Chapter 3: Forced Agreement

Odette's POV

“Please, let me go,” I said as I stared back at him. “Or at least untie me."

Sinenyasan niya ang isa sa mga tauhan niya at agad naman itong lumapit upang kinalagan ako. Minasahe ko ang palapulsuhan ko dahil na rin sa mahigpit na pagkakatali sa akin. Tumingala ako ng makita kong tumayo si Nathan.

"Richard.”

Dali dali namang pumasok ang taong tinawag niya, “Boss, the room is ready."

“Good," Nathan shortly replied before looking at me again.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong binuhat. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang iyapos ang dalawang kamay sa leeg niya. “What are you doing?"

"I won't let you stay here,” he whispered into my ears.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid, ngayon ay naglalakad kami sa isang madilim na hallway. Walang nagsasalita sa amin, ang tanging ingay lang na naririnig ko ay ang mga yapak ni Nathan at ang kalmadong pintig ng puso niya. Sa hindi koi malamang dahilan ay kanina ko pa pinipigilan ang paghinga ko.

Sa dulo ng hallway ay may hagdan na inakyat ni Nathan, hindi nagtagal ay sumalubong sa amin ang liwanag. Napapikit ako at hinayaang mag-adjust ang paningin bago muling tignan ang paligid.

“Is this your mansion?" I asked out of curiosity.

“Yeah."

“Ahh," hindi ko na alam ang susunod kong sasabihin dahil mukha siyang wala sa mood.

Mukhang ang kaninang pinanggalingan namin ay ang basement ng mansion. Kung susukatin ay mas malaki ito ng dalawang beses kaysa sa mansion ni Master. Hindi ko mapigilang mamangha. Pinaghalong vintage at modern ang interior ng mansion.

Nagtungo kami sa bifurcated staircase. Ang kaliwang hagdan ang inakyat ni Nathan, panibagong hallway ang tinahak namin at tumigil lang siya ng marating namin ang panghuling pinto. Binuksan niya ito at tumambad sa paningin ko ang malaking kwarto.

Merong malaking kama, may sofa sa harap ng malaking television, may dalawang pinto rin na sa tingin ko ay bathroom at walk-in closet. Meron ding terrace na kita mula sa glass door.

Gabi na pala.

Binababa niya ako sa kama, “You can stay here. I’ll call a maid to bring you food while you wash yourself. There are already clothes in the closet.” Turo niya sa kaliwang pinto. “I’ll be back when you're done."

"Okay. Thank you.”

Nang makalabas siya ng kwarto ay napahiga ako sa kama at napapadyak. Argh, ganito ba talaga ang kidnapping? Alam kong may history naman kami, pero bakit parang ang casual casual lang namin sa isa't isa?

He should be torturing me, starving me, letting me stay in that dark room. He should be rough, dangerous, and treat me harshly.

“Rough…” Ginulo ko ang buhok ko. "Aish, I should just change like what he said."

Dumeretso ako sa banyo at naligo. Pagkatapos ko ay pumasok lang ako sa walk-in closet, nagulat ako ng makitang puno ito ng iba't ibang klaseng damit. Sure bang nasa tamang kwarto ako at hindi kwarto ng iba?

“There's even lingerie here? Geez…” I commented when I saw it in one of the cabinets. At the end, I chose the pink silk pajama set so I could be comfortable while sleeping.

Habang nagsusuklay ako ay may kumatok, “Come in."

“Good evening, ma'am. Here's your dinner," bati ng maid na pumasok.

Tinignan ko lang siya mula sa salamin ng vanity table kung saan ako nakaupo at pinapatuyo ko ang buhok gamit ang blower na nakita ko kanina.

"You may go, thank you.”

"Yes, ma'am. Call me when you're done.”

Tumayo na ako at tinungo ang mesa kung saan inilapag ng katulong yung pagkain. Come to think of it, hindi pa ako nakakakain simula kaninang umaga.

