My Best Friend, My Beast

Terms and Conditions

[Nadia’s POV]

“That asshole!” Katie shouted from the other side of the call.

After Derek left, silent and seething, I staggered across the room and called Katie because, at that moment, everything around me seemed to crumble. Except for her. She has been my rock since we became friends after meeting at the workplace. She was fearless and didn’t sugarcoat anything for me. She was my critic but also my biggest cheerleader, apart from Derek.

However, I was now doubting if Derek ever really cheered me on for my sake or his.

I sniffled, wiping my tears, unable to say anything.

“How dare he…” She trailed off, seething.

“I am coming over,” she said after a moment.

“No,” I said hastily. I had already hampered her work as it was. “You have too many ruined half of the day already. Don’t ruin it any more. I’ve got this.”

Katie protested but I shut them all down. At the moment, only she seemed to be someone who genuinely cared for me.

Once I ended the call, I decided to busy myself with cleaning. I had lost all appetite. The soup sat on the gas stove, probably cold. The bread had gone stiff.

My mind repeated Derek’s words.

That behavior of his still felt foreign to me. How… how could he say such hurtful things? He knew I was insecure about it, and many times when I drunkenly muttered my grievances, he would reassure me that I was just too pretty for anyone to handle.

I knew it was far from the truth, and yet today… he just uttered something that maybe he wanted to always tell me.

As I was straightening my bedsheet, my phone dinged. I stared at the device that lay unsuspectingly on the nightstand.

I didn’t want to see Derek’s text, he hadn’t texted me after leaving anyway, but what if…

Despite hesitation, I picked up the phone and saw that it was an email from Mr. Miller. I closed my eyes to keep my panic at bay. I was surprised that I hadn’t had any panic attacks until now.

With trepidation, I clicked on the email.

It read:

[Hi Nadia,

It has been a while since I have been in touch with you. I was wondering if you could make a painting for my niece. Her birthday is three months away, but I wanted to let you know in advance, in order to give you some time to think of a theme and draw.

Kindly send me a reply as confirmation, and eventually, you can send the invoice once you have decided.

Kind Regards,

Davis Miller]

I sat down at the side of the bed, letting my tears roll down my cheeks. I sobbed as I clenched my phone tightly.

I felt helpless. I was already struggling with a lack of inspiration, then this ‘thing’ with Derek, and now this?

At the back of my mind, I feared that if I said ‘no’ to Davis he might never request for any project again. What if he found a better artist who charged him cheaper than me?

But.. but I refused to chalk up a half-hearted piece of art. My self-respect and morals wouldn’t let me do that.

I reigned in my tears, and with trembling fingers, and bleary vision, I typed a reply.

[Hi Davis,

This time I wouldn’t be able to create any painting for personal reasons. Unfortunately, I have to turn you down for the first time. I will be taking a small break from this. But I will be soon. I apologize for any inconvenience I have caused.

Thanks and Regards,

Nadia]

I stared at the phone for some time, awaiting a reply, but none came. I sighed, feeling hollow at how in one day things just went from bad to worse. I put the phone away and got back to making my bed.

Once done, I went to clean the window panes. My gaze wandered outside; the sun had set, painting the sky into a beautiful shade of red and orange. I suppressed another sigh, missing the days when I poured my heart and mind over one project.

However, I didn’t get a lot of time to wallow over the thought as my doorbell rang. My eyes shot towards the digital clock on my nightstand.

It was only 4.

Eh?

I put down the cloth and glass cleaner and went over to open the door. My heart stuttered when I saw Derek standing outside, looking slightly tired.

“Hey,” I said dumbly.

He raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘Really?’

I wordlessly moved to the side, to allow him inside. Yet again, I felt that trepidation build up. He was carrying a file folder in his hand.

The contract?

I felt faint as I closed the door with a thud.

He didn’t sit like usual, which made me wish that we never had that argument to begin with. The ring on my finger felt heavy.

“You… formulated the contract.” It was more of a statement than a question. My voice was barely audible as I spoke.

He hummed before saying, “And you haven’t eaten anything.”

My gaze followed his, and rightly so, his eyes were fixated on the soup pot. I felt my cheeks become warm. How did he manage to notice the things that others wouldn’t even look at? The disadvantage of being in a studio apartment was that apart from the washroom, everything was open.

“Didn’t have an appetite,” I muttered. He turned to look at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. Ah, I knew that look. He was angry, but I guess today’s showdown made him choose not to say anything.

He held out the folder. “The contract.”

That word made my stomach flip. How had our friendship boiled down to this?

I took it from his hand and flipped it open. Hopefully, my face didn’t show anything.

The contract was a standard one. I had to remain as his wife for a period of —

“5 years?!” My gaze snapped towards him. What the actual f**k?! That term was not only non-negotiable but there was no clause of termination.

He put his hands inside the trouser pockets, nodding. “You will have no issues with housing and finances.”

“That’s not the issue,” I said, glaring.

I continued reading, but my mind was stuck on the 5-year term.

It stated that we would be exclusive partners for that time period, and if either of the spouses cheated, they would have to pay a sum of 2 billion dollars to the innocent party.

“This is…” The asshole was being upright and mean with the contract!

I took a deep breath and decided to be direct for once. “So you mean that not only we will be married in the name but will also be involved physically?”

He stepped toward me and asked, “If you want.”

I gave him an incredulous look. It’s not like he has been a hermit. Not that I knew any of his girlfriends. This information was something he never shared with me, but he disappeared for a week or so every month, so that must be a getaway sort of. Right? Right.

“Well, we can change that clause,” he said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I looked at him warily. I really didn’t know about Derek enough. This man in front of me was a playboy, not my gentle best friend!

“We will kiss, and if either of us doesn’t like it, we will change the clause and insert that we can be physically involved with anyone during the term of the marriage, and I will cancel out that 2 billion dollar thing,” he suggested, his eyes glinting with amusement, reminding me of the look he had when he told me those hurtful words.

“Why-why should I?” I stammered, clutching the folder close to me.

“Oh, so you want to be exclusive?” He countered with a quirk on his lips.

“I didn’t say that…” He was twisting my words! Meanwhile, I hadn’t realized that he had moved closer until it was too late. I stepped back not realizing that I was near the bed.

I yelped when the back of my knees hit the bed frame. Derek’s hand shot out and wrapped around my waist, holding me securely before I fell and making this situation more embarrassing.

There was no doubt that I was blushing. When I peered at him, I saw that he was smiling. The jerk!

“So, shall we give it a go?” He asked, his voice husky.

I swallowed and looked away. “Fine…”

I glanced at him when he didn’t respond and felt my breath hitch at the way his eyes had darkened. Before I could even think of backtracking, he leaned down and caught my lips in a searing kiss.

~*~