SIX

MAY

As the vehicle wheeled inside the house, I watched as the front door of the mansion flew open. Edmond trudged across the sidewalks barefooted. My heart rose to my throat as he speed-walked down to us. Suddenly, the need for petty revenge vanished. I remembered the series of unfortunate events that rolled out to me ending up here. The door opened and Cupid stepped out to pacify her angry customer and God was he mad. The veins on his head were bobbing and his face was so red I actually worried if that was normal.

"You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into." Edmond swooped in immediately taking no prisoners. "I have access to a plateau of competent lawyers. I will sue your ass for all it's worth. Trust me when I say, I am not someone you should be messing with... Is this even legal?"

I stepped down from the vehicle and listened. Edmond was rich. He was probably prepared for situations like this. If he could wriggle his slippery self out of this, there was a chance that I could do the same. The gentle smile on Cupid's face however told me otherwise. Edmond fired questioning looks at me. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know the many things that were tumbling through his fat selfish mind at the time. He wondered why I was here. Why I would give in to these crazy people? Well, he was about to know why. Sooner than later.

"It is legal. It might raise a few eyebrows when you look at things from a moral ground but nothing snuggle has done so far has been illegal."

"You accessed my account through questionable means and wiped the entirety of all my funds in that said account. Where in the world does that sound legal to you?" Edmond retorted, combing through the tendrils of curly brown that filled his head with his fingers to most probably de-stress. I doubted it was working.

"In a world where you gave us permission to do so," Cupid replied curtly. Her soft demeanor only earned a scoff from Edmond though. Edmond looked my way again. It was like just being in Cupid's vicinity made me interesting and worthy of scrutiny.

"I didn't permit you to do so. But while we discuss this madness, I'll be calling my lawyer." Edmond continued, hitting the screen of his phone furiously.

"Okay." Cupid began. "While you do so, could you tell me if you actually read the terms and conditions of our app before you gave us permission?"

Now that seemed to catch Edmond's attention. He stopped whatever he was fixated on and sent Cupid a questioning look. "What do you mean by that?"

Now, this was a part that Cupid enjoyed without a doubt. Clearing her throat, she proceeded to recite something familiar to what we had told me earlier. "Upon accepting our terms and conditions, you have given us legal rights to confiscate your financial assets but that is only temporary. So don't sweat it. As long as you conform to the terms of our contract. You should have no problem whatsoever."

"I didn't sign any contract."

Cupid sighed. While I could not feel an ounce of pity for her neither could I stand to support the terrible things she was doing to us. I did relate to her frustration. I related so badly that I did not notice when I spurted the words, "That was one of the terms you and I ignored. They have our signatures and we have given them legal liberties to use it as they so please for a duration of thirty days. Thirty working days." Until it was too late. My stomach dropped all the way to the floor when Edmond threw his gaze in my direction. His dark irises flickered with questions. My throat went dry just keeping his gaze. I just started holding my breath. He wanted to say something. I could sense it but at the last minute, he proceeded to ignore me. He withdrew his attention back to Cupid and questioned.

"So what is the end goal here?"

"Your happiness, Mr. Edmond. That is all we thrive for."

Another scoff followed. This one however was hollow. It lacked substance. This was beginning to scare him. It was evident as he began speaking. "You do not know shit about me." He muttered, his voice turning into more of an unpleasant shriek.

"But I do know." Cupid retorted. "I know why you installed our app Mr. Walters and trust me when I say you do not need a rebound. Snuggle is here to fill that hole. I can assure you that this time will be different. You will not be left picking up the pieces of a relationship you gave your best to work."

I saw Edmond turn blue as she mumbled that cryptic word of solace. He seemed to understand what or who she was referring to. His terror gradually got cloaked by a frown that wielded no power. "If the hold on my money is temporary, when do I get it back without having to entangle myself in a legal mess? I did do as you requested. I gave you an audience."

'True," Cupid agreed. "But Snuggle only confiscated your account because you were being difficult. You will get a portion of your funds back when you adhere to the terms of your contract."

"What terms are we talking about?"

Cupid placed a soothing hand on my shoulder before nudging me forward. "With pleasure, I officially introduce you to your wife, May Wolfe. As the terms of the contract you endorsed go, you have to form a functional relationship with her for the next thirty working days."

Edmond immediately burst into a fit of laughter. It was like listening to a choking cat sing. In more endearing terms, he sounded like an asthmatic wolf bawling. His fit lasted for a minute or more. I watched him wipe his face of the tears that poured. He honestly thought this was a joke. "We all know that isn't how marriage works." He managed to puff out. But when he noticed the grim look plastered on my face. Not to mention that the driver thought this was the perfect time to unload my bags. Edmond took turns looking at the giant bags and me before he attempted to form words. It all seemed to be coming together for him albeit very slowly.

"What..." He frowned. "You are kidding, right?"

"She is not." I supplied. "My account was also emptied so here I am. I am just as dumbfounded as you are. Imagine being trapped with a man like you for thirty days."

Edmond's jaw dropped. He tore his eyes back at Cupid. "No. I am not doing this. Are you people crazy or something?"

Cupid held up her hand foreseeing his protest but Edmond refused to be shut up.

"I said no!" He repeated.

"That is not your place to decide." Cupid retorted with energy that rivaled his. " I would really hate to pull a trump card."

"I don't think you have anything else on me."

"Except of course for this deed with your signature on it." Cupid chipped in, waiting for words to sink in before proceeding. " The Ivy estate. One of your recent accomplishments. Do you still want to call my bluff?"