Chapter Seven: The Making of a Marriage Contract

All of us will know that we made the right decision when we picked the hardest and most painful choice but our heart still feels at peace no matter what. 

"Mom? I thought I heard Zoey coming home a while ago. Where is she? She's not in her room." Zamantha exclaimed in front of their mother, who was busy folding laundry in their living room. 

"She said she will just buy something at the convenience store. Don't worry. She brought Azlan with her." Mrs. Olivia Lavigne answered back.

Zamantha saw her older sister, Zara, rolling her eyes at them while watching television. "God, mom. You really don't need to worry about Zoey getting harassed on the streets. No man in their right mind would even lust over her."

Zamantha wanted to talk back to her sister but she was reminded that Zara's mind was so small like a bean, it wouldn't understand all the things she would say just to make her stop hating on Zoey without any apparent reason. "I'll wait for her outside, mom." 

Zamantha went outside their house just as the same time she heard their doorbell ringing three times in a row. "Coming! Now who could that be?" She opened their gate only to be mesmerized by a very handsome face. Dionysus tried to wave before asking his agenda away.

"Hi. Where's your sister? Can I talk to her?" It took some seconds for Zamantha to recover from the shock of seeing Dionysus' handsomeness in the middle of the night, with the light from the nearby lamppost subtly highlighting his features more. 

Zamantha cleared her throat. "You mean, Zara?" She grimaced upon thinking that Zara doesn't deserve the handsome guy in front of her at all cost. 

"No. I mean Zoey. Can I talk to Zoey? Is she here? I'm sorry if it's a bit late but I really need to talk to her right now. It's urgent." Zamantha felt her eyes sparkling in excitement right after. 

"Ohh, my god." Zamantha exclaimed when she suddenly had an idea of what the bloody hell was going on. "And, who are you again?"

"Right. Sorry about that. I'm Dionysus, her boyfriend." All of a sudden, Zamantha felt like falling on the ground just to repeatedly roll herself like a crazy girl, if she could just do that without looking real crazy. 

Zamantha giggled. "Hi, I'm Zamantha. Just call me Zam." Zamantha asked for a fist bump on which Dionysus willingly gave her. Then, Zoey's little sister crossed her arms across her chest. "Though, the last time I checked, Zoey is single and very much available." 

Dionysus smiled a little at Zoey's cute little sister. "Actually, this is our first day together. We met through a dating app. Does that ring a bell? Are you the sister that set her up to meet me?" 

Zamantha squealed. "Ohh, my god. Yes! Yes! I did it! Ohh, my god. You look so handsome and you smell good, too. I like you for my sister already." Dionysus shook his head. The girl in front of her was no doubt Zoey's sister. "She's in the convenience store. I'll walk you through there if you promise to buy me some ice cream and tell me all the details about how you and my sister exactly got together? So, deal or no deal?"

Dionysus scrunched his nose. "I can get you the ice cream and so much more, but I can't do the second one. I'm still about to pursue her right now. I just called myself her boyfriend because I'm ahead of myself sometimes." Zamantha nodded and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Alright. Ice cream, then. And, donuts." Dionysus walked back to his pick-up truck and opened the door on the passenger's seat.

"So, let's go?" 

"Woah. You have your own car? So amazing." 

"Yep." Zamantha was about to hop inside when she realized something.

"I have pepper spray in my pocket in case you happen to be a bad guy instead." Dionysus laughed and raised his hands high up in the air.