“Hmm, it's delicious,” I said as I savored the food in front of me.

I was almost finished eating when Nathan entered the room. He sat on the chair across from me.

“How's the food?” I was about to take a bite when he asked me.

"Surprisingly good,” I responded and proceeded to eat.

Nang matapos akong kumain ay tinawag niyang muli yung maid na nagdala sakin ng pagkain. Pagkalabas nito ay katahimikan ang namutawi sa aming dalawa.

"So, why did you kidnap me?” I started the conversation.

He looked at me, “You stole something from me."

“And?"

“You need to pay me back."

“Pay you back?" I exhaled deeply. “First of all, you were the first one to attack us. You intercepted the transaction under our organization. And second, you are the reason why my partner is almost dying. So, it's much more reasonable if you…” I pointed at him. "...pay us back. And not the other way around.”

He just chuckled from my outburst, “Don't just laugh at me. You should be thankful that I only took your money and not your men’s life too. And besides, it wasn't enough."

“Really?" he said while looking at me, amused.

“Yes, you should pay triple the price you owe us."

“Then, why don't we just make a deal, yeah?"

I crossed my arms, "What deal?”

“Work for me," he's now dead serious.

“What?" I stood up out of shock. “There's no way I will work for you.”

"I can pay you.”

"Do you think I need money? I have my own.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“I will pay you whatever amount you want. I can also protect your organization," he bargained.

“Do you think we can't protect ourselves?" I hissed at him. His annoying handsome face is slowly getting to my nerves, this bastard.

“Then why did your friend almost die?" he sarcastically replied.

“Because your men outnumbered her!" my voice started raising. “I won't accept the deal even if you kill me.”

“I won't kill you, but I can do it with your organization," his voice is as cold as ice.

“Are you threatening me?!" My frustration for him is getting visible.

“I’m not. But I will do everything just for you to accept the deal,” he raised both his hands as if surrendering.

"Fine,” wala sa loob kong pagpayag. "But with a condition.”

"What condition?”

"I will still think about it.” Wala pa akong maisip na kondisyon na dapat niyang gawin. Naiinis pa rin kasi ako sa kaniya, kung pareho lang sana ang inaakto niya ngayon at noong nasa bar ay baka matuwa pa ako, psh.

“Anyway, I have a favor to ask you," saad niya na ikinalingon ko sa kaniya.

“What kind of favor?" Kung anu-ano na lang talaga ang hinihingi niya sa akin. Feeling ko tuloy dehadong dehado ako ngayon.

May inabot siyang envelope. Tinitigan ko muna ito saglit bago binuksan. Invitation siya sa isang party.

“Be my partner," deretso niyang sabi. “I can pay you if you want."

“Fine. But you will pay me, okay?” I made sure, thankfully he nodded in agreement. "What else do you want?"

“Hmm…” he looked at me from head to toe. He then stood up from his seat and went in front of me.

Since I’m still sitting, he leaned down—both hands are holding the armrest of the sofa, there's only an inch gap between our faces.

“Can I get a goodnight kiss?” his voice became deep and husky.

I smirked, “You're something. You kidnapped me, forced me to a deal, and now you want a kiss?"

He looked at my lips, “It's just a kiss, how bad it can be, hmm?"

"Well sorry, mister. You can't have it tonight,” I teased.

Inalis ko ang dalawang kamay niya sa armrest at tumayo.

"Try your luck next time,” pagpatuloy ko. Tinalikuran ko siya at lumapit sa kama. Naramdaman ko naman ang paglapit niya sa akin. Bahagya akong nagulat ng hawiin niya ang buhok ko at hinalikan ako sa leeg.

"You owe me twice, then,” he murmured against my skin. He kissed my neck again before pulling away and walking towards the door.

"What do you mean?” Lumingon ako sa kaniya pero ang pagsara na lang ng pinto ang naabutan ko.

Argh. Ano bang ibig niyang sabihin?