Chapter 09

Early in the morning, Charles made his way to Stella's apartment, knocking on her door. Then he started fixing his hair, something he does not usually do.

The door opened, revealing Stella who is still rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were still a little puffed. He has seen this before.

"Good morning," he greeted.

"Why are you so early?" she asked back, opening the door wider while frowning at him.

"There was no time stated and we should get started as soon as possible. You have much to learn."

"Much to learn? What do you mean by that?"

"You didn't listen last night." He looked at her disapprovingly. "Let me remind you. I've got a list of the people you can never trust. It's an advantage to know what my family is all about."

"Ah, so this is like a test?" She nodded. "Oh right, give me the contract and I'll read it. Then I'll sign it and you can go."

"You don't quite get it, huh?" He stepped forward, shoving her aside as he enters her apartment uninvited.

"Hey I didn't--"

"I'm already inside," he cut her off. "It's a cute apartment," he added, looking around to find a chair where he can sit. "You don't get a chair?"

"You can sit on the floor, it's clean." She closed the door and went near the bed to get a folding table, carrying it to where Charles is. She unfolded the table in front of them and she sat down. "Sit down so we can discuss it more."

With no choice, Charles sighed, sitting down uncomfortably. This is the first time in a long time he sat down on the floor. The last time was when he had a business with some Japanese businessman. He hated being down on his knees.

"What else do I need to do? A makeover?" she asked him while rubbing her sleepy eyes again. "That would be too much lying."

"I'm not going to change how you look nor am I planning to change your wardrobe but..." He looks her in the eye. Yeah, he wanted her to change and lie to herself but lying further makes everything hard. "I have things for you to memorize."

"Oh, our love story!" She claps her hand together. "I like reading dramatic books, do you have a story read--"

Charles slammed down a pile of papers on the table which made her jaw drop with wide eyes. She looks at the thick pile of papers and up to him. Why is it so thick? How many relatives does he have?

"Are you serious?" she asked, frowning with a worried look on her face. "Why so many?"

Then a thinner pile of paper was added on the top by Charles. "On the top is the contract. Read it carefully and if you spot something not clicking to you, ask me."

Stella threw Charles a glare before snatching their contract. She flipped some pages and it did look exactly like him. Professional. After checking it out, she glances at him.

"Why are you still here? Come back later," she said, motioning her hand for him to go.

Charles could not help but scoff. No one has ever told him to go before, well at least not like he's a bird she's trying to shoo away.

"I'm staying until you're done," he uttered, twitching his upper lip.

"Suit yourself," she said, standing up and stretching in front of Charles. He saw that and he swore he wanted to pull her close. "I am going to buy breakfast so uhm, if you want to wait then wait."

"You don't make breakfast here?" he asks.

"Does it look like I have a kitchen? I only have a rice cooker."

"See? By agreeing to this contract, you can buy a simple electric stove and pans."

"I guess," she mumbles. Then she started walking towards her bed. She took out some worn t-shirt and money from her drawer.

"You're going out like that?" When she nodded, his brows were drawn together. "I'm coming with you then. I'll give you a ride that'll make it faster."

"Or you can just go home and come back for the contract later."

They glare at each other. The atmosphere got heavy just by them cursing in their minds.

"Fine! If you want to come along, then go ahead!"

Charles abruptly stand up and fixed his clothes. He is serious when he said he'd come with her.

At the food place, Charles stayed behind Stella guarding her back as she orders her food. There were a fair number of people, no one of his kind.

"Do you want something too?" Stella turned to ask him.

"No. I am good."

"Make that two, please."

"I said I do--"

"Not for you," she interrupted. He released a sharp breath at her savageness.

What else was he expecting? He told himself not to go overboard and do something he'd regret but he ended up doing it anyway.

"That would be 28," the counter lady said.

Stella was about to hand money to the lady when Charles handed his card first. She instantly threw him a dirty stare as the lady hands his card back.

"Thanks," he said, taking the paper bag which the lady handed. Then, he took her hand which made her throw another glare. He moved closer and whisper, "Some people know me here. I know you have not signed the contract but holding hands like this will make it believable once we announce it."

Stella did not have a choice and went with the flow. Remembering that they are a hot topic to people who know Charles, she could not look around anymore. Instead, she tightened the hold on his hand.

Ah yes, she now remembers the last one she wants. She wants all the news deleted and for the paparazzi to never pester her again. That's what she'll write on the last page.

On their walk home, Stella was like a koala hugging tightly on Charles' arm. It's just to make sure her face isn't seen.

"Told you we should have taken my car," he uttered, hiding a smile. He loves the fact that he agreed not to take his car. It didn't occur to him that his defeat would be this nice.

