5

Chapter 5

Heart could hardly take a step as Vandros finally closed the door to the condo unit. She was now inside. She had been brought there. The unit was beautiful, very spacious, like a large family could live there. The man who bought it was obviously incredibly wealthy. Not just anyone could afford such a condo unit. Kerokeroppi wasn’t just rich; he was obscenely wealthy.

What else was she going to do, just stand here? Her mother had texted that they were close to Manila. She needed to hurry and take care of the certificate stating that she was still a virgin.

The young woman took her steps after chatting with Gigi, who was already in her new place.

Was it really a new home, or just a place for encounters? No matter what, she couldn’t do anything about it. No matter how many times she asked herself, repeated it to herself, it was over. She now belonged to a man who had a strong appetite for sex.

Heart walked. She saw several doors, three or four.

She hadn’t even asked Vandros which room she was going to stay in. Perhaps any of those rooms would do, as long as they were inside the condo unit.

Her feet guided her straight ahead as she walked. She ended up facing the middle door. She held the doorknob and turned it. It clicked.

She suddenly felt scared. She was alone. She wasn’t afraid of ghosts, but because the unit was so large, her imagination was running wild, conjuring up unpleasant and scary images.

Oh, she had really scared herself. She took a deep breath and pushed the door.

She gaped when the room’s fragrant scent greeted her.

Everything was white. It looked like a king’s bedroom. So beautiful and elegant in its simplicity. She didn’t know. Simple yet elegant. It was the first time she had seen something like this. No clutter. There was a couch at the foot of the bed, two bedside tables. There was a closet, a white sofa, a television, quite large.

She walked again towards another brown door. She opened it, revealing a beautiful shower room with a toilet. It was also white, with brown cabinets and a lavatory on top.

She didn’t enter. She closed that door and moved on to the cabinets. They were mirrors. She opened them one by one, but they were all empty. She just took out her towel and personal items. She placed her bag there and the paper bag she had brought.

She went to the bathroom and looked at the shower. She didn’t step into the shower, as she was afraid the water might be too hot and scald her. She shied away from the shower but realized there was no water. Damn! She twisted the handle but nothing happened. How was she going to shower without water?

She accidentally pressed the control valve handle, and water suddenly gushed out.

“Oh! It’s a push, pull. I’m confused. We don’t have this in Japan,” she laughed at herself. The water that came out was warm, and it made her feel weak, even though it was still morning.

She felt like a criminal awaiting her execution, as her virginity would soon be taken away.

She now held in her hand the certificate proving there were no lacerations on her hymen. She also had sleeping pills and spray.

She wondered what would happen if she woke up, even after using these. She walked along the roadside, lost in thought. She was vigilant about calls and texts, clutching her phone.

Her phone rang, and the name displayed was her boss’s. “S-Sir…” she stammered.

“Where are you? I’m passing by the condo.”

“I-I’m walking, sir. I just came from the doctor. I have a question, what if I wake up, s-sir? What about the sleeping arrangements?” She looked around in case anyone overheard, but there were no people around because it was still office hours, only 10 in the morning.

“You’ll pretend to be asleep. You’ll wear a blindfold. You won’t remove it, Heart. The contract will be terminated if you violate any rules. You’ll have to repay.”

Oh no.

“I-I won’t break the rules, sir.”

“I know. I trust you. Oh, there you are. Stop right there, Heart. I’ll get the certificate.”

She automatically stopped walking. She looked at the road and saw Vandros’s car approaching. It stopped right in front of her, and he got out. He was the most handsome Vandros she had ever seen.

She immediately handed him the certificate from the doctor.

“Buy your blindfold, Heart. Explore the condo building so you can find the dining area. If you’re hungry, get something to eat. Here’s the card. Just show it to the cashier. Everything you want is available. There’s a grocery store downstairs. You can use this card there too.”

She took the platinum-colored card from his wallet. She simply watched, without saying a word. She placed her bag there, along with the paper bag she had brought.

She went to the bathroom and looked at the bathtub. She didn’t stand under the shower, as the water might be boiling hot later, and she might be scalded.

She adjusted the valve handle, but there was no water. Damn! She was trying to figure out how she could shower without water.

She accidentally pressed the control valve handle, and water suddenly gushed out.

“Oh! It’s a push, pull. I’m confused. We don’t have this in Japan,” she laughed at herself. The water was warm, and it made her feel weak, even though it was still morning.

She felt like a criminal awaiting her execution, as her virginity would soon be taken away.

