4. The Contract

“I saw your email, and then immediately changed to an earlier flight back to Singapore.” Bryan, the partner of S&T Law Firm, grumbled while lying on the sofa of Vincent’s home, still in the Balinese batik shirt, “Why such a change on the contract?”

Vincent handed him a glass of wine, “Could you please calm down first?”

“I am calm and sober and rational. As your friend and your lawyer, I need to understand why you suddenly want to modify the contract last minute before sending it out. Have you heard of such stories? A billionaire suddenly requests to change the main beneficiary of his will to his female care worker…bloody hell, something must be going on.” Bryan finished the wine and put the glass on the coffee table. 

Vincent picked up the wine glass and put it in the sink of his open kitchen, “I think I found the right person…but sending her the original contract might just freak her out.”

“You found your Miss Right?” Bryan giggled as he sat up, “Just joking. If she may freak out after seeing the contract, why is she the right person then?”

“Good question.” Vincent put his hands in his pockets and looked into Bryan’s eyes, “But have you thought about it? One of the key qualities I was looking for is innocence. Now this girl, she is fresh out of college…oh in fact she probably hasn’t graduated yet. Even if she is smart and money driven, she wouldn’t expect herself to have such a high commitment and pay such a high price at the end.”

“She will also get a huge return.”

“Can we design something easier to get her buy in? Our original contract almost sounds like a scam - you don’t know when the contract will end, but when it ends you must leave Singapore forever. Well, that sounds like a real marriage - no one knows when it will end but when it ends you get hurt significantly.”

“Aha! I like your analogy. So you are saying a real marriage is like a scam.”

“Isn’t it?” Vincent taunted. 

Bryan stood up and pat his shoulder, “Back to the contract and your Miss Right, although it may freak her out, I still think it’s better to make things clear at the beginning. You are now just delaying the problem. No one knows what will happen in two years - what if she is not as smart as you think? What if she asks for an astronomical figure to renew the contract once she gets a taste of the lavish lifestyle you can offer? What if she turned out to be less of a gold digger than a girl dreaming of romance?” 

Bryan was serious, and Vincent knows that Bryan is just trying to protect him from an unforeseeable future. 

Vincent did not answer, but took a sip of the wine, then another sip, then another. After a while, he looked into Bryan’s eyes, “Do you still remember once you tried to pull me into your debate society back in school?” 

“Yes, and you rejected. If you joined us perhaps we would have won the world competition.”

“Do you remember which society I joined then?”

“Not exactly…something boring…the math society? Or applied science?”

“Social science studies. Actually, both debating and social science studies require you to research a lot of social science topics. But the thing I don’t like about debating is that it has a clear, defined path. All you need to do is to participate in rounds and rounds of competitions, until you make it to the national or world finals. While social science studies society…it has no defined directions or path.” Vincent took a last sip and finished the wine, “I like uncertainty, Bryan.”

Bryan also kept silent for a moment, and then commented, “But you want to win this time.”

“I want to win the chess game, but she is just one of the pawns. I can afford some risk on her.”

“Fine, fine, Mr Uncertainty. You want another wine? I will get the contract modified.” He reached out for his laptop in his bag. 

Melainy received the contract around midnight. She was already exhausted by the day time exams and her part-time math tutor job. She yawned and texted Vincent that she needs two days to get back. 

On the other hand, she quickly messaged Amanda, her best friend who is now an associate at Jenkinson Law Firm.

“What contract? I am still OTing.” 

“You poor thing. Shall I send you some coffee? This contract is critical to me btw, a potential game changer.”

“No way.”

“No way for you to review the contract for me or no way that this is the game changer?”

Amanda now called back, “You know, Melainy, you should have become a lawyer, clarifying everything is really your strength…and I am opening the file…What? Contractual marriage?”

Melainy could imagine Amanda’s face now. Amanda is usually the “poker face queen”, but when she really show reactions or emotions, it can be very funny. 

Melainy giggled over the phone, “Yes it’s contractual marriage and no, it’s not a TV drama.”

“I need some time.” Amanda hung up the phone. Melainy knew that means Amanda is reading the contract carefully now. Ever since the grandma of Pay family requested the family to adopt Melainy after her real biological grandma passed away, only Grandma Pay was close to her and made her feel at home. Her adoptive parents treated her well but more like a guest. But things have changed when she met cousin Amanda in a Chinese New Year gathering. Firstly the two of them found out they were going to the same primary school, and then Amanda started to share snacks and books with Melainy at school. Amanda was like her elder sister, and more so after Grandma Pay also passed away six years ago. 

The next morning, in MacDonald’s, Amanda enjoyed the coffee and breakfast offered by Melainy, although she had two big eye bags due to little sleep over the night. 

“I guess it’s really a game changer for you. An accelerator.”

“Yea, I think so too.” Melainy said.

“My suggestion is to just sign it. But be cautious. Don’t have unrealistic expectations of him. Follow your sense rather than sensibility.”

“You are just saying ‘don’t fall in love’. There is really no problem with the contract at all? No traps?”

“Meli, I know you. How many times have you read the contract last night?”

“More than five. I also need a coffee.”

“Come on. Just buy another one.” Amanda stood up and ordered another coffee at the self-service machine. She then collected it and put it at Melainy’s side.

“I’ve only been in the law industry for one year, and I specialize in capital markets, but I think the contract is actually quite beneficial to you. So far I can’t see much risk. You just have to bear with a marriage for two years and then, you always have another chance for re-negotiation in two-years time. By then you would know a lot more about the situation.” Although lack of sleep, Amanda is still sharp and straightforward. 

“I think so too. I should just take it. Even if there are hidden risks that I cannot foresee now…I guess I am young and smart enough to deal with it.”

“Go ahead, Meli.” Amanda raised her coffee cup and touched Melainy’s, “Cheers!”