The Contract

Chapter 36

The photographer lowers his camera and then smiles widely at me.

"I think we got it, thanks Evan." Christopher says, making me and the model next to me move out of our positions.

"I should thank you." I laugh, accepting a shirt from one of Chris's team. "You managed to get this done under an hour."

Grinning, he waves me over to him. "You're easy to photograph, you practically did all the work for me."

Coming over to him, I see the photos on the large monitor for a perfume ad, with the famous model Caira Delaware next to me, and I'll even admit, she's the easiest person to speak to, and to model with.

"These are great Chris." Caira says, her clothes changed from the lingerie she was wearing, to a summer dress.

"We look smoking hot Evan." She says, touching my back.

"I'm definitely framing one of these for my office, if it's ok with you Evan?" She asks, and I shrug.

"Sure." I say as the sound of my phone ringing from the table interrupts me from saying more.

Shit, I forgot to silence my phone. "I'm sorry, I thought I silenced it." I apologize.

Christopher and Caira wave me off.

"Rookie mistake, besides we're done, good work Evan." Christopher says as we shake hands.

I smile at Caira as she grins and walks off with someone she came with, I rush over to answer my phone.

Seeing whose calling, I hesitate to answer, but I know the more I avoid these calls, the more she'll keep trying to ring me, or worse, show up in front of me.

Answering, I sigh. "Mom, I can't talk right now, I'm at work."

"Evan.. baby." She slurs out, as I hear people in the background. "I miss you, baby, where are you?" She asks, barely forming a sentence.

I walk away so no one can hear our conversation as I head into one of the changing rooms where my stuff is, I don't want anyone hearing anything from what I'm most likely about to say.

"Are you drunk?" I hiss out into the phone as I glance at the clock on the wall. "It's 10 AM and you're drunk, how could you be this stupid mom, after everything I've done to get you sober!"

I start feeling like answering the call might've been a mistake, whenever she calls it's nothing good, and now she's drunk, again.

After all, I've done... the money... everything, and she's still doing the same shit she always done.

"I don't want you to call me anymore, I can't keep doing this mom."

Her hoarse laugh invades my ears as the sound of a glass smashing hits the floor from her side of the call. "Oh come off it Evan, I'm celebrating!"

Rubbing my temple, I sit down on the sofa. "What are you celebrating?" I ask, despite wanting to hang up.

"Well, the girls of course." She said as if that meant something to me. "They said you were nice and even invited them to stay! But of course, you did! My baby is so kind." She chuckled.

I have no idea what the hell she's talking about. "I don't know what you're talking about mom, listen just stop drinking and get sober, until then, I-"

"What are you talking about, silly boy!" She huffs out. "Lilly and May, Roy's girls, your new sisters!"

Roy's what? I now have absolutely no idea what she's talking about, I never met any of his daughters, I'm sure if I did I'd run in the opposite direction just from knowing and seeing Roy for a few minutes.

I don't want anything to do with him or his fucking family, nor my 'mom', not after the shit she's been hiding from me.

"I never met any of his daughters." I say dryly. "Is that all you called to say... after the hell I've been through, is that all you wanted to tell me?" I snap out, my voice raising.

"Evan, don't use that tone-"

"I use whatever tone I want!" I raise my voice, standing up and clenching my hair with my hand.

"My place was broken into, you and a few others only knew my address, mom." I tell her, my voice harsh. "His daughters were probably the ones who stole my shit! So do yourself a fucking favor and lose my number, and don't call me again, unless you want to explain why the fuck you lied about dads death to me."

I'm breathing heavily at the point, and I want nothing more than to make her feel exactly how I feel, but I'm done with her, and her bullshit.

"You're supposed to be my mom and not act like a fucking teenager." I swallow hard, as she stays silent and listens.

"You lied to me, used me for money, threw your life away and now you're trying to play me, again, but for what? Does this make you happy mom?"

Tears fill my eyes as someone knocks on the door, calling my name, I rub the tears from my eyes and then rub my face, taking a deep sigh out, as I catch myself in the reflection of the mirror.

"Don't contact me again mom, I can't do this again, whatever shitty excuse you have I don't need to hear it anymore." I tell her. "We're done."

I hang up and then just as I was going to throw my phone against a wall, my phone buzzed with a text message, and I stop myself completely when I see who it is.

Donovan.

"Evan, you alright in there? Your ride just arrived." Chris says, behind the door.

Jesus, I look like a fucking mess when I see myself up close in the mirror, if I open the door now before calming down, there will be questions, or a fucking pity party, either way,

I'm not opening that door until I'm dressed.

"Y-Yeah, thanks Chris." I call out, getting myself changed quickly. "I'll be right out in a minute, just getting ready."

Chris yells out 'ok' and I hear him walk away as I get dressed, opening Donovan's text in the process as I slip my shoes on.

ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ: I'm downstairs waiting for you

I blink- wait what? Confused, I text him back.

Me: What do you mean? I'm on the other side of town for a photoshoot

Donovan texts me back almost right away, just as I put my shoes on and put my arms in my jacket, making me laugh and blush once I read what he says.

ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ: I can't just come and see my boyfriend, the serious model \serious actor?

Me: No, in fact, you should be at work playing CEO, not playing hooky

ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ: I do what I want, perks of being the BOSS

I laugh and he sends another message before I could reply, making a sinking feeling in my gut start to appear.

ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ: I need to take you somewhere, just hurry down and I'll tell you everything

The sinking feeling in my gut just worsened, and now I definitely don't want to leave the room, but the thought of seeing Donovan during the day brings a smile to my face, and after the call with my mom, I don't want to be alone right now.