Thank you po sir.” Hindi maiwasang mapabuntang hininga si Evelyn. May dalawang araw lamang siya upang asikasuhin ang pagpapagamot ng kanyang lola at mailagay sa ayos ang lahat. Ang problema ay kung papaano niya ipapaliwag sa kanyang lola na kailangan niyang manatili sa poder ng kanyang amo.
Nasa gitna siya ng malalim na pag-iisip nang may lumitaw na fountain pen sa harap niya.
Luca held out a pen to Evelyn. “Sign the contract.” He ordered.
Napatitig si Evelyn sa itim na ballpen sa harap niya. Namuo ang takot at pangamba sa kanyang puso. Ito ba talaga ang gusto niyang gawin? Kaya ba niya ang ganitong klaseng trabaho?
Dahan dahang inabot ni Evelyn ang pluma mula sa kamay ni Luca. Parang may nagtatakbuhang kabayo sa loob ng kanyang dibdib, ngunit tinibayan ni Evelyn ang kanyang loob.
Para kay lola.
Para kay lola.
Para kay lola.
Paulit-ulit niyang iniisip. Nanginginig ang kamay na pinirmahan niya ang kontrata at ang NDA.
Hindi pa man natutuyo ang tinta sa kontrata nang marinig niya ang pagak na tawa ni Luca.
Tumayo ito at namulsa. “That settles it then.”
He looked at Evelyn. Eying her from the top of her head all the way to her feet. Eyes blazing with heat and want. He took a step towards her like a panther eying its prey.
Strong arms braced on either side of Evelyn.
Caging her. Trapping her.
Evelyn felt her lips go dry and her heartbeat speed up. She drew in a breath and almost moaned wantonly when she's hit by Luca’s intoxicating scent. A surge of lust flowed down Evelyn’s navel and tingly sensation started down below.
Luca’s fingers shifted her hair to the side. His hot breath on her neck then hovered over her jaw and slowly travelled to the tip of her sensitive ear.
There was no physical contract between them, no touching of skin. But powerful lust rush forth from their bodies. Evelyn can feel it, can taste it.
She then heard Luca chuckle over her ear.
“You are now my glorified w***e, Evelyn Price.”
- Writer
