Episode 3: The Contract

Instrumental music was playing inside the fancy restaurant where Francheskha and Secretary Shem were sitting at one table facing each other, slurping their drinks.

Francheskha knew that they had already met each other that day. But, she's thinking of any possible reasons for them to get back to her after humiliating her yesterday. She keeps staring into Shem, who's enjoying his drink.

Secretary Shem felt a bit awkward. He kept avoiding her eyes while slurping, and he would only chuckle when he locked eye contact with Francheskha.

As soon as Francheskha finished her drink, she started their conversation and talked straight to the point.

"Can you please tell me, why am I facing someone that's after the image and not the skills?"

Secretary Shem paused from slurping his drink and put it on the table. He inhaled deeply, setting his mouth in a hard straight line.

"Sorry, but, I--"

"Oh, you need me to make my question simpler? Okay, then."

His eyes lit up, and his brows snapped together. "What? No, no." He said.

"Tell me, why am I talking to a jerk?"

"Wai--what? A jerk!? Oh, my goodness. I came here to offer you a job." Secretary Shem unbuttoned his coat and breath in and out.

"A job? Sorry, but I already got one. Don't you remember how you turned me down and humiliated me in front of many people!?" Breathless because of anger, Francheskha stood up and threw her fists on the table, making a loud thud sound.

Everyone inside the restaurant watched her sharply. Secretary Shem felt ashamed as he was sitting at one table with this young lady.

He laughed awkwardly and stood up.

"Haha, Miss Ruquiel, please calm down, and let's talk about things slowly." He reached her shoulders and slowly pushed her down her chair. Good thing Francheskha didn't make a fuss of him holding her shoulders out of the blue.

Soon as they were settled and calm, Secretary Shem started their real conversation.

"I came here because my boss told me to. Obviously."

"Just please get to the point and stop your idle talk."

Secretary Shem sighed out of stress with her temper. She has this attitude, and even more, she's a short-tempered lady.

He grabbed the contract out of his file carry case. He slides it towards Francheskha through the table. And soon as Francheskha laid her hands in the document, he cleared his throat and lowered his head.

"What's this? Trash?" Francheskha scanned through the pages, but her face said it all. She was not interested.

"Why are you so harsh?"

"You humiliated me and turned me down! And now, you're running after me?"

Secretary Shem was pissed off. He rose on his feet with his hands on his waist.

"No single word came out of my mouth yesterday! I was standing like a coward behind my boss, watching the situation! So, why on earth are you so mad at me!?"

Francheskha looked up at his ferocious face. She's lost for words.

Francheskha leaned into her chair and crossed her arms, raising one brow.

"I came here because I do not want to disappoint my boss! Now all I'm asking you to do is cooperate, and for goodness's sake, listen to me! Will you!?"

The corner of her mouth lifted while watching him turning into a tiger.

And then suddenly, she realized something. She was on her feet and brought her face closer to Shem's.

"Your boss asked you to look for me? And he's offering me a job? Who's your boss?"

"Mister Zienso, the ce-"

"The CEO of Zienso Company!?"

Secretary Shem was confused with her sudden change of mood. He nodded awkwardly and moved his face away from Francheskha.

"So, you're telling me that I stained the clothes of the CEO of Zienso Company with my coffee yesterday and did not even apologize!?"

Secretary Shem finally realized that Francheskha had no idea who's the CEO of Zienso Company. That explains everything. From the way she reacted and talked to Tristan yesterday.

Francheskha was in deep shock. She tried to calm herself and didn't know that she was already slurping Shem's drink.

"That's... that's my drink.", Shem said, pointing at his drink.

Francheskha put his drink down, trying not to make it visible that she wasn't ashamed, and went back to her seat.

"What's in the contract?"

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-- at Zienso Mansion --

Tristan left the company after he asked Shem for another task. He went to their mansion to check the situation and change his outfit as well.

Every time he goes to their mansion, he always makes sure that his parents aren't there to avoid chats with them, either about businesses or his life.

Before he drove to his mansion, he asked one of their workers at the house.

She told Tristan that his parents were not around and went out with their friends for shopping and golf.

But as soon as he entered the mansion, his parents were the ones who welcomed him.

"Good to see you here, my son." His dad said.

Tristan looked at Ara, the worker he called earlier.

"You're now lying to your boss. What do you want me to do with you?"

Ara was frightened, but he couldn't explain herself, either.

"I told her not to tell you about it. We have some matters to talk about, especially that article." Tristan's mom said, leading the way to the hall.

"Come with me. We have to talk about that article."

"Right, it's almost time for you to be in a relationship and marry someone!"

Tristan took off his coat and followed his parents without saying any words yet.

Ara served them some tea to drink while discussing.

"Father, I have no plans to marry someone like your dream in-law."

"But we already published the article, Tristan."

"Then ask Reporter Kim to delete the article."

"We already went to Host Sam and scheduled your talk show about your upcoming wedding. Deleting the article won't do anything, my son." His mother explained.