She now held in her hand the certificate proving there were no lacerations on her hymen. She also had sleeping pills and spray.

She wondered what would happen if she woke up, even after using these. She walked along the roadside, lost in thought. She was vigilant about calls and texts, clutching her phone.

Her ’hone rang, and the name displayed was her boss’s. “S-Sir…” she stammered.

“Where are you? I’m passing by the condo.”

“I-I’m walking, sir. I just came from the doctor. I have a question, what if I wake up, s-sir? What about the sleeping arrangements?” She looked around in case anyone overheard, but there were no people around because it was still office hours, only 10 in the morning.

“You’ll pretend to be asleep. You’ll wear a blindfold. You won’t remove it, Heart. The contract will be terminated if you violate any rules. You’ll have to repay.”

Oh no.

“I-I won’t break the rules, sir.”

“I know. I trust you. Oh, there you are. Stop right there, Heart. I’ll get the certificate.”

She automatically stopped walking. She looked at the road and saw Vandros’s car approaching. It stopped right in front of her, and he got out. He was the most handsome Vandros she had ever seen.

He Immediately handed over the certificate from the doctor. “Buy your fold, Heart. Go around the condo building to find the dining area. If you’re hungry, grab something to eat. Here’s the card. Just show it to the cashier. Anything you want, it’s all there. There’s a grocery store downstairs. This is what you’ll use.”

He took a platinum-colored card from his wallet. She could only watch, not saying a word. She took it and nodded.

She didn’t know if she should be thankful since all of this was covered by her service in bed.

“Maybe the rules will change. It depends on what the boss wants.”

She nodded again. If only the boss mentioned was as handsome as the Senora’s grandson, she would be at ease to some extent. Even if she was called foolish, she also wished for a good-looking man to claim her, not literally a Kerokeroppi.

Dear God. She was about to throw up even before anything happened.

“I-I was given pills. L-literally pills to not…get pregnant.”

She was awkwardly looking at her employer, who just casually nodded. It seemed Vandros was already immune to this kind of work. How many women had been in her position, who used to be waitresses for him? She couldn’t complain. She was the one who wanted it all. It wasn’t his fault.

She told the doctor that Vandros sent her there. That’s what he instructed her to do earlier. It’s like the doctor already knew what to do. She had to take the pills. It was perfect timing as her period just ended a day ago. There was a little bit yesterday, but it hardly showed up in her underwear.

“Take it.”

She was about to close her eyes again. She didn’t know anything. What if she got pregnant? But she would follow the doctor’s advice to ensure there were no mistakes.

She was naïve when it came to intimacy. She had never even watched explicit movies.

Batman was taking the plunge.

“I’ll go, Heart.” He turned around but quickly turned his head to look at her. “By the way, Lola Carmenzita already granted the request. They’ll start deducting it from your salary next month. Management will fully pay your debt for the House Credit laptop, and they’ll add it to your restaurant debt.”

“Really?” She asked with joy in her teary voice. The young woman was already on the verge of tears.

“Yes. I told her about your problem. Besides, they made a donation of one hundred thousand from her foundation.”

She jumped for joy and hugged Vandros tightly.

“Thank you!” She cried, but he just gently stroked her.

“Stay strong, Heart. You’ll move on from this. Remember, I won’t let anything harm you. Just listen to what we discussed, Tatang will survive.”

“Yes, thank you,” she let go of him and wiped her tears.

He smiled at her, then got back in his car. She watched as the car drove away. When it finally disappeared from her sight, she regained her composure.

She looked at the card in her hands and smiled.

God was with her, and she was not forsaken. A hundred thousand pesos was a significant amount of help for her father.

5.1

“BRO,” Vandros greeted Lux with a smile when he arrived at the law firm’s parking lot. He was waiting for his wife, Yana, still smoking, which was why he hadn’t gone inside. He had decided to pick her up early since he had received an invitation from his college friends to have dinner. He was the only one invited, and he was supposed to inform Diana about it. Vandros was joining them.

“Here’s what you need,” Vandros said as he handed Lux a certification from an envelope.

“This belongs to her?” Lux inquired, his eyes narrowing as he smoked and looked at the paper. He nodded after a moment. The lady in question had no lacerations. He smiled to himself, feeling safe. It seemed there were others who had come before him who were not virgins; they had used condoms a couple of times. It cost less that way. However, with his new plaything, he wouldn’t use a condom. They hadn’t met yet. It all depended on the situation.

