It's Just a Business Transaction Ch. 06

"Honey, he was more gorgeous in flesh. He was absolutely to die for! Come on! How big is he? I wouldn't mind using him as my model for my next assignment," said Wendy outrageously.

Aida rolled her eyes and said, "Wendy, you are absolutely a lost cause you know that? Totally hopeless!" Aida scolded her again. "I already told you that it was merely a contractual marriage so nothing happened AND I am not going to talk to you ever again if you ask me those crude questions one more time!" Aida threatened.

"Ok, ok…heeheehee…so you getting bored with your job already?" Wendy asked.

"I wish there were things for me to do to occupy my mind, the thing is, I have nothing to do, it's boring!" confessed Aida truthfully.

"Relax, it's only your first day, morning. Here is a suggestion for you. You could wear yourself out by working on him every night and then you can sleep-in late the next morning so you don't have to wake up so early! Good suggestion huh?" said Wendy cheekily.

"Ok, that's it! I am hanging up now. Goodbye Wendy," said Aida firmly.

"Aww… lighten up Aida! Heeheehee…ok I gotta go too, see you around soon. Love you Aida," Wendy made a kissing sound over the phone and then hangs up.

Aida looked at the receiver and could imagine what Wendy's reactions would be if she'd told Wendy about what happened last night. She looked at the clock again and it's not even twelve yet. Suddenly she stood up from her bed. Hey, I could go visit my charge at the hospital! She thought. Her mind made up, she quickly changed into a simple blouse and jeans, grabbed her bag and went out looking for Mrs. Timont to arrange for her transport. Fifteen minutes later she was comfortably seated in a white Cadillac sedan and the chauffeur drove her to the hospital. On their way out, there were indeed a few reporters lurking about as Alex has predicted and immediately started snapping off in their direction when they see the Cadillac drove out. For once, Aida was thankful for the heavily tinted glass windows.

The two bodyguards outside William Sr. room stood standing guard, looking very alert and solemn. Whey they saw Aida approach, they greeted her respectfully, "Good morning, Mrs. Jefferson."

"Hi, good morning. I…Will it be alright if I pay a visit to Mr. Jefferson please?" Aida asked the bodyguards, a little unsure if she was allowed to visit William Sr. without Alex around.

"Of course Mrs. Jefferson. Please go right ahead," said one of the bodyguards.

When she entered the room, old man William Sr. was propped up on his bed reading some article on some magazine. The old man looked up to see Aida standing there with her hands behind her back and asked grumpily, "What do you want? Coming to hassle little old me again, have you? Aren't you supposed to be on your honeymoon?"

Aida blushed at his words. She knew she should not show that she was intimidated by him or he would take advantage of her weakness and bullied her, so in a clear cheery voice she said, "Well, I wanted to see if you have been behaving yourself or giving Miss. Kathy a hard time. And I wanted to see if you have taken your medicine on time. AND… since I would be taking the duty over from Miss. Kathy soon, I thought we should get properly acquainted! Last night was just too hurried."

"Bah, as if one witch is not enough now I have to deal with another. How would you like it, if everyday they popped you with fifteen types of different medicine and also those unappetizing meals? It's so bland and absolutely boring! If this keeps going on, I will lose the use of my taste bud pretty soon!" said the old man William Sr. huffily.

"So…what would you like to eat? You have strict order about your diets. Now you know you can't have anything that is high on cholesterol or high on salt," said Aida.

"Listen here young lady. I am ninety years old! I have seen so much and done so much even before you were born, so don't tell me what I can and what I can't! And it's not like I am going to live forever, so why not just live and let live? Not unless you are planning to give me some great grandchildren to play with otherwise there is no point living that long!" said old man William Sr. stubbornly.

Aida winced at the word great grandchildren. For a moment she felt sorry for the old man. She knew she would have to disappoint him greatly where great grandchildren were concern.

"Well, there are a lot of things you still can do and have fun, like…"

From behind her back she took out a small tub of vanilla swiss almond Haagen-Dazzs ice cream. The old man's face immediately lit up like a Halloween pumpkin.

"I'll be damn, is that for me?" he asked Aida, his eyes shining, gaze never leaving the ice cream.

"That depends," said Aida trying to sound casual.

