Signing the contract

“So Eddy Gracias would be coming here today? Have you even thought about this?” Olivia asked as she sat in Natasha’s room.

“What can I do, Mom? I can’t go to jail. If he wants to get married to me, Fine. I am no weak woman. He shouldn’t expect me to act like a housewife or something. I am not ready to fall in love. And I bet he is also doing this for a reason apart from love.”

“I told your father about it, and he decided to stay home today.”

“Really?” She hurriedly sat up. “Doesn’t he have work today?”

“He does, but he wants to meet him too. He’s been so busy lately that I had to tell him myself. Most times when he comes back from work, you’re always fast asleep.”

Natasha sighed and brushed her rough hair backwards. “Please don’t tell me he wants to talk to Eddy about this. I don’t think that would work.”

“Well, at least we’d give it a try! Don’t you think? We can’t just give you up to another man. What would people say?”

“I don’t care what people would say, mom. They would say worse if I end up behind bars, okay?”

“Calm down, Natasha. We’d just give it a try. We aren’t forcing it on him. If you think this is the best way to get out of this mess. No problem. We are your parents, though. We can’t let you do this alone.”

“Hmm. Thanks, Mom.” Natasha bobbed.

“You should freshen up. Who knows when he’s going to arrive. And, is he coming alone?”

“Who else wants to come with him? I think he’s just coming to hear my answer about this.”

“Then can’t you give him that answer on the phone? Does he have to come all the way down here just for a ‘yes?’”

“That’s what he told me on the phone, that he would be coming to the house. Well, he can do whatever he wants. Maybe this would help me forget about Leo faster.”

“But…” Olivia mumbled and lowered her head.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’d be fine. Like I said, I’m not his lover, we wouldn’t be thinking of having children I guess. He knows I can’t bear children and he said that makes it even better. So, it’s no big deal.”

“Don’t conclude you can’t bear children yet, Natasha. Nothing is wrong with you.”

“Oh please, Mom. Something is definitely wrong with me. But it’s okay.” She let out a faint smile.

“Fine. If you say so. You are no more a baby. Let me hurry into the kitchen and make something before he arrives.”

“Alright.”

As Olivia stepped out of the living room, she heard the doorbell ring. She furrowed her brows and looked at the wall clock. It was just 9am.

“Don’t tell me he is here already. I haven’t even stepped into the kitchen.” Olivia uttered in panic.

She hurried to the door and looked out through the peephole. There were three people in front of the door, and she couldn’t recognize any of them.

An older-looking man was on a wheelchair, and behind him, holding the chair was a young-looking man that looked like him. Closer to the door was an elegant and beautiful woman.

She opened the door and stuck her head out.

“Hi! Good morning.” Olivia greeted with a bright smile.

“Hi!…”

“Hi, Mom. It’s me, Eddy. It’s been so long since we last saw each other. I bet I must have changed.” Eddy cut his mother's short, and let out a super wide yet fake smile.

“Oh! Eddy! Are these your parents?” She asked, trying so hard no to act surprised.

“Yes! They are here to get to know my Fiancée’s parents.”

‘Oh wow. We haven’t even decided and he’s here with his parents? What kind of Psychopath is this?’ Olivia raised her brows.

“Wow! That’s so thoughtful of them. Hi, once again, please come in.” Olivia played along.

She opened the door for Eddy to push his father in, and Mrs Gracias followed behind them, with great happiness written all over her face.

‘Why the f**k do they seem so excited about this?’

Olivia shut the door behind and looked at them. “What would you like to have? Fruit Juice? Wine? Water?”

“Oh please, don’t be too formal. We are one family. Anything you offer, we are ready to accept it. Right, baby?” Mrs Gracias asked, looking at her husband.

“Yes! Yes!” He answered.

“Okay! I’d get you something.” Olivia turned to leave, but Eddy hurriedly stopped her.

“Please ma, where is my fiancée? I’ve missed her so much.”

“I bet you have. She is in her room. The same one, she’s yet to change it.” Olivia clenched her jaw as she spoke to him.

‘Won’t this woman tell me where her room is?’ He thought out of frustration, but kept his smiley face on.

He moved closer to her and whispered in her ear. “Her room? I don’t think I recall where it is.”

“On your right.” Olivia answered with a frown and walked away.

“I'll be back soon.” Eddy said to his parents and walked away.

“What do you think?” Mrs Gracias asked her husband.

