CHAPTER 1: SOLD THE DEVIL ON NIGHT ONE

Napaso yung whiskey sa lalamunan ko, pero mas masakit pa rin sakin yung kontrata sana harap ko. Kontrata ng kasal naka-print sa gintong letters. Sexual Relations: minimum 3x per week. Magpapabuntis kung kailangan, until 12 months.

“Merry me, Kaizhyne De Vera”

Nabulunan ako sa ininom ko. Yung boss ko na si Zachary "Zach" Monteverde - CEO ng Monteverde Holdings at literal na demonyo na naka-Tom Ford suit. Niyaya akong magpakasal at 11 PM. Sa private penthouse bar niya.

"Excuse me sir?" Binaba ko yung baso ko nang sobrang lakas na halos mabasag na ito sa mesa. Nanginginig yung kamay ko ngunit nanindigan pa rin sakin na kahit anong mangyare ay hindi ako papayag sa gusto nya. Umuulan ng malakas sa labas sa 68th floor penthouse parang nasa ilalim kami ng tubig habang nalulunod ako. “Did you just-”

“I don’t repeat myself, Ms. De Vera.” Hinubad niya yung kurbata nang isang beses lang. Naputol yung unang dalawang butones ng puting polo niya. Napatingin ako sa katawan niyang may tattoo sa may parte ng collarbone. The black dragon with its jaw open, disappearing under his shirt. Yung tattoo na aksidente kong nakita three weeks na nakaraan nung pumasok ako sa office niya nang hindi kumakatok habang nagbibihis siya. Yung tattoo na napapanaginipan ko gabi-gabi simula nun.

“Sign it.” Saad niya na kinatawa ko lang ngunit bakas sa aking mga mata ang luhang kanina ko pa lang pinipigilan.

"Nahihibang kana ba? 8 buwan na akong executive secretary mo. Ako yung kumukuha ng kape mo. Ako yung nagca-cancel ng mga date mo sa mga supermodel. Ako yung naglilinis ng mga kalat mo sa board. And now you want me to be your wife?” Galit kong saad sa kanya ngunit parang wala lang sa kanya lahat nang mga sinasabi ko at nakuhang nya pa talaga akong ngitian.

Tumayo siya galing sa leather chair niya at naglakad papunta sa marble bar. Every step was calculated, like a lion stalking a wounded deer. The scent of him- expensive whiskey, petrichor from the rain and the damn scent I couldn’t shake.

“I need a wife by Friday,” Sabi niya, parang nagdi-discuss lang ng report na parang normal lang sa kanya ang mga sinasabi nya.

“My grandfather, Don Emilio is dying, stage 4 pancreatic cancer. His will states I only inherit Monteverde Holdings if I’m legally married before he passes. No wife, no billions. The company goes to my cousin Damon, and Damon will sell it to the Chinese in six months.” Dugtong niya, kaya siguro ganon nalang siya ka dispirado sa gusto niya dahil importante pala sa kanya ang company ng lolo nya at iniisip rin niya ang damdamin nang kanyang lolo.

Biglang gumaan ang loob ko dahil hindi lang pala sarili ang inuuna nya kundi ang damdamin nang kanyang lolo kung ibibinta ang kumpanyang matagal na nilang pinaghirapan. Pero? Argh… hind… hindi pweding maging asawa ko sya, hindi ako tao para sakanya, butas lang ako sa will. Isang clause. Isang transaksyon na humihinga. kahit pa…wait mawawalan ako ng trabaho kung sakaling mabinta na ang kumpanya, di ko na mababayaran ang loan ko pati ang bills sa hospital, di ko na rin mapapagamot si mama argh…bwesit na buhay to.

"Why me?" Bulong ko, naiinis na ako sa sarili ko kasi ang hina ng boses nang pagkasabi ko sa kanya na para bang galit na may halong guilt

"Kumuha ka ng isa sa mga Victoria's Secret model mo si Sofia Reyes o kahit sino sa kanila, lahat sila handing mamamatay para maging Mrs. Monteverde." Nagbigay ako ng opinion nya ngunit nangdilim ang mga mata niya.

