what if I'm an undead! then so what?-Chapter 55: Contract

"It’s actually quite simple," the woman began, her tone calm and clipped with practiced professionalism. "I want you to act as a model. Nothing too intense—just a fragrance commercial and a few high-end fashion shoots."

Her words were calculated, designed to seal the deal quickly. Time was against her; with the commercial set to begin at 8 a.m. and barely six hours remaining, she had no other candidate. Elias, the stranger before her, was her only hope.

Objectively speaking, he surpassed her previous client in physical appearance. His complexion was smooth and radiant—an olive-toned canvas unmarked by blemishes. It reflected the glow of the city’s neon lights like polished glass. His golden hair shimmered with the intensity of morning sunlight, styled effortlessly as if sculpted by the breeze itself. Matching eyes—equally golden—captured light in a way that mimicked the ocean’s glint, deep yet not harsh, radiant yet not blinding.

His figure was athletic but not bulky, a perfect blend of agility and strength. His posture conveyed a natural grace, each movement fluid and confident. To her trained eye, he was ideal. The only drawback was his complete lack of modeling experience. Still, desperate circumstances demanded bold risks.

"Well, if that’s all it is, I suppose I can agree," Elias replied after a moment of thought. His tone remained casual, but a subtle shift in his expression hinted at calculation. "It doesn’t sound like an unreasonable request. However, if my face and body are going to be used to promote your products, then this goes beyond a casual arrangement—it becomes a business transaction. In that case, I’d like to review the full terms of the contract."

His words caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected someone in his position to speak with such poise—or such awareness of business etiquette. Still, it didn’t trouble her. She could offer him half of what the previous client was promised and likely still seal the deal.

"I understand," she said, quickly regaining her composure. "But before we get into the specifics, let’s return to the company’s hotel. You can freshen up, and I’ll brief you afterward. Oh, and you may call me Jane—but in a professional context, it’s Miss Jane."

She turned to lead them away, gesturing for Elias to follow. Aurelia silently kept pace, remaining just a step behind them.

"I’m Elias," he said as they walked. "And this creature over here is Aurelia."

Miss Jane paused beside a sleek black SUV parked neatly along the curb. As she opened the rear door, her eyes shifted back to Aurelia.

"Are you two related? She’s quite stunning as well. There’s a definite resemblance." Her brows raised slightly as she added, "It’s a shame we aren’t short on female models. I would’ve loved to offer her a spot too." Elis couldn’t help but laugh at her words, how ciukd he be related to this creature in the disguise if a girl, it was a freaking worm monster.

Elias offered a neutral smile as he and Aurelia climbed into the vehicle. Miss Jane entered the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The car navigated the glowing streets of Los Angeles, its destination: the exclusive Valmere Hotel—an elite property reserved solely for the brand’s clients. Once inside, Elias and Aurelia were escorted to a spacious suite designed with futuristic elegance. The space glistened with premium finishes: chrome accents, ambient lighting, and high-end furniture crafted with impeccable taste.

Elias surveyed the surroundings with mild awe. This level of luxury was unfamiliar to him, yet oddly comforting. He found himself smirking—if luck was truly a force, it was finally working in his favor. Aurelia, on the other hand, seemed utterly indifferent. Her attention was fixated on the room service. She’d been stuffing herself with food since they arrived, as though she hadn’t eaten in days. Perhaps Yokai truly required large amounts of sustenance to function.

Meanwhile, Elias slipped into the bathroom. He was met with an overwhelming array of bathing products—premium soaps, shampoos, exfoliators, and an entire shelf dedicated to skincare. At first, he was intimidated by the options, but after a few minutes of experimentation, he began to figure out what went where.

His bath stretched on for nearly an hour, and by the time he emerged, his skin gleamed with freshness. The sensation was invigorating. Although his appearance hadn’t changed drastically, something within him had shifted. He felt more composed, more refined. The luxury setting and meticulous grooming gave him a sense of grounded confidence, of presence.

