CHAPTER 9 [Terms & Conditions]

Evelyn paced around her room biting her nails thinking about the proposal. Should she accept it? Or not? Pulling at her hair she groaned loudly as she lost her balance and fell on the bed.

"What should I do? I need money and that's the easiest way. But what about my dignity and self-respect? But my mom…." She really wanted to cry but she held herself back. "I should wait for Mr. Harrison's response. He said he'll confirm tomorrow….." nodding to herself she dozed off.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Her heels clicked on the marble as she nervously made way towards the CEO's office. But on the way she met the person who she wanted to meet. Bennett Harrison was on the phone as he moved down the hallway with quick steps. She wanted to stop him but she didn't. Mr. Harrison saw her standing there so he quickly asked whoever was on the phone to call later.

"Hello Evelyn! What's the matter?" he inquired softly as he took off his spectacles.

"Yes sir! Umm… I wanted to ask….about the loan?" she said as she looked down due to embarrassment.

"Oh no… I'm so sorry….I was so busy yesterday I forgot….I'll surely do it today. Don't worry." He replied with a kind smile as he turned away again and continued to call someone again.

She came back to her cabin with defeated steps and plopped down on the chair, resting her head on the table. Her mind wandered towards his offer again. Its benefits would be a lot but she would be deceiving her brother as she doesn't want to hurt him. She jolted up due to the annoying buzz of the phone.

"Hello. Eve-." She picked up the receiver to greet the person. She was just introducing herself when she was rudely cut off.

"In my office. Now." He growled and smacked the receiver down not even giving her time to reply.

She sneered at the phone disgustingly. 'What is he so demanding about? I'm not his property whom he can order around.'

She stomped towards his cabin but quickly controlled her anger and calmed herself before knocking on the door. Exhaling out, she entered the room when she heard him. He sat behind the desk with a series of file in front of him.

"You called sir?" she asked politely.

"Yes. Miss Davis. Have a seat." He gestured towards the chair in front of him. It felt like deja vu. What happened on the first day of work reeled in front of her eyes. Pushing away all irrational thoughts she took calculated steps towards the chairs and sat as far away from him as possible. He noticed her behavior but chose to ignore it.

"So what did you thought about the offer?"

She didn't want to reply that question. She was dreading that because it was too tempting. She wanted to agree but a small voice in the back was warning her about the consequences.

"So?" He pressed after waiting for eternity for her answer. Her silence was making him lose his mind.

"I agree." She replied in a small voice. She was looking down at her hands in her lap. "But I have some rules."

"Thank God. Thank you!" he let out a sigh of relief. "And I knew you would be demanding for some rules so I already decided to make a legal contract. You can add anything you want to as well."

Saying that he picked up a file from a load of files in front of him. Opening the manila envelope with painstakingly slow pace he took out a bunch of papers and pushed them towards her.

"There are certain main points that I am going to verbally tell you as well. Everything is written in there already. You can take all your time to carefully go through this. Ok? He said as she skimmed through the pages but nodded as sign that she was listening to him.

"Point 1: We will not be sleeping together in one room. You will have your own room. Do you agree?" he looked at her and she nodded while muttering a little, 'understandable'.

"Point 2: I will give you financial assistance after marriage as you will be my responsibility."

"EXCUSE ME? WHAT? I am very much capable of taking care of myself. I will continue working after marriage." She complained.

"Ok comprehensible! I'll get this point fixed. Hand me the papers." He said to which she handed him the papers. While changing the clause he said, "But if you want to use my money on yourself, you can. It will be up to you."

"This contract would be confidential between the two parties and the lawyer. You will not tell this to my family nor I will to yours." He said fixing her with a stare that sent shivers down her spine. He went back to reading the contract.

"And Ah this is my favorite point." He threw a smirk at her. She rolled her eyes as somehow she knew what it would be about, "I can date or sleep with anyone I want to and you will be allowed have your own private life."

