RedCollar Series #1: Simon Ferrer

Chapter 11: Antidote Of Her Poison

Waiting for Simon made me so anxious. Halos nabilang ko na yata lahat ng taong lumalabas at pumapasok sa cafe sa kahihintay sa kanya. What I am holding right now is the contract I signed last night after I received that message from an anonymous person. Whoever that is for sure, he or she knows something dark about Simon Ferrer.

"Good morning, baby. Did you order something already?" bungad niya sa akin nang dumating siya.

I shook my head and smiled. "Nag-breakfast na ako and the waiter a while ago offered a free coffee. Libre yata nila 'yon tuwing may maagang customer sila."

"I see." He nodded and signaled the waiter to order his usual coffee. Napatingin siya sa hawak kong brown envelope. "Do you have your decision?"

Yumuko ako at niyakap ang papel. "Before I answer you, you must answer my questions first."

Kumunot ang noo niya pero kalaunan ay nagkibit-balikat siya. "Sure, go ahead. Ask what you want to know."

Bumuga muna ako ng hangin at paulit-ulit na ni-recite ang tanong sa isip ko. I have to ask him carefully, hindi ko dapat siya ma-offend at baka layasan niya ako rito.

"Can I know more about Simon Ferrer behind the corporate suit?" I asked him.

He grinned. Dumating ang waiter at binigay ang kape niya. Sumimsim muna siya roon bago ako binalingang muka.

"Simon Ferrer behind the corporate suit is a simple man who wants a peaceful life, but I know I can't." Nag-igting ang bagang niya.

Tumango ako. "You mentioned that you have past relationships, meron ba sa kanila na binalikan ka at binigya ka ng problema?"

He sighed. "There were three women in my life before you. I wasn't yet in a kink world when I met my first girlfriend. It happened that we were both vanilla and it bores us, so, we decided to part ways, but after months of being separated, she was asking me to take her back and I refused. The second wasn't really my girlfriend. She just agreed to be my sub since I was new in the kink world at that time and she wanted an intense play that we both knew I couldn't give, so we agreed to terminate our contract. But just a month after we finished our agreement, she said that I got her pregnant."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Nabuntis mo talaga siya?"

He chuckled and pinched my nose. "Of course not. She was pregnant and I wasn't the father. Siguro ay ayaw siyang panagutan no'ng lalake niya." He sipped his tea. "When I got into the RedCollar Organization, it helped a lot to gain connections and investors kaya hindi ko maiwan. Nakabangon ang negosyo ko dahil na rin dito."

"How about the third one?" Pinigilan kong manginig ang boss ko.

"She accused me of sexual harassment even though we both agreed at first that what will happen to us is consensual." Matiim siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Why is that? What did you do to her?" Humigpit ang hawak ko sa brown envelope.

Mukhang napansin ni Simon ang kilos ko kaya napaayos siya ng upo. He cleared his throat and wet his lips before answering me.

"I practiced using different sex toys with her body. She wanted it at first, and she enjoyed my attention. Pero habang tumatagal, she noticed that I was getting good at it and she was afraid that she would lose me. She wants my money, baby. So, the moment I dumped her, she sued me and wanted me to give her a big amount of money para Tatras niya ang kaso. And I didn't give what she wanted. Siya pa ngayon ang nakakulong." He smirked.

Kahit papaano ay lumuwag ang dibdib ko at nawala na rin ang pag-o-ovethink ko. I knew it, Simon was a great person.

"Kung ano man ang maririnig mo sa ibang na tungkol sa akin lalo na kung masama ko sa mga kwento nila, asked me first before you believe them. I can always tell you the whole story, no more, no less." Inabot niya ang kamay ko. "Did I scare you, my Baby Ivy?" he softly asked.

"Nagdadalawang-isip lang ako. Kahit si Maxine ay sinasabi na delikado ka raw and I should stay away from you. I don't know what to believe that's why I asked you first. You are a good man for me, Simon." Pinagsiklop ko ang mga kamay namin.

"Thank you for believing me, Yvette. That means a lot to me. Hindi na ako magugulat sa mga lumalabas na mga gawa-gawang kwento tungkol sa akin. Someone will spread bad humor about and the next day, I am the antihero already. I am the bad guy and I can't do anything about that," he said and made a small smile.

"Bakit naman nila iyong ginagawa? Sila iyong masama dahil naninira sila ng tao. They should know the limitations of the freedom they have." Kumunot ang noo ko at napairap pa.

"That's my future attorney. I can't wait for you to defend me in court. I will brag to everyone that I have a sexy lawyer girlfriend." Mahina siyang humalakhak.

Natigilan ako sa huling salitang sinambit niya. Nagtitigan kami ng ilang segundo bago ko naisipang magsalita.

"G-girlfriend? Girlfriend mo na ako?" Pakiramdam ko ay pulang-pula na ang mukha dahil sobra na akong naiinitan.

"Gusto mo ba?" tanong niya na parang nanghahamon pa.

"What kind of question is that? Mas nauna akong nagtanong kaya unahin mo ang sagutin." I pouted my lips and waited for him to say it for the second time.

"Or we can just limit our relationship to bed or inside my house. It was written in the contract that it is up to you what will be our setup. Gusto mo bang ikaw lang o mas gusto mong hanggang kama lang ang pagiging slave mo sa akin?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay at pinaglaruan ang kamay kong hawak niya.

If I choose the only bed setup, I will still have my freedom, but can I stand seeing Simon with other woman? Kaya ko bang hindi magselos kung ngayon pa lang na naiisip ko na may kahalikan siyang iba maliban sa akin ay parang sasabog na ako sa inis?

"Girlfriend then. Payag ako basta walang ibang babae maliban sa akin." Pinandilatan mo siya at sinimangutan.

"Yes, baby. I am dedicated to only one slave. Hindi ako naghahanap ng iba kapag meron na. Wala ng bawian, you are my girl now," he said and gave me a playful smile.

Ito ang unang beses na hinayaan ko ang isang lalake na maging boyfriend ko na hindi man lang ako niligawan. Pero okay lang, si Simon Ferrer na ito, oh!

"Now, can I see the contract?" Tinuro niya ang envelope na yakap ko pa rin gamit ang isang kamay.

"Please, kung ano man ang makita mo rito sa loob, huwag kang magagalit," pakiusap ko habang nilalahad sa kanya ang envelope.

He gently nodded his head. "I won't I promise." Binuksan na niya ang envelope at kinuha ang laman no'n.

It was still the signed contract but I put a note inside.

Simon looked at me with those longing eyes after he read the note I left.

"You are really the sweetest poison, Ivy. No one will compare the ecstasy you are giving to me," he uttered and kissed my hand.

The note says:
Be careful not to break the fragile spine of this poison ivy and as a reward, I'll give the antidote that only you can taste.