CHAPTER 6: DEMAND

He sighed, as if debating whether to answer or not. "I have my connections."

"Connections?" she scoffed. "You knew them. Those men—hindi lang basta-basta may impormasyon ka tungkol sa kanila. You recognized them."

Silence.

Vivienne's fingers curled into fists. "Putangina, Dominic. Anong tinatago mo?" Her voice was sharp, demanding answers.

His expression remained cold, impassive. "You’re too nosy."

She exhaled sharply, turning to face him fully. "This isn’t about curiosity. Jace is involved with Omega, and now ako na rin. You shot at them, which means you’ve got something to do with them, too! Tell me the truth, Dominic!"

His eyes flicked toward her for a brief second before focusing back on the road. "They owed me something before. Let’s just say, may utang pa silang hindi nababayaran."

Her breath hitched. "So, anong ibig sabihin niyan? Kaibigan mo sila?"

He let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Friends? No. They don’t have friends. They only have enemies and business partners."

Vivienne felt her stomach tighten. "Then what are you to them?"

Dominic took a sharp turn, making her grab onto the dashboard. "Someone they should be careful with."

Her heart pounded. He wasn’t answering directly, but that only made her more suspicious. "Does that mean you can fix this? Jace’s debt?"

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled the car to a stop in front of a tall building—one of his properties, she assumed. Without looking at her, he said, "Stay here tonight."

Vivienne narrowed her eyes. "Hindi mo sinagot ang tanong ko."

Dominic finally met her gaze, his dark eyes unreadable. "If I say yes, anong kapalit?"

Her throat ran dry. "Ano?"

"Five billion isn’t small money, Vivienne. And Omega doesn’t forget debts. If I get involved, they’ll demand something else in return."

She swallowed hard. "And what would that be?"

Dominic smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "I’m still thinking."

A shiver ran down her spine. "Tangina naman, Dominic. Just help me fix this! Jace will die if we don’t do anything!"

"I never said I wouldn’t help." His voice was calm, controlled. "But you should know one thing—if I step in, there’s no turning back."

Vivienne inhaled sharply. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Dominic leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "Once I handle this, Omega won’t just let you go. They’ll see you as mine."

Her heart slammed against her ribs. "And if I refuse?"

"Then find five billion pesos by yourself." His tone was indifferent, but his eyes held something deeper—something dangerous.

Vivienne clenched her jaw. She was trapped. Either accept his help and be tied to him in ways she couldn’t yet understand, or risk Jace’s life.

She hated this.

She hated that she had no choice.

After a long pause, she exhaled shakily and whispered, "Fine. Do it."

Dominic studied her for a moment before nodding. "Good choice."

Just as she was about to relax, his next words sent ice through her veins.

"In return, you’ll give me a child."

Her breath caught in her throat. "A—what?"

Dominic’s expression didn’t change. "That’s my demand. You want Jace to live? Then you’ll bear my child."

Vivienne’s entire body went cold. "You’re insane."

"I’m a businessman, Vivienne. I never make deals that don’t benefit me. You get what you want, and I get what I want. Simple."

She stared at him in shock, her mind racing. This was worse than she ever could have imagined.

"Tangina, Dominic! Ano sa tingin mo ako? Parausan? Pangbayad utang? Putangina ka!" she snapped, anger burning in her chest.

His jaw twitched, but his expression remained unreadable. "Hindi kita tinuturing na gano’n. But I don’t make deals without something in return. At alam mong hindi lang pera ang puhunan sa ganitong usapan."

She shook her head, disbelief washing over her. "Anak, Dominic? Anak?! Putangina naman! There are a million other ways to get what you want! Bakit ‘yan ang demand mo?"

His gaze darkened. "Because I want an heir. Someone to carry my name."

Vivienne let out a bitter laugh. "Mayaman ka, makapangyarihan. Pero wala kang ibang choice kundi pilitin ako? Tangina mo, Dominic."

He leaned closer, his voice dangerously soft. "I didn’t force you, Vivienne. Ikaw ang lumapit sa’kin. You asked for my help. This is my price. Take it or leave it."

Her hands balled into fists. "Putangina. Paano kung tumanggi ako?"

His eyes held no emotion. "Then I walk away. Jace deals with Omega himself. Alam mo kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya, ‘di ba?"

Pain shot through her chest. She had no choice. She couldn’t let Jace die.

She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "Anong garantiya ko na tutulungan mo talaga kami?"

Dominic smirked. "I don’t break my word. You’ll be safe, Jace will live, and Omega will be handled."

Vivienne closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, to fight, to do anything but agree.

But Jace’s battered face flashed in her mind.

She opened her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Gaano mo ako kayang protektahan, Dominic? Gaano katibay ang pangako mo?"

His gaze locked onto hers. "Hanggang dulo."

A shudder ran through her. 

She knew then—there was no turning back.