Contractually Married

It's only 7 am on the clock on my bedside table, but here I am, getting ready for my 10 am appointment with our president and some higher officials in the publishing company where I currently work as editor-in-chief.

But today's appointment is actually my contract as one of their romance and fiction writers. Well, you can't blame me if I'm still looking for another job. It's not that I require so much money, but writing is actually my passion aside from singing of course. I've already finished two stories and when I tried to pass them to one of my best friends --- Gavin who is also an editor, he said I should try giving it to him because they need professional writers at the moment.

And that's the story behind this contract-signing thing.

"Good morning." I greeted my friend and roommate Cari when I walked to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.

"Good morning. It's Saturday, are you going to work?" she frowned as she reached for the bottled water. She probably came from jogging, judging by her outfit and the sweat on her forehead.

"Nope. I'm actually going to the office but not for duty." I sat down and opened the cover of my favorite chocolate pancakes on the table. Thank you to this girl for being my breakfast maker.

"But for what?"

"Guess what?" I shoved the first pancake in my mouth.

" Wait--- for a higher position?" she's already sitting next to me.

"No, but for another position. Uhm... additional position."

"What? What do you mean?" her eyebrows were almost knitted in line.

I grab her bottled water and have a drink before answering her question.

"It's actually a contract signing. I'll be one of the writers of our company."

"Wow, really? Congratulations!" she said with wide eyes and hugged me. "But how about your current position? It's not easy having two jobs in the same company. How are you going to balance it?"

"Don't worry, I already have plans for that and besides, my job is in the morning and since I leave at 4 pm, I always have time--- plenty of time to write," I answered with a wink.

"Okay. All I can say for now is good luck. But I'm warning you, Rian, I want to be the first to have a copy of your books." she playfully narrowed her eyes.

"Of course, you'll always be my priority."

"Oh, just make sure!"

"I promise," I said giggling while hugging her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"By the way, what do you have planned today after signing the contract?" We're now walking back to the living room.

"I don't know, maybe go to the supermarket and buy some kind of stuff. Why?" I turned to her raising an eyebrow because she had this familiar grin on her face.

"Well, it's Saturday today and..."

"And?"

"And...it's time to have some fun again! You know Saturday nights with girls and the boys!" she said excitedly while I just rolled my eyes. See? That kind of grin on her face... I knew it.

"What can you say? We'll invite our friends Jenny and Sierra. You can also invite Gavin and Nick. Ahh... I'm so excited!"

"Oh, don't forget Sierra's boyfriend."

Yeah, one of our friends has already been engaged and that is Sierra whose boyfriend is one of the top models in California's Time magazine. While Jenny, Cari, Gavin, and Nick are still single. And I... I'm married. Although not the typical marriage that everybody knows about, I'm still married. And only Cari and Gavin from the group know it.

We didn't live under the same roof since our wedding. I was still living with my parents and as for him, he already had his penthouse back then because he was already the CEO of their family's company. We never had a date or a formal meeting until I graduated from college and decided to live on my own.

"Of course! You know Paolo is so possessive of Sierra!" I was back in thought when I heard Cari's voice again. "As if his girlfriend was made of crystals and diamonds--- hello!" she said with a look of disgust on her face.

And that's the time for me to laugh. I really love Cari. She's always more of a sister to me than a friend. It's a different story with Gavin because he's one of my workmates and he's gay. But that's a big secret that only me and our friends know.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

After the contract signing with Gavin, we decided to go to the supermarket where Cari was already waiting for us. We didn't spend much time shopping, in fact, we spent all of our precious time buying dresses, shoes, makeup, and accessories for our girls' and gang nights out tonight. And of course for the next occasions that need formal dresses and accessories. As for Gavin, we accompanied him to some men's boutique as you all know his real self is still unknown to others.

After long hours of shopping, we just stopped at a pizza store inside the mall for our lunch and then we headed home.

"Girls, I'm going to pick you up at 8 pm tonight. Be ready." Gavin said kissing our cheeks.

" Sure. Take care, Gav." I also copied his gesture.

"Okay. Make sure you turn the club upside down with your style and outfit tonight!"

Cari and I just shook our heads and waved goodbye to him.

When it was already 6 pm, Cari and I both rushed to our room to take a bath, because we would definitely use our remaining time on putting on our dress and facial accessories----you know---- makeup.

Well, not for me... but for Cari, yes. I'm not really a fan of it. It's just Cari who always insists on putting some colors on my face. If it's just me, I will only put mascara, foundation, and lipstick, but since it's her... I have to shut my mouth when she's in front of the mirror doing magic on my face.

"Okay, done!" I let out a long sigh of relief after almost an hour of waiting for her to finish whatever she was doing on my face.

"Wow!" that's all I can say. She made my eyes alive with the eyeshadows she put on them, which also matched the dress I was wearing tonight.

"See? You know what, you really are beautiful. You just don't know how to appreciate your beauty and use it sometimes." I wasn't sure if she was actually scolding me because her tone was a little bit softer than scolding.

"Ouch." I jokingly placed my right hand over my left chest.

"No, I'm serious, you're beautiful. How can you explain those men who wanted to pursue you if you just really want to give them a chance."

-'Haist...this conversation again!'- my thoughts as I mentally rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"Well, because I don't want to and I still can't feel the spark, the electricity that runs down my spine whenever they touch me."

See... I'm a hopeless romantic. Now it's her turn to roll her eyes.

"And besides, you and Gavin know that I'm married--- that I'm still married." I showed her my finger again with the engagement ring... not the wedding ring because I already took it off and put on my favorite necklace as a pendant.

"Married? For God's sake, Arrianna Angela! Your marriage was just on paper!"

Whoa! She almost screamed throwing her hands in the air. She's not pissed about that.

"Yeah, I know. But still, it's legal----"

"Legal--- really? Can you spell the word legal, Rian?"

-'Seriously? Does she want to spell the word legal?'-

"What I'm just saying is that you're only married to him on paper and nothing more! Four years of being married for nothing! I mean, look at him, still having the bachelor's title while the truth is... he's already been married to you, for Christ's sake!"

Ding... Ding...

-'Oh! Thank God!'- I couldn't help uttering a silent prayer. Thanks to whoever that is at the front door for saving my life.

"What time is it?" she suddenly stopped in her tracks when she heard the doorbell ring too.

-'It's time for you to stop preaching because it is only Saturday today and not Sunday'-

I wanted to tell her that, but of course, being me, I won't do that.

"Well, it's 10 minutes before 8."

"Oh, I think that's Gavin. Let's go." She stood up and headed towards the door.

"Okay," I just took my purse, containing my first thing accessories...phone, lipstick, foundation, extra cash, and my credit card.

I was heading downstairs when I realized that I hadn't sprayed my favorite cologne. How did I forget it? So I went back up again to my room. After spraying some on my neck and some parts of my dress, I put it in my purse and decided to go back to the living room where Gavin, Nick, Jenny, and Cari were already sitting on the couch.

"What took you so long? I thought you were already behind me." Cari asked me with a crunched eyebrow.

"I forgot to spray some cologne, you know."

She just rolled her eyes.

"Hi, Rian." Nick kissed me on the cheek while Gavin kissed me on my forehead. Jenny and I hugged each other.

"I missed you, girl. I missed this night out." She threw her hands in the air excitedly.

"Me too,"

"Come on guys, let's go. We won't go to our usual place." Nick stated as he stood up and walked towards the front door.

"What? Why?" all of us girls asked in unison.

"Well, Paolo suggested that we can try this newly opened bar not far from our usual night place." Gavin was the one who answered.

"Oh, okay. Let's try something new tonight."