"Sure, sure. Just spray it on me whenever you feel it. But, after this, don't tag along with strangers again. You might really be in danger if you happen to encounter a bad one."

~~~~~

After almost ten minutes on the road, Dionysus parked his truck in front of the convenience store Zamantha had pointed out for him. "Is this it?" 

"Yes. We can find her inside. She always loves to come here whenever she feels upset. I bet my whole life she is eating her favorite ramen or rocky road ice cream right now."

"Really?" 

"Yes." Zamantha nodded her head and immediately opened the truck's door.

"Wait for me, kid. You might fall." Zamantha laughed when she heard that but still hopped outside without Dionysus' help. Dionysus only sighed because he can really tell that Zamantha was really Zoey's sister, who always loves to annoy the hell out of him.

Dionysus and Zamantha went straight for the store's door and a wind chime's soothing, tickling sound was heard on the entire premises. "Zoey!" A golden retriever beside Zoey barked at Zamantha.

"What are you doing here? It's so late, Zam." Zoey pointed out the obvious after Zamantha went straight to Zoey's table on the farthest corner where she was eating a cup of ramen while Zamantha's dog was sitting beside her.

"Why did you bring Azlan? He might have caught a cold." Zamantha snatched Azlan's leash and the dog immediately went to her.

"I can't help it. He wants to come with me. You know I love that big boy." Zamantha sat in front of Zoey who was still oblivious of Dionysus' presence behind her. Zoey slurped and finished her ramen before wiping her mouth. She eyed Zamantha afterwards. "So, did you walk towards here? You know it's dangerous."

"I rode a car, you know. A pick-up truck." 

"You did what?" 

"I said, someone asked me for directions to this store. So, I came with him just to point this out." Zoey picked up her pack of chips and thwacked Zamantha's head using it. "Ouch! Why did you hit me?" 

"Where is that bastard so I can teach him a lesson or two? He dared to lure an eighteen year old girl?" Zamantha giggled.

"He said he's your boyfriend and that he was looking for you." By that time, Zoey was drinking on her cup of soda but she instantly coughed after hearing that.

"Who in their bloody mind would claim themselves as my boyfriend, Zam? You really got scammed." 

"Me?" Zoey's eyes widened when she heard a very familiar voice. Then, Dionysus sat beside Zoey like it was the most natural thing to do at that unholy hour.

"You? What are you doing here?"

Zamantha coughed. "Where's my ice cream, mister greek god of ecstasy?" 

"Ohh, right." Dionysus fetched his wallet and took out some cold cash and gave it all to Zamantha's waiting hands. "Buy everything you want and buy something for the doggie as well." Azlan barked when Dionysus looked down at him. Zamantha's dog even wagged his tail happily even though it was also his first time meeting Dionysus.

"Ohh, my. He likes you, mister greek god. What a flirty dog. Come here, baby. Let's buy our own food and give them some privacy. Shall we?" 

"Don't go too far away, Zam. Mom will kill me if anything bad happens to you."

Zamantha saluted at Zoey. "Aye, aye, lady captain!" When Zamantha went straight to the donut's section, Zoey sighed and picked up all her trash and threw them at the trash bin beside her before facing Dionysus again. 

"You wrongfully introduce yourself to Zamantha, Mr. Chevalier. I thought our deal was over. When she comes back, tell her the truth right away. I don't want her getting the wrong idea." Dionysus clenched his jaw and looked down, remembering the pain of seeing his grandfather fighting for his own life just an hour ago. Zoey noticed the sorrow and despair in Dionysus' eyes all of a sudden. "Why? What is it? Did you already tell your grandpa? Did he get mad?"

"No."

"No, because he didn't get mad?"

"No, because I haven't told him anything yet. And, I don't plan on doing it anymore."

"What? Why? I thought we already talked about this, Dionysus." Dionysus caught his breath again after hearing Zoey call his name for the second time around. 

"He had his fourth heart attack, Zoey." Zoey blinked at that, not believing her ears.

"Say that again?" But, Dionysus fell silent afterwards. Zoey sighed and blew a deep breath after a few moments. "How is he, then? I hope he's already okay now."

"He is. In fact, what kept him fighting was the fact that he is anticipating our upcoming wedding next week." 

"Ohh, my god." Zoey only managed to exclaim right after. "This is ridiculous."

"I know. I know." 

"What do you know, then? You put me through this. God, I hate you so much." Zoey grunted in annoyance as she covered her face and pulled her hair out of overwhelming frustration. "Your grandfather doesn't deserve this." 

"Are you two already fighting?" Zoey sat straight and fixed herself after hearing her younger sister's voice.

"No. No, Zam. We're just. . talking." 

"Great. Because I bought ice cream for everyone." Zamantha said as she dropped the still wrapped ice cream cones onto the table before sitting in front of Zoey and Dionysus and carrying Azlan to sit beside her as well.

Zoey picked up the chocolate one and put it inside Dionysus' hands. "Eat. You need that. Wait. Do you want to drink soju with me?"

"Me! Me! I want that."

"No." 

"But, I'm already legal."

"I said, no drinking until twenty, Zam. Rules are rules."

"She really is scarier than our mother. Beware of that about her." Dionysus shook his head as he nodded at Zoey.

"Alright. I can agree to that. But, if we drink here, I can't drive you both to your home afterwards." Zamantha raised her hand after an amazing idea popped inside her mind.

"You two can drink inside Zoey's room. Don't worry. I will both sneak you inside without mom and Zara knowing." 

"No." Zoey instantly disagreed.

But, Dionysus instantly loved the idea. "Then, let's go."

"I said, no."

"What? Your sister will be with us, although she won't drink. And, I won't do anything to you. In your dreams, witch." Zamantha laughed upon hearing Dionysus' nickname for Zoey. But, when Zoey looked at her sister with a deathly glare, Zamantha straightened up and smiled sweetly. 

"Come on, Zoe. Say yes. It will be fun. Let's play board games, too! Besides, it's Sunday tomorrow. No classes for me and no work for you. It's a win-win."

"He's so old to play board games, Zam."

"Who's old? Me? I told you, thirty six isn't old, witch."

However, Zoey already stood up and went straight to the liquor section of the store, leaving Dionysus to Zamantha's teasing alone. Seconds later, Zoey walked to the cashier's area and was about to pay for their drinks but Dionysus had already handed his card to the cashier lady. "I got this." 

"Whatever, old man." Zoey bit her lower lip and tried suppressing her laughter until Dionysus got the plastic bag full of bottles of soju. "Have you drunk those before?"

"No, actually. Does this taste good even though it's so cheap? It only costs me thirty dollars." Zoey just shook her head at the amazement on Dionysus' face. She realized it's not so good to be so rich sometimes. 