"What?" he asked her anxiously, smacking his lips in anticipation at the creamy ice cream. "I'll do anything you want me to, just let me have the ice cream," he plead.

"Well if you promise me to take your medicine regularly and not to bully Miss. Kathy AND to behave yourself, I might consider handing over this tub of sweet lovely yummy ice cream," said Aida tempting him.

"Alright, alright! I promise! Now can I have the ice cream please?" begged old man William Sr.

Aida knew he was not really such a fussy unreasonable old man after all. Willingly she handed up the tub of ice cream and spoon to him. Earlier Aida had found out from Mrs. Timont that the senior Jefferson had a sweet tooth for ice cream but he was put on a low fat and low sodium diet. So Aida had coerced the chauffeur into helping her getting the low fat ice cream. The chauffeur reluctantly agreed on condition that she was not to tell Alex that he had stop by the roadside leaving her in the car all alone and dashed off to buy the ice cream from the ice cream parlour and the game set from a toy store. Aida assured him when he gets back, she would still be inside the car with the windows up and the doors locked.

William Sr. dug happily into the ice cream like a little boy opening up his Christmas presents. Aida even managed to coaxed William Sr. into a game of Scrabble. Both of them were enjoying each other company having so much fun fighting over the game and digging into the ice cream. They were so caught up in their game; Aida even forgot her appointment with Alex, when suddenly Alex walked in interrupting their bantering.

"So this was where my new bride has been hiding," Alex said seriously but there was laughter in his eyes.

"Alex my boy!" cried his grandfather happily seeing his grandson. "You should come and join us, we are having a party here!"

"I can see that grandpa!" Alex said eyeing the half-finished ice cream and the scrabble board and even a dictionary.

"ALEX! OH! I am so sorry, I forgot our appointment!" Aida cried in alarm and feeling embarrassed at the same time for forgetting their lunch and for not informing him of her whereabouts.

Alex had waited for Aida for almost half an hour and when she did not show up, he had called back home but there was no answer from her room. For a moment there Alex thought she might have just ran off but after checking with Mrs. Timont and his bodyguards did he realized where she was. He had then drove to the hospital and while he was walking towards his grandfather's private room had heard laughter coming from it. The two bodyguards was about to greet him when he signalled for them not to. He stood outside the door looking in to see Aida and his grandfather were having a good time playing some tiles game. He had never seen his grandfather laughed so much since his father died years ago. There was a glow on his wrinkled face. He was reluctant to interrupt the happy scene before him and he wanted his grandfather to enjoy a little longer but he couldn't wait to get Aida alone again. After all they were still suppose to be newlywed and it's only a day old.

That morning he had woken up to look down on her small frame still sleeping soundly and snoring away at this side. He had bent forward to kiss her lingeringly and she did not even stir. What a sound sleeper, he thought shaking his head. She would have easily been rape when she was such a sound sleeper. No, he would take his time. He had one whole year to get her willingly to come into his arms. Meanwhile he would be patient and bid his time.

"I am afraid you are losing your charm, young man. Seems like our Aida has taken to me now, so shoo… leave us alone. I want to enjoy her company better than yours, boring me with your business reports and balance sheet. I am ninety and I want to enjoy my 'youth'," his grandfather gave Alex a wicked wink.

"Hey, she was married to me," Alex chided grandfather playfully. "Anyway, I want to let you know that I am taking you home tomorrow, grandpa. I wanted to surprise you but since I am here I might as well let you know."

"Really? You mean I am finally getting out of this prison? Get Mrs. Timont to cook my favourite dish. Oh… and tell her to bring out my favourite wine too. I have not had any since I came in here," said old man William Sr. looking absolutely happy and excited.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jefferson, I believe we did discussed earlier that you are to follow a strict diet when I take over the duty of looking after you after you discharge." Aida interrupted before Alex could reply to his grandfather.

The old man opened his mouth to argue but he realized he did promise Aida to be good and so he shut his mouth.

"What grandpa, no argument? That's so unlikely of you not to have a good debate over something so important like…your wine," Alex chided his grandfather jovially.

"You know something, I think I will take my afternoon nap before you two drive me to my grave. Out you go now!" said the old man pretending to be angry and lay down closing his eyes.

