The Marriage Contract

Words Are Knives

"There you go," the girl, Lauren, said. She spun me around in the chair to show me the finished product of my hair.

I took a sharp intake of breath as I saw myself. It was different. Very different. And I loved it! My natural beach waves looked more like loose curls now, and stopped above my shoulders. "Its perfect," I said with a smile, standing up from my chair. "Here. For doing such a great job." I handed the girl a fifty and walked out of the salon.

I wandered around the mall for a while, until I stumbled up on Hayley in a line at the food court, supporting three bags in one hand, two in the other and purse. I was quiet as I walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around, and almost immediatly, her eyes widened and a huge smile lit her face.

"What do you think," I asked with a smile, flipping my now short, bouncy hair around.

"I love it! Oh my gosh, Ryland is totally going to freak! Didn't you say that he liked long, straight hair," she asked with a devious look on her face.

"Yep," said matching her facial expression, "That is exactly why it is perfect. Plus, even though I am totally opposed to the whole idea of marrying him, I still think with the dress that I picked, the short hair is going to complement it," I said as she grabbed her ordered food and started leading me off to a table.

"I think you're right," she said sitting down.

We didn't waist much time eating and within fifteen minutes, we were in our cars, going our separate ways. As I pulled up to my building - that's going to take a while getting used to - I unintentionally hesitated in my car. All of the possible scenarios of Ryland's reaction ran through my head, and before I could stop myself, I worried if he would actually like it or not.

"No," I snapped, out loud to myself. "Pull it together. You don't give a flying f**k what he thinks," I said and jumped out of my car. Locking the doors behind me, I strutted confidently into the building with my head held high.

As I walked through the lobby, I noticed the same blonde guy - Taylor? - that helped me find Ryland's apartment yesterday. He glanced up at me, and let his eyes roll over my body, "You look nice, Miss. Aurora," he drawled and I smiled, until what he said hit me.

"Thank you, but hold on. How do you know my name? I don't remember telling you," I said suspiciously, as I walked a little closer to the front desk.

"Oh," he said a little caught off guard, "Mr. Steel came down a little earlier and added you to the lease."

I stared at him in shock. "Oh."

He chuckled at me, "Yeah. And the fact that you and Mr. Steel's names are plastered all over every gossip magazine on the rack."

"WHAT?" I ran over to the magazine rack that sat to the left of the desk and took a look, myself. Sure enough, there I was. Getting out of the car with Ryland this morning, going into the Bridal store. The titles read things like "Wedding Bells for Steel?" and "Sleeping Beauty and The Ice King: Has She Thawed His Frozen Heart?" Damn, they work fast. These pictures couldn't been taken but a little over two maybe three hours ago.

I sighed and put the magazines back on the rack, "This is just great," I grumbled to myself as I grudgingly walked towards the elevators that may or may not have been examined thoroughly last month. I pressed the button, and within seconds, the doors dinged, and opened. Before I could so much as move out of the way, a man wielding ear-buds and runners all but trampled me.

"Whoa! I'm so sorry," he appoligized, in a thick, deep Australian accent, pulling his earbuds out and looking over me as I did the same to him. He was attractive. Very attractive - although still not on Ryland's level. What? Let's be honest here, I may not like him, but i'm not blind! He had dark blonde hair that fell to the bottom of his neck with screaming blue eyes. He was tall, well over six feet and was built beautifully.

"It's fine. Not like my day could get any worse, anyway, " I grumbled the last part quietly.

"Well, maybe you should let me buy you a coffee to make up for your bad day," he said flirtatiously. "Will," he said, sticking his hand out.

I laughed a little, but took his hand, "Aurora. But you can just call me Rory," I said. "And I might just take you up on that."

"I'm going to hold you to that," he said, letting his eyes roll over me once more, before taking out his phone, "How about you give me your number, and I'll call you?"

I smiled at him and nodded, "Alright," I said and took in phone, putting my name and number inside, along with a cheesy picture I snapped of myself, "There, so you won't forget me," I said with a smirk, handing him his phone back.

"Oh trust me, I couldn't forget a face like yours. Until later, Miss Aurora," he all but purred, lightly kissing my hand. He backed away from me, and with one last crooked smile, he replaced his ear buds and made his way out the front of the building.

I smirked to myself as I walked, uneasily, into the elevator. In no time, the doors opened easily and I stepped out, releasing a breath I didn't know that I was holding. I shook out my now short hair and made my way down the hall to the flat.

Before I could open the door, I heard a couple of keys on the baby grand being pressed, and before I knew it, the slow introduction to This is Gospel began, and then he started singing...

