The next morning, Fina dressed formally and went to Madrex's office as instructed.
Om reaching the office, she was short on breath. This should be one of the biggest buildings she had ever seen in her entire life.
Just as she kept fantasising about how beautiful and spacious the office was, Mr Madrex's assistant walked up to her and called her attention to Madrex's office.
The assistant's heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor as she led Fina down a long hallway. Every step made Fina more aware of how small she felt in this place, how out of place. The walls were decorated with abstract art, the kind that whispered money and power. Even the scent expensive cologne mixed with cold air conditioning reminded her she was walking into a world she did not belong to.
Her palms were already damp, she kept her chin up but her stomach tightened with every breath.
When they reached the tall black double doors, the assistant paused, glanced at Fina from head to toe as if silently measuring her worth, then knocked twice.
A deep voice from inside responded instantly.
"Let her in."
The assistant opened the door and gestured for Fina to step inside.
Fina hesitated for a heartbeat then walked in.
Madrex was standing by the wide glass window, hands in his pockets, the morning light framing his silhouette like something dangerous pretending to be beautiful.
He did not turn immediately. He waited, letting the silence stretch, letting her feel it.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, controlled, and terrifyingly calm.
"Close the door, Fina."
And just like that, she knew she wasn't just in his office.
She was in his world, and he was about to decide her fate.
Fina stepped closer, her pulse drumming in her ears. Madrex still didn't turn. His eyes were on the city, his city stretching endlessly beneath him.
"You caused a lot of noise yesterday," he said quietly.
Her throat tightened. "I came because your assistant said..."
He finally turned.
The moment their eyes met, her words died.
He looked calm, too calm. Like a man who had already won a game she didn't even know they were playing.
"Sit."
She obeyed. Her knees were softer than she wanted to admit.
Madrex walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a black folder. He placed it in front of her with deliberate slowness, his fingers brushing the cover as if savoring the moment.
"This," he said, "is your contract."
Fina blinked. "Contract? For what job? I did not apply for any...."
"You did," he cut in smoothly. "Last night."
A shiver ran down her spine.
He knew, he knew everything.
Madrex rested one hand on the desk and leaned slightly forward.
"Your uncle owes a debt of 3.4 million," he said calmly. "He cannot pay it. And if you do not pay it, those men will return. This time, they won't be as gentle."
Her breath hitched.
He tapped the folder. "I paid the debt."
Her eyes widened. "You… what? Why would you..."
"So you would owe me," he said simply without letting her finish.
Silence dropped heavily between them.
Fina felt something twist inside her chest. Fear, anger and disbelief.
She stood abruptly. "You had no right..."
Madrex's gaze darkened. "Sit down."
She froze. Something in his tone pinned her in place. She slowly lowered herself back into the chair.
Madrex pushed the folder toward her.
"Open it."
Her trembling hands unclasped the file.
Inside was a neatly typed contract with her name already printed at the top in bold letters.
FINA Montez – EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL ASSISTANT CONTRACT
Duration: 10 months
Buy-out clause: $12,500,000
Non-escape clause: immediate legal action if terminated early
Residence: Must stay in Madrex's private penthouse for availability
Restrictions: No dating, no second job, no disappearing without permission
Possession clause: He can call her any hour, day or night
Her vision blurred for a moment.
"This is… insane," she whispered.
Madrex straightened, expression unreadable.
"No. This is generosity. I could have let those men take you."
He paused. "But I wanted you safe."
The last word slid across the room like a lie wrapped in silk.
Fina swallowed hard. "Why me?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
Cold, hungry and certain.
"Because you interest me," he said.
"And because you screamed at me… no one screams at me."
She flinched.
Madrex walked around the desk slowly, like a predator circling prey.
"These are my conditions Fina. You work for me, you follow my rules, you stay close, you don't disappear, you don't get in trouble."
A slow smirk pulled at his lips.
"And you don't raise your voice at me again."
The room tightened with silent tension.
He stopped beside her chair and leaned down, his breath brushing the side of her face.
"Sign the contract and keep in mind that you must never disappear".
Fina's fingers shook as she held the pen.
"Or," he whispered, "those loan sharks will get the message that you are no longer protected."
Her heart dropped.
She was trapped. Beautifully, perfectly trapped.
***
Fina stared at the contract feeling helpless. The pen felt heavier than metal, like it knew what signing meant.
Her mind raced.
She couldn't do this, she had to do this.
She had no choice, she still had a choice.
Her thoughts collided like fire and ice.
Madrex watched her silently from the edge of his desk, arms crossed, eyes dark with patience he didn't really have.
"You are dragging this out," he said quietly. "And you already know the answer."
Fina's breath hitched. "This isn't fair."
"Life isn't," he replied. "Sign, and I'll keep you safe. Don't… and I stop intervening."
Her chest tightened.
Loan sharks, her uncle, the threat, her fear. Everything pressed her toward that paper.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the pen again.
Madrex leaned forward, voice low. "Do it."
Her internal war cracked... she was one second away from losing.
She lowered the pen, the nib touched the line.
Madrex's eyes gleamed victory.
Then...
BANG. BANG. BANG.
A frantic knock slammed through the office door.
"Sir!" the assistant's shaky voice broke the moment. "There's a situation downstairs. You need to come. It's..."
Then?...
"…it's about her."
Madrex's head snapped toward Fina instantly.
The pen slipped from her fingers and hit the floor.
His expression shifted from triumph to lethal coldness in an instant.
"Fina," he said slowly, "who exactly is waiting for you downstairs?"
She froze.
His eyes narrowed.
"Because whoever it is…" his voice dropped dangerously...
"…they just made a very big mistake."