Alex and Aida just looked at him knowing fully well he was only jesting. Alex tucked the blanket around his grandfather lovingly and led Aida out.

"Hmm…how shall I punish you?" said Alex to Aida without looking at her. They were seated in his Aston Martin Vanquish driving off somewhere.

"Whatever for?" said Aida, knowing he did not really mean it or did he?

"Well for standing me up for our date and for not informing me of your whereabouts," said Alex.

"I forgot about the time and it's not a date. Anyway I was bored. It would be at least another two hours before meeting up with you, so I figure I could make myself useful by visiting your grandfather. Also I don't recall in the contract I have to inform you of my whereabouts," said Aida feeling proud of herself for the smart answer.

"Firstly, you are now Mrs. Jefferson and THAT makes it my business to know my wife whereabouts. Secondly it's dangerous to go anywhere without informing anyone but good thing you used the chauffeur because no matter how you look at it, you ARE Mrs. Jefferson and you could make an easy target for would be kidnappers," said Alex seriously.

Aida then realized the seriousness of the situation. He was right. Even though she was acting in name as Mrs. Jefferson but would be kidnappers would not know about their contractual business and what if she was really kidnap, that would bring trouble to Alex because of her thoughtlessness. They would demand him to pay a ransom of her because of her stupidity. Suddenly she felt bad.

"I am sorry Alex, I didn't realize that, it was inconsiderate of me. I won't do it again," said Aida apologetically.

"It's ok, Aida. I am not trying to limit your movement, just that…"

"I fully understand Alex, no it's really thoughtless of me. I should have known. You are after all a rich and prominent man and anyone close to you or you yourself would make a potential target for kidnappers. I will try to becareful in the future," said Aida.

"Thank you for your understanding Aida," he turned to give her a sincere smile to assure her that he too understand her dilemma for it was still too soon for her to get use to the lifestyle of being a rich man's wife yet.

"So do you always go anywhere with a bodyguard?" Aida asked of him.

"Not really, depends on where I am going and usually I just stay alert," explained Alex.

"What about your stepmother and half-brother?" Aida could not resist asking.

"I gather you have met them already?" said Alex.

"This morning," said Aida omitting out the part where she had an unpleasant interlude with Roderick. She didn't think it was necessary.

"I would pay someone to kidnap them if I could, anyway would you think anyone would be in their right mind to want to kidnap them knowing I would be happy about it?" Alex said sarcastically.

She could only nod. Guess it's time to talk to him about last night. She thought.

"Listen Alex…about last night…" said Aida haltingly.

"What about last night?" said Alex, humour back in his voice.

"Please be serious Alex," said Aida

"I am serious, so what about it?" said Alex.

Why did he have to sound so…so smug? She thought angrily. She knows he knew what she was trying to discuss with him. Why was he trying to make it so difficult for her?

"Alex, I don't remember our contract said you could sleep in my bed and…and take liberty of me!" said Aida angrily.

"Was my kissing so bad? I thought all the women liked it. I guess you are the first that was disappointed with my kiss," he said casually.

"NO! That's not what I meant!" said Aida, frustration in her voice.

"Oh, so you do like my kiss?" said Alex.

"YES…I mean NO ALEX! You know what I mean. The contract said we are not to be involved sexually! That's what I am trying to put across to you!" said Aida angrily.

Alex reached over to the car compartment and retrieved what looked like their contract and handed it to Aida.

"Read page 8 on terms and conditions, Part 7, section 7.8," said Alex with all seriousness now.

"I've read that in your office the day we signed the contract," she argued.

"Read it word for word, Aida," he said.

Aida does as he said: -

Consummations – YOU WERE NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO ANY SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH SAID PARTY ALEXANDER WILLIAM JEFFERSON unless both party mutually agrees to the act. Definition of Sexual Intercourse – also called Coitus or Copulation, reproductive act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive organ.

"Have you finished reading?" Alex asked.

"Yes, I have," said Aida slowly. She now realized she had made a mistake, in fact two.

Firstly he was only merely kissing her; there was no actual act of the sex itself. Secondly her biggest mistake was she did not complete, reading the whole paragraph but rather the ones in capital letter and highlighted in bold only. So if he had kissed her senseless and had that led to sex that would have classified her under [mutually agrees] to the act, intentionally or unintentionally because she could not control her emotions.

