I gave him a long look. "You're very honest."
"Honesty is cheaper than dishonesty," he said.
My lips twitched. Was everything about money to him?
"Clause seventeen," he continued. "You'll find it near the end."
I flipped through again, scanning until I reached it.
'All public appearances, interviews, or statements made during the duration of filming must be approved by the production.' I glanced up.
"Until filming is complete, your image is ours to rebuild. No surprises, no outbursts, no late-night live streams or interviews where you try to defend yourself against anything," he said smoothly
My jaw tightened. "You're asking me to stay silent while the media tears me apart."
"I'm asking you to let me control the narrative," he said, his tone as cold as steel. "You've already seen what happens when you try to do it alone."
My fingers tightened around the edge of the tablecloth. I wanted to argue, to throw the folder in his face and walk out, but the weight of the last few weeks pressed down on me.
I looked down at the last clause and read it out, "In the event of early termination, Party B shall repay all advances and damages deemed appropriate by Party A."
My throat tightened. "This is basically saying if I quit or you let me go, I owe you everything."
"That's what it says," he replied simply, and lifted his wine glass. "To new beginnings."
'Is he trying to annoy me right now?' My eyes narrowed with suspicion, and I didn't reciprocate the gesture.
He didn't seem to mind, though. "You asked for revenge, Miss Flores. I'm offering you the stage to deliver it. All I require is obedience and results."
I understood. This was just business as usual. However, I just couldn't shake the feeling of suffocation.
"Mr. Hades, I must say, the offer is quite tempting," I said slowly, "but I just want my life back. Not a version that you can control."
'I'm a goddess, for goodness sake,' I added inwardly.
Damian Hades leaned back, studying me with something almost like curiosity. "You think control and freedom are opposites. They're not."
My hands curled into fists beneath the table. "So I should lose my freedom to you?"
He scoffed. "You'd be surprised at what more could be lost in the battle for the stars, Miss Flores."
For a second there, his eyes darkened. But then it vanished just as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual, cold calm.
"I'm not your enemy," he said finally. "Take the contract home. Think about it. I'll expect an answer tomorrow."
My head snapped up. "Tomorrow?"
"I'm not a patient man, Miss Flores."
I shrugged. "I can tell."
He pulled out an envelope and placed it beside my plate. "A token of gratitude for accepting my invitation, though you haven't touched your meal. Consider it a gesture of faith."
I hesitated to accept it. "Faith or control?"
He leaned back. "Whichever helps you sleep."
My throat ran dry. "You really think this will make me say yes?"
"I think you already have," he said, his gaze locking with mine. "You just haven't admitted it yet."
The silence that followed was almost unbearable. The music from the restaurant's pianist was soft and melancholic.
"They built you up, only to tear you down and cast you to the depths for laughs. A sick amusement."
His voice lowered, and he spoke with more emotion than he had expressed so far, "No longer will the world look at you with scorn, Miss Flores. You will get your revenge. But it's not for free."
I forced a smile and courtly stood up, holding the envelope.
"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Damian Hades."
He didn't mind my dismissal and simply gestured toward the door.
"My driver will take you home."
I nodded and walked away, my heels echoing against the marble floor.
But before I reached the door, his voice cut through the room, low and sure.
"I'll tell you this, Miss Flores. We're both underdogs."
I didn't turn around and just continued on my way.
Outside, the night air was sharp and cold. I clutched the envelope tightly.
I came to this dinner thinking I had nothing left to lose. Turned out I was just being a naive little girl. The world wasn't my oyster. It was my enemy.
I arrived back home past 11 p.m. and plopped down on my bed.
Just then, my phone rang out with a notification. Lucky had posted on his Snapchat.
He was with Taylor Hale at a nightclub. She was a more successful artist than I with a diamond-certified album. And I had to admit, she was beautiful too, and her fans loved her.
Compared to little me, she was more on the level of fame and stardom that Lucky had.
Looking at the selfie of her holding him so closely, the jealousy that settled in my gut was palpable.
Routine led me to check on Elysi's latest news.
The trending headline was: "Demeter Said WHAT About Hera?"
It caught my attention, and I clicked on the video.
"Will Hera's absence affect the album's performance in any way?"
Demmy didn't need to think for a second before answering, "Not really. Hes and I were always the major contributors in the creation of the songs."
She chuckled and added, "Hera's efforts were mostly centered on making her boyfriend happy."
Crack!
My phone surprisingly squeezed in from my tightened grip, immediately turning my growing anger into shock.
"Ah!" I screamed and let it fall to the ground.
"Dammit! Now my phone's broken," I said in frustration, palming my face but ending up massaging my forehead.
I took deep breaths and sat on my bed. I always knew Demter and I weren't the best sisters, but I always saw it as Mom's fault and that Demmy herself didn't mean me any harm. But this… this changed that.
"Because of her, my phone is now gone," I repeated and rummaged through its remains. Lucky for me, I found the SIM card; no, good for me instead, not lucky.
The next morning, I woke up determined. I said I woke up, but I didn't do much sleeping anyway. My pillows were soaked with tears.
The new phone I had ordered last night arrived, and I put the SIM card in it and called Damian Hades.
And said the moment the call connected, "I'll accept your offer."
"Good choice, Miss Flores. The driver's already waiting outside."
I could just hear the smugness in his voice.