Episode 12: Terms
777 Words
Adrian's POV
Later that day,
A knock sounded on my door.
“Come in"
“Adrian.”
“Lila.”
She sat without waiting, crossing her legs slightly as she looked at me. “Let’s not do anything unnecessary. Why am I here?”
“I assume you’ve been told the same thing I have,” I said.
“That our families have decided we’re getting married?” she replied. “Yes.”
“And?”
“And I don’t like it,” she said plainly. “But I understand why it’s happening.”
I watched her for a second. “That makes two of us.”
“Good,” she said. “Then we don’t have to pretend.”
A brief silence settled.
Then she leaned forward slightly. “If this is happening, it’s not going to be one of those situations where I lose myself in it.”
“You won’t.”
“I mean it,” she continued. “I’m not becoming someone’s quiet, obedient wife because it looks good on paper.”
“I’m not looking for that,” I said.
“Good,” she replied. “Because I wouldn’t do it.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
“And I’m not doing love,” she added, more casually now. “Not forced, not expected, not later. If it happens, fine. If it doesn’t, even better.”
“That won’t be an issue,” I said.
She nodded once. “Good. Then we’re clear on that.”
A small pause.
Then I said, “Publicly, we do what’s expected.”
“As in?”
“As in we look like a functioning couple,” I said. “Appearances matter.”
“They matter to you,” she replied.
“They matter to the deal,” I corrected.
She held my gaze for a second, then nodded. “Fine. Publicly, we play along.”
“Privately,” I continued, “we stay out of each other’s way.”
“That part I like,” she said.
“No interference in your work,” I added. “No interference in mine.”
“Agreed.”
“And whatever you do outside of that...” I paused briefly, choosing my words, “..keep it discreet.”
Her brows lifted slightly. “Outside?”
“You’re not naïve,” I said. “This isn’t built on emotion.”
She leaned back a little, studying me. “You’re saying we’re free to do whatever we want.”
“I’m saying I don’t need to know,” I replied. “And I don’t want my name attached to anything careless.”
A small, knowing look crossed her face.
“So,” she said slowly, “don’t embarrass you.”
“Exactly.”
“And I expect the same,” I added. “I don’t want to hear about anything that doesn’t concern me.”
She nodded once. “That’s fair.”
A pause.
Then she said, “And boundaries?”
“Clear,” I replied. “No crossing lines that affect the arrangement.”
“And if they do?”
“They won’t.”
She held my gaze for a second longer than necessary.
“You’re very sure of yourself.”
“I don’t deal in uncertainty.”
“That must be exhausting,” she said lightly.
“It’s efficient.”
That almost made her smile.
Almost.
Then she shifted slightly. “Anything else?”
I paused. Then “Are you aware that I have a son?”
That caught her.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“How old?”
“Six.”
She leaned back slightly, processing that.
“That’s… unexpected.”
“It shouldn’t be,” I said. “It just wasn’t mentioned.”
She studied me for a moment. “And where does he fit into all of this?”
“He stays where he is,” I said. “His routine doesn’t change unless necessary.”
“And me?”
“You don’t have to be involved unless you choose to be.”
That seemed to ease something in her.
“Good,” she said quietly. “I wouldn’t want to be forced into that.”
“I’m not forcing anything,” I replied.
Another pause settled between us.
Less tense this time. More… settled.
Then she exhaled lightly. “So basically, we get married, keep everyone happy, don’t interfere with each other’s lives, and don’t cause problems.”
“That’s the idea.”
She tilted her head slightly. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Yes.”
She held my gaze for a moment.
Then nodded once.
“Fine,” she said.
- Writer
