"I've made a deal with one of the guests who is very royal and obsessed with you. He asked to be with you for one year. And you can't accept any job other than his. Understood!"

Ellea was silent, she was still trying to digest Alex's statement.

"He's already paid one billion in base salary in one year. That means in one month I will still give you a transfer of fifty million that has been deducted for the money that is my share. Remember yes, this is the basic salary only, not including your pocket money. You guys can take care of that, because I don't want to interfere with that."

"Hold on, Lex. This means I will receive a salary of fifty million per month, one year. But on the condition that I can only accept that one guest, no others. Is that it?"

"Yesss! Exactly! So overnight this one year you are contracted by the big boss." Ellea paused, she considered and rethought Alex's offer.

"Here's the thing, Lex. It's not that I want to refuse sustenance. But you know I make more than that every month. One date alone I can receive 50 million. Well, for one month I only receive 50 million. What a loss!"

Alex looked confused. He just realized that what Ellea said was true too. He scratched his head.

"Yes, too. Why didn't I think of that! What immediately entered my mind at that time, only the amount of 1 billion was very tempting. Gosh, what a fool of me!"

***

Ethan, who had been waiting to hear from Ellea, was suddenly in a bad mood because the woman he wanted did not hear from him. Supposedly, if Alex had told him about the deal, Ellea would have contacted him.

"What the hell, have you told Jasmine yet? I haven't heard from her yet."

Kring!

Ethan reacted immediately. He saw Alex's name pop up on his phone screen.

"Well, you've just said that already. Long live you!" he said with a sardonic smile.

"Hello, how come Jasmine hasn't told me yet. You should have told me about yesterday's deal!" she sprayed unceremoniously.

Ethan tried to control his emotions. He fell silent, listening carefully to Alex's words.

"No need to go around! I'll quadruple it! How about it!"

Not long after, Ethan smiled. Four billion was not a lot of money to him. It was only a fraction of his wealth.

Ethan ended his call. A twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips. Instantly, the mood that had been chaotic, turned into a feeling that soothed his heart.

"OK, I think my stomach is starting to protest. Time to find lunch."

Ethan left his office feeling happy.

***

Jolly started going around looking for a job. He went door to door to offer his services. Until the sun was hot, no one was willing to accept his services.

She looked exhausted. She chose to stop at an overhang of a shophouse that happened to be closed at the time. She sat on the floor.

"Finding a job turned out to be difficult too. I've always lived in abundance, never lacking anything. But in a matter of hours, my fate changed by eighty degrees. I don't have anything anymore. In fact, the money I have now is probably only enough to support me for a week."

Jolly let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Oh my God. Where else should I go to find a job? I'm already tired. But if I don't get a job, how can I support myself," she lamented.

Jolly took out a small bottle of mineral water that she got when she stopped at a mosque earlier. She took a sip from the bottle, which still contained three-fourths of the water, until it was completely gone.

"I don't think I can take it anymore. I'd better come back tomorrow." She got up and walked back to her rented house.

With weary steps, Jolly was forced to swing her legs which felt increasingly heavy to support the weight of her body. As time went on, his vision became increasingly blurred, until finally she could no longer hold his body upright. Everything went dark instantly.

***

"Deal. You go with him. No need to worry. This guy is known to be a generous boss. Whatever you ask for, he'll give it to you. Try it if you don't believe me," Alex said with confidence.

"Hemmm, yes sis. The important thing is that the price is right, hehe," Ellea said with laughter.

"OK, so you will receive two hundred million per month. The rest, as usual, goes into my pocket!"

"Deal!" Alex and Ellea shook hands.

Ellea was honestly very tired of her current job. If it wasn't for the dialysis fees she had to pay every week for her grandmother's sake, she would never have done such a lowly job.

"But by the way, who is she? How come he wants to spend that much money just for something like this? Four billion is not a small amount of money." Ellea was getting curious.

Alex smiled, "You've met before."

Ellea rounded her eyes. "Seriously?"

"Heemmmm!" Alex nodded.

"Who?"

Alex opened the gallery on his phone, and then he clearly showed Ellea.

"It's him!"

Instantly Ellea was shocked beyond belief. Her chest tightened and she almost fainted when she saw the man who wanted her so badly. The man who was familiar to her. The man she had just met last night.

"Ethan!" she exclaimed.

"Right! Ethan. You know, he's a wealthy businessman in the capital. So I'm asking you, please treat him well. He's our VVIP guest. Got it!"

Ellea was still silent. Indeed, she felt tongue-tied, unable to move her tongue. Her chest was even beating so fast, she couldn't control it.

"Ellea! What's wrong? You're staring at nothing!" snapped Alex. "Yes, this is her. She was the one who asked for company last night.

Ellea caught her breath many times. It made Alex wonder. What was going on with his favorite girl right now.