Chapter 4: Contractually Yours

Jem's POV

It’s been weeks since I last went home—since the night of the rain, when I discovered the longevity serum.

I’ve been sleeping in the laundry room of the restaurant where I work.

I couldn’t go home. Not after that rainy night. And not after my landlord called to tell me that a group of men in black suits had flooded the compound. They had a sketch of my face. They were looking for me.

From the way he described it, the situation was serious. They had even forced their way into my apartment to check if I was hiding inside.

The moment my landlord told me this, I didn’t need to think twice. I knew exactly who they were—the loan sharks. The company I owe money to.

Since last month, I stopped paying the 0.8% interest. I stopped picking up their calls. So I wasn’t surprised when they showed up in my house.

I’m a debtor as we speak. I can’t even count how many loans I’ve taken from different companies—and I haven’t paid back a single one.

That night, after my landlord warned me about the men, I didn’t dare go home. After grabbing the serum from the ground, I went straight to Mom’s hospital room and spent the night there.

The next day, I took the vial to a lab for testing. I needed to be sure of what that green liquid really was before giving it to mom.

I’ve been following up with the lab doctor, but they keep postponing the results. They say substances like this are rare and require additional testing to determine whether it’s safe for human consumption.

Since then, I haven’t gone home. I’ve been sleeping in the restaurant’s laundry room, working double shifts to stay out of sight.

I can’t imagine what would happen to me if those men ever got their hands on me. It’s no joke what they do to their debtors. I’ve heard they take them to abandoned houses, tie them to a chair, and start pulling off their nails one by one until they pass out.

Just imagine them pulling out my nails when all I do for a living is wash dishes—how the hell am I supposed to raise their money after they torture me like that?

No. I can’t let them catch me. I have to stay out of sight for as long as I can.

Mom doesn’t know any of this. I don’t want to burden her, so I keep telling her everything is fine—that she’ll be healthy soon.

I’m just waiting for the lab report. Once it confirms the serum truly extends life… then maybe I won’t have anything to worry about anymore.

Maybe this is the answer to all my prayers.

Except for the men in black suits still looking for me—the loan sharks.

It was 10 p.m—my closing hour. It's my last shift for the day, and my body ached as I wiped the counter one last time.

I was completely drained—and couldn't just wait to walk into the laundry room and collapse on the floor—but then, out of nowhere, my mind remembered something important.

I remembered receiving an email earlier today—I was hired for a short-term job in the city. I'd applied for the job weeks ago without much hope, but somehow, I got it.

From the description of the job, it was a birthday party—but not a normal one. It was elite. High-class. A private event mixed with a gala where world-class billionaires and powerful guests would be present. The standards were high, so everything had to be perfect.

I have no idea who was hosting the event or who my hirers were… I actually didn't bother to check it in the email I received.

All I knew was that there was a waiter job available, so I applied and I got the job.

Well, I needed the money, so that was enough reason for me.

The email I received had asked me to be available by tomorrow for venue preparations as the event itself would be held in two days time from now.

I kept rereading the email in my head just exactly as I'd received it.

Then I nodded slowly, I need to catch the evening train tonight so I can get to the location latest tomorrow. I wouldn't want to be late for such an opportunity that pays so well.

I pulled off my apron and rushed to the secretary’s desk to sign out for the day before grabbing my small backpack and sprinting out to catch a bus to the train station.

Since I’d only be staying two or three days, I didn’t really mind my clothes.

I got to the train station and boarded a train to the estate address listed in the email.

The ride took hours, and by the time I arrived, it was already early morning.

Just imagine: if I hadn’t set off early, I would’ve lost this job for being late.

I balanced my old, worn-out bag on my shoulder and hurried to the street, flagging down a cab. It drove me straight to the main estate gate—the exact address they'd emailed me.

It wasn’t a long ride, but the moment the cab pulled up in front of the massive building, I wondered if the driver had the wrong address.

I didn’t move. I just sat there, frozen.

The place was enormous—far bigger than anything I’d ever seen.

“This is… beautiful,” I breathed, my gaze lifting to the towering structure rising like a fortress against the sky.

“We’re here,” the driver said, glancing back at me.

I swallowed hard, then nodded faintly, and stepped out quietly.

The cab sped off behind me, leaving me standing by the gate, still stunned.

Before I could gather myself, two uniformed maids walked out of the building and approached me with polite, knowing smiles.

“Welcome, Jem. We’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Mr. Dante’s estate,” one of them said. “Please show us your job acceptance email for confirmation.”

“So I was at the right place?” I thought.

I was barely listening to the maids; my eyes were busy taking everything in—the height of the building and how it glittered like it was made of pure diamonds.

Wait!

Did I just hear the maid say ‘Welcome to Dante's estate?’

No, no, no… it can’t be the same Dante I’m thinking of right now.

