Safe Word: Rosé

Chapter 5

Cara- 

Disbelief. Pure and utter disbelief. That's where my mind was at right now. I looked over at Jason and tried to understand what exactly he believed in, because right now it was hard for me to believe that he had any common sense. 

From the moment he walked into my dad's hospital room, I knew he was arrogant. The way he carried himself pretty much expressed that he believed the world revolved around him. Because of this sense of entitlement, I can understand why he thinks everyone should kiss the ground he walks on. 

Too bad I'm not everyone. 

I flipped the packet back to the first page, and placed the cap back on my pen. I kept my legs crossed, but assumed a casual position of leaning my spine against the backing of the chair for support. Then, placing my intertwined hands on my higher knee, I settled in my seat and waited for Jason to put together the pieces of my defiance. 

He looked at me as if I caused a sour distaste to fill his mouth. And I smiled internally, thinking good. I needed to set the record straight with Jason. I wasn't afraid of him, and nor was I going to be intimidated by him. Men like him thrived on being able to bully others. But I knew a thing or two about standing up to bullies.

"What is the meaning of this?" He dared to ask, and I wanted to roll my eyes. 

In what century did this man think he lived in?

I felt myself shrug before I replied calmly, "I'm not signing this contract."

Narrator-

Jason wasn't entirely surprised by Cara's words, but nonetheless he was displeased. He didn't have time for this game. He liked being prompt in everything he did. This back and forth banter and entertaining this outspoken woman was messing up with the time span he had planned to spend here. He was already growing agitated just thinking about it.

"What do you mean?" Jason tried to keep his tone measured. 

"I am not leaving my home for the next six months only to spend it in the house of a random man, whom I only met yesterday. I'm also not going to live with a bunch of other people that I don't even know. I have a sustainable job and I'm not quitting that either." Cara explained herself, although she spoke more words to Jason than she wanted to.

"But we had a deal. You were the one who thought to take on your father's debt, and you will pay it back. Every single cent of it." Jason pressed, his words short and precise. 

"And I can do that, on one condition." Cara fired back. 

She straightened her spine again, and placed her once cropped leg flat on the ground. 

At her change in posture, Jason felt a tension buzz through his skull. It manifested itself in the form of a slight twitch of his right index finger. Cara noted the small movement but didn't care for it. 

"What condition is that?" Jason didn't appreciated the baiting game Cara was playing. 

"You draw me a new deal." Cara expressed, then she leaned back in her chair to watch Jason squirm. 

Jason's index finger twitched again. He drew in a breath, and released it slowly through his nostrils. He pressed his teeth together, his jaw firm and stiff. He knew Cara was trying to gain the upper hand, but he's been playing this game way longer, and if Cara thought to take him on, he'd give her a run for her money. 

"A new deal?" Jason voiced.

"And what exactly would be the terms of this new deal?"  

At this Cara shrugged, "You tell me. I don't care much for the details. But this new deal would have to accommodate to me. The deal you had before was for my father. You're a businessman Jason, and I'm sure you're smart and flexible enough to know how to please your clients."