Chapter 4 The Contract

• It was in his hands.
• He knew it and expressed it with his arrogant attitude, and I knew it too. The panic in my eyes gave me away.
• I didn't know how I had ended up there, but I was. I was in his hands and I couldn't imagine how much. At that moment, I would have really liked to know, and that would have prevented everything that came afterwards… But I had no way of knowing anything other than my compromised situation.
• I had no choice but to nod, confirming for both of us what was already more than clear, and at the same time accepting whatever he was proposing.
• Who accepts something without knowing what it is?… Well, the desperate like me. And I must say… the naive like me.
• That man knew he had committed a crime. He had watched it all unfold from his privileged front-row seat and had done nothing to help me avoid getting involved, rather he had waited for it to happen, just as he needed it to happen, in order to use it to his advantage. He had manipulated the situation and I was certain that he could make it appear as if I had done it, if necessary.
• He had taken care of firing me from my job without my permission. He had prepared countless situations to prevent me from refusing and to put me under his absolute control. And finally, I came to the conclusion that if I were to come out of all this unscathed, I could no longer go back to the bar. Or to my previous life, no matter how miserable it was.
• Running away would be an exhausting option, especially for someone with hardly any resources and without solid plans to do it.
• And the more I stubbornly opposed him, I was sure that he would put more things against me just to achieve his goal. No one who took an event like the one we were experiencing so seriously allowed loose ends or unfinished endings that deviated from their initial interests.
• I still didn't know what he wanted to buy, but it was a fact that I had something to sell to him for him to pursue me like he did.
• The police had come because of an anonymous call.
• Alexander himself opened the door and from there, he looked at me intimidatingly and dangerously, right next to the officers who were asking me if there was a problem because they were sent to the site due to a supposed public disturbance.
• His gaze and his sardonic smile told me that the future of my life depended on his response.
• And he immediately responded when he saw me sigh resignedly, accepting his proposal with my facial expression.
• Knowing that I had no options and at his absolute mercy, he told them that there was no further disturbance in that house, only the one caused by the lovers we were.
• Damn cynical expert liar!
• —My girlfriend and I are sharing a moment… —he stopped, causing intrigue —… defining for our lives—, he lied coldly —and maybe, the argument got a little out of hand, but actually, everything's fine —, officer.
• The officer looked at us, observing the difference in our appearance.
• He, elegant and with an undeniable millionaire presence, in the middle of a run-down house, with a girlfriend who was indeed pretty but looked more like a maid than the girlfriend of someone like him.
• When I saw him walk towards me, wrap his arms around my waist, and press my body against his, talking into my mouth, I couldn't help but hold my breath.
• We looked into each other's eyes, burning with fury. I placed my hands on his arms, and his hands moved up my back, savoring the skin with his fingertips. My clothes allowed him to feel my touch directly on my skin.
• His nose brushing against our visual challenge and those eyes fixed on mine tasted like fire, lust, and desire.
• I don't know why, because in reality, his coldness didn't fit into that passionate moment.
• —So, my love, do you accept?
• He asked me, making it seem like he was possibly proposing to me, or something similar.
• The damn police officers seemed to be watching a romantic movie, they just needed to hold hands and kiss their knuckles, letting out sighs of lovers.
• Damn idiots who were unable to notice the coercion in the scene.
• —You know I do, my love.
• I pronounced those words with total conviction, knowing that he would be my life from now on. Because evidently, my life belonged to him now.
• We stared at each other for a short while longer and when I saw him intentionally getting closer to my mouth, I trembled.
• The impact was inexplicable.
• A mixture of cold and heat, burning embers melting through the ice, consuming each other.
• The strangest thing was that it all came from him. As icy as it was warm. As cold as it was fiery. So him without being him.
• A kiss with eyes open. Eyes that screamed so much without being able to say anything. Scared and astonished eyes, eyes that promised things that shouldn't be promised, especially by people who despised each other like we did… Or at least, we were supposed to.