"Gold-digger lahat sila at alam yun ng buong Manila, ikaw? Malinis ka, dukkha, desperado, malinis background check mo - walang ex, walang iskandalo, walang I*******m. At higit sa lahat walang maniniwala na papatulan kita... yung secretary ko." Tumigil siya sa harap ko, sobrang lapit na kinailangan ko pang tumingala para makita mata niya."Perfect fake wife material."

Parang sinampal ako dun sa sinabi niyang walang maniniwala na papatulan ko sya. "Ah. Ganon ba."

Napalunok ako. "May buhay ako, Sir. Hindi ko basta—"

“Five million pesos upfront.” Pinatong niya yung itim na Amex Centurion card sa bar katabi ng kontrata. Malakas na pagkasabi nya. “Ten million when the year is over. Plus…” Tumingin siya sa phone ko, naka-open dun yung bill ng ospital ni Mama. ₱847,000.00. Due in 5 days. "Mahal ang chemo sa stage 4 lung cancer, Kaizh. Hindi kakayanin ng 45,000 mo kada buwan. Lalo na't umutang ka pa sa mga loan shark nung nakaraang buwan."

Nanlamig ako.“You investigated me? You went through my-”

“I know everything about my employees, Ms. De Vera” Sinenkahan niya ako sa bar. Magkabilang braso niya nasa tabi ko. Ang lapit ng dibdib niya ramdam ko yung init niya kahit manipis lang blouse ko. “Your mom has 3 months, he caged me against the bar now, both arms on either side of me. onths left if you stop treatment. You’re drowning in debt. You sold your dad’s Seiko watch last week at Raon, got 80,000 pesos for it. That only gave you 2 more sessions. You’re behind on rent. Your landlord in Tondo is threatening eviction.”

Napuno ng luha mata ko pero pinigilan ko. Hindi ako iiyak sa harap niya. “You’re a monster, Mr. Monteverde.”

“I’m a businessman” Bigla niyang hinawakan baba ko. Pilit niya akong pinatingin sa kanya, magaspang kamay niya.“So, here’s the deal and it’s the only one you’re getting. Sign, play the loving wife in public for the cameras and Lolo’s spies. Share my bed when necessary to make it convincing. Give me an heir if my grandfather demands proof of consummation” Bumaba boses niya na halos dumampi na ang labi nya sa tainga ko. “And I’ll save your mother’s life. Full payment for the best oncologists in St. Luke’s, private room and everything.”

Napahinga ako nang malalim…magkaanak? Gusto niyang lagyan ako ng anak. Lumapit pa siya at dumampi ang labi niya sa tainga ko. Nagsitayuan balahibo ko. "Then I’ll fire you tonight, Kaizhyne. No severance. No reference. I’ll blacklist you in every corporation in Makati and BGC. I’ll make sure no company on Manila hires you, not even as a janitor. Good luck watching your mom die in a public hospital ward, Mrs. Almost-Monteverde.”

I was shaking so hard my teeth chattered. Trapped. This was extortion. This was blackmail. This was evil wearing a 500,000 pesos suit.

“Y-you still smell so good,” I slipped, mortified at myself. The whiskey and terror and despair made me stupid. Made me honest. “Even when you’re threatening to ruin my life.”

“Zach” Froze completely. For three whole seconds, he didn’t breathe. Then slowly, so slowly, a dangerous smirk spread across his face. The cold CEO mask cracked right down the middle, and for the first time in 8 months I saw the man underneath. Hungry. Dark. Wanting.

“Careful, baby,” He murmured, his breath hot on my neck and making me shiver uncontrollably. Goosebumps erupted down my arms. “Moan like that again and I’ll take you right here on this bar. Contract or no contract. Lolo’s inheritance be damned.”

“Ughh~~” The sound escaped me before I could stop it when his lips grazed my pulse point, just a whisper of contact. “Shit. Shit. Shit. Kaizhyne, what are you doing?”

“That’s it,” He growled, his hands suddenly on my waist, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise as he yanked me against him. I felt “everything” Now, the hard lines of his chest, the heat of him through his dress shirt, the thick evidence of his arousal pressing against my stomach. He wanted this. He wanted me. “Your voice is so fucking hot, Kaizh. Just keep moaning like that for Lolo’s spies and the cameras, and I’ll take care of you…and your mother.”

