“Four hundred million. Cash. Tonight.”
Noah Nabastala blinked twice. He stared at the stack of documents labeled Non-Disclosure Agreement on the clear glass table, then shifted his gaze to the woman sitting across from him.
“Four hundred... what? Ms. Noira, please say that again. My hearing’s a little clogged from the night wind.”
Noira Authum crossed her long legs. Her low-cut burgundy silk dress shifted gently, revealing her smooth thigh, which stood out against the black leather sofa. She took a sip of red wine from her crystal glass without once looking away from Noah with her sharp gaze.
“You heard me correctly, Noah. Four hundred million rupiah for three months. Paid in full upfront.”
“And my job is... just to be your ‘secret bedmate’?”
“I prefer to call it a private relaxation partner,” Noira cut in briskly. Her voice was calm, cold, and filled with unquestionable authority. “Your duties are simple: be in this condominium whenever I need you, keep this secret under wraps, and most importantly... don’t get emotional.”
Noah let out a small laugh and raked a hand through his slightly messy hair. “Hold on, Boss. I’m a server at your regular café, not a male escort—”
“Three hundred fifty million in loan-shark debt left by your late father, right?” Noira set down her glass with a soft chime. “Your younger sibling needs college enrollment fees next week. If you rely on the café salary of only four million rupiah a month, how many decades would it take you to pay all that off?”
Noah fell silent. His throat suddenly went dry. “Were you spying on me?”
“I did my research on the asset I wanted to rent,” Noira replied casually. She stood and slowly approached Noah. The scent of black opium mixed with vanilla immediately filled the air, overwhelming his sense of smell.
“Well? It’s a simple offer. Three months. No emotional attachment. After that, we go back to being strangers.” Noira stopped directly in front of Noah and leaned down slightly until her warm breath brushed his lips. “Or would you rather watch your family home get seized tomorrow morning?”
Noah swallowed. His gaze fixed on Noira’s rosy red lips, so close to his own. “Ibu, you’re seriously insane.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. So, what do you say, Noah?”
“Can I read the clauses first?” Noah asked as he drew a long breath, trying to regain control of himself.
“Go ahead. You have ten minutes.” Noira returned to her chair and leaned back elegantly, watching the man’s reaction.
Noah turned the pages of the document with slightly trembling fingers.
“Clause three... ‘The Second Party must comply with every summons from the First Party within less than an hour’? Ms. Noira, I’m a human being, not GoSend.”
“I’m paying a premium for your availability, Noah.”
“And what’s this? Clause five... ‘Falling in love, jealousy, and demanding a public relationship are strictly forbidden’?” Noah raised an eyebrow. “Boss, honestly... seeing you this fierce every day would make it kind of hard to fall in love.” Noira curled her lips into a faint smile, so faint it was nearly invisible. “Good. That makes my job easier.”
“What if you fall in love with me?” Noah suggested with an impish grin. “I’m pretty adorable when I smile.”
Noira gave a scornful chuckle. “Fall in love with you? A man who can’t even wear matching socks under his dress pants?”
Noah instinctively looked down, then let out an awkward chuckle. “It’s a new trend, Boss. Young people’s fashion.”
“Enough joking around,” Noira said firmly. She tossed a gold-nibbed Montblanc pen onto the table. “Sign on the stamp duty. Or the exit is behind you.”
Noah stared at the expensive pen, then pictured his younger sibling’s terrified, tear-streaked face when debt collectors had come to their house yesterday afternoon. His fists tightened.