Selena had finished her shower.
Now, wrapped in nothing but a towel, she sat trembling on the edge of the bed in the guest room, every inch of her skin prickled by fear and humiliation.
She never thought she'd end up like this.
But she only had herself to blame.
Hades had once given her and her parents everything they had ever dreamed of. A luxury life, stability, recognition, all without asking for anything in return except friendship.
But she got cocky.
The fame went to her head. She started to feel untouchable. She abused her celebrity status, confident that as long as Hades allowed her to do anything, she was invincible.
Her spiral of regret was cut short when the door creaked open.
Hades stepped into the room, still wearing his lounge pants, shirtless, unapologetically composed. In his hand were a folder, a pen, and a box of condoms.
"Here's the contract," he said in a flat voice, placing the items on the bed without looking at her. "Read it. Sign it. But it is what it is. I won't change a single word. If you don't like it, you're free to leave. Just don't ever come begging again."
He sat down on the chair by the window, beside the coffee table, eyes cold and unreadable.
With shaking hands, Selena picked up the folder and opened it.
EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL CONTRACT
For the Ceres Jewelry Collection
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
Duration: One Year (Renewable at Sole Discretion of the Benefactor)
This Agreement is entered into this xx day of July, by and between:
Hades Falcon
(hereinafter referred to as the "Benefactor")
-and-
Selena Punzalan
(hereinafter referred to as the "Bound Party")
TERMS OF EXCLUSIVITYThe Bound Party agrees to serve as the sole and exclusive model and muse for the Ceres Jewelry Collection, a luxury brand valued at Five Million US Dollars ($5,000,000), for a term of twelve (12) months from the signing date.
During this term, the Bound Party shall not enter into any modeling contract, endorsement, or brand affiliation, directly or indirectly, without prior written or verbal approval from the Benefactor.
PERSONAL SUBMISSION CLAUSEThe Bound Party shall be fully and unconditionally available to the Benefactor, physically, emotionally, and psychologically, at all times.
She shall respond to his summons immediately, regardless of circumstance, time, or location, and shall not refuse any order, request, or demand from the Benefactor during the term of this contract.
The Bound Party agrees to surrender the right to say no to any form of companionship, service, or physical intimacy. The Benefactor reserves the right to use her time, body, and presence at his sole discretion, anywhere, anytime, in any way he desires.
She shall not engage in any intimate, physical, or emotional acts with other men, unless granted explicit permission by the Benefactor.
The Bound Party must ensure she does not become pregnant during the duration of the contract. The Benefactor shall bear no legal, emotional, or financial responsibility in the event of such an occurrence.
III. LOYALTY & SURVEILLANCE CLAUSE
The Bound Party agrees to serve as the informant and confidante of the Benefactor. She shall report all conversations, events, and individuals that pose threat, insult, or betrayal against the Benefactor.
Omissions, concealments, or delayed reporting shall be considered breach of loyalty and grounds for immediate termination.
NON-COMPETE & PROTECTION CLAUSEThe Bound Party shall not, under any circumstance, say, imply, or participate in any act, public or private, that would bring disrepute, harm, or suspicion upon the Benefactor's fiancée, Evadne Persephone Monteverde.
She shall protect Miss Monteverde's name, image, and dignity, regardless of her personal feelings.
Any whisper, act, or association that may tarnish the reputation of Miss Monteverde, whether by accident or intent, shall be considered an act of betrayal.
In such cases, the contract shall be terminated immediately, and the Bound Party shall be subject to legal consequences at the Benefactor's discretion.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES CLAUSEUpon expiration of this agreement, the Benefactor may or may not offer the Bound Party a renewal or a new project.
Such decision shall rest solely on the Benefactor's evaluation of the Bound Party's obedience, loyalty, and usefulness throughout the contract period.
The Bound Party acknowledges that no promise or guarantee of future opportunity is implied, regardless of her performance.
COMPENSATION & REVERSAL CLAUSEThe agreed-upon amount of Five Million US Dollars ($5,000,000) shall be transferred in full to the Bound Party's designated account immediately upon her signing of this contract.
However, in the event of a breach or termination, regardless of the extent or value of services already rendered, the Bound Party shall be legally obligated to return the full amount to the Benefactor within 30 calendar days of termination.
Failure to return the amount in full will result in civil and criminal pursuit, as outlined in a separate legal annex attached to this contract.
VII. TERMINATION & PENALTIES
Any act of defiance, refusal, dishonesty, betrayal, or violation of the above terms shall result in immediate and irreversible termination of this contract.
Upon termination:
The Bound Party shall forfeit all unpaid compensation and project affiliations.
She shall be blacklisted from any entity associated with the Benefactor.
She must return the full initial payment in accordance with the above clause.
VIII. FINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Bound Party enters this agreement of her own volition, fully aware of its moral, emotional, and physical implications.
By signing below, she affirms that she understands the imbalance of power inherent in this arrangement and accepts it as part of her obligation to the Benefactor.
Signed:
Hades Falcon – The Benefactor
Selena Punzalan – The Bound Party
Date: July xx xxxx
Each word stabbed her pride deeper than the last. It was a slave contract, in every possible definition. It stripped her of any right to say no. It bound her to Hades, body and service, with no conditions, unless she wanted to lose everything.
It included clauses that prohibited her from ever harming or scheming against Evadne. Something she had done to countless other girls who dared come near Casadin… back when Hades used to cover for her.
