"Where are we going?" We were still inside the car, and we'd already driven some distance from the university, but I had no idea where we were headed. I just kept looking ahead, my gaze fixed on the road. "There's a café nearby. I told you I wanted to talk to you about some important matters." I immediately recalled the event and felt a surge of anxiety. What if Alexander was looking for me to collect payment? I covered my mouth, worried. When he saw my reaction, he looked at me with knitted brows. "What's going on? Why do you look so shocked?" I didn't answer him and quickly checked my bag. I opened my cell phone and went to my bank account. Balance: 1,500.00 I held my forehead. What would I pay if needed? Could I make a down payment? "What's wrong? You've been bothered for a while now. Did you leave something behind?" Alexander's eyes darted between my seat and the road. I shook my head like a child and frowned. "I'm just worried..." I looked at him. "Is what we nee
A scream made both of us turn towards the door. "Sir Carlooo - oh, damn, he's handsome!" We both looked at the entrance of Carlo's office. I saw my gay co-worker, who looks more like a girl than I do, welcoming us and gazing at Alex. "Francine, Sir Carlo isn't here," I tried to divert her attention from Alex, who was already starting to be quite uncomfortable. Francine was her nickname, but in real life, her name was Franco. Despite her effeminate appearance, her actual name was very masculine. She didn't even remove her gaze from Alex, getting closer to me before taking my arm and squeezing it. " ~Hey, I'm not seeing someone like you, my handsome friend, hehe~" She said in a flirtatious tone, giggling bashfully. I just smiled at her and rolled my eyes. "Alex, she's my co-worker - Ouch!" She pinched me, making me grab my messy hair before giving her a quick glare. "FRANCINE! My name is Francine! This crazy girl," she flipped her invisible hair. She did look like a girl, but her ha
I'm looking at some clothes as we pass by these boutiques. The clothes are beautiful, but it seems like I can't afford them because the prices are staggering. We stopped at a fancy boutique, and my eyes widened when I realized the brand displayed. "A-Alex, are you going in? I'll wait for you outside," I said, feeling nervous. I usually only see these brands on social media, and even just their bags are so expensive. "Why? You don't like the Gucci brand? Do you prefer Chanel or Versace? We can go there after this," Doesn't he hear himself? He just mentioned it like a normal boutique! The value of the items here is more than my tuition fees! "No, I mean... It's too expensive, Alex. I'm not used to expensive brands," I can only afford thrift store items, and I can only admire these luxury boutiques from a distance. I feel inadequate, to be honest. "Get used to it. I'll spoil you as per our contract. It's my duty to fulfill your desires." I didn't choose to be matched with him. It was
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh. I was having second thoughts about whether I made the right choice, but in reality, I didn't have much of a choice from the beginning. What I couldn't understand was why Alex wanted to get to know me. He's known for dating younger women, and now I'm one of them. Based on what I've heard, if the person they were referring to was indeed Alex, his ex-wife wanted him back. Maybe he wanted to make his wife jealous or vice versa? I sighed again. I didn't really care about all of that drama; I just wanted this to be over. If his ex-wife was crazy, that's not my problem. All I cared about was fulfilling the contract without any complications. I left the comfort room and headed to the parking area. It was only now that I noticed it was getting dark. We had been inside with Alex for hours, and it seemed like the mall was about to close. When I reached the parking area, I spotted Alex's car with its lights still on. I smiled, thinkin
Alex dropped me off back at my apartment the next day because I also needed to prepare the things we will use. Fortunately, it's good timing this week since we don't have classes due to consecutive holidays in the country, especially after the events at the University I attend. I didn't know if it was just perfect timing or if I was simply lucky when I was with Alex. He would pick me up later in the afternoon because our flight was at night, so I had plenty of time to prepare. I had already cleaned my apartment and taken out the trash. When I stepped outside, I was greeted by the warmth of the sun. It was already nine in the morning, so it was quite hot. People were busy with their activities; even my neighbors in the apartment building were outside doing laundry, while others were preparing for work and classes. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone close here except for Nanay Nelya because I rarely go out; I'm always confined here. When I approached the garbage bin, I bumped into a
My mouth remained open in awe as we arrived in Hawaii. From what I heard, we were on Maui Island, a popular destination for tourists because of its stunning landscapes and golden sandy beaches. I tried to keep a straight face and not smile, but to be honest, I wanted to kneel down and roll in the sand while taking pictures. However, I didn't want to embarrass myself, especially since such behavior didn't seem fitting with Alex. He was dressed casually, but the attention from other women never seemed to fade. I felt like I was just his maid, even though I was dressed quite elegantly today. "I tried to wear something that would match Alex's style, even though it wasn't really my taste. Shena had told me that sleeveless outfits suited me well because of my toned shoulders, and I ended up looking like a rich man's daughter, so that's what I'm wearing today. When we arrived at the resort, we went straight to the reservation area to drop off our things in the room that Alex had booked. We
Our conversation was abruptly cut short when Alex appeared in front of us. "Isabella, darling, I've been looking all over for you," Alex said as he approached us. My eyes flickered with surprise, but I quickly masked it with a smile. "Alex, this is Michael. I know you two are acquainted. We were just talking about his travels." Alex nodded and looked at Michael with a serious gaze. I could almost imagine an invisible connection sparking between their eyes because they both seemed quite serious for reasons I couldn't fathom. As the evening wore on, Alex's arm was draped tightly around my waist, his grip tightening subtly whenever someone tried to talk to me. Something seemed off about Alex's demeanor. He wasn't usually like this. Later, during a quiet moment amidst the festivities, I excused myself to the outdoor terrace, needing a moment to gather my thoughts. I gazed at the sea under the full moon. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore made my racing thoughts feel ca
I didn't anticipate Alex's visit, but he sent someone to bring me breakfast. When I arrived at the cabin, I felt like I'd just come home from a long day at work, still in my robe. I couldn't understand why I suddenly felt so vulnerable after last night's intimacy with Alex. I wasn't sure how to face him. I don't know why I suddenly felt weak last night. It was my first time feeling that, and honestly, I just realized that I let my body be toyed with. I slapped my cheek when I remembered it again. This is really the saying, "Regret comes too late." My mind kept protesting, but my body was doing something else. Can't they sync up sometimes? It's really difficult. I remembered our closeness from last night, and it made me feel uneasy. Part of me wanted to escape and go back home, but I lacked the funds for that option. I had no choice but to wait for him. He mentioned that we wouldn't leave immediately after the wedding and wanted us to enjoy our time here. In the afternoon, I relucta