~~~~

"Seems like mom and Zara are already asleep. We can sneak through the living room, then." Zamantha suggested as she, Zoey and Dionysus were hiding and peeking behind a bush in front of Lavigne's residence.

"We can't be so sure, Zam. What if mom is just waiting for us there, silently watching t.v.?" Zoey argued.

"Maybe I can just introduce myself so that we won't have to sneak at all." Dionysus murmured, making the two girls turn their heads at him in a fast manner.

"Are you insane? Did I already agree?"

"What? I thought by me coming here means we have an agreement again, witch."

"Hang on. What agreement is that, guys?" Zamantha interrupted, her forehead creased because she didn't understand a thing. Her attention was just snatched by Azlan who licked her cheeks and whined like a little child, obviously telling Zamantha something.

"Looks like he is asking what the bloody hell are we still doing here." Zoey concluded. 

"Yeah. It's past his bedtime already. He looks so sleepy. My poor little baby." Zamantha patted Azlan's face and kissed him on the cheeks. 

"This won't do. Let's just climb through my window. Come on." Zoey finally decided. She stood up while Dionysus carried Azlan and motioned for Zamantha to follow her sister first. Afterwards, Dionysus followed their trail through the dark as well.

The three of them moved as quietly as possible. As soon as they reached the back of their house, Zoey went straight to her room and opened her window from the outside. "Thank God you didn't lock that."

"Who would even dare to sneak inside my room in the first place, Zam?" Zoey jokes.

"I will, from now on." Dionysus said and Zamantha giggled, feeling her heart fluttering for her sister's blooming love life. If only she knew the truth.

"Stop doing that. It's giving me the cringe." 

"Yeah. Sorry." 

Zoey climbed her window and helped her little sister to do the same. Then, Dionysus transferred Zamantha's dog towards Zoey's hands before he climbed as well. Right after that, Zoey closed the window and sighed in relief. "Whew. Let's start drinking now so that we can finish early as well."

"You know what, guys? I'm thinking of sleeping now. It's also past my bedtime. Just don't make too much unnecessary noise, alright? Mom will surely be scandalized." Zoey's eyes widened after hearing that from Zamantha. She only agreed to this sneaking escapade because she thought her younger sister would stay with them until they finished drinking.

"Tell me you're kidding, Zam." 

Zamantha yawned. "No, Zoe. Why would I do that? You absolutely know that I can't really stay up so late at night. And, Azlan's sleepy, too. So, ciao!" Zamantha pulled Azlan towards the door. "Come on, baby. Let's give the love birds some privacy to make babies. I badly wanted a niece." 

"Zamantha Rane!" 

"Just kidding. Relax. You might get a heart attack." Before Zoey could say anything again, Zamantha opened her door and went outside together with Azlan, leaving her and Dionysus both standing awkwardly in the middle of her room, trying to avoid each other's gazes.

Seconds later, Dionysus cleared his throat and put the plastic bag full of soju bottles in Zoey's vanity desk. "I can just leave, you know. It's alright. Let's just talk tomorrow again." 

