All Chapters of Beneath The Contract : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

27 Chapters

CHAPTER ONE: "Empty headed celebrity!? "

The atmosphere in the studio turned suffocating the moment the announcement was made. Jake Marquez wasn’t just a guest; he was the new face of the campaign. They were co-stars. Partners."I didn't know, Xielle. I swear, management kept this completely under wraps," Maxine whispered, his voice trembling with genuine worry.Xielle felt as if she had been splashed with ice water, but her face remained a masterpiece of composure. She took a deep breath, letting the scent of expensive perfume and studio dust fill her lungs. "No worries, Ma. I’m fine," she said, flashing a practiced smile that didn't reach her eyes.But inside? Inside, she was screaming.The shoot was a blur of forced proximity. Xielle’s skin crawled every time the photographer ordered them to lean closer, to look intimate. The second the director yelled, "Pack up!" Xielle didn't wait. She bolted for the exit, her heels clicking a rapid, angry rhythm against the polished floor.She was almost at the glass doors when the one

CHAPTER TWO: "Her boyfriend?!"

The ride back to the condo was a blur of streetlights and the rhythmic swish of windshield wipers. Xielle didn't even remember closing her eyes, but the next thing she knew, Tania was gently shaking her shoulder."Khione, we’re here. Gising na, baka mapuyat ka lalo," Tania said softly.Xielle blinked, her brain foggy from the heavy, bone-deep fatigue. "Ingat ka... thank you for the ride, and for the rescue," she murmured as she stepped out into the humid night air."I will. Sleep well, Khione. You’re going to need it," Tania replied with a knowing look.Xielle barely made it to her unit. She didn't even have the energy to do her full skincare routine; she just crashed onto her bed, the silence of the room finally swallowing her whole.5:00 AM.The alarm didn't just wake her up; it felt like a physical blow. Xielle sat up, her dark hair tangled and her eyes heavy. Today was the day. The "Beauty Glam" shoot. The day she had to play "in love" with the man who broke her.She didn't have t

CHAPTER THREE: "Sit. Properly,"

CHAPTER THREE:Xielle’s eyes snapped open at exactly 6:00 AM. Even though her body begged for another hour of sleep, she forced herself to head to the rooftop gym. It was a routine she never broke whenever her morning was free. In her industry, staying fit and pretty wasn't just about vanity—it was her puhunan.Unlike other celebrities, Xielle didn’t grow up with a silver spoon. She wasn't born into wealth; she made her family wealthy through sheer grit and hard work. Every drop of sweat in the gym was a reminder of the life she was determined to keep.By 8:00 AM, she was showered and freshened up. Just as she was finishing her light makeup, she heard the door to her unit open. It was her manager."You ready?" her manager asked, sitting on the edge of the bed."Almost," Xielle replied, checking her reflection one last time. She paused, noticing her manager’s unusual presence inside the unit. Usually, she just waited in the parking lot. "Why are you here? May problema ba?""Nothing. It’

CHAPTER FOUR: "You have a bad habit of picking up trash, Khione,"

CHAPTER FOUR: The night had been nothing short of a fever dream for Zeke. He found himself standing in a 24-hour convenience store at 2:00 AM, staring intensely at a wall of feminine hygiene products like he was trying to solve a complex merger. He was the CEO of a multi-million dollar company, yet he felt his face heat up as he grabbed a pack of pads and a heating bag.The cashier stared, recognizing the man from business magazines, but Zeke just dropped the items on the counter with a stony expression, paid, and walked out.When he got back, the real struggle began.THE FLASHBACKS Xielle was completely out of it, swaying on her feet as she stood in his massive marble bathroom. Zeke was at his wit's end, trying to maintain his professionalism while she insisted on a bath."Ikabit mo! You don't even know how to do that!" Xielle had pointed at the pack he just bought, her eyes glassy and her voice sounding like a demanding toddler."What the f*ck! Why would I learn to do such a thing

CHAPTER FIVE: "I don't mind the blood in my sword, Khion"

CHAPTER FIVE:The interior of the luxury sedan was suffocatingly quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine and the sharp, irritating vibration of Xielle’s phone. Zeke sat beside her, his silhouette sharp against the passing city lights, his expression unreadable as he stared straight ahead.But his patience was wearing thin."Can you stop asking the same question?!" Xielle finally snapped into the receiver, her voice echoing in the confined space. "Jake, wala kang pake kung sino ang i-date ko! Stop acting like you own my schedule."On the other end, Jake’s voice was a frantic blur of protests and warnings. Zeke didn't even turn his head, but his jaw tightened. He was tired of the noise. He was tired of the way that name kept clashing with the quiet atmosphere he preferred."Put that on speaker," Zeke commanded. His voice wasn't loud, but it had that CEO tone—the kind that didn't leave room for an argument.Xielle blinked, caught off guard by the sudden command, but she co

