The Contract

Chapter 28 - The Make up

It's been officially a week since we came here. It's Saturday, I got down the stairs and headed left. The house have been quiet lately. I wasn't complaining.

I was getting tired of all the social events.

"Pearl, is that you?" Someone called out to me, I retraced my steps and peeked into the room I just walked past. Rosa was in there, she sat behind a desk with files piled up on a desk.

I walked in. "I didn't see you there, Good morning" I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Yes, are you heading somewhere?" She asked, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"No" I answered and it took a while before she said anything else, it gave me enough time to take in the room. This was her study. "So, you must be searching for Travis then"

Not really.

"Actually..." She glanced up at me. "Are you both having issues?" She cut me off, returning back to the papers.

"Issues? Of course not!" I waved it off, chuckling lightly. "You must think I was born yesterday. I've been watching you two"

Oh God!

Has she started noticing shits? "You both barely engages in conversations, always apart at every given chance, forced communication" she listed out.

Shit!

"Rosa, it isn't-"

"I know Travis could be..." She took off her glasses. "... emotionally unavailable and he dedicates all his time to his work, it got worse after his father died" she placed it on the table and I got quiet.

She looked up at me. "I'm actually sorry about that" I gave my condolences, it seemed like the right time.

She sighed and got up. "When he told me he proposed to you. The news didn't get me elated" she admitted, walking to the cabinet.

Trust me, me too!

"But then it wasn't surprising. For the 3 years Travis have been here, he's only talked about work" she turned back to me with a bottle of whiskey and glass.

Okay.

She handed me one and filled the both glasses. I waited until she drank hers before I took mine.

Don't wanna come out as an alcoholic to my mother in law.

"He's different around you, he's always been. So, I felt the marriage wasn't going to be as horrible as I thought"

Horrible is a strong word.

"You both have been close, you know him even more than I do. I believe you're the right choice...but maybe not the easiest" she finished, filling back up her glass.

What's that even supposed to mean?

"Sort out whatever is going on between you two" she added and I nodded. "Thank you"

I placed down the glass. "When will your family be flying down again?" She asked. "Sometime next week" I answered and she nodded.

I was about walking to the door but paused and turned back to her. "Do you have an idea where he might be?" I referred to Travis.

"At his Father's study"

"Okay" I headed to the door like I knew where the hell that was.

Two whole minutes of me almost getting lost, I stopped in front of the double doors, if I knocked he wouldn't open. I gently pushed the door and stepped in.

He looked up from whatever file he was going through and saw me standing there, he went back flipping through the pages.

As expected.

I stepped further into the room, my eyes sweeping over the space. A massive glass window stretched behind him, framing the view.

He sat at an imposing desk that dominated the room, its surface polished to a dark brown sheen. To the left, a towering shelf filled with books and trinkets climbed toward the ceiling, while the right wall gleamed with sleek silver cases embedded seamlessly into the design. The atmosphere was heavy, the decor exuding power and precision.

He still refused to spare me another glance. The sunlight flooded the office from the window. I leaned back on the desk in front of him and watched him.

Was he seriously playing the cold shoulder game right now? "Are you here to complain or bail out?" He asked

"I can't do that now, can I?" I asked before letting out a sigh. "I'm here to talk actually" I crossed my hands over my chest. He said nothing, making my life harder.

I pulled the file from his hand and dropped it on the table. "I said I'm here to talk "

"I think I know what you here talk about" He replied, getting up. "Look Travis, I hate you. That's not gonna change "

He turned back to me. "And I knew that even when I agreed to do this shit with you. I shouldn't mix our personal feud with business and...this is business. Because that's the only thing you truly find amusing"

"And the only way I could do this with you is to put all those shit aside and see this as helping a friend" I leaned away and walked to him.

"Not what you thought right?" I questioned as he remained quiet.

"As you said, the sooner we get this done with, the sooner we stop seeing each other" I repeated his statement, stopping in front of him.

"I was been unfair, I was looking for ways to annoy you and I found surplus but that isn't my part of the deal" I continued

Letting out a sigh. "I'm supposed to be your wife... And I'll appreciate it if you be less of an asshole"

He stared down at me. "Why this sudden change of heart?"

"Your mother and I had a talk. Apparently it's obvious we hate each other " I replied. "We haven't been convincing them enough. So..." I trailed off wanting him to continue from there.

I let out an exasperated sigh as he still waited for me to finish. "Let's be a couple. Don't be an asshole and I won't be a bitch. Agreed? " I asked and he still stared.

"One of us got less greedy" he confirmed. "Sure"

I turned to leave but then remembered something. "And the next time you grab me by the waist..."

________________________________________

Once I reached out for my cutleries, I felt someone lay a kiss over my cheek. I glanced back to see Travis. I pushed out a smile. "Hey, where have you been?"

"I just had to take care of few things" he said, taking the seat beside me. "You're still working when you should be getting ready for the wedding?" Rosa asked.

"It's really nothing, Rosa. Everything is under control" I shook it off. "Have you gotten a dress?" Raquel asked.

"Yeah, it will be ready soon. Hillary has that covered" I replied. "The dress that was chosen was best, it's tradition. I know you don't really understand tradition but-"

"Raquel" Travis cut her off and she stopped talking at once. "Will Lorenzo be joining us tonight?" Her mother asked her

"No"

She shot her a disapproving look before returning to her meal while muttering something in Italian. Twenty bucks says he's out there cheating.