"So I was really following the contract to a 'T'. The contract did not say I could not kiss you. I was just kissing you only, am I not? We or I did not do anything more than that," said Alex.

"You…you…" Aida tried to find the right words to say but no way could she win this argument. The only thing she could do was not to let him to have any chance of ever kissing her again in the future that might led to her 'accidentally' consent to the sexual act itself because she could not control her feelings. What does he take her for? A piece of wood? She would be lying through her teeth if she said she did not feel a thing when he kissed her last night. Who was she kidding?

"Well consider it a learning phase in your life. How many times in your life you have really sign a contract besides your former company in all your twenty-one years? I suppose not many. And usually when one, who was at his/her most vulnerable, it's always easy to make a mistake, " said Alex. "Don't worry, next year when we renew our contract you can thoroughly read it through," Alex added lightly.

"NO THANK YOU! There won't be a renewal! No matter how you look at it, you manipulated me!" said Aida fiercely. How could he! How could he act in such…such a boorish manner taking advantage of her vulnerability!

"Listen Aida, I mean it when I said I won't force you to do anything you don't want to. I did not force you to kiss me back last night. You responded, did you not?" said Alex seriously.

Instantly Aida felt her face flushed red. Oooh! The nerve of it! How dare he reminded her on how she reacted last night. She was coerced into it! She did not reply immediately. Her mind was in confusion. She was feeling anger, sadness, and hatred? And definitely DUMB!

"You made me feel…feel so dumb, Alex…and I really feel dumb," said Aida quietly. One minute she was so angry with Alex for toying with her and the next she felt so sorry and sad for herself. Her emotions were like a runaway train. Total chaotic. She felt so embarrassed about her blunder she did not realized tears were rolling down her cheeks. Yet she only had herself to blame. She blamed herself for not staying calm in the face of crisis. She blamed herself to be so easily manipulated. She inadvertently open herself to attack and people had simply took advantage of her situation, people like Alex.

Alex looked over to Aida and his heart went out to her. "Not dumb, Aida. You are anything but dumb. You are just who you are. Trusting. Innocent, a little naïve. If I were not in the business world I would not have read through the contract so thoroughly too. Like I said, businessmen, ninety-nine percent of us would scan through the contracts with a sieve before putting down the signature. Sometimes even a lawyer themselves could missed out some fine prints or overlooked a certain clause, that was why we had to have a few lawyers where contracts were concern. It's legal binding. Once signed and that's it," explained Alex.

"In truth I did not cheat you but I admit I was unscrupulous using your innocence and your vulnerability at that moment against you," he added quietly.

"You knew I would bring up the subject about…about last night, is that why you have brought the contract along? To…to make me realize the mistake I had made?" she asked softly sounding sad.

Alex gave a slight nod. He did not want to hurt her but that's the way things were. In the business world there would be no mercy. They traveled in silence for a long while. She did not ask where they were going. She just let him keep on driving. Seems like he did not have a destination too.

After what seems like ages Alex said, "Aida, I like you…alot. I like us to start afresh on the right footing…to really get to know each other. If by the end of our contract expire and you still don't have a better impression of me, I would still stick to the part of our bargain. You would be free to leave. No string attached. And I will promised you during your stay with me, I would not coerce or manipulate you to do the things you don't want, against your will."

Aida did not immediately reply. Her mind was in turmoil. She looked out at the scenery that was passing by their car. Finally Aida took a deep breath and said, "I just want to ask you this again and please be honest with me…" she paused for a moment before she continues, "Did you or did you not set me up with the cocaine?"

"No," said Alex.

That was all he said. A plain simple 'no'. No hesitation, no pausing, just no.

She realized he meant what he said. He was telling her the truth. " I trust you," said Aida slowly, clasping her hands on her thigh. "Thank you," Aida added not looking at him.

"You are welcome," replied Alex. They drove on in silence. After sometime Alex looked at his wristwatch to note it was well past dinnertime. He would have never guess they have sat in the car driving around for so long.

"I guess you must be hungry by now, would you still want to have dinner with me?" said Alex his old charm returning. He turned to give her a quirky smile.