Not anymore.
"I… I don't understand," she whispered, voice small, eyes on the paper. "I thought you hated Evadne. So why are you protecting her?"
There was a pause.
Then Hades replied with finality, "Because she is going to be my one and only wife."
Selena's breath caught.
He glanced at his watch.
"It's already ten, Selena. Decide now, or leave. We still have school tomorrow."
The cruel smile that curved his lips sent a chill straight to her bones.
Selena swallowed hard. "How about the other projects?"
"I might give some of those back," Hades replied smoothly. "Depends on your performance. Or my mood."
Then his tone dropped even lower, dark, warning.
"And to be honest, Selena… I'm already running out of patience. Any second now, I'll shred that contract and end this farce. I told you, this deal is final. I won't add or remove a damn thing. But if you learn to obey, maybe, just maybe, I'll throw you a bone. Another project. Or a favor."
His eyes narrowed at her.
"Depending on how well you please me."
He tilted his head, his voice icy.
"You're crying, Selena."
She gasped and instinctively reached up to wipe her cheeks.
"I told you I don't want to see a single tear. I'm not forcing you. And don't you dare think those tears will soften me, they won't. All they do is piss me off."
Panicked, Selena quickly wiped her face, forcing herself to stop.
Her fingers shook as she picked up the pen.
Then, she signed.
Her heart dropped with each stroke of ink.
It felt like she had just sold her soul to the Devil himself.
But what choice did she have?
She couldn't bear the thought of returning to poverty, dragging her parents back with her. If she had to do this… if she had to give everything to keep their new life…
Then so be it.
Selena handed the signed contract to Hades with trembling fingers.
Without a word, Hades took it, snapped a photo, and sent a copy back to her phone.
Then, calmly, he made a call.
"Tyla," he said coldly, not taking his eyes off Selena. "About Selena Punzalan's project, she'll still be the face and muse of Ceres Jewelry. Yes. But tell the production team that if they have any issues with her work ethic, they're free to replace her immediately. No need for loyalty. Also, the payment should be routed to my personal account. I'll transfer it to her myself. No exclusive contract. We've already settled that. Thanks. Bye."
He ended the call and casually forwarded the voice recording of the conversation to Selena, silent, final proof.
She would still get the job. The public spotlight. The five million dollars.
But not the pride. Not the status. Not the privilege to act like a prima donna.
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed again. Hades had wired the full payment.
$5,000,000.
Attached was a brief note.
Advance Payment for Services to Be Rendered. Duration of Service: Twelve Months from Today.
He placed the phone and the original contract on the coffee table with clinical indifference, then leaned back in his seat like a king awaiting his tribute.
His gaze never wavered. Cold. Unforgiving.
Selena stood motionless before him, her throat tightening.
"Cieryl said…" she began, her voice cracking. "She said you don't like blowjobs."
A bitter smile curled on Hades's lips. His voice dropped, quiet, cruel, mocking.
"Well, in my defense…" he said, tilting his head slightly, "I always thought those acts were for whores. For women you pay to kneel. But if you think about it, that's exactly what you are now, aren't you?"
His eyes scanned her from head to toe, dripping with scorn. "A very expensive one, at that."
Selena inhaled sharply but did not move back. There was no turning back now. She had signed away her pride. Her dignity. Her freedom.
She reached for the box of condoms with trembling hands, pulled one out, and slowly walked over to him.
Kneeling at his feet.
Her fingers hesitated at the waistband of his pants. Then, with a soft rustle, she exposed him.
He's thick and huge.
He wasn't even aroused.
Not yet.
Not even slightly.
And when she glanced up at him, seeking even a flicker of interest, what she saw made her stomach twist. Judgment. Disgust. Nothing more. Like a god looking down on something beneath him.
No anticipation. No desire. Just cold, silent condemnation.
Still, she opened her mouth and took him in.
But Hades… felt nothing.
There was no pleasure. No excitement. Not even guilt.
His mind was elsewhere.
He had only ever been with one woman, Cieryl. He was her first. And truthfully, she had been his too.
He'd sworn to himself he would never touch another woman. That his body, his devotion, belonged only to her.
But that illusion had shattered.
He'd learned she had been sleeping with one of their friends. With Thatcher. She laughed about it behind his back. Told their circle that he was boring in bed. Predictable. Vanilla.
They thought it was funny. He thought he had been respectful.
He never dared do more than the basics, missionary, doggy. Always gentle. Always controlled. Because he knew his darkness. Knew his roughness could scare her. Hurt her. He didn't want that. He loved her too much to risk it.
And so, he held back. Every time. Letting her finish first. Holding back his own urges until she fell asleep, and then locking himself in the bathroom. Pleasuring himself in silence, imagining all the things he wanted to do to her. Positions that made his blood burn. Things he craved but refused to touch because he believed… it was disrespectful.
He never went down on her. Not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't want her to feel like she owed him more in return. He didn't want to make her feel like she had to earn his affection.
And she never complained.
At least not to him.
But now he knew. She had complained plenty, to everyone else.
All those things he did out of love, out of reverence, were a joke to her. A joke she shared with others.
And now, with Selena kneeling before him… fulfilling a contract she signed like a slave selling her body for diamonds and fame…
Hades felt nothing.
Only the crushing weight of betrayal.
And the bitterness of a heart that once loved too much.