Chapter 6

MAYA'S POV

I couldn't believe it. Just a week ago, I was a barista at a coffee shop struggling to make ends meet. And now, I was working for Alexander, a billionaire who wanted me to sign a contract and a non-disclosure agreement. It all felt so surreal.

I sat at my desk, going through the documents Alexander had given me.

As I read through the papers, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. What kind of secrets did Alexander have that he needed me to sign an NDA? But then again, he was a billionaire, and I was just a regular girl. I supposed it made sense.

"Okay, let's go through this," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's this clause about confidentiality?"

"It means that you can't disclose any information about me or my business to anyone without my permission," Alexander explained.

I nodded slowly, reading through the clause carefully. "And this one about non-compete? It says I can't work for any of your competitors for two years after I leave your employment."

"That's correct," Alexander confirmed. "I don't want you to take any of my ideas and using them for someone else."

I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about signing away her freedom like this, but it was understandable because the company a lot of competitors that were trying to take it down. "What if I want to start my own business in the future?"

Alexander leaned back in his chair and regarded me thoughtfully. "Well, we can always negotiate that clause if and when the time comes. I don't want to hold you back from achieving your own dreams."

I felt a little more relieved at his response. "Okay, that makes sense. And what about the salary? Is this negotiable?"

Alexander smirked. "Of course, it is, Maya. I wouldn't want you to feel like you're being taken advantage of. We can discuss your compensation later, but rest assured it will be more than fair."

I took a deep breath and looked up at Alexander. "Okay, I think I'm ready to sign this. But I want to make sure that I'm not signing away all my rights here."

Alexander leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "Maya, I want you to be happy and comfortable working for me. If there's anything in this contract that you're uncomfortable with, we can always discuss it and come to an agreement. Just know that I value your talent and I want you to stay with me for a long time."

I felt a small twinge of gratitude towards him. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all. I took the pen and signed the contract, feeling a small sense of relief that it was over.

I signed the papers and handed them back to Alexander's secretary, who assured me they would be filed away safely.

After that, I moved on to the next set of papers, not as thick as the first. It was a contract, just like the one I had signed earlier, but this one was about our relationship. With a nod, he dismissed his secretary.

"Alexander, what is this?" I asked, flipping through the pages.

"It's a contract for our relationship," he replied simply.

"A contract for our relationship?" I repeated, looking up at him in disbelief. "What does that even mean?" What kind of man signs a contract with the woman he wants to date?

"It means that we're both agreeing to certain terms and conditions for our relationship," Alexander explained calmly. "It's just like any other contract, Maya. It's meant to protect both parties involved."

I frowned, still not understanding. "What kind of terms and conditions?"

Alexander leaned forward and began to explain. "Well, for one, we agree to be exclusive. We won't date or see anyone else while we're together. And we agree to maintain a certain level of discretion. That means we won't go around flaunting our relationship to the public or the press."

I nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Okay, that makes sense. What else?"

"We also agree to support each other in our careers and personal lives," Alexander continued. "And we agree to communicate openly and honestly with each other."

I nodded again, feeling slightly overwhelmed. Wasn’t this normal stuff that people didn’t need to sign for? "I see. And what happens if we break any of these terms?"

"Then there are consequences," Alexander said firmly. "But we're both reasonable people, Maya. I don't think it will come to that."

I looked down at the contract again, still feeling uncertain. "I don't know, Alexander. This all seems so... formal. Like we're not really in a real relationship."

Alexander reached across the desk and took my hand. "Maya, I care about you. I want to make sure that we're both on the same page and that we're both happy in this relationship. This contract is just a way to ensure that happens."

I thought about it for a moment before nodding slowly. At least I was sure now that he would not betray me like Jake did. "Okay. I trust you, Alexander. I'll sign it."

As I settled into my new office, I couldn't help but notice the stares and whispers from the other office workers. I knew they were talking about me, speculating about how I got the job and what Alexander saw in me.

I tried my best to ignore them and focus on my work, but the rumors still bothered me. I wondered if Alexander had heard them too and what he thought.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork. It wasn’t exactly the most exciting work, but it's a welcome change from the coffee shop. I felt like I was actually doing something important.

After a few hours of taking calls and standing by Alexander in meetings to take notes, I excused myself to the bathroom, feeling overwhelmed with all the new information and contracts that I just signed. I washed her hands and splashed some water on her face to calm down. As I turned to leave the bathroom, I heard two female employees enter. I rushed into a stall so they wouldn’t see me.

"Did you hear about the new girl? The one dating Alexander?" said one of them in a whisper.

My heart sank. I knew what was coming next. I braced myself, leaning against the bathroom stall, ready to hear what they had to say about me.

"The rumors are true then?" the other one asked. "I heard she's just a gold digger trying to get her hands on his money."

I felt a surge of anger rise within me. I had worked hard for everything I had and had no intention of using someone else's money to advance myself. I listened for a moment longer, hoping they would say something different.

"Yeah, and did you see what she's wearing? So basic," said the first girl with a laugh. I felt offended. I had worn the most corporate outfit I had along with my heeled boots, and Alexander had even told me I looked beautiful.