"This is gospel for the fallen ones, locked away in permanent slumber. Assembling their philosophies, from pieces of broken memories..."

My eyes widened, in complete shock at the beautiful, masculine sound of his voice as it crept through the closed door and to my ears.

Before I could stop myself, I inched the front door open, and crept as quietly as I could, inside. As I rounded the corner into the living room, I could see Ryland. His back facing me, gone was his usual business attire. In its place, a flesh colored tshirt, one or two shades lighter than his skin, and light colored jeans. His hair was neatly disheveled - if that makes any sense - and his guard down.

"Their nashing teeth and criminal tongues, conspire against the odds. But they haven't seen the best of us yet... If you love me let me go," he sang out, completely oblivios to my watching his from across the room.

"If you love me let me go! Cause the words are knives and often leave scars, the fear of falling apart. Truth be told, I never was yours! The fear of falling apart."

As he sang, I could feel his passion seeping into the words. Much like me, when I sang. As this realization sunk in, I saw Ryland in a different light.

"What happened to you," I whispered to myself, but apparently not quiet enough.

His playing abruptly stopped and he spun around facing me. For a half of a second, I saw a vulnerability in his eyes, but as quickly as it was there, it was gone, and replaced with his emotionless, stone cold expression that he always kept in place.

"How long have you been standing there," he said cooly.

I shrugged. "Long enough. You're really good, by the way."

His stony expression softened a bit as he looked at me, "Thank you," he said simply looking over me. For a second, I though he wasn't going to notice my hair, but I was sadly mistaken. "What the hell did you do with all of your hair?"

This time, it was my turn for my face to harden. "I cut it off. Don't you like it dear husband-to-be," I asked sarcastically.

He said nothing as he got up from his place on the bench and stalked towards me. I took a step back, slightly nervous as he reached a hand out and gripped the end of a loose curl and tugged on it. "Suits you."

Shocked.

That is the only word that could sum up how I was feeling. "Did you just complement me?"

His face hardened again, "No. I simply said it suits you."

My stomach dropped and for some unknown reason I wanted to cry. I don't know if it was angry tears, sad or stress tears, but they brimmed at the bottom of my eyes as I looked at him. "Would it kill you to not be an ass for two seconds," I snapped as he walked away.

He looked over his shoulder at me and his face softened again for only a second before his mask went back up. "Words are knives," he quoated from the song and walked off down the hall.

As I stared after him, I almost let the tears fall until my phone buzzed with a text message:

Hello, Miss Aurora. This is Will.

Would you like to take up my

offer of coffee?

As I read the message, I forced the tears back and a determination came over me. I'll show him.

Yes, Will. I would love to. Meet

you in the lobby in an hour?

It didn't take long to get a message back.

I will be waiting on you there ;)

I smirked to myself and walked off down the hall and into my bedroom. I went straight over to my closet and searched for something to wear. After a few minutes of searching, I settled on a white tank top under a light washed denem button up, that I left open and rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, darker washed boyfriend skinny jeans and white vans.

I didn't worry much with my hair or makeup considering it was already done from earlier in the day. I grabbed my bag and my phone, and walked out of my bedroom only to bump into Ryland.

"Where are you going," He asked.

I glowered at him and stomped past him to the door,"Out."

He gaped at me as I slammed the door behind me. Happy with myself, it didn't faze me when I got into the elevator - Ok, that was a lie, but whatever. As I walked out of the elevator, I saw Will standing over by the magazine rack. He looked good.

His hair was down and almost touched the back of his grey tshirt. He wore dark washed, straight leg jeans and work boots. He looked up as I walked towards him and smiled.

"You look beautiful," he said in his thick Australian accent.

"Laying the flattery on thick, aren't we," I said and he smirked and shrugged.

"You caught me," he simply said and I laughed, following him out of the building.

* * *

Surprise.....

-Ryland's POV-

I loosened my tie as I walked into the flat. That was the longest day I think I have ever had at the office. The fact that I couldn't focus and didn't enjoy my work unnerved me. I always enjoyed work.

Ok, I know that sounds weird, but who doesn't enjoy being successful? But somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew what was wrong with me, and I didn't want to accept it.

I could kill my father for this. I was fine. I was at the new op of my game: but, enter dad. Then enter...her.

Flashback

"Mr. Steel, your father is on line two," my secretary, Laura, said, poking her head inside my office door.

I nodded at her and picked up the phone that sat on the corner of my desk, "Yes, dad?"

"Ryland, son. You need to come to see me at your earliest convince."

"Yes sir. May I ask why?"

He hesitated for a moment, "A...business arrangement of sorts," he said cryptically.

