Chapter 5
Heart could hardly take a step as Vandros finally closed the door to the condo unit. She was now inside. She had been brought there. The unit was beautiful, very spacious, like a large family could live there. The man who bought it was obviously incredibly wealthy. Not just anyone could afford such a condo unit. Kerokeroppi wasn't just rich; he was obscenely wealthy.
What else was she going to do, just stand here? Her mother had texted that they were close to Manila. She needed to hurry and take care of the certificate stating that she was still a virgin.
The young woman took her steps after chatting with Gigi, who was already in her new place.
Was it really a new home, or just a place for encounters? No matter what, she couldn't do anything about it. No matter how many times she asked herself, repeated it to herself, it was over. She now belonged to a man who had a strong appetite for sex.
Heart walked. She saw several doors, three or four.
She hadn't even asked Vandros which room she was going to stay in. Perhaps any of those rooms would do, as long as they were inside the condo unit.
Her feet guided her straight ahead as she walked. She ended up facing the middle door. She held the doorknob and turned it. It clicked.
She suddenly felt scared. She was alone. She wasn't afraid of ghosts, but because the unit was so large, her imagination was running wild, conjuring up unpleasant and scary images.
Oh, she had really scared herself. She took a deep breath and pushed the door.
She gaped when the room's fragrant scent greeted her.
Everything was white. It looked like a king's bedroom. So beautiful and elegant in its simplicity. She didn't know. Simple yet elegant. It was the first time she had seen something like this. No clutter. There was a couch at the foot of the bed, two bedside tables. There was a closet, a white sofa, a television, quite large.
She walked again towards another brown door. She opened it, revealing a beautiful shower room with a toilet. It was also white, with brown cabinets and a lavatory on top.
She didn't enter. She closed that door and moved on to the cabinets. They were mirrors. She opened them one by one, but they were all empty. She just took out her towel and personal items. She placed her bag there and the paper bag she had brought.
She went to the bathroom and looked at the shower. She didn't step into the shower, as she was afraid the water might be too hot and scald her. She shied away from the shower but realized there was no water. Damn! She twisted the handle but nothing happened. How was she going to shower without water?
She accidentally pressed the control valve handle, and water suddenly gushed out.
"Oh! It's a push, pull. I'm confused. We don't have this in Japan," she laughed at herself. The water that came out was warm, and it made her feel weak, even though it was still morning.
She felt like a criminal awaiting her execution, as her virginity would soon be taken away.
HEART now held in her hand the certificate proving there were no lacerations on her hymen. She also had sleeping pills and spray.
She wondered what would happen if she woke up, even after using these. She walked along the roadside, lost in thought. She was vigilant about calls and texts, clutching her phone.
Her phone rang, and the name displayed was her boss's. "S-Sir…" she stammered.
"Where are you? I'm passing by the condo."
"I-I'm walking, sir. I just came from the doctor. I have a question, what if I wake up, s-sir? What about the sleeping arrangements?" She looked around in case anyone overheard, but there were no people around because it was still office hours, only 10 in the morning.
"You'll pretend to be asleep. You'll wear a blindfold. You won't remove it, Heart. The contract will be terminated if you violate any rules. You'll have to repay."
Oh no.
"I-I won't break the rules, sir."
"I know. I trust you. Oh, there you are. Stop right there, Heart. I'll get the certificate."
She automatically stopped walking. She looked at the road and saw Vandros's car approaching. It stopped right in front of her, and he got out. He was the most handsome Vandros she had ever seen.
She immediately handed him the certificate from the doctor.
"Buy your blindfold, Heart. Explore the condo building so you can find the dining area. If you're hungry, get something to eat. Here's the card. Just show it to the cashier. Everything you want is available. There's a grocery store downstairs. You can use this card there too."
She took the platinum-colored card from his wallet. She simply watched, without saying a word. She placed her bag there, along with the paper bag she had brought.
She didn't know if she should be thankful since all of this was covered by her service in bed.
"Maybe the rules will change. It depends on what the boss wants."
She nodded again. If only the boss mentioned was as handsome as the Senora's grandson, she would be at ease to some extent. Even if she was called foolish, she also wished for a good-looking man to claim her, not literally a Kerokeroppi.
Dear God. She was about to throw up even before anything happened.
"I-I was given pills. L-literally pills to not…get pregnant."
She was awkwardly looking at her employer, who just casually nodded. It seemed Vandros was already immune to this kind of work. How many women had been in her position, who used to be waitresses for him? She couldn't complain. She was the one who wanted it all. It wasn't his fault.
She told the doctor that Vandros sent her there. That's what he instructed her to do earlier. It's like the doctor already knew what to do. She had to take the pills. It was perfect timing as her period just ended a day ago. There was a little bit yesterday, but it hardly showed up in her underwear.
"Take it."
She was about to close her eyes again. She didn't know anything. What if she got pregnant? But she would follow the doctor's advice to ensure there were no mistakes.
She was naïve when it came to intimacy. She had never even watched explicit movies.
Batman was taking the plunge.
"I'll go, Heart." He turned around but quickly turned his head to look at her. "By the way, Lola Carmenzita already granted the request. They'll start deducting it from your salary next month. Management will fully pay your debt for the House Credit laptop, and they'll add it to your restaurant debt."
"Really?" She asked with joy in her teary voice. The young woman was already on the verge of tears.
"Yes. I told her about your problem. Besides, they made a donation of one hundred thousand from her foundation."
She jumped for joy and hugged Vandros tightly.
"Thank you!" She cried, but he just gently stroked her.
"Stay strong, Heart. You'll move on from this. Remember, I won't let anything harm you. Just listen to what we discussed, Tatang will survive."
"Yes, thank you," she let go of him and wiped her tears.
He smiled at her, then got back in his car. She watched as the car drove away. When it finally disappeared from her sight, she regained her composure.
She looked at the card in her hands and smiled.
God was with her, and she was not forsaken. A hundred thousand pesos was a significant amount of help for her father.