• A kiss without tongues, short but deep. Faces held still and uncontrolled sighs. A confusing kiss that had no explanation and we didn't try to find one either. Just a simple kiss.
• Carefully, I separated our mouths and we looked at each other for a few more seconds, until the agents responsible for my humiliation apologized and left my house, leaving me alone with Mr. McGregor.
• —Would you mind letting go of me? —his hands still held me. They seemed to have anchored themselves to my body and I didn't know how I felt about that.
• That simple question took away the nonexistent magic. It was like when you believe you're feeling something that you know is impossible.
• When his wrists released my silhouette, he put them in the pockets of his suit, leaving only the elegant watch outside. Undoubtedly a gold Rolex.
• I ran the back of my hand across my mouth and wiped away any imaginary trace of his lips on mine.
• That gesture of disdain did not go unnoticed by him; however, it didn't seem to matter to him much.
• —Take only personal documents and anything important to you” he said disdainfully and gestured for me to hurry up.
• There were so many things I wanted to know, but I had very little control over the situation underground. Almost none, in fact. I would remain without knowing the main thing… What the hell did he want to buy?
• I closed up the little house I had and only took what he had indicated. I added a few other things, including a small number of underwear and some worn-out clothes.
• The charger for my ancient cell phone, which almost seemed to be from before our era, and not much else.
• I ran my hands along the worn walls of that house, which had been the only space where I felt at ease, while bidding a sorrowful farewell to the last thing I could hold onto aside from my memories.
• My parents had brought me to this town when I was young, and although we hadn't made many friendships, this house did hold some stories.
• Letting go of something so personal, like the house that contains most of your essence, your growth, memories…, is hard. Sad. Desolating. Especially if that story is familial and profound.
• When I descended the stairs, I saw him at the bottom, waiting for me, and I felt a lack of air.
• How could someone so sensual be so cruel?
• How could that godlike face belong to a demon?
• And how could I fixate on something like that?… In a moment like that, and in a man like him?
• —Stop staring at me and move, I don't have all day to wait for you and you have to sign the contract —just hearing it, crude, cruel, cold and without apparent emotion, I felt my bag fall to the ground in response to my anger and hitting my shoes on the wooden steps, I reached his height, one step above his position, of course. This guy was huge.
• —We're not talking about any contract —I said, looking into those damn blue eyes. Pools of icy sea that drowned you in their intense vastness.
• —Anything negotiable requires a contract —he pointed out with his hand for me to go to the dining room of my own house.
• He even had the false courtesy of pulling out the chair for me to sit like an educated and courteous gentleman.However, his absurd trademark of chivalry didn't fool me —. In two months, it will be my birthday —he began to say without taking a seat, waiting for me to finally do so —, it will be a Monday and that's why, the previous Saturday, we'll have a party, you and I will say goodbye on Sunday and on Monday, my purchase will be made," he was so arrogant that he took everything for granted, he had it all planned out —.I'll take it as your birthday gift, sweetheart.
• —Why do you call me sweetheart?.
• I asked, looking at the papers in front of me once I finally sat down.
• —You don't want to know — he replied with a smile. He walked around behind me and leaned, placing a hand on the table casually —.It turns out that I do want to know.
• I dared to meet his eyes and we both endured the warlike gazes we exchanged.
• —Because you are my sweetheart —he evaded the question. And ended up saying absolutely nothing —I still don't understand.
• —Better for you —he replied curtly.
• —That answer doesn't satisfy me.
• —I'm not interested in satisfying you —I felt a double meaning in that response.
• —You could speak more seriously —I politely requested. However, I narrowed my eyes at him.
• —Just because you don't understand what I'm saying doesn't mean I'm not answering your question —he was calling me an idiot, when he was the idiot.
• —Why are you so arrogant?
• —Because I am…
• At least he said the last part sincerely.
