Episode Three: The Contract

On that memorable day, Baby had to go seek help from Dane Diam. He was the boss of her Father. An important file that contained a special delivery which was worth 8.5 million dollars was stolen in Phillips Smith's care and resulted in a big problem. Baby asked for help and sure, help was given to her, but in a very unexpected way.

"What did you just say?" Dane Diam stood up from his swivel, leather chair. His stare was intense and hard on her. He could not believe she had just agreed to his proposal without giving it a second thought. It was the most vulgar proposal he'd ever made. It was inappropriate in all ways. She seemed like a naive one. Surely, he'd expected her to weep and beg for mercy. It was more than shocking that she'd accepted his insane proposal in a heartbeat. 

Diam walked closer to her. With a turn of the swivel chair she was sitting in, he was staring deep down into her eyes.

"Do you, by any chance, understand what I just proposed to you?"

"Yes, Sir DaneDiam." Baby gulped. Their proximity made her heart race. Good Lord, but she couldn't meet his gaze.

"And you agreed instantly without any further thinking because…?" His arched brow prompted her into thinking of an answer. Still, no answer would justify that he'd been wrong about her. He'd never been wrong about any lady. He knew all their ilks, could predict them in just a glance. He'd predicted her as the naive, innocent type. How wrong he was! Anger churned in his guts, his fury fueled at insane degrees that he could barely keep in check. Technically, he hated being wrong, but right now, that wasn't what his fury was directed at. It was completely absurd, but he'd wanted her to be naive and innocent. Like a whole, new package. Untouched. Untainted. Knowing she wasn't what he'd thought was beginning to rake his insides. Yeah, absurd.

"I...it's because...I didn't want to waste anymore...time,“

Baby was embarrassed and could not stop fiddling with her fingers. She saw herself as being too cheap but she wasn't about to let it get in her way of achieving what she wanted. She'd thought about not accepting his offer for just a minute and then quickly brushed away the thought. There was no use giving it too much of a thought. Certainly, she was not in the position to make a choice. The choice was already made for her.

"Is that so?" Diam fought back the urge of piercing his fingers deep into her arms. Just how many others have she accepted their offers as quickly as she was accepting his? What was her game? Masked with innocence, but a devil within? Shit! He couldn't figure her out. Surely, it was unfair he was the only one being affected by this. 

"Yes Sir,"

He hesitated, still staring deep into her eyes. Searching, desperately searching for...hell, he wasn't even sure what! But just maybe, he could find why she was so alluring. "stupid," he muttered to himself. What a fool he was becoming.

"Sorry?"

"What? Nothing." He jolted his hands from her sides like he'd been electrocuted. "You wait here while I get the necessities to finalize this.”

"Yes Si,Sir."

He immediately put a call through to his attorney and in a matter of minutes, he rushed down to his office.

"Hello, Sir Diam," the attorney shook his hands. He was a fairly aged man with grey hairs which curled to the back. Tall and elegantly suit-ed, but still had his humility in place under the domineering stance of Diam.

"Did you get everything I asked for?" Diam gestured at an empty chair. The attorney nodded and got seated. "The files?" He was standing next to the attorney, but his gaze never faltered from her.

"Yes, I did, Sir Diam."

Attorney Antonio quickly brought out a file from his suitcase and handed it to Baby. "Hello, Miss."

"Hello, Sir."

"This is a contract. All the agreed-upon terms are here. You go through it and sign in the appropriate areas. Mr. Diam's signature is already here. Feel at ease to ask questions, if you got any."

"I don't need to go through it. Where do I sign?"

Again, Diam was stunned at her forwardness. He glanced at his attorney and caught the surprise in his eyes. Who wouldn't be surprised? It's not every day you see such an innocent lady eager to get intertwined with him. Except, her innocence seemed to be a facade.

Baby saw the column that needed her signature. Quickly she signed, ignoring the tight knotting of her heart.

She was in pain. It took a lot of restrain to stop herself from crying. She handed the signed contract to the attorney, avoiding his gaze that held questions and sadly, judgment. 

"Sir Diam? Everything is set. You can now proceed with it."

"Alright, attorney. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure, Sir. I'll be leaving now."

The attorney exited the office and again, it was just Baby and Diam. Diam did not stop staring at the girl whose head was still lowered in what seemed like shame. Few minutes of silence, he finally spoke to her.

"Baby?"

"Yes, Sir Diam,"

"You can go home now and inform your father about this. Get your luggage and make sure you are here in my office before 8 O'clock today."

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. You can take your leave now."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you." She stood and scurried out of his office.

With her gone, Diam was left to his overwhelming thoughts which had just one, simple preamble. "What the heck have I done?"

*

Baby left the office hastily and went home to inform her father of the news, but was sure to exclude the part that she would be Dane Diam's sex partner. He Father was gonna freak out if he hears it. It was best to save him that turmoil.

***

"Baby, What are you saying? A maid?!"

"Yes, Father,"

Mr. Phillips could not believe his ears after Baby narrated her encounter with Mr. Diam. He felt sorry for his daughter and was very sad things had gone this way. He wanted his daughter to always live life to its fullest and be happy. He never knew such a day would come in their lives.

"Father, Please, don't be sad. We should be grateful that it was something this mild. I'll be fine, you'll see."

"Come here, my baby."

Baby hugged her father so tightly, in her desperate search for some consolation. He was the best father anyone could ask for. The only one who could soothe her pains away.

"You will be fine, alright? I will come to visit from time to time. I can, right?"

"Sure, you can." Baby nodded. She was already missing her dearest Father when she hasn't left yet.

"My baby." Mr. Phillips cooed, running his fingers idly on her cheeks.

"Yes, Father?" Baby purred, placing a kiss on his palm.

"You should get some rest now. I can see you are tired,"

"I'm not, Father. Besides, I need to take out a few clothes for the job." Baby said to her father, snuggling with him on her bed.

"Don't worry, my baby. You get some rest while I help you sort out your stuff."

Baby smiled, gratefully. Tears rolled down her eyes whilst she thought of how amazing her father was.

"Baby. Are those tears in those beautiful eyes? Can't be." He wiped at the teardrops. "Don't you cry, alright?" He kissed her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault you've also got beautiful tears and you must let them run once in a while." His attempt at humor paid off as Baby laughed heartily. "Don't you forget, dear? No matter where you are, you'll always be my baby. That'll never change."

She broke into tears at his heartwarming words. "I'll miss you a lot, Father."

"Honestly, Baby, I don't want you to go." His voice dropped into a plea. "Stay home with me and we will look for another way to resolve this."

"I don't want to leave you, either. How lonely it'll be for me." She sobbed. Just how had her life taken such a drastic turn that she had to contemplate leaving her Father? It was killing. The thought. This reality. Everything. It was beginning to kill her slowly. 

"Then, you won't leave. Don't give it so much thought. You will stay right here with me, alright?"

"I'm scared." Baby admitted, sobbing harder and wrapping her hands tighter around him.

"I know, baby. I know. But if you don't wanna go back there, you don't have to. I'm sorry you're suffering from my mistakes."

"You don't have to be. Asking me to stay with you is enough to comfort, Father."

Philip Smith was truly concerned about his daughter's wellbeing. He touched Baby's face and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. He gave her a peck and snuggled with her more. After a while, Baby fell asleep in his arms.

Phillips Smith carefully lay his daughter on the bed and went to prepare some snacks for when she wakes up. After sleeping for a few hours, Baby woke up feeling relieved that she wouldn't have to go back to Dane Diam again.