"Mr. Morrow, I'm really exhausted today..." I said timidly, but he just gave a wicked smile.
"Is that an excuse? Do I need to remind you what your main job is?"
As he spoke, his hands didn't stop, tearing off my glamorous dress.
He was right; serving him was my primary duty. After all, he was the patron I had signed a contract with.
I closed my eyes, emptied my mind, and treated myself as a tool. It was the only way to make it bearable.
"Open your eyes. You need to satisfy your patron's wants, don't you?" Jack said, pinching my waist and lifting my body.
I had no choice but to comply, watching him indulge himself on me.
I saw another version of myself floating above, forehead touching mine, whispering softly, "Just a few more days. The contract will end soon."
Endure a little longer, and it will be over. Just a few more days.
By the time Jack was finally done, the high heels I wore to the event had left my feet swollen.
"Don't think of any lame excuses next time. You can only obey me, understand?"
Jack tidied himself up and stood up. He patted my face, and turned to leave.
I struggled to take off my shoes, tossing them far away.
In a few days, when the contract ended, I'd be rid of this predator! I swear!
Fortunately, I had no schedule the next day, so I slept soundly. In the afternoon, my agent came by with a new script and noticed the marks on my body.
"Jack Morrow is really a jerk!" My agent, Jenny, a few years older than me, had always treated me like a sister and now felt even more protective of me.
"It's only a few more days. I'll endure it," I said, taking the script and pulling her to sit down.
"You're not thinking of renewing the contract with him, are you?"
"You just said he's a jerk. Why would I want to renew the contract with him? Back then, I had no choice. Otherwise..."
I came from a good family. My father's business had once been as successful as Jack's was now. But fate was unpredictable. When bankruptcy hit, he couldn't afford it.
Even a life couldn't cover the debts he left behind. In the end, I found Jack and begged him to be my patron to pay off the family debt.
Now, I was debt-free, but this contract kept me from making any rash moves.
My agent knew a bit about my past and patted my hand. "The past is behind you. Focus on the script and secure this role. Once you've completed the filming of this drama, I'll guarantee that you'll bask in sufficient prosperity. After that, you won't need to be afraid of anyone."
Relying on others was unreliable; only oneself was dependable. I realized this after my father's passing.
"That isn't enough. I want to achieve financial freedom."
We laughed and joked as I opened the script and immersed myself in it.
My agent didn't disturb me, tidying up the room and placing the food she brought within my reach.
When I finally emerged from the script, she had quietly left.
2
On the day of the audition, I unfortunately ran into Sammy.
Sammy Hardy was Jack's long-time fiancée. They had been engaged for a long time but refuse to marry. Sammy had hinted at it several times, both openly and subtly.
Some speculate that Jack's reluctance to marry Sammy was because of me. Sammy, not the brightest, held a grudge against me and often made things difficult for me.
Like today, she somehow found out about my audition and waited for me at the entrance.
"You've got some nerve, daring to audition for Mr. Nolan's film. Do you even know your place?"
Sammy sneered at me, her entourage chiming in with mockery.