Tony sat at a meeting alongside many executives. They had been eyeing a big contract – no, a huge contract. It was with a top company that just announced skyrocketing financial results last quarter. In fact, that company hit a record high in the entire country. And they wanted their firm to start looking through its finances as its board began to consider becoming a public company.
Of all days, the meeting had to happen minutes after "that" meeting. "That" excruciatingly frustrating meeting with Hannah.
"Are you okay, Tony? You seem upset," one of the executives called out. That brought Tony back to the present. He gave him a slight nod and a quick smile. His eyes went straight to Mariza, who just stared at him.
He was Mariza's favorite – not in the personal sense; more like a business partner. He noticed earlier on that Mariza's personality resonated with his, and he took that as a sign for him to seize a chance. Mariza, as if understanding his cue, had opened the gates wide for him. Wherever she was, she took him with her, as if he were a business partner. Likewise, whenever he needed to sign or close a deal, she was right by him, offering her insights freely.
Because of that closeness, people in the office had been talking. They called him "opportunist," "toy boy," or even "accomplice." He wanted to clear things out, without telling Mariza. Somehow, she appeared to have known anyway. She appeared in his office one day – on the day he had wanted to execute his plans – and she threatened to break off any relations with him if he went ahead with his plans.
So, people kept on talking, but at the same time, more people (important people) came into his life. He and Mariza had gone as far as having spent Christmas dinners with government officials when Mariza was introduced later on with the then deputy treasurer who had become close friends with one of Mariza's batchmates. Mariza openly introduced him as her apprentice or "little brother" and rebuffed all connotations that linked them romantically.
Consequently, Mariza and Tony were still gossiped about in the office as lovers, but outside of it, they were comrades-in-arms. That was fine with Tony. He began to care less about what other people thought. After all, the office was just a small space for him and Mariza. Outside of it, they rubbed elbows with people with a purpose.
Since then, Tony hadn't been interested in anyone in the office other than Mariza. All interactions he had had while remaining by her side, literally, opened many opportunities for him. He had even begun closing deals without needing her to be physically present.
That was until that fateful evening. He found a group of staff in a circle late in the evening, which was quite rare for that organization. Tony may be quite new, but he had been around long enough to know that no one in the office liked overtime. Pretty much everyone went out as soon as it was five o'clock.
Kelvin, one of the staff members whom Mariza was fond of, was there. They were laughing and talking, but Kelvin looked perplexed, even frustrated. That was how he walked right into the trap of an affair.
When he proposed it, Hannah pretended to be skeptical, acting as if he was the one dragging her into something illegal. Now, she had done a list of dos and don'ts for their "affair". Tony agrees to all except one – he was not allowed to have sex. In general. No one during their "relationship" – neither any woman in the world nor her – especially her. If he doesn't agree to that preposterous "agreement," Hannah threatens quitting the entire "affair." What the hell?
When he told Mariza about it, she laughed out loud.
"It was karma," she just said, while shaking her head. "Of all the girls to choose from in this damned office, it was Hannah. Unbelievable. I bet that girl is a virgin, and that makes you the wolf."
Tony just shook his head in disbelief and part regretted he ever told a person like Mariza.
"You chose her because you wanted to know how it would be like to sleep with a virgin, didn't you?"
"No!"
Mariza just raised a brow as she eyed him.
"Fine, I was curious," Tony sighed.
The dragon lady laughed out loud once again.
"It's not even funny," he muttered under his breath.
Remembering the whole deal was frustrating enough. Not finding a way out was even more so.
Tony could practically be described as asleep throughout the entire meeting, since he couldn't recall a single word exchanged among the executives. How the hell could one woman – drab as she was – occupy his mind for 90 minutes? It was something he couldn't explain, not even to himself, and that only made his mood more sour.
His cellphone beeped as he turned off the do not disturb mode. He realized the drab woman had been texting her.
"You haven't signed the agreement!"
Tony closed his eyes, trying to control his temper. He had to keep looking like he's in good spirits, or another executive will ask again.
He turned back on the do not disturb mode.
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Tony returned to his office and found Hannah seated at the meeting table, waiting quietly as if she had been there for some time. He smirked. "Why are you here? People will talk, which is something you don't want them to do, right?"
"You haven't signed the agreement!"
"What if I just don't sign this at all? Just give me back my money," Tony said.
Realizing she actually held the shorter end of the stick, Hannah quickly came up with something. "I-I'll use that to tell everyone you threatened me into having sex with you… using your money!" she blurted out. She resisted the urge to pat herself on the back for coming up with such a clever idea at the last minute.
Tony just smirked. "Would anybody believe you?"
Hannah blinked and looked around, as if the answers—anything but the obvious—could be found somewhere in the room.
"Why is this such a big deal?" Tony sighed with his arms crossed, and the blue orbs of his eyes turned to ceiling, where Hannah wasn't in sight.
"It's non-negotiable!" Hannah stressed. "If you don't agree, then I don't agree to this whole hullabaloo of a relationship. At all!"
"When we first met—" He stood up, blocking her way as she started for the door. "I believe you were looking for someone to sleep with. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to finally fulfill your birthday wish?"
"What? No!"
"What do you mean 'no'? That was what I was told, that was why I was there," he said.
"What?"
"Christine said you're looking for a guy to try experimenting stuff with—"
"I wasn't looking for a one night stand when I said that! I was looking for a date. A real one," Hannah said. "Why am I even trying to explain to you?"
Then she remembered why—she was missing his $600. Like a typical scammer. Hannah held her temple and sighed.
"How about we do this?" Tony said. "I'll keep my hands off you for six months. If you don't have feelings for me, fine, but if you do, then how about trying an actual relationship with me? Let's date for real."
That actually sounded fair, Hannah thought.
"Okay," Hannah said, without giving it any more thought. That was what she had been looking for, after all.
Tony picked up his phone and edited their "contract" to include the specific phrase. He signed it, then sent her a copy to sign.
Hannah looked at her phone when it beeped and was impressed to see the updated contract. She signed it.
"Great!" Tony smiled, feeling good about himself upon seeing the completed "contract." That was when Hannah wondered if she had just signed a contract with the devil.