CHAPTER SIX: The contract

Chapter six: The contract The Manila skyline was a chaotic masterpiece of glowing amber and moving headlights, but to Xielle, it was just background noise. She leaned against her balcony railing, the humid night air clinging to her skin as she stirred her coffee.Her mind was a mess, stuck on the meeting from hours ago. This movie was her comeback—her grand return to the screen—but there was one massive complication: Jake Marquez. Acting alongside him wasn't just a job; it was a test of her resolve.A sudden memory of Zeke in his office flashed in her mind, causing a slow, dangerous smirk to tug at her lips."Should I just ask him to be my 'friends with benefits'?" she murmured to the empty air, her voice low and playful. "He’s ridiculously hot, filthy rich, and clearly has a thing for power."She had always assumed she was invisible to a man like Zeke Yuan Zhao, but the way he had looked at her recently told a different story. "I wonder..." she whispered, her thoughts trailing into t

CHAPTER SEVEN: "Is that under the contract?"

CHAPTER SEVEN:This is getting good! The "friends with benefits" tension is thick here—Zeke is clearly falling harder, while Xielle is keeping her guard up. I’ve polished the Taglish to make it feel more natural and cinematic, focusing on that "pull and push" dynamic you described.Zeke didn’t need to be told twice. He pulled her closer, his forehead resting against hers, the playful smirk on his lips fading into something more intense."You’re already doing a pretty good job of that," he muttered, his voice dropping an octave.Xielle felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She was used to cameras and scripted lines, but the way Zeke looked at her—without a lens or a director between them—always made her heart race in a way she couldn't control."Matulog na nga tayo," she whispered, trying to regain her composure. She tried to stand up, but Zeke’s grip on her waist tightened, pulling her back down until she was straddling his lap."The movie isn't over yet," Zeke reminded her, his eyes dart

CHAPTER EIGHT:

Weeks later XIELLE is invited to a gala full of celebrities and businessmen. Xielle is already used to ut but today hits different because she's not in the mood and she's drained.The pressure on Xielle was reaching a boiling point. Between the frantic preparations for the gala and the suffocating demands of her father, she felt like she was walking on a tightrope that was about to snap.Two days before the gala, Xielle was in the middle of a hair treatment when her phone vibrated. Seeing "Papa" on the screen made her stomach drop. She stepped out into the hallway to answer."Pa? Bakit po?" Xielle asked, her voice already tired."Kailangan ko ng fifty thousand. May emergency lang sa bahay," her father’s voice came through, sounding rushed and desperate.Xielle felt a sharp sting in her chest. "Pa, kakabigay ko lang noong isang linggo, 'di ba? Para sa gamot ng kapatid ko 'yon. Wala na akong extra ngayon, kailangan ko ring magtabi for myself.""Anong wala? Sikat ka na, Xielle! Nakikita k

CHAPTER NINE: R18 "I have two weeks of your time to make up for, and I plan on using every second of it.”

CHAPTER NINE: "I have two weeks of your time to make up for, and I plan on using every second of it.”The tropical heat of Batangas was already settling in by the time Xielle sat in her chair for hair and makeup. Despite the early call time, she felt energized—mostly because her phone kept buzzing with short, blunt, yet surprisingly sweet messages from Zeke."Have you heard? May gf na raw si pogi yung CEO ng Z Luxury and swerte ng babae gigising ganun mukha na makikita" her makeup artist whispered to the hairstylist, their eyes glued to a tabloid site.Xielle kept her gaze fixed on her reflection, a secret smile tugging at her lips. "Nakita ko nga yung picture, grabe ganda ng katawan ni Zeke!" the hairstylist replied. "Hindi lang kita yung mukha ng babae pero feeling ko maganda yon grabe naman ang standard ni Sir Zeke" “Hay nako! Basta grabe ang katawan ni Zeke" “Totoo! alam mo Miss Xielle bagay sayo ang ganung lalake" Baling ng Make up artist kay Xielle." Nako wala sa isip ko yan

CHAPTER 10: "Are you his girlfriend!?"

CHAPTER TEN:The heavy, post-passion silence of the penthouse was shattered by a voice that could rival a thunderstorm."What the hell, son!"Zeke and Xielle’s eyes snapped open in unison. The shock was like a bucket of ice water. Xielle’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest as she scrambled to pull the duvet up to her chin, her face heating up to a frantic crimson. Zeke, even the protective wall, rolled out of bed instantly, grabbing a silk robe and positioning himself to block the view of the bed.‘Is that his Mom? Patay’, Xielle thought, her mind racing through every scandal headline imaginable.As Zeke stepped out to the hallway to intercept the intruder, Xielle moved with lightning speed. She didn't have time to find her luggage, so she snatched the first things she saw: Zeke’s oversized button-down shirt and a pair of his boxers. After a quick fix in the mirror, she gathered her courage and crept out to the living area.She saw them on the couch—Zeke looking exasperated and a wo

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