“I like her.” He answered.

“I like her too! She’s beautiful. I bet her daughter is more beautiful!”

“But what of her dad?” Mr Gracias further asked.

“Who knows? Maybe he’d join us later.”

*

Eddy walked down the hallway at his right. There were three rooms in total and he had no idea which was Natasha’s.

‘Why couldn’t she give me a precise direction?’ He pondered angrily.

He stood in front of the first room, he moved his hand to the door knob and before he could hold it, someone opened the door from behind.

It was Emma.

“Emma? Hey!” Eddy uttered, letting out the first genuine smile since he got to the house. He squatted in front of her, keeping his grin real.

Emma creased her brows and remained glued to the door. “Do I know you, sir?” She asked with a polite expression.

“No, you don’t. But I know you. That aside, where is your sister, Natasha?”

“The last room here.” She answered. Eddy bounced his head and gave her a gentle tap on her head.

“Thank you! I'll see you soon.” He uttered and stood up.

“Wait! Have you seen my dad?” Emma asked.

“Not yet.” Eddy responded.

“Argh! He’s still sleeping.” Emma muttered and turned to walk away. Eddy chuckled and headed to the last room.

He knocked on the door twice, but got no response. After this, he didn’t hesitate to open the door.

He got into the large room, with everything neatly arranged and placed in their appropriate positions. He could hear the shower running behind a door in the room.

‘That’s why she didn’t respond.’

He walked to her mini shelf next to the window and picked up a book. There were lots of books on this shelf.

“So she reads a lot.” He mumbled.

After Natasha was done in the bathroom, she headed out of the bathroom in her short towel. It stopped right under her perfectly curved butts.

She saw a human figure in her room and she flinched hard. “Holy Shit! Who the f**k are you?!” She smacked, holding her towel to her body firmly.

Eddy turned to look at her and sighed. “You love ruining moments. I was just about to get to the interesting part of this book.”

He raised the book to show it to her and dropped it on the bed.

“Why are you here?! What are you doing in my room?!”

“I’m here to see my fiancée, of course.”

“And who said you could enter my room? Go and wait in the living room! As you can see, I’m half naked.”

“Half naked? I can’t even see your cleavages. You are fully covered. Now, will you calm down and listen to what I want to say? Or you keep ranting?” He answered coldly.

“I’m listening.” Natasha tightened her fist and didn’t attempt to move away from where she was.

“My parents are in the living room as we speak, and…”

“What?! What are they doing here?!” Natasha butted in in awe.

“Let me finish!” Eddy smacked, and Natasha gulped hard.

“We need to know what to say to them so that they can believe I am in love with you. So, I told them you just came back from the states where you went to obtain your master's degree in accounting. Also, they cannot know you can’t bear children!”

“But they’d know at the end of the day, won’t they?”

“Yes, they would. But it won’t matter anymore. All they want is to see me get married now. I believe to some extent you are a smart woman, so you should know how to act in front of them.” He added.

“Can I ask you a question? Why me?”

“Because you owe me $12 million, you are not in love with me, and most importantly, you can’t bear me a child.”

“So you don’t want any of these? Why?”

“That is none of your business, woman. Just do as I say. With me is a contract that you have to sign…” He pulled out a neatly folded paper from his breast pocket.

“These are very simple rules for you to follow. I'll read it now.”

“You cannot fall in love with me, ever! Never have it in mind that I’d see you as my wife. Never pry into my private life or ask too many questions. We are never going to have sex. You are free to do whatever you please, it’s none of my business. You can never tell my parents about this contract.”

After reading from the paper, he looked at Natasha and caught her staring at him.

“Is that all?” She asked.

“Well… for now. Yes! Others could come later.”

Natasha chuckled and nodded. “Well, this is the easiest rule I’ve even seen my entire life. I’d sign right away.” She walked to the shelf and picked up a biro.

She collected the paper from him, scanned through and signed.

“You are so sure you’d never fall in love with me. That’s nice.”

“There’s nothing lovable about you, and this is strictly business. If we do whatever we want and not pry into each other's lives, then it’s no biggie.” Natasha responded

“Sign the second one. You’d hold onto a copy too.”

“Can you excuse me now? I need to get dressed.”

“Of course. And, hurry up. My parents and I don’t have the whole day.”

He stepped out of the room and Natasha rolled her eyes. “Asshole.”