Terms of the contract:

Wallachia, present-day Romania, 1456.
Elennah:

I would like to say that my marriage is a happy one, but it is not. My husband is rarely home, he spends more time on the battlefield than in my arms. He is a very warlike and belligerent man, if he does not have a brawl with the Saxons he repels the Turks, thus he spends only a few weeks at home.
A few months ago I received news that he was fighting against rivals who are plotting to take his place on the throne. Prince Władysław II, his father's cousin, perished fighting Vlad. After this, my husband began a purge among the Wallachian boyars (nobles) who had supported his opponent, to strengthen his position. He also came into conflict with the Transylvanian Saxons, who supported other claimants to the throne, namely Dan and Basarab Laiotă (who were brothers of Vladislaus II), and his illegitimate half-brother, Vlad the Monk. My husband plundered the Saxon villages and brought those captured to Wallachia, where he had them all impaled.

I must say that my lord’s cruelty has become mythical, he kills his enemies without batting an eye and all those mass murders, make my heart bleed with fear. How can a man be so beautiful and at the same time so ruthless?
Since my arrival in Edirne, six years ago, I have not felt comfortable even for a single day. My mother-in-law, Madame Anne Dracùl, is in charge of making my life miserable. She protests that I have not mastered the art of weaving, that my embroidery skills are lousy, rants that I am an illiterate peasant, and laments the fact that I have been married to Vlad for years and have not been able to bear him children.

Of all the recriminations my mother-in-law uses to hurt me, that is the one that hurts me the most, my inability to get pregnant is an enormously painful reality for me.
Mrs. Dracùl has proposed to Vlad several times that he acquire a second wife and I know my husband has considered it. Our union was not easy from the beginning, Vlad believed that I plotted with Hunyadi to trap him, forcing him to be an ally of Hungary by marrying me, but I swear that I had no idea that Hunyadi was my father, this I came to find out much latter, when Vlad told me.

A month ago Hunyadi also passed away and his eldest son, Ladislao Hunyadi, became the captain general of Transylvania.

I sigh saddened. All these political tragedies do not compare to the hell I live.


It is common among nobles and high-ranking lords to take a second wife when the first does not give him heirs, my husband is a the most important man in all of Wallachia, he is the Prince of the country and the most powerful military leader, if the constant harping of his mother do not convince him, the shame of not having heirs will. No nobleman is able to withstand such a blow, the absence of children puts their virility in question.
It is very likely that in the next few years my husband will take another woman for himself, I know that this one will occupy his bed and perhaps manage to fill his heart, in the way that I have not been able to.


Hotel Dracul Haus, 2025

Eleni:

I came to work early, it's only six in the morning. Despite the chaos and the crazy sex sessions that took place last night, the hotel has dawned quite clean and organized, I must admit that I am happy. This means less work for the staff.

At ten o'clock in the morning the incessant farewell parade of the VIP guests begins. I have put on some low black shoes so as not to suffer pain due to the long hours on my feet.

I stand by the door, Olenka is smiling at my side. From time to time she glances sideways at Jerry, smiling mischievously. Hmm, look at you two. Who'd guess? The Russian looks to be in her thirties, she likes her lovers to be younger than her, apparently. Also it seems that I was wrong, Jerry isn’t gay then, is he bi? Or he is just one of those free spirits who take their pleasure where they find it, I suspect the boy has participated in a few orgies.

At noon our almighty boss finally makes his appearance. He is impeccably dressed in black, his hair slicked back, if it weren't for the reddish rim under his eyes no one would suspect he was very active last night.

He stands beside me, opposite Olenka's end, grunting his greeting each time a guest and his retinue depart.


—What happens to Mr. Tepes? He looks like a bear with a thorn in its claw. - I comment in Olenka's ear.
— He had a bad night. The woman he wanted hooked up with another.

—Hmm.- I murmur. So… Miss Sziláy stood him up.

Speaking of the devil, she’s coming straight to us and she doesn't come alone, her cousin accompanies her.

—Mr. Corvin, I hope you enjoyed our special event last night.- Olenka sings enthusiastically.

—Immensely. I've bought tickets for your masquerade ball next month, I can't wait to get back to your hotel, Dracùl Haus gives a lot of ...- he glances at me.- ...amusements.

I get goosebumps. On the other hand, I'm not going to let myself be intimidated.

— Come back, Mr. Corvin, we will be happy to welcome you with open arms.- I promise directing him my sweetest (and falsest) smile.

- I will, Miss Amíntoros, believe me.- Mathew smiles.- Mr. Tepes.
Vlad looks at him, a stone expression on his face, he’s not even blinking. I swear the temperature in the lobby has dropped to twenty degrees below zero.

Corvin says goodbye and his cousin doesn't even speak to us on the way out. Half an hour later all the VIP guests have finally left. Mr. Tepes gazes at the gold watch on his left wrist.

—Miss Amíntoros, come up to my office in ten minutes, there is something I want us to discuss .- he mumbles and leaves.

I raise my eyebrows in puzzlement. Olenka looks at me with an expression of unmistakable pity.
— Whatever you do, don't contradict him, he's been in a foul mood for weeks and believe me, it's dangerous when he gets like this.


Wonderful, Count Dracula is cantankerous, and has asked to see me in his office, privately. What could possibly go wrong?

000

I knock on the door and open it as soon as he tells me to enter, he is sitting behind his bureau, the wood is shiny black. I walk into his office and stand in front of his desk.

—Last night's event was a success, a sum we raised...

— I know very well the raised amount , I have not made you come for that. - He growls between clenched teeth.

— What is it then?- I ask impatiently.

He looks me up and down and his face takes on an expression of profound disgust.

— Look at you, standing there ... whoever looked at you would think you're a saint, wearing your knee-length skirts, your long-sleeved blouses, keeping your hair always tied up in styles that not even an eighty-year-old woman would .
Is he drunk?
—But I know you very well Elennah, I know what your lustful and twisted heart hides. You're a damn bitch! - He yells furiously.

I take a step back puzzled.

— Mr. Tepes, what…?

—You enjoyed it, right? You enjoyed screwing with Corvin, didn't you?


I frown.

—I saw you two together, last night, at the door of your room.

Ahh, so he was there.
—You are my boss, Mr. Tepes, not my owner. What I do outside of my working hours and outside of your hotel is not...

— You're a fucking whore!

In a second I have him in front of me and he slaps me. The unexpected impact of his palm on my cheek makes my face turn completely to the right.

A heavy silence takes over the office, the only thing audible is the ragged breathing of Mr. Tepes. I turn my face very slowly and look at him, his eyes are red and his whole body trembles, he is really pissed off.

Later, when I get out of here, I'll think carefully about what just happened...right now, I'm going to put my jerk boss in his place.

I look into his eyes and smile, I offer him a wide smile, showing him all my teeth.

—Are you feeling better, Mr. Tepes? Did hitting me help calm your anxiety or should I suspect that slapping me has turned you on?

He swallows hard and takes a step back in embarrassment. He looks at me with eyes wide as saucers. The hand he just hit me with trembles visibly and finally closes into a fist.

—Let me remind you of the terms of my contract. I am your employee and during working hours you can be as tyrannical as you wish. But what I do in my free time and outside of your hotel is none of your fucking business!

Mr. Tepes watches me silently.

—And another thing, if you behaves like a madman and hit me again... I will accuse you before our Mégas. What you’ve just done is considered human abuse and is punishable with a few years stay in Cockatoo.

He frowns at me.

—I see you understand. I hope this incident won’t happen again.

I turn and walk away, leaving him speechless.