THE VAMPIRE ALPHA

5-PHILATHROPIST'S DESIRE

SOPHIA held the folder in her hands. She reread the contract inside and wondered if the agreement was legitimate. Her brows furrowed deeply and she sighed.

"A donation agreement with a specified condition? Is this binding?" she asked the man sitting in front of her desk.

He tilted his head to the left and then to the right. He slightly squinted as if seriously

examining her reaction.

"Yes. Before we delivered the first half of the charitable donation, we advised that an official agreement would be created. You now a copy of the agreement for your validation and signature. Do we have a problem with the conditions?" He raised his left eyebrow and looked at her intently. Sophia felt vulnerable under his gaze. He was staring at her like he was reading her mind.

"I didn't imagine that this would be the result. I would like to reject this proposal." She could feel some kind of numbness in her arms and legs, as if refuting the proposal was having an effect on her. Was her body telling her something?

The man cleared his throat. It was obvious from the way he was coldly staring at her, that he was not pleased with her answer.

"Our donor is a man who values history as well as the arts. I know you understand, as you mentioned. You are similar. The fact that he would fund all the future collections of the museum and all of the expenses for a duration of two years with those two lines of clause is quite generous if I may say." Aldus folded his hands in his lap and stared at the stack of papers on Sophia's desk.

"But why does it involve me particularly?" When she saw her name in the agreement's clause, she felt various kinds of emotion simultaneously. She wasn't sure why this was affecting her so much that she couldn't think professionally.

"The simple answer would be, because you are the chief of this establishment. Being head curator, you should know everything about the displays and other aspects affecting any item worthy of a museum's attention."

Sophia sighed and tried to rationalize the situation.

"Is it really necessary to personally present the relic or item to the donor and let the donor utilize or use it as he sees fit prior to transferring the item to the museum?"

"Ms. Stark, please bear in mind that a philanthropist has a right to exact clauses in their dealings. It may be simple or it may be grand. It may be for the greater good or just to simply provide joy to others. In this case, a personal condition was set."

"But--"

"If you are not amenable to the clauses indicated in the agreement, we can just terminate even the oral agreement that your museum had with our organization. In doing so, this means that you should return all funding that was initially deposited to your account."

Sophie knew that such a case was not possible. They already used the money to pay for the transportation and fees to acquire the relics and artifacts that she is currently reviewing.

She sighed. She knew it was futile to disagree once she read the clause the first time. She just needed to try, just in case an option was available.

"Where do I sign?" Sophia asked. Mr. Aldus was prepared. He had the pen ready. His dark expression did not waver as he handed her the gold pen and held the paper to the point where she was supposed to place her signature.

When Sophia touched the pen, she felt an electric shock go through her. She closed her eyes and tried to compose herself.

She steadied her right hand and signed all the lines with her name on it. She couldn't believe that she was investing even her personal time for the sake of the museum.

Sophia sighed. She couldn't understand why a part of her was feeling excited by the deal while the other half was feeling restless and afraid of the outcome.

"I'll have this notarized and furnish you with the official copy. You may keep this for your reference." Aldus removed one set from the pile of contracts that Sophia signed to hand over to her.

"Thank you. Well, do you have other things you need to discuss?" Sophia asked.

"The first item that the donor wishes to see is not yet displayed in the museum. This time, your presence is not needed yet but the donor wanted me to arrange for its delivery at the end of this month."

Sophia was confused about the turn of events. She knew she was supposed to present a particular item to the donor personally by either the donor coming in to the museum or for Sophia to travel to the donor's dwellings.

"Oh, I see. Which item are we talking about here, Mr. Aldums?"

"The Tempus Stone, Ms. Stark."

Sophia wondered how the donor found out about the Tempus Stone. Their channel was filled with inquiries about the particular artifact that was set to arrive on Wednesday, but she hasn't confirmed or finalized that it would be displayed in the museum due to the rumors behind the stone.

"If it was sent at the end of the month, that could be arranged since the item would be arriving only this Wednesday."

"Great, then. If you also notice in the agreement that was previously shown, that we will be providing your transportation and wardrobe whenever you come to meet the donor."

"Oh yes, I would like to discuss more about that. What do you mean by wardrobe exactly?" The stipulation about the privacy of the donor's dwellings, not being able to disclose anything about the meeting and even the outfit to be worn.

"You will have several options to choose from. The donor will generously give you choices about what you should wear when it's time to meet."

With this seemingly blind agreement that she made with the donor, Sophia felt that there was something more than her acceptance that was being taken from her.

It was like having this deal meant altering her whole life.