"You have never disappointed us, Tristan. You're the only child we have. And we want a grandchild. A grandchild that will inherit our company."

Tristan's foremost goal in life is to guarantee that his parents are satisfied with what he's doing. Make them proud all the time. He wanted to make sure that his parents could always brag to anyone about their only child.

But right now, he's not so sure.

He was holding his teacup with his legs crossed, thinking hard.

"Son, I want to hold your future child in my arms. I want to carry your baby and feel my bond with my grandchild. Please?"

And most of all, he can't turn down any of his mother's requests. He'd do anything for her mother in exchange for giving birth to him.

"Tell Host Sam that I need to meet with her tomorrow and talk about the show.", Tristan said. He stood up and was ready to leave.

"What about your 'wife'? It's not like you're in a relationship with someone." His mother asked him before letting him leave.

"I have already worked with that."

Tristan twisted his head slightly and glanced at his father.

"What? Who is it?" His mother asked.

"The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claveria, Octavia."

Tristan expected this. Of course, his father would never let him marry a nobody. Image and reputation are the most important thing to everyone in this present time.

Tristan turned around and faced his father.

"Father, I may not have any interest in marriage, but it is super impossible for me to have feelings for Miss Octavia Claveria.", he said calmly and bowed to his father.

"Please do not worry, Mother. I have already found the perfect lady to marry." He assured his mom and left.

Soon as the doors opened, Octavia was standing outside, waiting for him wearing her biggest smile.

Of course, he looked at her. But he ignored her.

"Tristan! Hey!" Octavia chased him.

Tristan looked back for a second. And then he continued walking towards his car.

"Didn't you know? Have you heard from your parents already?" Octavia didn't stop following him until he was already inside his car.

She didn't stop bothering him. She knocked on his window.

"Yes. I have heard about it." Tristan said without looking at her.

"Great! Should we go and prepare my wedding gown?"

Tristan wore his sunglasses and laid his hands on the steering wheel, ready to drive his car.

"You can go and marry yourself."

He looked at her and said,

"I don't know how to look at you like a lady. Is that the reason why you went to the company yesterday and attended the interview?"

Octavia stood straight and flipped her hair.

"Tsk. You're the one who should be thankful that I'm interested in marrying you. What kind of lady are you planning to marry? Like the girl whom I ran to in front of the door yesterday after my interview? A nobody? A dirty girl?"

Tristan has no idea that Octavia was talking about Francheskha.

"Probably. After all, I'm not after the power. I want a girl that's powerful inside, not outside. A brave one who can live all by herself. Did I answer your question?"

Octavia sighed furiously and moved away from the car. Yes, she, for real, likes Tristan. Genuinely.

And she's willing to do anything to make sure that they become a great couple.

-- at the restaurant --

Earlier. As soon as Secretary Shem convinced Francheskha to talk with him, he informed Tristan about their location.

Tristan headed to the restaurant after dealing with his parents and Octavia.

When he got out of the car, he could see Secretary Shem and Francheskha through the glass window. And it was clear that their conversation was not going well.

He immediately entered the restaurant. He wasn't even near them, but he could hear their conversation. They were too loud.

"He's the ce--"

"The CEO of Zienso Company!?"

Tristan saw Francheskha's face, shocked and disbelieving.

He walked with bulky steps towards them, and as soon as he was near them, he answered Francheskha.

"That's right. I'm Tristan Zienso, the CEO of Zienso Company."

Francheskha raised her head and stared at him from head to toe.

Tristan finds the situation funny. He chuckled and lowered his head.

Luckily, there was a vacant seat beside Secretary Shem.

"Mister Zienso, please have a seat."

Tristan sat beside Shem-- not looking away from Francheskha.

"So, have you signed the contract already?"

Francheskha was amazed by how he got straight to the point and asked immediately about the matter when he came here.

"Well, I think she still needs some time to read the contract thoroughly and understand the agreement, Mister Zienso." Secretary Shem explained.

Tristan clicked his tongue and looked in his wristwatch.

"There's no need for that, Shem."

"What, Sir? It might cause us trouble if something isn't clear to her after signing the contract."

Tristan shushed him and told him to keep his mouth shut.

"Miss Ruquiel, right?" He asked, looking straight into Francheskha's eyes.

Unlike Tristan, Francheskha felt weak now that she was aware of the power and position he held. She was staring into his eyes blankly and nodded.

"Well, you know, I'm a busy person. However, I came here to ask you personally." Tristan said.

He was way too cool, and the way he talked was enough for Francheskha to lose her sanity and be amazed by his charisma.

"I-- I think I should greet you first, Mister-- Mister Zienso." Francheskha stammered and stood up, uncomfortable with the mood.

"No need for that. Please make yourself comfortable. I won't eat you whole."

Francheskha was silent, but Tristan was sitting in front of her, chuckling and giggling.

"You can read the contract later when you go home. But, I wanted to ask you this personally since papers can't talk."

"What...what is it?" Francheskha asked.

"How about a marriage, Miss Ruquiel?"