"Wait." Zoey stopped Dionysus by holding onto his arm. "Stay. Let's talk about our agreement and finalize a contract. Let's set our terms, conditions and boundaries. How's that?"

"So, you're really going to do it? You agree to marry me next week?" Dionysus asked because he had to confirm it one more time, for his own sake.

"Yeah. It's just like our first agreement, right? We're also going to pretend to marry each other." Right there and then, Dionysus' forehead creased.

"Zoey, I doubt my grandpa won't oversee everything about our upcoming wedding. So, if we are to marry, we have to do it legally. My grandpa would surely be the one to register our marriage as soon as we get married." 

"Ohh."

"Yeah." 

"But, can't you do something about it? You're powerful. I'm sure as hell you can pull off some strings. I mean, your connections or something." 

Dionysus fell silent and contemplated the topic Zoey had opened. "What if we get married for real then divorce each other later in the future? For that, we should really have to make and sign a contract with our own terms just like you had suggested a while ago." 

"Do I also need to lie to my family or should I not tell them anything in the first place?" 

"I'm pretty sure grandpa would announce it to everyone. So, yeah. Let's tell your family." 

"Wait a minute. No." Zoey shook her head with so much conviction on the word 'no'. 

"What no? No, because you don't want us to tell your family?" 

"No. Meaning, I don't want anyone else knowing that I will marry you. If ever, I want our wedding to be simple. With your grandfather as the only witness. Come to think of it. We will be divorcing each other in the end, and I don't want my family to be devastated because of that so it's much better for me not to tell them anything. After we get married, I think I'll move into your mansion." 

"What would you say to them when you move in?"

"I'll tell them it's about work. They won't doubt that because I was once hired to be a project inspector years ago and I was away from home for more than six months. It will be the same thing." 

"Wow. And, here I thought you were hesitant about this back in the store. Why does it sound like you had thought of all of the possible scenarios in your head already?"

"Shut up, old man." Zoey murmured, then sat in front of her desk beside her table and opened her laptop. "Here. You make and draft our contract. I'll get our drinks ready." 

"Hey, witch." Zoey was about to sneak outside her room and get a bucket of ice and two shot glasses in the kitchen when Dionysus called her name. "What is really the reason why you don't want other people knowing about this?" Zoey sighed and smiled bitterly at Dionysus.

"Just look at me and you will know the answer to that, Chevalier." 

Zoey proceeded to go outside and when she came back, Dionysus was halfway through typing their marriage contract. Zoey put the tray she was holding on the floor. "Come here. It's more fun to sit down on the floor."

Dionysus nodded and carried Zoey's laptop in his arms. "I bet your bed is more comfy." But, Dionysus' face heated up when he finally understood why the bloody hell Zoey chose for them to just sit on the floor. "Damn. My bad. You're right. The floor is the best option right now, even though it's chilling cold and undraped without a carpet."

Zoey rolled her eyes. "I'm so sorry if we can't afford that. Forgive us, your highness." Zoey even jokingly bowed her head in front of Dionysus. Dionysus laughed and wanted to talk back but Zoey looked too cute and adorable to his eyes. Seconds later, Zoey flicked her finger as if she had remembered something. "Right. My third condition on our first agreement. Remember that?"

"The one that says, I should hire you as my secretary?" 

Zoey sweetly smiled. "Yes. Put that in our contract first. It won't be that hard to fulfill it now that we are getting married, right?"

"Right. Okay. Clause number one: Party A should hire Party B as his secretary as soon as their wedding ceremony takes place. How's that?"

"Very good. So, here is your shot. Come on. Soju tastes better if you drink it alone." Dionysus took the shot glass and was actually surprised at the elegant bitterness of the liquor.

"I'm surprised. It's good."

"See? I told you."

"Alright. What's your second condition?" Zoey took her first shot as well before answering that.

"My salary as your secretary will be separated from my salary as your wife. You still need to pay me a hundred thousand dollars. ."

~~~~

"What's taking Boss Dio so long to get out of that house? Is he going to stay for the night with that girl?" Sebastian heard one of Dionysus' men asking him that question. Their cars were parked in front of Zoey's house and where Dionysus' car was parked as well.

"I think so. Though, I'm afraid if this will continue, he'll get too soft and vulnerable again. We can't afford that right now. Our mafia rivals will surely take this as an opportunity to take him down at all cost."