Bound By Contract

Chapter Twenty Six

“Jared, nothing’s going on,” I plead into my telephone, while anxiously swinging my feet on the edge of my bed.

“I don’t believe you,”

“Trust me.”

I sigh. This is hard for me. I take another deep breath, wanting to delay the words that have to come out of my mouth.

“What is it, Christina,” he urges.

I clear my throat. “I think it’d be better if I used Michael’s driver from now on.”

“Now wait a minute, girl. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Jared!” I exclaim.

“He’s making you, isn’t he? That bastard of a husband of yours is making you get rid of me isn’t he?”

“No! Michael’s not making me.”

“Look, don’t let that jealous asshole tell you what to do.”

“Jared, stop! You are out of line.  Listen, I care about you. I still want to be friends, but I just think it’s a better idea if I used Michael’s driver, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry Chris, but you know he makes me so mad.”

“I know but it’s not what you’re thinking though,” I explain standing up from my bed to stretch.

“I wish you would explain it to me, because from where I am things are looking pretty bad.”

“Well…” I hesitate while I stretch my arms in the air and turn around. When I do, I find Michael leaning against the doorway to my room, his arms crossed and his face stern.

Stunned, I drop my arms and speak less enthusiastically in the phone once more. “I’ve got to go.” I press end and throw the phone onto my bed and cross my arms protectively.

“How much of that did you hear?” I whisper.

“All of it,” he snaps, walking further into the room standing across the bed from me.

 “Christina. Let me ask you something,” he pursues, “what is going on with you and him that he would think I made you get rid of him?”

“Well, you did ban him from Neverland, and you did ask me to get another driver.”

Michael raises his eyebrows. “No, really Christina, what’s up with you and him that he thinks he can talk to you like that?”

“Nothing, Michael. Nothing,” I say through my breath. These two sound like jealous lunatics.

He takes a deep breath. “I thought you were going to block his number.”

“I had to talk to him. He called me a million times. But don’t worry I’ll take care of this.” I roll my eyes. “You seriously have to get over this obsession you have with Jared.”

Michael looks down at his feet pensively. “You know, you probably should talk to him or he won’t leave you alone,” he barks. He unfolds his arms and walks towards the door.

“I’ll talk to him,” I call out after him.

The next day, after everyone had left for court with Michael, I meet Jared at the front gate as usual. He still has my car, and after he pulls it as close to the gate as he can, he meets me where he can shield me from Michael’s overzealous fans and scoot me directly into the car.

“This is really so inconvenient,” I complain as Jared drives out of the driveway and onto the country road.

“Yeah, but your husband banned me, remember?”