Contract War

Chapter 8.2

"And last but not least ladies and gentlemen, 4 year old Turquoise in the bath tub with her favourite rubber ducky, Mr Swagles," Joe said referring to the picture from the slideshow that he was showing the audience through the projector. We were having a private reception and the slideshow was a part of his speech.

"You've grown up Tu, but no matter what, you will ALWAYS be my baby sister." I felt my eyes water. "I love you sis," he finished.

I love you too. I mouthed.

The audience awed and gave a round of applause as he stretched out his hand and helped me stand, leading me to the dance floor.

"So," Joe began as we danced, "you're Mrs Thomas now,"

"Yup." I sighed.

"You're just lucky he's a good bastard, otherwise I would have bashed his skull in,"

"Isn't that supposed to be the other way round? Like I'm unlucky and you would love to bash his skull in?" Joe laughed at this.

"Do you remember when you were 10 and I was 14, a boy bought you roses on Valentine's day and I poured oil on them and burned them right in front of him?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "I wouldn't talk to you for days after that. The poor boy had to convince his family to move to another town because he was so scared of you."

"Speaking of our childhood...I have a surprise for you,"

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

He twirled me and let go of my hand, I landed in someone else's arms.

I gasped at the sight of Joshua's childhood best friend who was like a second older brother to me.

"Kade?"

He grinned. "Hey buttercup."

I engulfed him in a bone crushing hug and he wrapped his arms around me with equal emotion.

We pulled back from each other and he put one hand on my back as we started to dance.

"I see you're all grown up now," he said as he looked down at me.

I gave him a million dollar smile and asked softly, "Where have you been K?"

"Work," he simply replied with a shrug.

Kade worked for an intelligence agency and I hadn't seen him in 8 years, he hadn't changed one single bit. When we were kids we would play together, just the three of us. He was also the one who had supplied Joe with the oil in that Valentine's day incident.

"How is it?"

"It's great...cool gadgets, new missions. It never gets old,"

"Any lady spies I should know about?" I wiggled my eyebrows and he laughed.

"There's one,"

"Uhuh?" I said impatiently.

"Well she's actually the captain of a nuclear submarine,"

Oh sweet mother of meerkats. I smirked.

"When can I meet her?"

He let out what was between a scoff and a laugh and said, "Oh you're so funny Tu," and just like that he twirled me and let go, making me fall into another person's arms again.

"Mrs Thomas,"

"Mr Thomas," I said as I looked up at Derek.

The music changed, it was time for the couple's first dance. We got into position and slowly began to sway to the slow song.

"Is that dude seriously singing End of the world by Matthew P?"

"Yeah, special request from the groom himself," he smirked, "it sort of suits us...me and you."

I scrunched up my nose in uncertainty. "You sure?"

"Shush, woman." He laughed.

The trail of the lacy body-hugging gown I wore gracefully swept the floor with each movement. I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the lyrics being sung. Derek was sort of correct... maybe it was the tune that got to me or whatever, but in some twisted and un-understandable way, yes, the song did suit us.

I removed my hand from where it was intertwined with his and placed it on his chest. He pulled me closer to him with both hands now placed around my waist.

I laid my head on his chest as we continued to dance.

"Are you okay?" He softly asked.

"Yeah."

I slowly let my eyelids close on their own. It felt good to be in his arms, Derek and I didn't love each other but we also didn't hate each other...we had a mutual friendship and we were both okay with it.

My thoughts drifted to Phil and I felt a wave of guilt begin to swallow my entire being. I wondered how he was doing, how he felt. Philip really didn't deserve to suffer like this, he had always been so loving and supportive. When my parents died he would stay awake with me all night whilst I balled my eyes out and kiss my forehead when I would eventually fall asleep in the early hours of the morning.

2 years ago when I told him how I had to get engaged to someone else in order to save the company he was heartbroken...he was so heartbroken he wouldn't talk to anyone for weeks. In the end he was more understanding and patient than I had expected him to be...and even now, he still hadn't given up on me, on us.

Life is unfair.

It's always unfair....

Exhibit A,

Right there.