Isabelle looked into Elias's eyes.
She hadn't noticed it before but he didn't have black eyes, as she had assumed. Instead, his eyes were pale grey with slanted pupils... Much like a cat's.
They looked... Cunning. It contrasted with his personality. Both of his personalities which she had seen.
The one in front of her right now, and the one she saw when he transformed into a half-beast, half-human.
His eyes weren't very noticeable through the glasses, but once he took them off... Ah, was that why he always wore glasses even when his eyesight was good?
"Shall we begin?" He asked, and Isabelle folded her arms, crossed her legs, and then stared back at him with the same directness he was giving her.
"Yes, sir. Hurry up and state your terms and I'll state mine." She said but he turned to pick up a sheet of paper she didn't even know was there.
"There's no need for that." He said, handing her the sheet of paper.
"What's this?"
She didn't accept it at first until he said,
"This is our contract." As soon as she heard this, she flinched.
He already drafted the contract?
"Weren't we supposed to state our terms and conditions first before you drafted the contract? You don't even know everything I want yet."
"I know plenty." He said. "Just read it. If there is anything that you find dissatisfying then we will adjust the terms right now."
Isabelle was reluctant. No, more life wary.
For him to be so meticulous in this, it must mean that he was in a tight spot... Desperate, even.
Was her life really in danger that he had to rush things so much?
"I thought we would definitely talk it over before." She grumbled but took it regardless and then skimmed through.
Her eyes rolled from one end of the paper to the other but then she stopped, closing her eyes as she found the contents unbelievable.
"Did you really write up this contract with your right mind?" She asked. "Why does everything lean into my favor?"
"You are doing me a huge favor by keeping my secret. This much is enough to be considered hush money." He said but she couldn't agree with that.
This... It was too good to be true.
It was almost like she was walking into a trap with these words sugarcoated in her favor, so she decided to read it again.
'Should I get a lawyer to look at this for me?' she wondered, glancing up at him from the paper with suspicious eyes and furrowed eyebrows, and then glanced at the heading, which read, 'Mutual contract agreement'.
This was too much in her favor to be considered mutual.
"I don't know if you read this yourself but I'll read it out loud regardless." She said and began to read the content, word for word,
Mutual Contract Agreement
This agreement is made between Party A, Mr. Elias Yoon, and Party B, Ms. Isabelle Han (collectively referred to as "the Parties"). Both Parties hereby agree to the terms set forth below and acknowledge that any breach of this contract shall place the offending party at the discretion of the other.
---
'Hm, this sounds doable, but that last part…at the discretion of the other... does that mean I'm supposed to take matters into my own hands if he goes back on his word?' She frowned, her lips twisting as she thought deeply. 'I'll have to ask him about that later.'
---
Terms and Conditions
1. Transfer of Managerial Rights
Party A shall transfer all managerial rights and authority to Party B, including but not limited to project oversight, decision-making, and approval rights.
2. Compensation
Party A agrees to pay Party B a salary equivalent to twice the amount of Party A's own managerial pay on each designated pay day.
3. Personal Safety Clause
Party A shall be responsible for ensuring the personal safety of Party B and must intervene in any situation that poses a threat to Party B's life or well-being, including but not limited to those arising from Party A's own circumstances or associations.
4. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
Party B shall maintain absolute confidentiality regarding any personal, professional, or classified information concerning Party A. Party B shall not disclose, threaten to disclose, or exploit such information under any circumstance, until this agreement is lawfully terminated.
5. Assistance and Cooperation
Party B shall provide reasonable assistance to Party A in both professional and personal matters, acting in the capacity of an assistant when required. Party B agrees to cooperate and accept any resources or arrangements provided by Party A for the purpose of ensuring smoother collaboration and communication.
---
Termination Clause
This contract may be terminated only through mutual consent, upon which both Parties shall acknowledge the annulment in writing.
---
And then at the end of the page, the signature lines were neatly set out at the bottom; Party A on the right, and Party B on the left.
Isabelle squinted her eyes after reading this for the third time and Elias noticed it. Her subtle movements of dissatisfaction were enough to point it out.
"Is there something that dissatisfies you?" Elias asked and she raised her head.
'How was he so good at writing contracts? Did he ever work in a legal firm?'
She was sure he hadn't given it to anyone to write for him since their relationship right now was a secret.
She always thought he was a good-for-nothing, just riding the coattails of his rich lineage, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Elias stood in front of her, imposing and confident that he had done everything right and he really did, which ticked her off.
The fifth clause, where it said she would be his assistant, did look like he was trying to slave her away as well as hand his job as a manager to her, but with how much he was going to pay her, and how much benefit she was getting from this, it was practically nothing.
In the first place, she was already an assistant manager, albeit not his direct assistant but this worked out fine.
If she took on the role as his assistant as well, her movement with him would be justified and there would be no suspicion.
It was such a good offer, but she still found herself mulling over it.
Was it really not a trap? She wondered.
Wasn't he supposed to add a clause like, Party B must cater to Party A's needs? Not that she was eager for it, but that was standard, given all the benefits she got.
"Your silence tells me that there is something you are not satisfied with." He said with a calm tone and she slammed the paper on the desk.
"I'm suspicious."