Bound to My Godfather Billionaire (18+)

 THIRD PERSON POV

The hum of air conditioning filled the spacious lobby of Cortez Holdings headquarters in Quezon City, but parang hindi ito sapat para palamigin ang init na gumagapang sa buong katawan ni Althea Virelle Montez.

She stood near the glass doors, hands tightly gripping the strap of her bag, her heart beating fast like it wanted to burst out of her chest. 

Every step she took towards the private elevator felt heavier, parang may nakatapak sa bawat paa niya. She never imagined na darating siya sa puntong ito na kailangan niyang humarap sa taong kilala ng lahat bilang isa sa pinakamakapangyarihan, pinakamayaman, at pinakamapanindig balahibong tao sa buong bansa. Lucien Dravik Cortez. Her godfather. And the man she was about to ask for help, kahit alam niyang hindi ito libre.

Pagpasok niya sa elevator, she pressed the top floor button. The doors slid shut, cutting off the view of the busy streets below. Cars rushed by like tiny toys, people walked fast, unaware na sa taas ng building na ito, a deal was about to be made that would change her life forever.

Ilang sandali pa, bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at bumungad sa kanya ang isang malawak na office space. It was elegant but intimidating dark wood furniture, paintings that looked expensive, and a huge window wall showing the entire skyline of Quezon City. 

Sa gitna ng kwarto, nakatayo ang lalaking nasa likod ng lahat ng ito. Lucien was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that was neatly styled, and eyes so sharp parang kaya nilang basahin ang bawat lihim na tinatago mo. He was talking on the phone, his voice low and firm, at kahit hindi niya masyadong marinig ang sinasabi nito, ramdam niya ang awtoridad sa bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig nito.

Althea stood still near the entrance, not daring to move closer hangga’t hindi pa ito natatapos. Nang ibaba ni Lucien ang telepono, dahan-dahan itong humarap sa kanya. A small smirk played on his lips, pero hindi ito umabot sa mga mata niya those dark, intense eyes that always made her feel small, no matter how old she got.

"Well, well," Lucien said, his voice smooth but carrying that familiar edge of power. "Look who finally decided to visit me. Althea Virelle. My beautiful goddaughter."

Althea swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. "Magandang hapon po, Tito Lucien."

He walked towards her, each step slow and deliberate, parang isang mandaragit na lumalapit sa kanyang biktima. "Tito? That’s what you call me now? After years of not showing up, after ignoring every invitation I sent? Ngayon lang ka nagpakita, at tatawagin mo pa akong Tito?"

"Hindi naman po sa ganun," sagot ni Althea, her voice trembling a little despite her best efforts. "May pinagdaanan lang po kami ng Mama ko nitong mga nakaraang taon. Alam niyo naman po ang nangyari sa negosyo ni Papa..."

Lucien waved a hand dismissively. "I know everything, Althea. Alam ko na halos mawala na ang lahat ng meron kayo. Alam ko na ang ospital kung saan nakaconfine ang nanay mo ay malapit nang huminto sa paggamot kapag hindi nabayaran ang utang. Alam ko rin na wala na kayong ibang mapupuntahan kundi ako."

Althea felt tears prick at the back of her eyes, pero pinigilan niya ito. She refused to cry in front of him. "Kaya nga po ako nandito. Kailangan ko po ng tulong niyo. Pwede niyo po bang ipahiram sa akin ang perang kailangan ko? Babayaran ko po, pangako. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa inyo, gagawin ko ang lahat—"

Lucien laughed softly, pero walang saya sa tunog nito. He stopped right in front of her, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to look straight into his eyes. "Ang lahat? Sigurado ka ba diyan, bata ka pa? Hindi mo pa alam kung ano ang hihingin ko kapalit ng tulong ko."

"Kahit ano po," Althea said firmly, kahit ang puso niya ay parang pinipiga na ng takot. "Kahit ano po, basta mailigtas ko lang si Mama."

Lucien let go of her chin and walked over to his desk, getting a folded piece of paper. He handed it to her, his expression unreadable. "Basahin mo ito. Kung handa kang pumirma, matatanggap mo agad ang halagang kailangan mo. Hindi lang iyan—tatakpan ko rin ang lahat ng utang ng pamilya mo, at sisiguraduhin kong maayos ang lahat para sa nanay mo."