"What?" She frowned.

"Well if you don't want me to have any extra-marital affairs then…" he sent her his infamous flirty wink that had all the girls on their knees.

"You can do whatever you want. I am not interested in your life. But it would be a little disrespectful. You would need to be careful because if anyone found out about your relations it would be very difficult to go on with the contract." She clarified.

Travis was somewhat taken aback as he thought she would ask him to discard this point. No wife can accept her husband having affairs but she didn't have a problem with it. But to the start with they are not real husband and wife. It's just like a business deal. He shrugged as he moved on to the next point.

"A very lovely perfect in front of everyone behind that there would be no connection when we are under the same roof."

She nodded.

"We would both need to attend any kind of ceremonies arranged by any family no matter what."

"What if I am ill?" she asked innocently.

"That's a reasonable excuse. Of course I won't ask you company me when you are sick. I'm not that cruel." He said while rolling his eyes.

"Moving on….yes….the main one….After I get property and business you will be free to do whatever you want. I will have no control over you nor will you have on me. You will not get any alimony but as decided I will keep on taking care of your mother's treatment without any second thought or doubt."

"But what if my mom gets better and you get your properties. What if her health deteriorates? Will you …. help her even after when we … will divorce after a year?" she asked hesitantly playing with her fingers.

"Evelyn I told you I will take care of her no matter what or when. That's a part of the contract. Even if we don't have anything to do with each other she will still be my responsibility. You can come to me for her even after our divorce without any hesitation." Hearing that she let out a sigh of relief while nodding, muttering a soft 'thank you'.

"Lastly, In case of the breach of the contract, there would be a price the person would need to pay. For say, I break any of the rule written in the contract you could ask me anything to pay for wrong doing. You can ask me money or anything." He explained the point fully and she hummed in thoughtfully.

"Ok we are done with the terms and conditions do you want to add something?" he asked looking straight in her eyes. She felt small under his gaze but held her head high as she nodded her head.

"Yes I do want to add some points." She said as she cleared her throat.

'Is it just me or the tension in the room is growing heavy?' She thought to herself.

"Ok what are they?" he inquired as he picked up the same graphite stick to add her points in the contract. He was twirling the pencil between his fingers which was distracting her. Quickly shaking her head she looked up to see his lips set in a perfect arrogant smirk. Somehow he knew what she will say.

"I don't want my family to… know about this contract marriage. They should believe it as it is real. So please co-operate on that." She said while looking down in her lap. Her heart heavy with the guilt, she would be deceiving her mother and brother. But that would all be for the best.

"Hmm. Good point. Even my family should be kept in dark. It would be a secret between us and my lawyer as I have stated earlier." He said as he quickly made a note of the point on the corner of the paper.

"And one more thing." She said confidently. "I don't want you anywhere near me."

"Oh!" he said innocently but his eyes were holding a mischievous spark. "We would be living together. How can I not be around you."

"I don't want you touch me or expect me to…." Hot red flush spread across her cheeks as she tried maintaining eye contact with him.

"To?" He asked his voice playful.

"You know that." Heat creeping up her neck, she looked down due to embarrassment.

"I get it Evelyn. I won't touch you inappropriately…. But to make our family believe that this is real we would need to get comfortable with the subtle touches here and there."

"Hmm... I guess hugging is fine but nothing more than that."

"Ok I'll add that in the contract. But for the safe side….. I would not cross your boundaries…. I promise….." He implied for some physical contact. Somehow she knew he was not asking her for getting in her pants. He was just being cautious. She nodded in confirmation understanding his statement.

"So. It's done. I'll make the new contract tomorrow. And we will make everything legal. As soon as the contract is signed I will take care of your mother's expenses."

"Thank you, Sir." Saying that she got up to move out. Her cheeks drowning in crimson. Travis saw her leaving. Something about the girl captivated her. His eyes stuck on her retreating figure.

'And suddenly he just knew it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.'