16 My conditions

Nathan left my parents' house a day later but I decide to stay for a week. Nathan agreed because my parents insisted on it. I was very happy. The week was perfect. I caught up with my friends and enjoyed a lot. After a week I return back to Nathan's house. It's not that bad here. I now even sleep on the bed but the problem is he sleeps in the bed as well. But of course there is a small wall of cushions between us I made myself.

I unpack the bag I brought back from my parents house. It was about to explode from all the shopping I did with Amy. That girl is such a shoppoholic. As I unpack the last dress and hang it in the closet, I hear Nathan coming in the room.

"Hey!" I say to him casually.

"Packing for New York? Good." He leans on the closet door, with a coffee mug in his hand.

"What? No, I was unpacking the shopping with Amy."

"Why aren't you packing for New York? We have to leave in three days."

"I'm not going to New York." I say without looking at him.

"Yes you are."

"Nathan you can't just drag me around with you without my will." I walk past him into the bedroom.

"Yes I can and I am." he snaps.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, Walsh" I warn him, "Who do you think you are?!" I raise my voice.

"Someone who doesn't marry for money." he snaps and moves past me.

My mouth goes dry. How long is he going to drag this for? Anger boils inside me but I know there is no use of shouting at him. He is a cold hearted douche bag who only cares about himself.

I move downstairs to the kitchen. I'm angry and I need ice cream to cool myself down. I open the freezer and take a huge bowl of ice cream. I sit in the empty and silent living room watching TV. Venessa and Anna aren't mostly around. Venessa is busy with her journalism work and Anne with her social service and kitty parties. I'm mostly alone in this huge mansion and it kills me. I need to find some work. Maybe I should join the marketing department of my father's company.

I frown at the thought of how boring that job would be. I finish my ice cream and decide to go out for a walk. I take my wallet and phone. I plug my headphones. The wind is blowing and it's pretty pleasant out here. A paper comes blowing and stick right in front of face. For a moment I don't understand what happened but then realize and remove the paper. It's an advertisement for a governess in the nearby orphanage.

After walking four blocks from Nathan's house I find the orphanage. It's a beautiful place. Kids are playing outside in the garden and laughing.

"Look!" one of them points to butterfly on the flowers. They chase it and when it comes towards me I gently capture it between my palms.

"Please please show us!!" the kids chirp and jump on me.

"Shhh, wait wait!" I say and kneel down as they circle around me. I open my palms and the butterfly flies past us. Their eyes twinkle as they watch it fly away.

"Let's go chase it!" a little girl says and they cheer.

"Oh no no!" I stop them. The color drains from their faces and my heart sinks.

"Let's go play something else," I say excitingly, "How about hide and seek?"

"Okay!!" they yell and run inside. I see an elderly man standing by the doorway across smiling at me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." I say as I approach him.

"It's alright." he says politely, "What's your name?"

"I'm..." before I can finish, I few kids drag me to the garden asking me to play along with them. I play hide and seek with them for a few hours. Before I realize it's already dawn. Oh no, I am quite late. I sigh and say my goodbyes to the kids.

When I reach back Anna and Venessa are already in kitchen making dinner with Mary helping them. Shit. I directly rush into the kitchen to help.

"Hey! Where have you been?" Venessa asks.

"I have been at an orphanage all day and it was amazing!!" I sing the last part.

"Oh wow." Anna smiles, "Can you girls please carry on? The dinner is almost done. I'll set the table. Mary come with me."

"Oh yes. I'm sorry for the delay." I feel bad that she had to cook because I wasn't around.

Vennessa and I complete the dinner in chit chat the rest of the time. I don't see Nathan during the dinner or after. His family isn't worried so it's fine. When I reach my room I'm bored as hell. I think about New York. If I had work here I could sheild behind it. In normal circumstances I wouldn't mind going to the Big Apple but going there with him is different. Going anywhere with him is different. He gets his way around me everytime and this frustrates me. I should get something out of him as well.

I have an idea! I can write down some conditions for New York. After lots and lots of thinking I finally finish my terms and conditions for New York. It's not that long of a list. I will make him accept this. Mental note : remind me to smack Nathan's face on the wall if he doesn't agree. Thinking about the governess add I fall asleep to dreams of laughing children.