Althea took the paper with shaking hands. Binuksan niya ito at binasa ang nakasulat. As she read, her eyes grew wider, and her hands started to tremble even more. It was a contract—an agreement stating that she would work exclusively for him for the next five years, handling all his personal and business-related errands, traveling with him wherever he needed to go, and following every single order he gave, no questions asked.

"Lucien... ibig sabihin nito ay magiging parang alipin ko ang sarili ko sa loob ng limang taon?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lucien leaned against his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. "In simple terms, yes. But think of it this way—you get everything you need, at wala kang ibang gagawin kundi sumunod sa akin. Hindi naman iyon masama, hindi ba? Besides, alam kong matalino ka. Maganda ka rin. I’m sure you’ll be useful to me in more ways than one."

Althea bit her lip, fighting the urge to run away. Gusto niyang tumakbo palabas ng opisina na ito, gusto niyang kalimutan na nakilala niya ang lalaking ito. Pero naalala niya ang mukha ng nanay niya, naalala niya ang mga doktor na nagsasabing kailangan ng agarang paggamot, at alam niyang wala siyang ibang pagpipilian.

"Kung pipirma ako..." she started, looking up at him with teary eyes. "Hindi mo sasaktan ang nanay ko? Hindi mo gagawin ang anumang makakapinsala sa kanya?"

Lucien smiled, and this time, there was a hint of something softer in his gaze—pero hindi pa rin ito sapat para mawala ang takot na nararamdaman niya. "I swear on my name, Althea. Walang mangyayaring masama sa nanay mo habang nasa pangangalaga ko kayo. Basta’t gagawin mo ang trabaho mo nang maayos."

Althea took a deep breath, then reached for the pen he offered her. Her hand shook as she signed her name at the bottom of the page. When she was done, Lucien took the contract and looked at it, a satisfied look crossing his face.

"Good," he said, putting the paper inside a drawer. "Now, the first thing you need to do is attend the gala tonight. It’s being held at one of my hotels here in Quezon City. Maraming mahahalagang tao ang pupunta, at gusto kong nandiyan ka sa tabi ko. Bilang aking assistant, at bilang aking goddaughter—ipapakita ko sa lahat na protektado ka na mula ngayon."

"Ngayon na po?" Althea asked, surprised. "Pero wala akong damit, wala akong kahit ano—"

Lucien chuckled. "Huwag kang mag-alala. I already took care of everything. My assistant will bring you to the boutique downstairs. Piliin mo ang anumang gusto mo, lahat ay bayad na. And make sure you look your best. Ayokong mapahiya sa harap ng mga kasama ko."

Just then, the door to his office opened, at pumasok ang isang babae na napakaganda, napakaganda na parang gawa sa pinakamagandang materyales. Mireya Solstice Aragon. She was tall, with long wavy hair and eyes that sparkled, wearing a dress that looked expensive and perfectly fitted her figure. She walked towards Lucien with a confident stride, at hinawakan nito ang braso ng lalaki nang parang natural lang na gawin iyon.

"Lucien, darling," Mireya said, her voice sweet and smooth, pero may halong bagay na hindi matukoy ni Althea. "Kanina pa kita hinahanap sa ibaba. Ang daming tao na gustong makipag-usap sa iyo."

Then she turned to Althea, her smile still there pero mas malamig na ngayon. "And who is this lovely young lady?"

Lucien put an arm around Mireya’s waist casually, and Althea felt a strange twinge in her chest—parang hindi niya gustong makita ang ganitong eksena, kahit alam niyang wala naman siyang karapatang makaramdam ng ganun.

"This is Althea Montez," Lucien introduced, looking at Althea with a glint in his eyes. "My goddaughter, and my new personal assistant. She’ll be working closely with me from now on."

Mireya’s smile faltered for just a second, pero agad din itong nakabawi. "Oh? Really? That’s wonderful! Ang ganda naman ng anak ng kaibigan mo. Sigurado akong magkakasundo tayo."