“Dante?” The name clicked in my head.

“The same man from the rain weeks ago?”

“The same Dante… the billionaire?”

“I mean… the cursed Dante… the famous—and most feared Dante?”

All these questions raced through my mind, but I could barely answer a single one of them.

I had no idea the job application came from Dante’s table.

I didn’t even know it was Dante’s event… not until now.

“Jem, can I see your job acceptance email?” The maid asked again, her expression slowly becoming a little bit less friendly. It looked like I was wasting her time, so I shook my head sharply and immediately fumbled for my phone.

I showed her my acceptance email and she nodded once with a smile.

“Please come with us,” they said, smiling broadly. Then, without another word, they turned and walked away calmly.

I paused for a moment, hesitating—but I quickly collected myself and followed, forcing my mind out of its deep thoughts.

While I hurried behind them, one of the maids glanced over her shoulder to catch my sight, then she said to me briefly, “We’ll show you to your room now, so after you rest, all the hired workers will be briefed based on their duties here.”

I nodded my head sharply, “Okay,” I whispered with a barely audible voice. It was as if I was scared that being too loud was probably an offence here.

Honestly, I still couldn’t believe that I was inside one of Dante Williams’ estates—it felt unreal, and maybe too good to be true.

This is insane, I thought. What kind of achievement is this?

One of the maids gently took my old bag.

“Please come with us, Jem. Guests will start arriving soon. Everything must be ready before the event day.” She announced as she walked me into the silver elevator that was just at the end of the hallway..

We rode up to the fourth floor.

A few seconds later, the elevator came to a stop on the fourth floor, and the doors dinged softly as they slid open.

“Come! We'll show you to your room!” One of the maids announced again before they both stepped out of the elevator and continued The journey down the hallway.

I followed them quickly, though keeping up with their pace wasn’t easy.

At times, I slowed down, distracted by random details I couldn’t seem to look away from.

They stopped in front of a door and opened it without hesitation.

“You’ll be staying here for the two days you’ll be working,” one of the maids said, her tone calm and effortlessly formal. “Make sure you take proper care of yourself. There’s a cafeteria at the left end of the hallway—eat whenever you’re hungry. Don’t restrict yourself.”

After a brief pause, the second maid stepped forward, gracefully continuing from where the first maid had stopped.

“Use this time to shower and rest. Tomorrow will be demanding, and every worker is expected to be at their best.”

Again, I was barely paying attention to the maids. I was busy looking around the room they'd just brought me in.

The room looked like an expensive hotel suite—clean, quiet… and maybe just too perfect for an ordinary part time worker like me.

I couldn't speak.

I just stood there in disbelief.

The maids might have noticed I wasn't listening, so they carefully dropped my bag on the bed and slipped out of the room without saying a single word.

Once they left, I dropped onto the bed and let out a loud exhale.

The mattress was soft—too soft, and before I even realized it, I'd already fallen asleep.

*******Evening Time********

The loud noise came out of nowhere, snapping me awake as my body jerked in alarm.

I sat up immediately, looking completely confused and disoriented.

Then I checked my wrist watch.

“Fuck!” I cursed, realizing it was past 10 p.m already.

The noises haven’t died down, causing the once-quiet estate to come alive with movement and voices.

I was curious, I didn't even know when I rushed out of my room and into the hallway to see what was happening and that was when I suddenly bumped into a maid who was trying to run through the hallway as well.

“Ouch, I'm sorry—” I apologized immediately.

However, the maid didn't care to even digest what I'd to say, she flung me a sharp look and said;

“You’re a servant and you’re standing there?” she snapped. “Get downstairs. Mara is here!”

I blinked, confused. “Who’s Mara?” I asked with furrowed brows.

The maid stopped again—this time her movements were dramatic, clearly portraying her level of surprise and shock.

She turned to me sharply. “You don’t know?” Her tone was full of disbelief. “Mara. Dante’s successor. She has arrived,” the maid finally said with a boldness that suddenly made me feel oddly stupid for not knowing whoever this Mara was supposed to be.

The maid didn’t say another word. She merely hissed and rushed away.

It was a few seconds after she'd left that the name suddenly hit me strangely.

Mara! I thought.

That's the same name as my ex!

I hate that I'll have to be around another person named Mara in this house—it’ll only make me remember my ex.

A strange, uneasy feeling suddenly settled in my chest, like something about this wasn’t sitting right.

I suddenly felt weak and terrified that I didn't even know when I slammed my door shut and sluggishly went downstairs.

But by the time I reached the lower floor, it was already over

Dante's successor, whose name happened to be Mara, had already made her entrance—bodyguards and maids flooded the space behind her.

I couldn’t see her clearly—she’d already disappeared into the main hallway.

I exhaled slowly, shook my head, and turned back toward my room.

I didn't know why, but for some reason, I didn't completely feel safe in this house.