I decided to confront the girls, pushing open the stall door and walking up to the sinks. The girls turned to face me; their faces filled with surprise.

"Hi, ladies," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "Is there something you want to say to my face?"

The girls looked at each other, clearly caught off guard. One of them mumbled an apology and they quickly exited the bathroom.

I stood there for a moment longer, feeling a mix of emotions. I knew that I couldn't let the rumors get to me, but I also couldn't deny that they stung. I took a deep breath and returned to my desk, determined to focus on my work and not let the gossip get to me.

I went back to the office to find Alexander waiting for me with two well-dressed women. I smiled at them, and they nodded.

“Hey Maya, this is your new personal shopper and stylist.” Alexander said with a smile. I didn’t even have time to protest at this new development before I was ushered outside to Alexander’s car. We were going shopping.

I was a little apprehensive as I climbed into the back of the sleek black car with the driver, my personal stylist, and my personal shopper. The car smelled of fresh leather, and I fiddled nervously with her hands in my lap as the driver pulled away from the curb and headed toward the store.

When we arrived, I was stunned by the luxurious interior of the store. It was spacious and had walls lined with the latest fashion trends, shoes, bags, and jewelry, all things I could only dream of having. I felt overwhelmed as my stylist began selecting items off the racks, holding them up to my body, and asking my opinion.

"This dress would look amazing on you!" the stylist said, holding up a red silk gown.

I glanced at the price tag and her eyes widened. "I don't think I can afford that," I said, shaking my head."

The stylist just waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it," she said. "Mr. Alexander is paying for everything."

I felt a lump in my throat. I had never owned anything this expensive before. As the stylist kept selecting items and handing them to the personal shopper to hold, I started to feel more and more uncomfortable. I knew I couldn't afford any of this on my own, and the thought of Alexander paying for everything made me uneasy.

"Are you sure I need all of this?" I asked the stylist, holding up a pair of designer heels that had the price tag at three thousand dollars.

The stylist just smiled. "Of course! Mr. Alexander wants you to look your best."

I couldn't help but feel like I was being molded into someone else, someone I wasn't. I wondered if Alexander would still be interested in me if I didn't have these expensive clothes or if I wasn't his personal assistant.

But as the stylist continued to select more and more items, My resolve began to weaken. I was starting to enjoy the luxury and the feeling of being taken care of. As we headed to the cash register, I couldn't help but feel guilty for letting Alexander spend so much money on me.

"I hope I'm not taking advantage of him," I said softly to the personal shopper.

The personal shopper just smiled. "Mr. Alexander is a very generous man. He wants you to have the best of everything."

I knew that was true, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being bought, that I was somehow indebted to him. I couldn't help but wonder if accepting all this luxury was worth losing my independence.

Finally, after what felt like hours of shopping, I emerged from the store with a handful of bags, feeling both elated and guilty.

As we climbed back into the town car, Olivia patted my arm. "You look amazing, Maya," I said. "And don't worry about the prices."

I nodded, feeling grateful but also uneasy about the whole experience. I wondered what it would be like to be with a man who could afford to buy me anything I wanted, and whether it was worth the trade-offs.

I walked back to the office, still feeling overwhelmed by all the new clothes and accessories I had acquired. I couldn't help but think about all the money Alexander had spent on me, and whether it was really necessary. As I walked into his office, he looked up from his computer and smiled.

"Maya, you look fantastic! How was your shopping trip?"

"It was great, Alexander, but I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course, anything. What's on your mind?”

"I just wanted to say that I appreciate all that you've done for me, but I can't help but feel like you're spending too much money on me."

Alexander looked surprised. "What do you mean? You deserve the best, I. I want to make sure you have everything you need."

"I know, but these clothes and accessories are so expensive, and I'm not used to that kind of lifestyle. I feel uncomfortable with all of it."

Alexander leaned back in his chair and studied me for a moment. "Maya, I understand your concerns, but please don't worry about the cost. Money is not an issue for me, and I want you to have the best of everything."

I sighed. "I appreciate that, Alexander, but it's just a lot to take in. I don't want to feel like I owe you anything, or like I'm taking advantage of your generosity."

"You don't owe me anything, Maya. I want to be with you because I care about you, not because I want anything in return. And as for the money, it's my pleasure to take care of you. Just relax and enjoy it."

I nodded, still feeling unsure. "Okay, I'll try. But can we please talk about the contract and the NDA? I have some questions about them."

"Of course, Maya. Let's go over them together."

Alexander spent the next half hour going over the details of the contract and the NDA with me, answering my questions and addressing my concerns. I felt much more comfortable with the terms of the agreement.

"Great, that's taken care of. Now, how about we go out to lunch? My treat, of course."

I sat across from Alexander at the expensive restaurant he had taken me to for lunch. The food was delicious, but my appetite had been soured by our earlier conversation about the money he was spending on me.

"Maya, I want to talk to you about something," Alexander said, setting down his fork.

"What is it?" I asked, my guard up.

"I know you said you didn't want the car and apartment, but I really think it would make things easier for us if we were both living in the same place," Alexander said, his tone gentle.

I was shocked.