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, "What are you up to, dad?"

My father laughed, "Nothing that won't do you some good," he said. "I'll speak with you later son." And he hung up.

I stared at the dead line for minute, before I rolled my eyes and put the phone down.

After a couple of hours, it was five o'clock and I had finished my work for the day. I shut down my computer, grabbed my laptop and headed out for the day. Before going to dad's, I ran back to my flat to change into a pair of jeans and tshirt, then started the fifteen minute drive to my parents house.

When I arrived, the gates were already opened for me, so I went ahead inside. Parking my car in the front of the house, I walked inside and found my dad lounging in his office.

As I entered, my dad looked up from the stack of papers in front of him, and smiled at me, "Ah, finally here. Sit down son," he said gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

"Alright dad, what type of business arrangement are we talking about here?"

A sinister smirk crawled over his face as he pushed the thick stack of papers at me. It was a contract:

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT: _______________________________________

The following parties: Ryland Ares Steel and Aurora Arya Burke will be entered by will of fathers: Ryan Michael Steel and Everett Christopher Burke into this all binding, legal contract. Said parties shall enter into a valid, legally binding marriage for the minimum of one year.

Neither party, Ryland or Aurora may have any s****l/physical affairs outside of the lawful marriage. Any s****l/physical affairs will be seen as a breech of contract.

If any breeches are initiated the following shall occur:

Ryland Steel:

• CEO position in Steel Inc. foreited

(Handed to Parker Hansley)

Aurora Burke:

• Position in Burke Industries

forfeited

• no involvement in musical

programs/colleges/universities

Entering into effect two weeks from date signed: May 16, 2023

Signed: Ryan Steel

Signed: Everett Burke

-

I gaped at my father as I read the contract. "Dad! You can't enter me into a contract without my knowledge! Especially about a marriage! I don't even know this girl," I yelled throwing the papers back at him.

My father scowled at me and stood. "I can and I will, Ryland," he shouted. "And I do know Aurora. She us a good girl. Independent. Good head on her shoulders. Just a bit...opinionated."

I all but growled at him and looked over the contract. It was legally binding. I couldn't get out of it. "Whatever, dad." I slid the contract back at him. "I'll do it," I snapped and walked out of the room and went back home.

~

I still can't believe he has put me into this. But I would do whatever it took to keep Steel Industries out of Parker's slimy hands.

Parker Hansley was one shisty son of a b***h and you couldn't trust him as far as you could throw him. He would run the company into the ground and I'll be damned before I see that happen.

I tried to keep that in mind when I met Aurora. But damn it that girl new how to push my buttons. Her name was fitting of her. She was beautiful and could light up any room she walked into, like the light she was named after.

The first day met her, she peaked my interest, but her clear distaste for me put me off, obviously. Naturally, my pride got in the way and I did nothing to help it, but its like she was born to piss me off.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face as I changed into some comfortable clothes. Once I was finished, I knew I was alone, so I went into the living room and started to play one of my favorite songs on the Baby Grand.

The words to This Is Gospel easily rolled off my tongue as I released some stress. My mind drifted back to her and I couldn't stop it.

I didn't notice when Aurora came in, until I heard her light whisper and I spun around to look at her. "How long have you been standing there," I asked her rather rudely. I mentally cringed, knowing deep down, I wasn't like that.

She shrugged. "Long enough. You're really good by the way," she said.

I was shocked, but I didn't show it. "Thank you. What the hell did you do to your hair," I asked not meaning for it to sound the way it did.

"I cut it off. Don't you like it dear husband-to-be," she said.

Before I could stop myself I made my over to her and pulled on one of her perfect curls. "Suits you."

"Did you just complement me," she asked shocked.

"No. I simply said it suits you." Ryland you jack ass.

I could see the tears brimming on her eyes and I wanted to kick myself. I turned around and started walking away feeling like a horrible excuse of a person when she yelled at me, "Would it kill you to not be an ass for two seconds?"

I looked back over my shoulder and quoted lyrics from Panic! At The Disco that I knew rang far too true, "Words are knives," and walked away.

A minutes pass and I hear her door slam. "Ryland, what did you do?"

About an hour passes and we both came out of our bedrooms. She held her bag and phone in her hands and I inquired where she was going. She continued on her way to the door,then turned and glared at me. "Out."

I stared at the door after she slammed it shut for a few minutes until I decided to follow her. She went to the lobby and met a man. As I watched them talk, I couldn't deny the red hot jealousy that flooded through me. She's marrying me. Not him.

And I'm going to guess that's why I thought it was a good idea to march my ass right out the doors after them.