I hope you all won't blame me for my decision.
The question had refused to leave my mind no matter how hard I tried to bury it. It echoed in my head again and again, louder in the silence of the room.
"Can you sign the contract again?"
Those six words.
I gave him a response, but for now, I won't tell anyone what I said.
The bed beneath me felt unusually soft against my skin, sinking slightly as though it was trying to pull me back into sleep. My body felt heavy, my legs weak as I forced myself to sit up.
I had slept late because of Raisem's sickness. Most of the night had been spent checking his temperature, wiping sweat from his forehead, and listening to his breathing just to be sure he was still fine.
As I swung my legs off the bed and stood up, planning to go check on him again, the telephone on the desk suddenly rang.
The sound startled me, and my heart skipped a beat.
Was it Austin?
That was the only thought in my head.
I rushed toward the desk and grabbed the telephone, answering. The moment I placed it against my ear, a voice came through.
"Hello, Ara."
The sound was wrong.
It wasn't normal. It was distorted, mechanical, and sharp, dragging each syllable like a blade. It reminded me of a screaming ghost, something unnatural.
The tone carried an eerie, automated sound mixed with a hollow, unsettling voice.
Fear slid down my spine.
My fingers tightened around the phone as my breath hitched.
"Hello," I replied softly, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound calm.
"It's so nice to meet you again, Ara… after all these days," it said.
My chest tightened.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, don't pretend like you don't know who I am. Of course you do," the voice said smoothly.
My heart started racing.
"Please, who are you?" I asked again, fear creeping into my voice.
"You don't remember… or you're pretending," the voice laughed hysterically.
There was a brief pause. Then the voice lowered, slow and deliberate.
"I just want to give you a warning, sweetie. Watch your back."
Then the line went dead.
I screamed and flung the phone onto the floor. It hit the tiles with a loud crack as I backed away, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
"What the hell was that?" I whispered to myself.
My hands shook violently. Was that a prank?
Was it Raisem testing me again?
It must be.
He liked testing people. This had to be one of his sick jokes.
"I won't fall for it," I muttered, forcing a scoff as I walked out of my room toward his.
I opened the door to him slowly, ignoring whoever made that call.
The room was empty.
"Raisem?" I called, but there was no response.
I turned to leave when I heard a soft creak, the bathroom door opening. Panic rushed through me, and I immediately stepped back, closing the door quietly behind me.
Why was I running away from him?
I had just wanted to check on him… Now I was hiding like a thief. My mind wasn't straight.
Shaking my head, I walked back downstairs and sat on one of the chairs in the living room, my phone resting uselessly in my palms. I just wanted peace and a soft girl life, that's all.
Moments later, I heard footsteps coming closer, and I looked towards the stairs.
Raisem walked down the stairs, looking composed and powerful, like he hadn't been sick just hours ago. He was fully dressed like he was going to work.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To work?" he replied.
"Can I come along?" I asked, hoping he would allow me.
"No," he answered sharply.
"Please, I don't want to stay here alone," I replied with a pout.
He studied me for a second before sighing.
"Okay. Go get dressed. You only have five minutes."
"What?" My eyes widened. "That's too short."
A woman can never get dressed in just five minutes.
"Fifteen minutes!" I shouted after him.
He scoffed and continued walking toward the door.
"Raisem," I called.
He stopped and turned.
I rushed toward him and placed the back of my palms on his forehead, recalling how badly he'd burned up the night before.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Thank God," I sighed. "Your temperature is better now. You were like boiling water yesterday night."
He stared into my eyes quietly before holding my hands and lowering them.
"You only have ten more minutes," he muttered.
"Oh shit," I gasped and ran back to my room.
******
We arrived at his workplace; the building stood tall like a kingdom carved from glass and steel.
Derap Jeans headquarters looked exactly like the giant Korean corporations I'd seen in dramas, with massive glass walls reflecting the sky, silver panels gleaming in the sunlight, and the company logo boldly engraved above the entrance.
Luxury cars filled the parking lot, and guards stood at attention.