Bigla siyang umatras, iniwan akong nanginginig habang hinihingal at galit na galit sa sarili kong katawan na kahit anong pilit kong pagpipigil ay parang may sarili itong utak at kusa nalang sumasabay sa kanya. Kinatok niya ang gold na kontrata gamit ang isang daliri niya. “You have 10 seconds to decide, Ms. De Vera. Sign it or go pack your desk tonight. Choose.”

Ten. Nine. I thought of Mama, bald from chemo, still smiling at me and telling me to eat.

Eight. Seven. I thought of her medical bills stacked on our tiny kitchen table.

Six. Five. I thought of debt collectors banging on our apartment door at 6 AM.

Four. Three. Two. I thought of Mama’s funeral I’d have to plan alone.

One.

Ang kamay ko’y hindi tumitigil sa panginginig sa halo-halong emosyon na nararamdaman ko ngayon, kaba at takot na parang gugustuhin ko nalang isipin na isa itong bangungot at hihintayin ko nalang kung Kaylan ako magigising. kinuha ko yung Mont Blanc pen niya at pumirma. Nanlabo ang paningin ko sa mga letrang nakasulat sa kontrata na halos di ko na ito masaba dahilan sa luha kong nag-uunahang pumapatak. It was done.

Yung ngiti ni Zach na puno ng tagumpay, he’s a pure devil "Good girl." Kinuha niya yung kontrata at isinilid sa loob ng suit jacket niya pero bago ko pa maisip ang ginawa ko, bago pa ako makaatras nasa buhok ko na ang kamay niya. Sinambunutan niya ako at hinila paatras ang ulo ko. It was hurt mixing with something else, that something hot. “Now, since you’re legally my wife as of 30 seconds ago…”

Dumikit ang labi niya sa labi ko. Hindi yun halik, kundi isang pag-aangkin sa kanyang pagmamay-ari. Nagpupumilit ang mga labi niya. Maparusang halik na parang nagugutom siya ng 8 buwan at ako lang ang pagkain na gusto niya. Pinilit ng dila niyang bumuka ang bibig ko at nang napabuntong-hininga nalang ako at napadaing sa gusto nya. Naglakbay ang mga kamay ko sa dibdib niya para itulak siya palayo—pero napunta lang sa pagkapit sa polo niya, at hinila ko pa siya palapit sakin. Lasang whiskey, lasang kapangyarihan, lasang kasalanan at lahat ng maling desisyon na nagawa ko sa buhay ko. Binitiwan niya ang buhok ko at bumaba ang kamay niya para hawakan puwet ko. Isang galaw lang binuhat na niya ako hanggang sa nakaupo na ako sa malamig na marble bar. Pinilit niyang ibuka mga binti ko gamit yung balakang niya habang pumagitna siya sakin

“Nngh~~Zach~~” I moaned into his mouth when he bit bottom lip mouth when he bit my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste mixed with whiskey.

“Zachary,” I breathed, completely drunk on him. On fear. On despair.

He tore his mouth away, both of us gasping like we’d run a marathon. His eyes were black, brown and wide with lust. “Say my name again,” He demanded, forehead pressed against mine. His breath was ragged. “Not, ‘sir’. Not ‘Mr. Monteverde’. My fucking name, Kaizhyne.”

“Good” Then his hands were under my pencil skirt, finding the top of my pantyhose. He didn’t pull them down. He just ripped them. The sound of tearing fabric was obscenely loud in the quiet bar. “Lolo’s spies could be here any minute. We need to look… consummated. Married. Thoroughly fucked.”

“Wait, here? Now?” Panic shot through me, cutting through the lust. But his mouth was already on my neck, sucking hard enough to mark. To claim. To brand.

“Rule #1, Mrs. Monteverde,” He growled against my skin, his teeth scraping my pulse. “When I want you, I take you. When I want you, you give.”

His fingers found me and I screamed, back arching off the bar like a bow. I was soaked. Humiliatingly, terrifyingly soaked for the man who just blackmailed me. He swallowed the sound with another brutal kiss, his tongue mimicking what his fingers were doing. “So wet for me already, Kaizh? And you haven’t even been my wife for 5 minutes. Such a good little liar.”

I should have stopped him. Should have kneed him. Should have fought. But Mama’s face flashed in my mind-her coughing, the blood-and Zach’s fingers were inside me now, curling, hitting that spot that made me see stars, and his mouth was on my blouse and bra.