• I decided to suspend my counterargument. It was clear that I would be wasting my time if I did.
• Finally, he sat down in front of me. He took a pen out of his jacket and forcefully placed it on the old table.
• —You can verify what I'm about to say if you read, but I'll make it simpler —I listened, knowing that there was no possibility of refusing to sign —,the conditions are few but non-negotiable—I nodded —,during this time, you will sleep in my bed, take care of your health, eat well, exercise daily, and have no vices. Speak only when necessary and above all, don't try to understand anything… because you won't.
• —I'm not going to sleep with you —I said firmly, emphasizing the only thing that terrified me the most.
• —You will do it every night —he was about to speak and he prevented me with his speech —. If you're worried about sex, don't worry, I'm not interested in fucking you —the way he pronounced that word and looked at my figure while doing so sent shivers down my spine —.As I was saying —he scolded me with his gestures —,you will live with me and I will be the only man in your life —that sounded strange to me —. You won't go out if it's not with me and I don't want you to see anyone without my permission. Your body will be mine, just to look at, I don't intend to touch it, but I don't want you to hide it from me.
• That left me in shock. I didn't know if I could be naked in front of this man. Just him, who was as terrifying as he was desired.
• My inflamed brain warned me that there was no other choice, that I could show myself naked because I had no traumas and I was beautiful, but God help me if he touched me.
• We looked at each other for a moment, weighing my absent response. What could I say? There was nothing that could prevent me from signing the papers. Only one thing mattered and that would be the deciding factor.
• He looked at me uneasily.
• —Will you tell me now what I have to sell you?
• I asked, he shook his head without answering.
• So I decided that if his purchase was so important, I had to reevaluate my sale.
• —I will ask you two questions and request one thing in exchange for signing this and complying with what you demand of me, which is not little, considering that I don't even know what it is —I said, praying that he would be willing to compromise. I knew there was no turning back, but I had to try.
• —These will be two questions that I will answer because I want to. But don't get me wrong, Loreine –how well my name sounded on his mysterious lips —.I don't answer to anyone. Never…
• I couldn't stop looking at that mouth, those immaculate teeth, that face as hard as it was beautiful.
• Damned being!
• —Do I already possess what I am going to sell you?
• My question was basically to ensure that he didn't want a child of mine. Although he said we wouldn't have sex, there are other ways to have children, and I would never sell that. I'd prefer jail.
• —Yes! his brief response didn't give any clues, but at least it answered my question.
• He waited for the other question, and I continued.
• —What will we say when your family or acquaintances ask about me, about who I am assuming they see me?— at least they would see me on the day of the birthday party, I supposed.
• —No one would dare to ask —he affirmed without hesitation and with complete conviction —,my life, my decisions, and my purchases are unquestionable. I don't give explanations. They never gave them to me, and today I don't have to give them.
• That response tasted like a claim, more for his life than for me. It was almost an unheard cry for help. There was resentment and bitterness hidden behind that answer of his. I knew it, it was evident —.Now ask for whatever you're going to ask and sign. I want to sleep.
• Once I agreed, he would give me a future and a prison sentence of two months. I felt like a prostitute. But at least I wouldn't have to sleep with him. Sexually speaking.
• —I want ten million dollars on your birthday!
• I spoke quickly, thinking that after my obscene financial demand, he would object, but…
• —Done. Sign!
• The speed of his response left me devoid of assumptions. There was no more time to think of more excuses, and I believed he wouldn't allow me to waste any more of his expensive time.
• I didn't read anything, because someone so meticulous and with such a well-studied plan wouldn't manipulate me with the most banal part of this story. Everything had already been said, and what remained unsaid wouldn't be pronounced by him. He had made that abundantly clear.
• Signing there, I assumed that I was losing something valuable that I didn't know I had, but obviously I did.
• I could only hope that I wouldn't miss it too much on the day he sold it. Whatever it was.