PROLOGUE :

"Are you sure about this, kapag sinimulan mo ako di ka na pwedeng umatras?" babala ni Greg.

Nakatayo siya sa harap ng malaking kama sa penthouse niya sa pusod ng Makati. Nakabukas lang yung puting polo niya, gusot yung buhok niya, amoy whiskey at pabango na mamahalin. Pero yung mata niya, madilim, seryoso, parang sinusuri kung totoo ba yung babaeng nasa harap niya o niloloko lang siya ni Alexzander.

Sa harap niya si Athena Sebastian, 21 years old, nanginginig ang tuhod. Naka simpleng black dress lang na bigay ni Alexzander, yung bestfriend ni Greg na mahilig mang-regalo ng babae tuwing birthday. Hindi siya sanay sa ganito. Ang liit niya tingnan sa malaking kwarto, parang bata na naligaw sa mundo ng mayayaman.

Pero desidido na siya. Wala na siyang choice.

"Desidido na po ako Sir, bukal sa loob ko ang ginagawa ko" mahinang sagot ni Athena, pero nanginginig yung boses at may luha na sa mata. "Kailangan ko po ng pera" desperadang sabi ko.

Tumingin si Greg sa kanya, malalim. Alam niya ang kwento, sinabi na ni Alexzander kanina habang umiinom sila sa bar. Birthday gift daw. Isang babaeng inosente, 21, kailangan ng 500 thousand. Akala ni Greg biro lang. Pero nung nakita niya si Athena sa may p***o, nakayuko, at tila hindi alam ang gagawin, dun pa lang siya naniwala.

"Magkano ba kailangan mo?" tanong ni Greg, malamig pa rin boses pero lumalapit na.

"Five hundred thousand po. Yun na lang po yung kulang sa hospital. Kahit anong gusto niyo pong gawin, papayag po ako. Basta mailigtas lang si Mama," sabi ni Athena, napayuko lalo, nahihiya sa sarili niya.

"Kahit ano?" amused niyang tanong.

Hinawakan ni Greg yung baba ni Athena, dahan dahan niyang itinaas para magkatinginan sila. Ang ganda ni Athena kahit umiiyak, maputi, mahaba buhok, parang anghel na napunta sa impyerno.

"Athena, makinig ka. Hindi ako yung lalaking hihingi ng sorry bukas, at kapag sinimulan kita ngayong gabi, akin ka. Buong gabi, akin ka. Naiintindihan mo ba yun?" may babala sa tono nito.

Tumango si Athena, napalunok ito ng bahagya, pero tumango pa rin. "Opo, naiintindihan ko po."

At doon, bumigay si Greg.

He moved closer, his hand still on her chin, his thumb brushing away the single tear that fell on her cheek. She smelled like cheap vanilla and rain, so different from the expensive perfumes that usually surrounded him.

The room was silent except for the city lights blinking outside the glass walls. He could hear her breathing, fast and uneven, like a scared little bird trapped in his penthouse.

"Nanginginig ka," he whispered in English, his voice low and husky against her ear.

"Kabado lang sir, pero gusto ko po," she whispered back, trying to be brave even though her whole body was shaking.

He slowly pushed the strap of her black dress down her shoulder. Just one strap. His lips followed where his hand had been, soft, unhurried, tasting her skin for the first time. She gasped, her small hands clutching his shirt tightly.

It wasn't supposed to be gentle. Gregory Imperial was known to be heartless, a genius businessman who never had time for love. But tonight, with this girl who was selling her dignity for her mother's life, he found himself being careful, almost reverent.

He laid her down on the soft, dark sheets. The contrast was striking her pale, innocent skin against his expensive bed, her pure soul against his world of sin.

He stared at her for a moment, memorizing her. He leaned down and kissed her neck, her collarbone, learning every inch of her slowly. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, she forgot about the hospital bills, about her mother lying in the ICU. There was only his warmth, his scent, his hands that were surprisingly gentle for a man known to be cruel.

He looked at her one more time, giving her a last chance to run away from him.

"Last chance, Athena. Tell me to stop now." anas nito at ramdam niyang handa na ito.

She shook her head, tears still there but her eyes now full of resolve. "Wag ka pong hihinto. Please. Tuloy niyo lang ahhh."

And he didn't stop. The night that was supposed to be just a transaction, a birthday gift from his best friend Alexzander, became something else entirely. The kisses became deeper, the touches became more desperate and passionate. He worshipped her like she was something precious, not something bought for one night. And she, who came there ready to just endure the pain, found herself responding, her hands finding his hair, her body arching towards him, enjoying it in a way she never thought she would.

Pagkatapos ng lahat, tahimik lang sa kwarto. Si Athena nakatalukbong ng kumot, umiiyak na tahimik. Si Greg nakaupo sa gilid ng kama, hawak yung whiskey, nakatingin sa labas.

"Athena," tawag niya. "Hindi mo na kailangan bayaran. Bukas, wala ka ng aalalahanin lahat ng gastos sa pagpapagamot ng mama mo ako na bahala." Seryosong sabi nito.

Nagulat si Athena, "Pero Sir, tapos na tayo diba?"

Ngumiti si Greg ng nakakaloko.

"Who said so? Hindi pa tayo tapos, simula pa lang ng gabi natin."

And with that... he kissed her again and again...