“Please,” I sobbed, and I didn’t even know if I was begging him to stop or to never stop.

“Please what?” He looked up at me from my chest, eyes black with lust and something dark, his fingers never stopped moving, pumping in and out of me in a rhythm that had me climbing fast. “Please ruin you on this bar where I do business deals? Please make me mine?”

“Yes,” I cried, and hated myself with every fiber of my being. Hated him. Hated this. “Yes, Zach, please. Please.”

That was all he needed.

I heard the distinct sound of his belt buckle. The zipper. Then he was there, the thick head of him pushing against me, and in one brutal thrust he was inside me to the hilt.

“Ahh! Zachary~~!” I screamed, nails digging into his shoulders hard enough to draw the blood through his shirt. It hurt. It burned. It stretched me past the point of pain. It felt like possession.

“Fuck, Kaizh,” He hissed into my neck, standing completely still inside me, letting me adjust. His whole body was shaking with restraint. “You feel like fucking heaven, baby. So tight. So mine.” Then he started moving.

It was rough. Hard. Pushing. The marble bar shook under us with every thrust. Glasses fell and shattered on the hardwood floor. Rain pounded the windows like it was trying to drown out the obscene sound of skin slapping skin, of my broken moans, of Zach growling my name like a curse and a prayer.

“Look at me,” He commanded, hand back in my hair, yanking my head up, forcing my tear-filled eyes open. “Look at the man who’s saving your mother’s life, Kaizhyne. Look at your husband.”

I did. And I saw him-truly saw him. Not CEO Zachary Monteverde. Not the devil just Zach, sweet beading on his brow. Jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked. Eyes burning only for me, like I was the only woman in the world.

“Zach~~ughh~~I’m gonna-”

“I know, baby,” He panted, snapping his hips harder, deeper, hitting the spot inside me with every thrust. “Come for your husband. Come on my cock. Now, Kaizh.”

I shattered. My vision went white as I came around him, clamping down on him, screaming his name so loud I was sure the whole 68th floor heard. “Zachary! Zach!” He followed 3 brutal thrusts later, burying his face in my neck and groaning “Kaizh, fuck, Kaizh” Like it was the only word he knew, pulsing inside me.

Isang buong minuto kaming nanatiling ganun. Hinihingal at pawisan habang magkadikit pa rin kami. Ang tanging tunog lang ay ang ulan na pumapatak sa salamin at ang mga puso naming nagwawala ay sirang-sira.

Tapos dahan-dahang lumabas si Zach sakin at inayos yung pantalon niya na parang wala lang. Na parang hindi niya lang kinuha yung pagka-birhen ko sa ibabaw ng bar, na parang hindi niya lang ako sinira.

Pinulot niya ang pinirmahan naming kontrata sa sahig, tinupi nang isang beses, at isinilid sa loob ng suit jacket niya. Tapos ngumiti siya sakin nang malamig na para bang may plano. Bumalik na yung CEO mask niya na parang hindi naman nawala. "Welcome to the family, Mrs. Monteverde. Effective agad."

Naglakad siya papunta sa elevator, inaayos yung cufflinks niya. Hindi siya lumingon, tumunog yung elevator at narinig ko boses niya galing sa hallway, casual lang na parang nag-oorder lang ng kape. “Oh, and Kaizhyne? Pack a bag. One suitcase. You’re moving into the penthouse tonight. My wife doesn’t sleep in some rat-infested, one-bedroom apartment in Tondo with loan sharks banging on the door.”

Asawa? Umalangawngaw yung salitang iyon habang kumidlat sa labas, malakas na nanginginig yung mga bintana. I looked down at myself. Skirt around my waist. Torn pantyhose hanging off one ankle. Thighs sticky with him. Four blooming hickeys on my neck. Lips swollen and bitten.

Malagkit ang mga hita ko dahil sa kanya. Apat na pulang hickey sa leeg ko. Namamaga at nakagat yung mga labi ko. Tumingin ako sa gulo namin sa ibabaw ng mamahalin niyang marble bar. Sexual relations required minimum 3x per week. Pupunta na ako sa impyerno. At si Zachary Monteverde... siya mismo yung nag-abot sakin ng first-class, one-way ticket. Nakapangalan sakin."