The Barmaid's Contract

21.

"Gin." Avery smiled as he placed his cards down.

"How?" I asked as I looked at them. I'm not real good at this game, even with Avery helping.

"That's four in a row!" Bash grumbled out.

"We better go." The baby sibling, Cally said as she pulled at Sebastian's shirt. "You know, wedding night and all." Came her whisper to her brother.

Both Cally and Bash got up and quickly left, leaving Avery and I alone in the room.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Avery asked as he picked up all the cards.

"Not really, but everything is set up. The only thing I haven't seen is the shotgun." I joked wryly, getting up. I was feeling home sick and anxiety was eating me raw. Avery didn't answer me.

I could feel his eyes bore into me and I tried shaking the feeling off, but eventually I turned to him.

"What? Do you want a photo? It lasts longer."

"You are really doing this? Just to get rid of a company?" He asked as he placed the deck of cards on the table.

"How many times must I tell you? I don't want anything to do with it." Honestly, it's like talking to a wall.

Avery excused himself and left my room in a fast paced stride, leaving me slightly confused, but I didn't think too much of it. I sat at the bay seat I've found myself at too many times lately and stared down in to the garden.

I couldn't see anything, all the lights were off, but I knew there were rows of chairs and tables set up. I'm really getting married tomorrow, just to get rid of this company. But I won't be rid of it completely because I'm marrying the person that wants it.

I looked at my hands and saw them shake before gripping them. Deep breathes.

I heard my door open and Avery came back in to my surprise.

He placed down a folder on the table we were playing cards at and sat down.

"What's that?" I asked, feeling the energy drain from me as I got up. Avery opened the folder and placed small stacks of paperwork on the table.

"I just need you to sign these." He said softly.

Intrigued, I sat down and looked at the paperwork. "What for?"

"Let's just say, you're right. We shouldn't let a dead man depict our lives."

I snapped my eyes to him. It only took a brief second to realise what he meant and I took the pen and signed my life away. After the last sheet, Avery gathered all the paperwork and gave me half.

"It states you have control of your accounts, the business and this is your plane ticket."

"What about tomorrow?" I asked him.

"I'll handle tomorrow. You should pack."

I was so overwhelmed. "What about..." My voice trialled off as Avery stood and took the folder, tucking it under his arm. "Thank you." The words came out easier than I thought they would.

Avery nodded and left as I stared down at the plane ticket. It was a 5am flight. I gathered my senses and took my bag, shoving what I had in to it.

I crept down the stairs and snuck away like a thief in the night, calling a taxi.

My plane leaves in little under five hours and despite the large time frame, I would rather wait for it at the airport than sleep in and miss it.

The cab pulled up at the end of the street and I climbed in. I felt a bit sad I didn't say goodbye to Calliope and Sebastian, but I didn't want to wake them if they had fallen asleep. It would also mean that I would have to tell them everything too and I was just a victim.