“Give me your phone,” Vandros instructed, and Lux complied without questioning. Vandros typed something on it, following their usual routine. He saved a number and a name.

“Kapuso,” Vandros said, chuckling, making Lux laugh as well. “What’s her name… Heart?” He squinted, unsure but remembering that name tag pinned on her left breast.

Ah, crap. He recalled the woman’s body. It was enough to cause a sudden twinge of pain in his groin.

“Yes, bro. I should go ahead. Everything’s settled.”

He nodded, looking at his friend. “See you later.”

He glanced at his wristwatch. Diana’s staff began to emerge from the main door. The man had a strong physique and a self-absorbed air about him. Lux had picked up that phrase from his grandmother, who had learned it from the flamboyant characters at the salon. He had learned it as well because his grandmother used it with her friends and the household staff.

The man, Diana's employee, glanced at him. He didn’t smile. He gave a slight bow, which Lux ignored. Diana soon emerged, and he went to meet her. She simply looked at him. He kissed her on the cheek and took her bag, but she shook her head.

“Why did you come? Aren’t you busy with your work?”

“I’ll finish it tomorrow.”

“You’re just making it difficult for yourself. I can drive alone. You don’t have to pick me up.”

He didn’t say anything. A simple thank you would have made his heart swell. Diana wanted them to focus on their respective jobs. She was a workaholic. He tried to balance his time. He made sure he didn’t neglect her. Whenever she texted and needed him, he dropped everything to fulfill her requests. He had accepted Diana for who she was, serious about her career and deeply involved with her accounting firm. He couldn’t understand why she never got jealous and didn’t care if he came home in the early hours of the morning. She gave him so much freedom. She said she wanted to reciprocate the same freedom he granted her. She valued her independence and privacy, which he provided.

Lux walked Diana to the car and opened the door for her. She got in.

“Sweetie, there’s a dinner—”

“I’m tired, Lux,” she replied with a dull tone. “I have something to finish. You can go if you want. I won’t mind.”

She smiled at him, and he nodded. “I won’t go.”

He started the car and drove home.

“No, it’s okay. You can go,” she said, rummaging in her bag and taking out her phone.

He glanced at her.

She just shook her head and focused on the road. It didn’t bother him that he couldn’t attend the dinner. They were just his friends and their wives.

When they arrived home, Diana and Lux went upstairs together. He had his smartphone and messaged Vandros that they wouldn’t be able to make it to the dinner.

Vandros: What am I expecting from your wife? Lol.

Lux felt his nostrils flare. He was irritated by these kinds of comments about his wife, but there was nothing he could do because it was true. Diana never made friends with his friends.

He put his phone away and merely acknowledged his friend’s message. He approached Diana, who was texting with a bored expression. She seemed stressed from work again.

He held her waist while looking at her in the mirror. He embraced her and kissed her shoulder. His body moved involuntarily, pressing her against the mirror.

“I thought you were going out,” she said, still chatting and glancing at her phone.

“Nope,” he replied softly, kissing her neck and jaw, but Diana suddenly moved away and removed her tube top.

“You better go. I won’t be able to attend to you, Lux. I have a lot of work to finish. I have a new contract with Mariano Tours.”

He furrowed his brow and bit his lip. He couldn’t remember who owned Mariano Tours, but it sounded familiar.

“Enrico Mariano Tours, my ex-suitor, remember?”

He nodded. He remembered. He knew that Enrico had courted Diana and they had broken up when he met someone else. However, according to Enrico and his parents, he was the one who backed out of the relationship.

“I offered him my consulting agency, and he accepted it,” she said with a grin. “I’ll make so much money from it.”

“Of course. Does your work start tonight?”

“Yep,” she quickly replied and walked to the bathroom, undressing.

Diana was making him jealous. He could only watch. He couldn’t force her to make love to him. He didn’t want to be accused of rape.

“I’ll just take a shower. Help yourself after and enjoy the dinner,” she said with a grin, as if she had struck a great deal.

If he were in her place, he wouldn’t have to work. They were wealthy. He had many businesses and money. But working was Diana’s passion, and he had no right to stop her from pursuing her dreams. He was just her husband, and he didn’t own her like the women he paid for their services, using them to pass the time.

Just like now, when his masculinity was crying out and he needed to satisfy himself.

He looked at his phone and searched his contacts. He typed a message to Heart using his other SIM, which was registered under Vandros.

Lux: I’ll be there in an hour. Clean yourself. This is the boss.