"Oo naman po," Althea said politely, though she felt uncomfortable under Mireya’s scrutinizing gaze. "Masaya po akong makilala kayo, Ms. Aragon."

"Just call me Mireya, dear," the woman said, patting Althea’s hand lightly. "We’re practically family, aren’t we? Especially since Lucien takes care of everyone he considers important."

Before Althea could answer, the door opened again, at pumasok ang isang lalaking ibang-iba kay Lucien pero may sarili ring uri ng kagandahan at awtoridad. Rafael Zephyr Navarro. He had messy dark hair and warm brown eyes, wearing a suit that looked relaxed but still expensive. He was smiling, pero nang makita niya si Althea, huminto siya saglit at tumingin nang maigi sa kanya, parang nakita niya ang isang bagay na hindi inaasahan.

"Sorry I’m late, guys," Rafael said, walking towards them. "May inayos lang ako sa ibang branch. Lucien, ang daming tawag tungkol sa—"

Then he stopped when he saw Althea properly. "Wait... Althea Montez? Is that really you? It’s been years!"

Althea blinked, surprised. She remembered Rafael—he was a friend of Lucien’s, and she met him a few times when she was younger. "Kuya Rafael? Hindi ko po inakalang makikita ko kayo dito."

Rafael laughed, stepping closer and giving her a gentle hug. "Of course you’d still call me that. Ikaw talaga, hindi nagbabago. You’ve grown up so much! Ang ganda mo na lalo."

Lucien cleared his throat, and the air in the room suddenly felt tenser. "Tama na ang kwentuhan, Rafael. We have business to discuss. And Althea has things to do before tonight’s event."

Rafael pulled away, pero hindi nawala ang ngiti niya, kahit alam niyang napansin niya ang pagbabago sa tono ni Lucien. "Alright, alright. Just happy to see her, that’s all. So, you’re working for Lucien now? Mag-iingat ka, ha? Hindi siya madaling pasunurin."

Althea glanced at Lucien, who was watching them with a cold expression. "Opo. Gagawin ko po ang lahat ng makakaya ko."

"Good," Lucien said sharply. "Now go, Althea. My assistant is waiting for you outside. Don’t take too long. Ayokong mahuli ka para sa gabi."

Althea nodded, giving them a small bow before walking towards the door. As she left, she could feel the three pairs of eyes watching her—Lucien’s intense and calculating gaze, Mireya’s sharp and suspicious look, and Rafael’s warm but concerned stare.

Paglabas niya ng opisina at pagpasok ulit sa elevator, huminga siya nang malalim, parang nawalan siya ng hangin sa loob ng kwartong iyon. She looked down at her hands, remembering the feeling of signing her life away on that piece of paper. 

She didn’t know what the future held, didn’t know what kind of trials and challenges Lucien would put her through. But as long as it meant saving her mother, she was willing to face anything.

And deep down, despite the fear and the uncertainty, she felt a strange spark of determination. She may have bound herself to the so-called godfather billionaire, but she promised herself one thing hindi siya magpapababa. She would survive this, and maybe, just maybe, she would find a way to be free again someday.

Back inside the office, after Althea left, Mireya turned to Lucien, her voice no longer sweet but sharp and demanding. "Lucien, why did you hire her? Do you know how much trouble she could bring? She’s just a helpless girl with nothing to offer."

Lucien looked out the window, watching the elevator doors close far below, a smirk forming on his lips. "That’s exactly why I hired her, Mireya. She has nothing, which means she has everything to lose. And people who have everything to lose... they are the most obedient ones."

Rafael watched him carefully, frowning slightly. "Lucien, don’t do anything stupid. Althea is a good girl. Huwag mong gamitin lang siya para sa mga plano mo."

Lucien turned to him, his eyes cold and dangerous. "I do whatever I want, Rafael. And don’t forget that. Althea Montez is mine now. Every step she takes, every move she makes... it all belongs to me."

And somewhere in the busy streets of Quezon City, as Althea walked towards the boutique with Lucien’s assistant, she had no idea of the web she had just walked into no idea that her life was about to become more complicated, more dangerous, and more passionate than she ever could have imagined.