A MISTRESS TO HIM

“Take a seat,” Zoe heard and slowly walked to the chair in front of her. She took a sit, but kept her gaze low, hoping that he would not recognize her.

“So, what is your name?”

“Zoey James sir,” Zoe replied, still keeping her gaze down.

“And how old are you?”

“I'm 19 years old, I'll be turning 20 in months.”

“You've only got a high school degree, I see, how did you manage to get this job?”

Zoe lifted her head a bit at the question.

“I'm an expert sir, I may not have the exact qualifications,” Zoe answered, keeping her voice neutral.

“Hmm,” Henry hummed. 

“And how much do you want this job?” He asked yet another question.

“I need this job, I have loans to pay up and my brother's exam fee needs to be paid else he won't be joining them for the exam.”

“Your needs seem essential.”

“They are.”

“But why do you keep looking down?” Henry questioned.

“I find it to be respectful, I would rather not be disrespectful by looking into your eyes,” Zoe answered, she had already thought of what to say.

Really? Henry thought and chuckled, she fisted her hands at this.

“You seem very respectful, that is nice,” Henry said.

“Unlike a lady that I ran into a few days ago, I mean quite recently at a club. She almost killed me, once I find her, I'll surely make her sleep in prison for disrespecting me.” Henry stood up as he announced.

Zoe's gasped as her breathing became faster and shorter.

“I need you to sign those papers in front of you then, it's your first pay. Make sure you read the papers before signing them, you may leave now.” Henry announced.

“Of course, and thank you,” Zoe grabbed the papers and hastened out of Henry's office. Once she was inside the elevator, she placed her hand strongly against her chest, as if squeezing it.

That…that bastard almost killed me in there. Zoe thought as she sat down on the elevator floor.

She wasn't sure her legs could carry her for long, so she decided to sit.

She closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself.

She got up when the elevator stopped and opened up, she got out to see her departmental chief waiting for her there.

“Good, I was waiting because I know you don't know your way around here. I didn't want you to miss your way, so what did he say?” Her department chief inquired.

“He… He asked me to sign this, I'll also be given my first pay after signing it.” Zoe's answered.

“That is weird,” he mumbled.

“What?”

“I mean, that is not how things work here, but maybe the rules have changed. You should sign those and return them then,” her department chief advised.

Zoe sat down in front of the desk allocated to her, she read the contract line by line and didn't find it difficult or troublesome.

She has to work there for at least three months after getting employed and paid the first salary. She has to be punctual and answer calls whenever she is needed.

Zoe didn't see this as a problem and signed them, she handed the contract over to her co-worker and begged her to take the contract to the vice president's office.

Zoe wasn't expecting the lady to agree, but the lady agreed before she could finish her sentence.

*

“So you signed the contract?” 

“Yes, I didn't find it difficult, and I just got my first salary from them,” Zoe answered Emily.

“I guess you'll have to work harder to impress them, it's a nice job. I wish I were also a computer genius like you.” Emily grunted.

“Come on, your family is rich, you shouldn't ask for anything. You are lucky.” Zoe said.

“I don't think being born into a rich family is lucky, Zoe,” Emily tried correcting.

“Yeah, try being in my shoes for once then,” Zoe answered, walking away.

***

“Have you arranged the documents I asked you to arrange?”

“Yes, sir, I have arranged them, even the pen is ready,” Daniel replied.

“Good,” Henry bobbed his head, looking happy.

“But sir, do you need to do this? This will affect you as much as it will affect her.” Daniel asked.

“It won't affect me, Daniel, it will only save me some stress of going to an inn to search for a good girl to spend the night with. This is way better,” Henry happily said.

“And with the benefits, I added to them, she should be more than grateful. But I admit that she'll greatly suffer by my hand, I'll make it so that other men won't find her desirable. I'll turn her into my tool, which should serve as a lesson to others who think they can play smart with me.

Invite her to my office tomorrow morning, I shall proceed with the deal.” Henry concluded, walking away.

*

Zoe got a call that the vice president requested her presence. 

“I'm just going to keep my head low,” she mumbled to herself as she went out of the elevator. 

She got to his office and knocked on the door, it has been a week since she started working with them, so she knows her way around some places.

“Come in,” she heard and went in. 

“Sit, miss Zoey James, I believe we have many things to discuss.” Zoe found his tone awkward, but she took a sit.

Henry brought out his document and placed it in front of her, he also handed her a pen.

“Read it and understand, then you sign it,” Henry instructed.

“What does it say?”

“It says a lot miss Zoey. For example, you becoming my mistress or going to prison for molesting me two weeks ago.” Hearing this, Zoe jumped up to her feet.

“What?” She shouted, not believing her ears.

“I'll rephrase miss Zoey James. You either agree to become my mistress and sign this or you return the money I paid for the month's salary, then go to prison and also have your lovely brother drop out of school.”

“How…you recognized me?” Zoe stared at him dumbfounded.

“Do you honestly think I was stupid? Do you think you could have qualified for the job, huh?” Henry growled.

Zoe shook her head repeatedly as she moved towards the door.

“This is not real.” She thought.

“It is real, miss Zoe, so what is your answer? Become my mistress or rot in jail?”