In the morning, when I wake up it's only 6:30. I am alone in the room and I forgot to turn the lights off yesterday. Where is Nathan? Did he stay out all night? Why didn't he call me? Well, why would he? Is he with someone? That sounds impossible. He's married, yet again he hates this marriage. Why am I affected? Or am I? I take a shower as my mind continues to pop every stupid question ever made. I wrap a towel around my body and walk into the room. A part of me (very very tiny part) is disappointed not to find Nathan again. Oh God I think the recent cliché love story is taking me over.

I slip into my pajamas and over over sized t shirt. The sleeves are so long my hands are not visible. But I like it. When I go downstairs, only Mary is working in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mary!" I startle her by my presence.

"Good morning, madame." she says, "Do you need anything?"

"No, nothing in particular." I say. When I open the freezer I find it loaded with ice cream. Oh my God!! What a perfect way to start the day! Nathan isn't around, I have ice cream. Is this the best day or what! I take the jar of ice cream upstairs with me and fire my laptop. I watch the remaining season of Game of Thrones.

When I'm halfway through the season, the door clicks open and Nathan enters. I check the clock it's almost 8.

"Where were you?" I ask.

"None of your business." he simply says and looks at me. His eyes meet mine and I gesture him towards the table where the terms are kept.

"What's this?"

"These are my conditions for going to New York."

"They aren't accepted!" he says trying to keep a straight face and tosses the papers to me.

"That's not fair! You can't boss me around Walsh!" I say getting annoyed, to which he just rolls his eyes.

"Stop treating me like a child!"

"Stop behaving like one dammit!"

"I'm not behaving like a child. I'm just putting my point of view in front of you!" I raise my voice.

"I didn't ask for it.

"Well, I know. And I also know you never will that's exactly why I have to stand by my ground." I stare directly into his dark eyes.

"Alright, then come to office. We'll discuss it there. See you in the evening, Grey." he says and enters the bathroom.

In the evening I debate with myself whether to go or not. I finally decide to go because Burger King is on the way and I'm really really really hungry (all the time. *winks*)

Nathan's beautiful secretary opens the door for me. She could so easily be a model, why be just a secretary?

"Grey." Nathan looks up at me.

"Walsh." I reciprocate.

"Let's do this." he opens his jacket revealing his white shirt which hugs him tightly. I smile and sit in front of him. My smile vanishes as I just a deja vu. A month go I was sitting in front of Nathan's father's office where he imposed this marriage on me. I shake that thought away and put the smile back on my face.

I pass him the conditions across the table. He takes two minutes to read them and then burst out laughing showing his cute dimples.

"What?" I say with disgust.

"Lifetime supply of Kit Kat? Hundreds of pizzas or burgers? Choco brownie cake compulsory? One treat at your favorite diner every week? You have got to be kidding me!" he say between his laughs.

"No I'm not." I say and mean it. I know all my conditions are food related but I couldn't think of anything else. And isn't it easy for him to fulfill these conditions.

"What? Are you serious?" he stops laughing.

"Yes I am."

"Oh my God! And you say I should stop treating me like a child." he laughs and laughs and laughs. Now this is annoying me.

"You know what to hell with you and with your New York!" I yell and leave. I generally don't burst out at small matters but when it comes to food I can't help it. I take a taxi to Nathan's house.

When I reach home throw my bag on the bed and myself with it. Aw, I forgot to stop at Burger King because Nathan made me angry. I bury my head in the pillow and wonder if the conditions were really stupid. They don't sound stupid to me. I hear a knock on the door.

"May I come in?" I turn around to find David standing by the door.

"Hi, David." I say in a dull voice.

"You look upset." he states.

"Nathan never takes me seriously." I sigh.

"Why do you even care? I thought you two hate each other."

"Yes, we do. Yes, you are right! If he hates me then why does he want to take me to New York, that too for one bloody month?"

"Because you are safer with him than with anyone else." he states.

"You have no idea who he is." I scoff.

"I know him well enough. That's why I am here standing in front of you holding this envelope." he hands me a brown envelope.

"Thanks." He smiles and takes his leave.

I open the envelope. It's the same contract that I sent to Nathan. It's signed. It's signed!! I jump up to the bed. The smile never leaves my face as I reread the document. There is another paper attached with my conditions.

Dear Miss Grey,

I'm highly impressed by your way of expressing your conditions. Hence I am agreeing to all the conditions put up by you.

See you in New York.

From: Your official husband

Nathan Walsh.

"Hmm, official arrogant husband." I correct and give a colgate smile.