The Arrangement | Book 2 | Completed

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When we get back to my apartment, everything seems as normal as can be. It's as if we didn't even have that discussion in the car earlier. It's as if nothing was said. Something about this is unsettling to me. While I should be grateful that the topic has been dropped, I can't help but wonder if this is something she is thinking about right now.

Despite my own curiosity, I decide against asking Candace about it. What good will it do? All it will do is arise yet another argument, which is something I am trying desperately to get away from.

"I'll be right back. I need to go and check my phone." I tell Candace as I get up from my spot on the couch.

"Okay. Will you bring me some water on your way back?" She asks, staring at the picture on the television.

"Absolutely." I say.

The green battery picture on my screen indicating that my phone is charged is a huge relief. I hate to sound pathetic, but I have separation anxiety when I'm away from my phone for too long. Something about missing important news because I was too busy to check my phone is my worst fear. Even little things send me into a panic. I should really just keep a portable charger with me so I don't have to leave my phone plugged into the other side of the room.

I have a few missed calls from Evan and at least ten text messages. Whatever he needs must be important, because Evan rarely calls me.

Okay, that's a lie. Evan is probably the most dramatic person that I know. For instance, the fact that he came all the way to my apartment for help on what to wear. We haven't really talked too much about that entire ordeal, but I want to touch base with him on everything. I know he's still trying to get Clarissa to go on a date with him, which she refuses every single time. I've got to give it to him, though. The kid is persistent as hell. Eventually, she'll say yes just to shut him up.

I click on his contact and wait as the phone rings. He answers the phone after a few rings and immediately gets into the issue at hand.

"Finally! I've been trying to get a hold of you, man!" He exclaims.

"I know, I'm sorry. Candace is over and my phone was across the room to charge and I just didn't hear it vibrate, I guess." I reply.

"Too busy with other things?" He asks, and I can practically hear the smirk he's probably wearing.

"Not quite. What's up?" I laugh in response.

"Okay, I went into the office for a bit." He replies, and I roll my eyes.

"You weren't supposed to be working today, Evan. Take a day off!" I reply. The kid needs a damn break. Don't get me wrong, I love that he is so dedicated to his job here, but the kid needs some time off. He goes in every single day. Even on his days off, like today.

"I know. Truth is, I wanted an excuse to see Clarissa so I went in to check my email or whatever. But, it's a good thing that I did! Grayson McDaniel just sent out an email that says he needs paperwork signed and faxed over tonight. Otherwise, he won't be able to get to it until mid-January." He informs me.

"Fuck. When did he change the time? What the hell, when did he send that email out?" I ask, putting him in speaker and checking my own email. Just as Evan said, there is an email waiting for me in my inbox.

"He sent it out like two hours ago. Yeah, not much of a warning. I guess he's going out of the country for a last minute vacation?" He says, reading off of the email.

"Yeah, I see that now. Fuck. Thanks for the warning, Grayson." I mutter.

"It's pretty last fucking minute. I tried to find the contract we crafted together that he had approved of. You know, the one that had all of the legal sales attached to it? Well, I can't find it anywhere. Do you have any idea where it could be?" He asks me. I can hear him flipping through what I am assuming is the file cabinet.

"Shit, I think I took everything home with me. I think it's in my car." I say, grabbing my car keys and mouth that I'm running outside to Candace. She nods with a small smile.

"God, I hope so. We don't have time for it to be filed late. That deal will guarantee that everyone gets a promotion. Not just upper management's team." He reminds me.

As I rummage through the piles of work in my car, there is no sign of the contract. Great. Fucking great.

"It's not in my car. Let me call you right back. I'm going to call my dad and see if he's still at home. If he is, I'll email it to you and just have you sign off on it." I tell him.

"Okay. Let me know." He says and then hangs up the phone.

 I dial my dad's number and wait for his answer. When he does, I am almost frantic when I ask, "Are you still here in Seattle?"

"Uhh, yeah. But I'm with Ben right now. We're already gone. But we're still in the area. Is everything okay?" He asks in an extremely confused tone.

"Yeah, yeah. Grayson McDaniel just sent an email out that says we need to get this contract turned in tonight instead of by this weekend. Otherwise, he won't be able to get to it until mid-January." I say, sending Candace a text saying that I will be right back. If I don't get back over to their rental, i'll never be able to get it sent to Evan in time. I can't believe I left the house without grabbing it. I'm an idiot for that.

"Well, I'm pretty sure your mother and Christy are still over there. You can call her and see if she can run it out to you when you get there." He informs me.

"Alright, thanks." I mutter and then hang up. I dial my mom's number and wait. She doesn't answer the first call, so I continuously call back only to get the same outcome.

"Come on, mom." I mutter to myself as I dial her number again.

Still no reply.

I call Christy's phone and still get no reply. If they left the house and I get there and the door is locked, I'm breaking in. I practically have no choice but to break in. I just hope that the neighbors don't call the cops.

Thankfully, traffic is pretty much nonexistent on every road I have to drive on. I know Candace is probably wondering where the hell I went, but this is just a part of the job. She'll understand. I should call her, but I think I would rather handle this first. Actually, I know I need to handle this first.

As I pull into the neighborhood and approach the house, I see that all of the lights are still on. Now I know someone is home. Why they aren't answering their phones, I still have no idea.

I jump out of the car and run up the front steps. I turn the doorknob and the door swings open effortlessly. They left the god damned front door open but they can't even answer a phone call?

"Mom?" I call out and receive no reply. Whatever.

I walk into the dining room where I had set my work down and find it exactly where I had carelessly left it. The fact that I left it here still blows my fucking mind. I pull the contract out of it's folder and take a picture of it the best that I can. I quickly email the picture to Evan and send him a text. He replies within seconds letting me know that he received it. It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders when he says he's getting it copied and signed as he speak.

As I gather everything together, I hear muffled noises coming from the kitchen. I have no idea how one of them haven't heard that I came into the house, but I'm sure they would freak out if they see some guy just standing in the dining room that they hadn't expected.

"Mom?" I call out again, still earning no reply. I swear, this woman needs a hearing aid sometimes. I walk towards the kitchen, I hear the faintest noise.

I know that noise, though. It's impossible to fucking miss it, whoever it may be coming from.

Moans are coming from the fucking kitchen.