Termination Failed.

The moment she found out that Travis was the main client, she shook her head vigorously, already terminating the contract.

She was not sure she could do this; having to see the same man that broke her heart...

Out of anger and pain, she turned to leave, her heart thumping faster than usual, as the memories of their past together flowed in like a river.

Just as she reached the door, he rushed forward and grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.

“Alison, please,” he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation and frustration.“You can’t just walk away like this.”

Alison pulled her arm away. She felt pain and anger towards him. He was someone she never wished to see, at least, not now.

The pain of what he did in the past filled her heart and she felt disgusted by his sight. She just wanted to leave.

“And why not? Do you think I’m just going to stay here and pretend like we are cool? You broke my heart, Travis. So, don't expect that I will help you."

Travis ran a hand through his hair, letting out a low frustrating sigh. “I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But this is business, you signed the contract, Alison. You know what it means.”

Alison scoffed, shaking her head as if she was not surprised at all.

"Of course, typical you. You know all these and then you try to pretend like nothing ever happened. Bold of you to call me Ali."

"Look, Alison. I'm sorry, okay? I couldn't handle the situation back then, I couldn't face you. I was a coward, yes, but I've changed now."

“Handle what? My love? My trust?” She chuckled. “You treated me like I was nothing. Like I was just a ragdoll."

Travis looked away, unable to face her. “I was young. I was stupid. I did not appreciate what I had until it was gone. I thought I could just move on, but I couldn’t."

"You couldn't move on? That's funny coming from someone who had moved on before even thinking of breaking me. Is this why you made me sign this contract? Fo bring me to fall back into your arms?"

“I thought that was what you wanted. I thought you would be happier without me.” He voiced out, feeling a little bit frustrated.

Alison took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “All you do is think and assume without proper confirmation. You just stick to your ideologies because you think you are always right, and you are perfect."

“It does not have to be like this,” he said, "can we just forget about the past? Let's focus on the present, please.*

She laughed. A bitter one.

Her eyes met his as she replied, "Of course, Travis. All you know how to do is run away from reality. Bury them deep without a care in the world. There is nothing in the present to focus on, okay?"

Travis looked at her for a while, "could you not be this way?" He paused, “what do you want?” he asked. “Tell me what I need to do to make it right.”

She looked at him, betrayal fueling her heart. “You can’t just fix anything with words. What has been broken cannot be fixed. Especially not with words or money."

“Alison, I'm not the person anymore. I have changed now, and I can show you how much I have grown." He mouthed, getting frustrated.

No one would ever believe that the cold and dominant CEO was now desperate in the presence of a woman.

“Prove it?” she said. “You think it is that simple? You don’t just get to decide one day that you want to be a better person and expect that everything will fall into place for you, particularly me. This is not a fairy tale, Travis.”

He sighed, not sure how else he could convince her. He knew she would be tough, but he did not expect her to be this cold.

“Then tell me what you want from me. I will do anything. I will work hard to show you I have changed.”

Alison chuckled, nodding her head as though an idea clicked in her mind. “You want to really prove yourself? Then stop trying to manipulate me with that contract. Let me go free. Allow me to resign.”

“Alison, you can’t be serious,” he said, his expression filled with shock. “You know what that means. You can't terminate that contract in less than a day you signed it."

Alison began to understand what was happening now. She shook her head, refusing to believe what her mind was telling her.

She took out the contract file and opened it. She began to go through the agreement and found a couple of insane consequences.

One of which stated that if the contract is being terminated by any of the parties, he or she must fulfill whatever the other party wants.

"You are ridiculous, Travis. What sort of a contract is this?" She asked, turning the papers towards him.

She looked back at it again, "what do you mean by this? What the hell are these termination rules?" She sighed, "What have I gotten myself into?"

He coughed, trying to gain her attention. "It was open for discussion, but you signed the contract, anyway, meaning that you are okay with the agreement and that you have accepted it. Think twice, Alison, before terminating this contract."

He knew the contract terms were somewhat weird in a way, but he had presumed that she would back out if she found out that it was him.

That was the reason he sent Oscar, instead, because with Oscar, he was sure that Alison would not think twice, but to accept the contract.

Somehow, he was happy that he made those terms, else, as stubborn as Alison could be, she would, by all means, terminate the contract.

She looked at him in a disgusted way and shook her head as though she was disappointed.

"You are no different from my ex-husband. You all are the same; manipulative and cunning, doing whatever it takes to get what you want. You all make me sick," she mouthed.

Travis sighed. He wondered what had really happened to her that made her this cold. This was not the Alison he knew.

"Alison, it's not what you think. I don't know what happened between you and your ex-husband, but trust me, I don't mean to hurt you."

She clapped her hands, "you don't have to know what happened between us for you to be like him."

She scoffed, "You know what? I'm super glad for that letter you sent me years ago."