The Essence Of The Darkness
Episode 22: Elana's Requirements

"Man is not naturally bad, man is naturally good. Everybody enjoys doing something good –everybody – without any exception."

Orphanage located on the outskirts of the capital was simple, the building looks ancient as if made by adapting architectural features from the Dutch colonial period, complete with a pyramid-shaped roof and a wall decorated with natural stone at the bottom. The yard is quite spacious, and there are several swings provided for playing the children's home in the afternoon after they come from school and wait for the time of the turn to bathe.

The sun was already up in the afternoon and two black luxury cars were parked in the orphanage yard, looking so contrasted with the simple surrounding situation. The car was so shiny that it reflected reflections of the surrounding trees, while the children of the parlour seemed to be crowding there, admire the look of a car that is so good and very rarely can they see from a close distance.

Inside the living room of the orphanage, Elios, accompanied by a lawyer, sat waiting in neat clothes and a serious expression as the orphanage's mother signed the final adoption papers. After the legalization process was completed, the document was handed over to the lawyer who directly put it carefully into his bag.

"After the final process is complete, we will immediately send a copy to the mother." the lawyer said in a serious tone that was immediately responded with a nod by the orphanage's caretaker mother.

Elios' eyes were fixed on the door connecting the living room to the back room of the orphanage.

"Then we can take the boy now, right?"

The orphanage mother nodded her head once more.

"Please wait for a while, Nolan is being helped by his other half-brothers to take care of his clothes and personal belongings" he replied quickly.

Elios nodded thinly expressionlessly in response, although in his heart he thought that Nolan actually did not need to bring anything when he got out of here. Being the adopted son of Mr. Akram, he will be well taken care of and will get new items in abundance to meet all his needs.

Suddenly, as if reminded, Elios took out an envelope from behind his suit pocket and handed it to the orphanage mother.

"This is the first donation from our company, Mr. Akram as the leader of our company intends to promote CSR centered on social care program of our company by becoming a permanent donor of this orphanage, hopefully with a little help from us, this orphanage in the future will be even better in helping orphans who still need care and education." Elios speaks fluently according to his expertise in diplomacy. He let the orphanage's mother open the envelope she gave him, and a satisfied smile fell on his lips when he saw how the orphanage's mother's eyes widened with a gaping mouth when he saw the nominal listed on the official check given on behalf of the company.

Mr. Akram never messed around in doing everything, including in donating his money. The first donation money given by Mr. Akram for the orphanage can even be used to buy a new house wider than this orphanage if you want. However, Elios hopes that the orphanage can manage these funds wisely for the welfare of orphans who are in the shade of this orphanage.

Actually behind the nature of Mr. Akram is cruel, not the first time this Mr. Akram donates in large numbers on the underprivileged parties. It's just that he never touted his social activities in the public like other parties who thirst for praise and attention. The only charity on his behalf that is exposed by the public is a charity auction or fundraising activity that is usually attended by the upper class, the public, royals and celebrities to show off their generosity to the audience. In fact, if examined more deeply, it is only a small part of the donations given by Mr. Akram without a name.

Not to mention the abundant CSR funds of his company which are devoted to matters concerning concern for the environment around the company such as to help underprivileged people, granting scholarships and health benefits to the lower classes and also to help orphanages that accommodate orphans like this.

Elios is also from an orphanage, so he knows how the slightest funding from donors will be very useful for the lives of these orphans.

"Because the funds are very large, we will send the help of accountants and professional auditors from our company who will come every week to accompany the management of the money. We hope this cooperation can go well into the future." Elios spoke with a serious expression for a second and then his attention was turned to the open door behind the orphanage's mother.

A ten-year-old boy, with a slightly thin body and a scared expression mixed in a bit of embarrassment seemed to come out accompanied by an older child. A bag of brown synthetic leather that was already somewhat shabby was placed next to the child, seemingly containing the items he was about to carry.

The mother of the orphanage immediately stood up and walked over to the child, then let the boy walk over to Elios.

"Nolan, this is Mr. Elios, he's the one assigned to take care of you from now on."

Elios's eyes returned Nolan's inquisitive gaze with a smile, extending his hand to greet Nolan and giving him his brightest smile.

"You're in good hands, Nolan. We'll all take good care of you." he said as soon as the helpless little boy's skinny hands were in his grasp.

Surprise colored Elana's expression when she saw Akram destroying the white paper of his note was ruthlessly until it was out of shape. Actually Elana still hopes to save the paper by taking it secretly in case Akram throw it away, unfortunately the hope ends in vain because it turns out that Akram put the shattered paper into his shirt pocket, cut off Elana's hopes of getting the paper.

Dismissed his plan which had not even a tenth been carried out. Though the note he made contained all the results of his observations during this week, all the schedule he recorded neatly secretly while hoping to find a security gap that can be penetrated. But now, with Akram knowing his activities secretly behind his back, it was clear Akram would raise his vigilance so it was impossible for Elana to escape from this island.

Elana curses her careless self for laying down the important paper so carelessly that it can be found by Akram, he should have slipped it in one of the hidden books and kept it on the shelf furthest out of reach so as not to be discovered. However, he slipped it into the book he was reading, and he fell asleep, making Akram easily attack him and know his secret.

