Nothing Without You

X: Holding Onto Splintered Edges

Now | Christian

I still wasn't sure what the fuck I was doing.

The pen was in my hand but I couldn't get myself to sign the papers. Marriage was never in the cards–never the way this was supposed to go.

She came into my life like a wrecking ball when I was supposed to corrupt her life like a bulldozer.

"Would you like me to go over the terms once again?" My lawyer sat across from me, checking the time on her watch every ten or so seconds. If she wasn't a competent lawyer, I'd tell her to leave and let me slump in aggravation alone.

But I nodded.

Because I didn't know what the fuck Adelaide meant by any of this. I didn't remember her being impulsive before. When we were kids, the thing I remember her doing most was saying yes to Gul Khan for a dance at the semi formal in grade 10. I didn't like her impulsiveness then either.

That was to make me jealous but what about now? Adelaide Mikael wouldn't have come to me for help if she didn't desperately need it.

"Okay," Hanniyah took the papers from my hand and sighed. Her Somali heritage was something she told me about before I hired her. She openly told me if I was racist I should fuck off. I instantly hired her.

"The Marriage Contract views the official nuptials between Adelaide Mikael and Christian Hayes. The marriage is responsive to all things business related on both ends of each individual. Christian Hayes is responsible for upheaving the reputation of Starlight and Adelaide Mikael. He will accompany her to events, he will be her fiancé for two weeks before the two will tie the knot in a legal and formal ceremony in front of family and friends. The two will be married on October 21st, 2022. Adelaide Mikael and Christian Hayes give their consent for public displays of affection for the purpose of the contract," Hanniyah let out a breath and glared at me. "Do I have to keep going or do you finally get the gist of it after reading it over 5 times?"

"I pay you to read legal documents for me."

"No, you pay me to deal with your grumpy ass."

I almost rolled my eyes at that comment.

I was not grumpy.

"Don't glare at me like that," Hanniyah started to pack her stuff up. "You know you're a grumpy ass."

"Where are you going?" 

"I'm starting to think you're illiterate Mr. Hayes." She smiled intrusively. "You don't need me to read the fine print."

When I didn't respond, she continued. "I don't know why you're doing this and honestly, don't really care but there's nothing in the contract that could negatively impact you or your company." 

Except my fucking heart but I wasn't going to tell her that.

"You're telling me to sign it?" I needed someone to tell me because if this messed up the plan, It wouldn't be good for anyone.

"I'm telling you to make up your mind." She stared at me uninterested, "Her lawyer is my best friend so I have complete faith in the validity of this contract. I also know you trust me with double checking it, which I did before. Multiple times."

I thought about it for a minute.

"There is nothing in this contract that could harm you," she added.

Adelaide wanted something from me and the only way I would find out was by signing this piece of paper. It wasn't ideal by any means. If anything, it would delay everything I've put on the line. But it would give me the upper hand.