This was the home of the most popular jeans brand in the world, jeans worn by celebrities, influencers, models, and ordinary people alike. I heard of the story about a young boy; at the age of twelve, he was a designer, and he created Derap Jeans, and in a few months, it went global.
Could that young boy be Raisem? Nah, I doubt it; he doesn't look that creative, I thought.
I couldn't stop staring.
The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere changed. Employees stood straight. People bowed. Security followed closely behind Raisem like shadows.
Whispers filled the air as eyes followed me.
"Why does everyone look unfriendly towards me?" I muttered to him.
"It's because they don't have the chance to be this close to me," he replied casually.
His personal assistant rushed toward us.
"Boss, everyone's waiting," he said, bowing.
"Take her to my office," Raisem instructed.
"Yes, boss. This way, Miss Henderson."
"How about you?" I asked Raisem.
"I have an important meeting," he said. "Just go with him."
I nodded.
His office was massive—wide windows, marble floors, polished wood, shelves filled with awards and recognitions. His desk alone looked expensive enough to buy a mansion.
"I'll leave you here, ma'am," the PA said. "If you need anything, press the button by your left."
"Thank you," I replied with a smile.
Hours passed.
I slept. I woke. Still no Raisem; now I was bored, and I needed to use the restroom badly.
After failing to open his private bathroom, I stepped out and asked a woman.
"Please, do you know where the ladies' restroom is?"
"It's around the corner," she said.
I rushed in relief. The joy of finally peeing after holding it for hours. I was done and stepped out of the restroom; suddenly, someone slammed into me, and I fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"Sorry," the man muttered, running off. He wasn't even remorseful or tried to check up on me.
Some people are just so; I reserve my comment.
All I caught was his black hoodie, a cap, a silver chain, and a wristwatch. That was enough to identify him and kick some sense into his brain.
"Like seriously?" I muttered angrily, dusting myself off.
Not long after, a woman approached me. She assessed me head to toe and eyed me like I was a pest.
"Mr. Elian asked me to give you this letter," she said, pointing the piece of paper at me.
"Mr. Elian?" I replied in shock. Who was that? I just got here, and I don't know anyone here except Raisem.
"Yes, the man in the black hoodie and cap."
I opened the letter, and what I saw made my blood boil.
"You look sexy. I hope I didn't cause any trouble. Can we meet in a hotel by 9? We could talk things out and get laid."
My hands shook with rage as I tore it apart.
How dare he? I wanted to ignore how he hit me the other time, but now I wasn't going to ignore any shit. I'm going to teach that freak a lesson.
I walked further and spotted someone sitting casually by the window side with a drink in his hand. Same hoodie, same chain and wristwatch, just like Mr. Ethan the freak.
That must be him, though I didn't get to see his face then because he was in a hurry, but I was sure it was him. The outfit and jewelry were the same.
I stormed toward him and yanked off the hoodie.
"Like seriously, you think you can get away with the rubbish you just did!" I screamed.
"Excuse me, who the hell are you?" The young hot guy snapped.
He looked hot, though, but that doesn't excuse his bad behavior.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He replied casually with his hands in his pocket.
"Oh really, the letter you wrote?" I asked, and he just stood like a statue. That pissed me off so badly I wanted to strangle him.
"Security, please get this bulldog out of here." He said this, and it made me so mad.
He called me a Bulldog; that was funny, but no way. He won't escape my wrath.
I splashed the wine on the table and in his face and slapped him hard. I lunged towards him like a wild animal and didn't even give him a chance to defend himself.
I was fast and rough. He called me a bulldog. I will show him what it's like to be one.
"Get off me, you crazy psycho!" he screamed in pain.
I heard a bone crack, and I was satisfied.
Security rushed in, but I attacked him, pulling his hair, screaming, and unleashing everything inside me. He was so helpless.
I raised my heel and wanted to hit him with it, then I noticed the sudden silence; even the security all stood still, and everyone was staring at someone else.
I turned, and I saw him staring at me in disbelief.
Raisem.
What shocked me the most was, beside him stood another man wearing the same hoodie and the same chain and wristwatch as the man who hit me outside the restroom.
My blood ran cold.
What… was going on?