Setting The Rules

"Before I sign anything, I think we should set some rules and boundaries," Lola said to Max because she couldn't have him bring his arrogance into the marriage. And in a city where there's no rule, there is no sin. 

"You want to set rules huh?" Max chuckled as he folded his arms on his buffy chest. "Let me hear them, Lola." He said in a teasing tone. But Lola expected nothing less coming from an arrogant billionaire like him.

"The very first thing is that we both shouldn't forget that this is not a real marriage. It's a contract marriage." Lola stated, looking directly into Max's eyes. He was so much taller than her, but she had built her self-confidence to not be easily intimidated. Working as a bartender, she needed that kind of confidence to be able to match up with arrogant and bossy customers, especially the rich ones. 

"I should be the one telling you that, Lola. I'm the one giving you a contract, not otherwise." Max replied, "I understand that I'm very handsome and wealthy, and it's so easy to fall in love with a man like me. So I am advising you not to." He told her, his voice dripping with pride. 

"Don't worry about that. I can't be a fool twice." Lola replied, then continued talking, "I will not share the same bedroom with you. I will not allow any intimate activities."

"Intimate activities like what? Be specific, Lola." Max moves closer to her, leaning a bit down to be at her face level. His breath was on her face and it was subtly affecting her. 

"Like kissing, like having sex, like inappropriate touching on boobs and ass. Those activities aren't allowed." She replied with confidence. 

"But I can do this, right?" Max asked as he bit her left ear. 

"No!" Lola shrieked out a reply and pushed him off, "That isn't allowed."

Max laughed hysterically and said, "You are definitely going to fall for me if you react that way. But unfortunately for you, I am not interested in any intimate activities with you. I just want to get myself up to the second wealthiest person in the world." 

"Good for you." Lola replied with an eye roll, "And I can't fall for a jerk like you." She said this because she is sure he is not feeling guilty for what he did back in their high school days. All he cares about is building his wealth and amassing more riches. 

"Yet, women fall at my feet," Max replied, feeling way superior as he spoke. 

"And that's their problem," Lola said to him. "We are only couples on paper but not in private. You know very much how I feel about you. It's only because of my brother's dire health situation that's pushed me here. And as I'm grateful nonetheless that this contract marriage is going to help me, I don't want that to make you feel like you own me or treat me however you like. I should be respected. And I should have total control of my choice. I will not stay in your way to do whatever you want to do but don't take advantage of my compliance as a weakness to feed on. I hope my rules are clear enough for you." Lola finished talking, happy she got all of that out. 

Max took a minute as silence took over the room to give Lola a reply, "Your rules are well understood. I have mine too. But you will get to see everything when Ethan brings in the contract." Lola nodded to his words, hoping it all went well. 

She really just wanted to sort out everything regarding her brother's health. She couldn't wait to be confident that taking care of her brother would no longer be an impossible task. Cancer creates fear in people and she was sadly not immune to that fear. 

"So, what's wrong with your brother? Didn't know you had a brother back then?" Max asked her. 

"I'm sorry, but why do you care?" Lola answered. And before Max could say anything back in reply, A knock interrupted them. 

Ethan walked in with a file folder in his hand, dressed fully in an office outfit that was well-tailored and looked expensive. Lola couldn't expect less of Max's assistant. The man is too arrogant to allow the person surrounding him to not dress really well. 

Which made her wonder just what he was going to do about her mid-fashion, which spoke 'I am poor'.

"Hello, sir. Hello ma." Ethan greeted, a quick nod towards Lola as he approached Max. "Here's the contract. Excuse me." He said to them and left the room. Excusing himself. 

"Thanks." Max hollered at Ethan before he shut the door. 

"Take, read it, and sign it. No compromise." Max handed the contract papers to Lola who swiftly accepted it. 

"Give me a minute," Lola said to him and sat down on the sofas she had been eyeing since she entered this peculiar office that looked much more like an apartment. 

"Take your time. But don't delay me." Max said and took a seat on another sofa, a single couch. Deep down, he was dancing and jubilating that the moment of breaking the old witch's curse was so near. And he was going to make his move first. 

Max watched Lola read carefully through the contract, he could see how her face was scrunching up and relaxing at random moments. It seems his way of wording the contract was getting to her. His pride shows in everything he does and possesses. It has to. That's the only way to keep dominating. To keep showing his authority and power. 

Lola only got beautiful after so many years. He remembered just how naive she was in high school, it was so easy to fool her. She blushed and giggled at every opportunity she was praised or complimented. It was so easy for her to fall in love with him. She easily believed things, she was new to the whole intimate world. Otherwise, she would have known a guy like Max had it in for other popular girls.

But the Lola sitting in his company apartment was very different from that naive girl seventeen years ago. She was now feisty, bold, and confident. She knows what she wants and she was adamant about it. Somehow, he found her attitude attractive. 

His thinking was cut short as Lola's voice boomed a question, "What do you mean I will get married to you forever? Aren't contract marriages just for a specific amount of years?"