"Hey, brat," Aurelia’s voice cut through the silence, her tone unusually sharp. "Don’t get too caught up in all this and forget why you’re here."

Elias paused, towel in hand. A smile curled at the corner of his lips. How could he forget? Every waking thought since he arrived had been haunted by memories—of his home, of those he loved, and of the unknown fate that now shadowed them. If he had already lost sight of his goal, then perhaps the heavens truly should strike him down a thousand times over. What truly annoyed him was the fact that all of this was truly just her fault.

"If there’s one thing I’ve learned," he said, his voice calm but laced with resolve, "it’s that having a goal without the means to achieve it is pointless. Rushing around in circles or panicking won’t change anything. We don’t even know how to approach the second condition yet. So how can we proceed? If anything, you’re the one wasting time—stuffing your face while we sit here with no progress. Every delay we suffer is because of you."

His words were harsh—brutal, even—but he didn’t regret saying them. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Aurelia didn’t react immediately. For a moment, she remained perfectly still. Then, with an inscrutable smile, she turned to look out the window. Her gaze lingered on the cityscape before she finally responded.

"If that’s how you feel, then I’ll leave you to it for now," she said softly. "But one thing I cannot stand is your arrogance. You’re blind to the truth—not by choice, but because I chose not to tell you. I considered your emotions... perhaps too much."

Without waiting for a reply, she climbed onto the window ledge and, without hesitation, leapt from the fifth-floor suite. Her form vanished into the dark skies if dawn.

Elias stood frozen. Confusion clouded his mind. What truth? What feelings? He continued to ponder on her words while he dressed on one of the outfits in his wardrobe.Before he could make sense of her words, the sound of the doorbell pulled him from his thoughts.

Expecting a staff member delivering yet another tray of food for Aurelia, he opened the door—only to find Miss Jane standing there, holding a file in her hands.

"I see you’re already wearing our company’s attire," she said with a slight smirk, her eyes scanning the outfit. "Much better than those anime cosplay rejects you had on before. This actually suits you."

Elias chuckled softly. The clothes did, in fact, suit him. He wore a modern black ensemble—sleek slacks with a subtle satin sheen, a fitted mandarin-collar shirt tucked neatly in, and a matte black blazer with minimalist gold trim along the seams. The entire outfit had an urban high-fashion aesthetic that gave him the air of a wealthy heir: elegant, composed, and effortlessly stylish.

"Well, I figured they were meant for me," he replied, stepping aside to let her in. "They were in the wardrobe, after all."

Miss Jane entered and took a seat across from him, setting the file down on the coffee table. She opened it, spreading out a few documents.

"To give you some context," she began, "Valmere is a multi-billion-dollar lifestyle brand. Our core focuses are fashion and fragrance, though we have interests in several other industries. None of that concerns you at the moment. For now, let’s focus on your assignment."

She flipped through the papers as she spoke.

"You’ll be featured in a fragrance commercial for our latest scent, as well as participate in a few photoshoots for our seasonal fashion collection. If you choose to do this as a one-time job, your payment will be two million dollars. However, if you’re open to becoming one of our contracted models, we’ll offer three million upfront—plus a monthly salary of five hundred thousand dollars and other benefits."

Her tone was polished, but there was a sly undertone to her offer. She expected the second option to be more appealing, but Elias didn’t hesitate in his reply.

"I’ll go with the first option," he said decisively. "I have other responsibilities. I can’t afford to be tied down by a contract, no matter how lucrative it is."

Disappointment flickered in Miss Jane’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a professional nod.

"Very well," she said, gathering the necessary documents for the agreed arrangement.

Within the hour, the contract was finalized. Elias had officially signed on for a one-time appearance with Valmere. Despite the missed opportunity to retain him, Miss Jane appeared satisfied. For now, at least, her immediate crisis had been resolved.