Chapter 80: The Other Part of The Job

The first candidate introduced herself as Emily Carter, a twenty-year-old university student studying software development.

Her academic record was good, though she had little practical experience beyond coursework and small personal projects. She wanted to work on real software rather than spend another year building projects that nobody would ever use.

The agency’s advertised position had caught her attention because it offered paid work and the possibility of gaining experience while she continued her studies.

Her family wasn’t wealthy. Emily was trying to cover more of her educational expenses herself, and the money offered by the agency was considerably better than what she could earn through ordinary part-time work.

Damon skimmed through her application before setting it aside.

She seemed capable enough. She wasn’t an experienced developer, but he hadn’t expected to find a seasoned professional among student applicants. If Isabella could make use of her skills, there was no reason to reject her.

The second candidate was Sofia Laurent, a nineteen-year-old foreign student attending university in Vesper.

Her circumstances were more difficult. Studying abroad had placed a considerable strain on her finances, and the money her family sent wasn’t always enough to cover tuition, rent, food, and the other expenses of living in an unfamiliar country.

She had maintained respectable grades despite those pressures, but her lack of professional experience had limited her employment options.

She had applied to several places before finding the agency’s advertisement. Most offered poor wages for inconvenient hours, while others wanted experience she simply didn’t have.

The position here was different. The salary could make a meaningful difference to her life.

Sofia spoke politely throughout the interview, though her hands remained clasped together on the table. She was clearly nervous, but she had prepared for the meeting and answered the questions put to her without stumbling over every word.

Damon glanced at her application, then at Isabella.

"Her academic record is good. We can work with that."

Isabella made a note on the evaluation sheet. She had already assessed the candidates’ basic qualifications and understood that none of them would be ready to handle demanding assignments without guidance.

Their lack of experience was a drawback, but it wasn’t necessarily a reason to turn them away.

The final candidate, Chloe Williams, was eighteen and interested in fashion design.

Unlike Emily, who wanted to build technical skills, Chloe hoped to enter an industry where talent alone wasn’t always enough.

She had a few personal designs and some basic knowledge, but no professional portfolio, industry contacts, or formal experience that would make a fashion company eager to hire her.

Her family couldn’t afford to support her ambitions indefinitely. She needed an income, and she wanted to find a position that might eventually bring her closer to the work she hoped to do.

The agency had appealed to her for precisely that reason. Its connections to fashion, modelling, and lifestyle services offered possibilities that an ordinary part-time job wouldn’t.

Chloe was more expressive than the other two, though her confidence faded whenever the discussion turned to her lack of experience.

She tried to explain what she could do, occasionally speaking too quickly before catching herself.

Damon listened, then leaned back in his chair.

Three students. Three different ambitions.

Isabella could help them develop their skills. The company would gain three employees who were willing to work for the opportunities being offered, while the women would receive money and experience they struggled to find elsewhere.

That settled the ordinary part of the decision.

Isabella closed the last application and began explaining the employment arrangements. She outlined their responsibilities, the training they would receive, and the terms governing their salaries.

The candidates listened closely, especially when Isabella explained the salaries. The figures were far better than they had expected for students with so little experience, and the three exchanged brief glances.

They had all wondered why an agency offering such attractive terms was willing to consider applicants like them. None had said it aloud, but each had suspected there might be another condition hidden behind the generous offer.

The thought had made them uneasy, yet the money was difficult to ignore.

Damon let her finish before raising a hand.

"There’s one more part of the arrangement you need to understand before you sign."

The room fell quiet.

Emily’s fingers tightened around her folder. Sofia lowered her eyes, while Chloe’s lips pressed into a thin line. None of them looked pleased, but their reactions weren’t those of women hearing an entirely unexpected proposition.

The unusually generous salary had already made them suspicious. They had simply hoped the catch would be something less personal.

Damon watched their expressions without changing his own.

"I’m not going to dress it up as something else," he continued.

"You came here looking for opportunities, and I’m offering you money, experience, and access to an industry that’s difficult to enter without connections. In return, I expect you to spend private time with me and satisfy my personal desires, including intimacy. That’s the other part of the job."

Emily swallowed. She had imagined an unreasonable workload, perhaps overtime or responsibilities beyond the position she had applied for.

She hadn’t wanted to consider the possibility that the extra demand would be this intimate, but she’d known the offer seemed too good to come without a catch.

Sofia’s situation was even harder to ignore. Tuition and living expenses weren’t going to wait for her to find a job she liked. She had already tried other options, and none offered anything close to this salary.

She disliked what Damon was asking, yet walking away meant returning to the same financial pressure that had brought her here.

Chloe looked down at her hands. She wanted a way into the fashion industry, not this kind of arrangement. Still, she had little experience, no useful connections, and no guarantee that another opportunity would appear anytime soon.

Damon gave them time to absorb the terms, making no effort to reassure them or pretend he was doing them a favour.

"The choice is yours. If you don’t accept, you can leave. If you sign, you do so knowing exactly what I’ve asked of you."

He pushed the documents closer.

The three women read the terms carefully. Their discomfort didn’t disappear, and none suddenly welcomed the proposition. They were weighing something they hadn’t wanted against the money and opportunities they badly needed.

They had come hoping for a chance to improve their circumstances. The condition was far worse than they had wanted, but all three decided that the opportunity was worth accepting.

Isabella ensured that the employment terms and the additional personal arrangement were clearly stated in the documents.

After reviewing the relevant sections, Emily signed first, followed by Sofia. Chloe hesitated longest, but eventually picked up her pen and signed as well.

"Isabella will explain your next steps and contact you about your schedules," Damon said, leaning back in his chair.

"You can leave for now."

The three women rose, collected their belongings, and followed Isabella toward the door.

Just as Chloe was about to leave the room, Damon spoke.

"You, stop."

Chloe froze and turned around. "Me?"

"Yes. The other two can leave."

Emily and Sofia glanced at Chloe before continuing out with Isabella. The door closed behind them, leaving Chloe alone with Damon.

He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable.

"Before you start working here, I want you to take a test."