The Faustian Love Bargain (COMPLETED)

Chapter 3

Stella Robbs was an average girl. Like every person born into an average family, she studied very hard in school to ace most of her examinations. Thus, she could not understand how it would be like to become someone exceptional like Nick Smith. He was a party addict, friends with almost every celebrity, was extraordinarily intelligent and good looking, secured places in nine ivy league universities but decided to become a fashion designer under his mother’s haute couture brand, Deslungers. As she sat next to him, looking at his high forehead and pretty eyes, she understood why many worshipped him and all his physical goodness.

Nick wanted to sit further away from this girl. Sitting in the same car with her was the wrong decision, especially when he was not sure regarding the distance he could bear to be close to her. He recalled the pain he had felt when he unwittingly went near her. However, he did comfort himself that he had prepared for this meeting and no accident was going to happen. No accident had happened to anyone before. But the evil impulse passed through his mind again, and it stayed there to haunt him.

He put his face as close to the window as possible and focused his thoughts elsewhere. He would overcome this, no matter how hard it took. He wanted to be good but temptation struck him terribly and hauntingly. 

When they had reached the building of Smiths Corporation, they took an elevator to the fiftieth storey in silence. Stella followed Nick and Stephen into a large meeting room where Nick’s lawyer was waiting. He was a short but respectable looking man. He came from the Jillian family, a long respected family of lawyers which also served the Smiths dutifully. Mr. Casey Jillian was excited to meet this certain Stella Robbs and when he saw her, he found her nothing special other than she was rather pleasant looking.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Jillian.” Nick took his seat next to the lawyer. Stephen told Stella to take a seat and she sat down nervously. She looked around the large room, a sophisticated room with huge LCD televisions, a long white marble table and tall black leather seats. Across the table, seated almost ten chairs away was Mr. Jillian and Nick Smith. 

Stephen passed her a set of documents and before she could read them, Mr. Jillian spoke, “Miss Stella Robbs, I am going to go through with you in detail this contract. You have every right to stop me whenever you have any queries regarding any clause.”

She looked at the first page and found that this was hardly an internship. She grew more confused by the minute as Mr. Jillian continued, “Mr. Smith will grant you a cheque of two million US dollars at the end of two months. If you sign the contract today, you will be granted the money exactly on the 15th December this year regardless of whether Mr. Smith decides that you are the correct person he is looking for. However, should you break any terms of the contract, Mr. Smith has the sole right to terminate it immediately without any prior notice. No amount will be recompensed to you. Do you understand?”

Who was the correct person? What did he mean by that? Stella looked up worriedly. She saw Mr. Jillian peering at her through his spectacles and Nick Smith appeared to be staring at her, poker faced and as motionless as a statue. 

There was something in his gaze, through his sunglasses, which followed her every movement silently and sent shivers down her spine. She nodded quickly, as if Nick Smith's gaze had threatened her to agree to the contract. Mr. Jillian began, “During these two months, Mr. Smith would require you to follow whatever he asks you to do. You cannot question his orders. These orders may include producing original copies of your personal belongings and your family’s belongings, doing research, following him to visit certain places and going through any test he deems fit. These orders will not be anything that will physically hurt you or be sexually compromising. These orders may or may not affect your daily schedules but your daily attendance at school will not be compromised. You will be legally bound to this contract. Do you agree to these terms or do you not understand any of them?”

The words that she heard and read stumped her and she felt rather dazed. Something in her told her that the contract was fishy but the digits in front of her danced in her mind, luring her in and dazzling her. She knew her father would be against this, yet she desired to ask more.

“What do you mean by the correct person?” she tried to speak as confidently as she could.

“That would be judged under Mr. Smith’s private criteria,” Mr. Jillian replied automatically.

“Well, I would need to know what this criteria is so I can work towards it,” she answered, and added, “Also, I am rather confused as to what happens after I am chosen as the correct person.”

“I was going to continue to that point,” Mr. Jillian replied sarcastically, “You are not entitled to know his criteria. As I have said, it is private and confidential. If he finds sufficient basis to confirm that you are the ideal person, this contract entitles you ten million dollars annually of living expenses and property worth up to twenty million dollars. In repayment, as per any contract, you would have to continue to obey his orders for the rest of your life. If Mr. Smith finds that you are not the right person at any point of time, he will give you a compensation value of ten million dollars and you cannot seek to contact him again. This contract will be strictly confidential. Any attempt to release any information regarding this will result in serious legal ramifications.”

“What if I decide I don’t like being ordered around, and let’s say that Mr. Smith finds that I am the correct person.” Stella thought this was getting almost exploitative. “You’re saying I should sell my freedom for money?” She grew bold as Principle guided her. 

Mr Jillian looked displeased and was about to answer when Nick took out his sunglasses and put them on the table. There was grace and authority in his every move. “You’re a difficult person,” Nick replied, “I think this contract does not sit well with her. Perhaps I should rephrase the terms.” He had a beautiful voice, that was sadly only used to intimidate the poor girl who fell so easily into trepidation.

Stella felt compelled to listen to him. His voice was deep and almost mesmerising. Her heart skipped a beat and she had to gulp down her saliva to stay composed. 

“I wouldn’t call those orders. Requests and responsibilities may be better terms. Take this contract as a job contract. I will not impede your freedoms in terms of your social life. You can choose how you want to live, what you want to study in university, what hobbies you would like to take part in. You call this “some sick exploitative contract”. I have a few reasons why I would dispute your view. Firstly, I am paying you very good money. Money that many people would not be able to earn in their lifetime and you can earn the same amount within months. People sell their bodies for less than a fraction of what you will earn in a month. Secondly, if you are the right person, yes, it is true you may be “selling your life” to be under my instruction and direction, but how is that of any disadvantage to you? People sell their lives to work in Smiths Corporation everyday. People clamour everyday to have a chance to meet and speak to me. I realise you want to intern here very much. Fine, I will add an internship to the contract. I can add even a job title to your name this very instant. Is there any university you want to enter? I can put your name into that university and faculty of your choice in a phone call.” Nick suggested, too coolly and as a matter of fact.

Stella was very stunned at the power and pride he possessed despite his young age. Her boldness before had retreated and she sunk into her seat in dismay. Deep down, she knew what he said was true. Weren’t all jobs as “exploitative” as this contract? Her father often worked over time, whether he wanted to do it or not. People did things that they did not like to do all the time. Whether if it was for the money, for survival or for the hope of achieving a higher or greater goal, we sold our lives and freedoms for money. That was it.

Stella was not a greedy person by nature. She was happy with what she had. She only wanted to study hard so she could find a good-paying and stable job in the future. But now, she wished her father could retire soon, she wished she did not have to fight so hard for a scholarship, she wished she could live a life in the future that did not require her to work so hard for a fixed sum of salary each month. 

And with those very human and real desires, she picked up the pen and signed her name.