Now Elana has to rack her brain harder. He must find a new plan to break away from Akram. And that new plan should get him off this island. Because, if Elana continues to be stuck on this island, there is certainly no way for her to escape.

Elana's fickle expression reflected in Akram's clear pupils as the man silently watched the woman in front of him with a sharp eye.

Akram knew that Elana would still continue to try to defy him. And he would enjoy seeing Elana play out a plan to escape against him before then smashing the plan to pieces before Elana's eyes. Akram intends to follow Elana's game to the end, seeing to how far the woman will continue to rebel and insist on refusing to submit to him.

"I'm willing to be your family." Elana looked at Akram with a very serious face, making Akram raise an eyebrow, not expecting that the sentence would first appear from Elana's lips.

What is this woman planning? Akram can't help but wonder though he knows that whatever Elana's plan, Akram will be able to compensate with more cunning.

"Being my family means following my terms. I want you to be active and voluntary while serving me in bed. I don't like feeling like I'm raping you every time I fuck you." Akram ignored Elana's gaze which seemed to sneer at her words, then continued coldly. "And I don't want you to make any plans to escape again behind my back. Even if you're lucky - even if it's impossible - and can run though, it won't last long. I'll chase you and get you for a while. You're a kara, you have no support whatsoever and in the eyes of the country you're dead, while my power and strength are immense in this country. You must realize that your powers are not comparable to mine."

Akram uttered the threat as well as humiliating Elana with his words, making Elana want to argue for a moment. But he finally managed to gain control of himself and bit his lips firmly so as not to issue a word of rebuttal.

The plan was to be obedient until Akram let his guard down. But of course Elana does not want to be forever held captive to be Akram's mistress without a fight. What makes him anxious is when he saw Akram's desire is still so great to him, Elana is afraid that it will be long before Akram feels bored and throw it away.

And seeing the cruelty that Akram had shown all this time, Elana guessed that she could not possibly waltz freely when Akram was tired of her. If Akram doesn't want her anymore and wants to throw her away, Elana is convinced that she will be killed and end up becoming Jane Doe, a terrible nameless corpse.

Elana should be able to hide from Akram that deep in her heart, she would not just give up on him. Akram may have made it clear that breaking away from her was an impossibility, but Elana knew there was never an impossibility in this world.

If she does not give up her hopes and is patiently waiting for the right time, Elana is sure she will get a chance to break away from the man.

"I'll follow your terms.... If you want me to volunteer, then I'll do it.." Elana's cheek turned red and her sentence stuck in her throat. "Anything is what you want, I will obey," Elana let out a long sigh and her heart pounded as she continued her sentence, looking at Akram with great caution. "But I have requirements that I must present to you."

Akram's eyes flashed as if he had been waiting for Elana to say that.

"And what are your terms, Elana?" Akram spoke in a dark tone that made my hair stand up.

Elana pulled the blanket that wrapped her body to get tighter, as if making it a handle as well as a shield.

"I'll be obedient to you, but I don't want to be locked up on this island..." Elana looked seriously at Akram. "I know that I can't go back to my original life, but I still want to live a normal life, not just keep quiet without activities, locked up on an island with nothing to do and resignedly waiting for your visit every weekend."

"So you want to go back to living your old life even after feeling all the top-class facilities I gave you when I put you in my shade?" akram's expression looked cynical. "Isn't your old life not so good? Why are you so adamant about going back to your poor and deprived life? Do you miss wanting to be a toilet cleaner again?" tanya Akram half scoffed.

Elana clenched her hand. "If I have to be a toilet cleaner again, that's no problem!" loudly shouting. "The job I did was within my means and I didn't hurt anyone while doing it. So I never felt ashamed to be a toilet cleaner! And. and if I work any more, I want to live off my own money.not your money!"

"No." Akram growling. "By putting you under my auspices and making you my family, I will take care of you. Including all your needs. Akram Night is unlikely to let his women live poor and needy lives." Akram seemed angry to hear Elana's proposal and Elana's guts because he knew that at this time he could not make Akram let him leave this island, the thinner his hope to escape from Akram.

"If you don't want to consider letting me off this island, then I will withdraw my offer to accept you willingly!" Elana replied with a stubborn tone, raising her chin full of arrogance.

Akram stared intently at Elana and a smile full of irony appeared on his lips. With a petite body wrapped only in blankets and a very small force, Elana should not feel confident to negotiate with Akram. If the one faced by Akram was someone else, of course he would crush his opponent mercilessly. But facing Elana at this time, Akram willingly was willing to loosen his cruel and harsh attitude.

Because it feels so much fun to play around with this woman.

"I'll consider letting you off this island, even I'm willing to think of the possibility of letting you work your way back out there." Akram spoke in a deep and mysterious tone. "As long as you can now show your hard work to convince me. If you can convince me, maybe I'll accept your terms."

Elana's clear eyes immediately widened to hear the words of Akram which full meaning veiled. His lips immediately voiced his question.

"Show me my hard work? Whatchu mean?"

"You said, as a reciprocal of your terms, you would cooperate with me, serve me willingly and even be active while making love." Akram grinned, his expression looking sensual as the man leaned his body casually against the back of the chair and then patted his thigh meaningfully. "I need proof, so show it to me. Get on my lap and kiss me."