Back in the house, Stella immediately moved away from Charles like he is some kind of germs that she didn't want to touch again. It almost hurt his feelings.

"I'm eating and I'll sign it after."

Charles thought she'd eat her food somewhere else but instead, Stella put down the papers on the floor. Then she unpacked her food on the table, smiling widely.

"The other one is for you," she spoke. "It's not as expensive as your food but it's still food."

"If you insist then."

As he sits down, she took out his part and opened the box for him. There was something like fried rice in there, egg rolls, fried chicken and--

"What's that?"

"It's called lumpia," she replied. Stella took one of hers and took a bite. It was crunchy and she started munching. "It's good. You should try it."

Oh well, it's not bad to try it. As long as it is not poison. So, Charles reached for one and took a bite. It's really crunchy and the vegetables and ground meat inside were just perfect.

"Told you," she muttered. "Try it with rice."

And he did. It does taste better than what he has been eating lately. Is it the food or is it because he has someone to eat the food with. They say it's better to eat with company. It makes the food taste better.

When they were all done, Stella gave Charles a look as she just got back from throwing their trash. "You said you were good. You were hungry."

"Well, things happened," he coolly answered.

She snorted and sat down again, reaching the paper. There were a lot of things she tried to understand and some more she skipped. Her conditions were there and just as she said, it was printed on the paper.

"Okay. I've read it." She opened her palm towards him. "Pen. I'm sure you have your expensive pen ready."

The way she is amuses him. She's so unpredictable and bossy when she's just nobody. It makes him secretly smile.

Once she signed it, she handed it back to Charles. Then she took the other thick paper. "I just have one question."

"What is it?"

"When are we leaving?"

"If my calculations are correct, you'd be done reading those papers in two days. Because I am not sure, I'm giving you three days."

"T-Three days?! This thick is just three days?" Charles only nodded. Unbelievable! She groans. "I'm a slow reader! And I am not good at memorizing."

"Just focus on the love story. You'll meet the others anyway."

"Alright," she murmurs. Then she stood up and went to the door.

"You leaving somewhere?" he asked, raising his brows.

"Uh, no. You're leaving. I signed the contract." She turned her door handle and pulled the door open. She waved her hand. "See you in the next three days."

Charles didn't know if he should feel mistreated or laugh at her. The fact that she's pushing him away should let him know how she feels about this. Purely business.

"In a hurry to send me away, are we?"

"Yes, I am." Without any hesitation she points outside again, keeping a fake grin. "Please, leave."

He inhaled deeply and stood up, striding to the door. Before he go, he faced her again.

"I'm going to need your number and your bank account number." From somewhere in his clothes, he took out a small card. He handed it to her. "Text me here."

Stella took it. It was not a business card. It was his personal number that was in there.

"Okay," she uttered. "I'll see you in three days."

After Stella closed the door, she hurried to the bathroom, bending over her sink and started throwing up. She stayed like that for a couple of minutes.

When she felt better, she stood straight and wiped her mouth with her hands. She looks at herself in the mirror with teary eyes. Can she really keep it cool? What if Charles gets suspicious of her?

"I can do this," she tells herself, swallowing hard. "For my child. I can do this."

In a week, she will be in a different world, far away from home surrounded by people she does not know. She will have to think of this as a job.

Sitting down on her bed, Stella took her phone from the side table. She lifts up the card and started typing the numbers written there, adding it to her contacts and naming it Curse and nothing more.

Like Charles told her, she typed her bank account number and sent it to him. It didn't take a while and her bank notified her that some money was transferred to her. Her eyes went round to the amount transferred; 50,000 dollars.

With that money, she can even run away now. To hell, she can! He will probably track her down and do worse things. It made her sigh heavily.

While Stella was thinking about what she needed to bring, her phone started ringing. When she glanced at the screen it says, "Curse". She snatched her phone and pressed answer.

"Yeah?"

"Did you receive the money?" His voice was deeper than when they speak in person.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks."

"I'll give you the other half when the contract is over."

"Fine with me." She shrugs. In all honesty, that amount is really a big deal to her. "Is that all you want to say?"

"No. I want you to pack up and remind you about the story. You have to memorize all of it."

"Yeah, sure. I was about to pack. That all?"

She heard him release a heavy sigh. "Your phone. I'm buying you a new one. I need to see you when I make a call like this."

"Ha?" Her brows knitted together. How a choosy difficult person! "Do you really need to see who you're calling with every time you do business? Treat me different from them, mister Castigado!"

"Exactly!" Hearing that confused her even more that she stayed silent. "You signed the contract, my love. That means you're my girlfriend now. I want to see you during calls. I assume there's nothing wrong with that, right?"