17
1474 Words
Lance pulled out the chair for Cassia. She smiled and took her seat reaching for the linen napkin on the table before her as he pushed her chair in. He was always such a gentleman she was lucky to have found such a wonderful man. Lance was so charming and well rounded, he never got wasted and belched beer while screaming at a football game. He treated her like a queen even when he was a jerk. He was sophisticated and well educated and everything she would have never found back home. The fact that he wanted to marry her was mindboggling.
Sitting down across the small table from her Lance ordered a bottle of wine for the table. The waiter bowed his head and went to fetch the wine. Cassia opened the menu and noticed there were no prices; it was like this everywhere they went. At first, it had bothered her never knowing how much she was paying for what she wanted, and Lance never let her see the bill, in fact, half the time he didn’t even look himself he just handed the waiter his credit card, signed the slip, and left.
“It all looks good.” She said reading the menu; she only wished she knew how much she cost him, but then again, they were getting married, so she supposed what was his was hers and what was hers was his although she had to admit she wasn’t bringing as much to the table as he was.
Lance skimmed the menu, but he didn’t seem as interested in eating as she was. He looked anxious, and she wasn’t sure why. Perhaps he was still fuming about the fight he had with his folks last night. Cassia put the menu down and focused on him. The waiter returned with their wine and poured them each a glass then he took their order and went off to fill it.
“Ok, what’s wrong?” She asked sensing something wasn’t right with him.
“Nothing.” He was lying she could tell by the way he wouldn’t look directly at her.
“Lying is not a good way to start a life together.” She said softly hoping to coax out of him what was bothering him.
“You know I love you, and I have every intention of building a life with you and growing old with you,” she was sensing a but in all of this, “but,” and there it was, “my folks are worried, and they want peace of mind.” He took a deep breath and reached into his inner jacket pocket and took out a folded document. He unfolded it and placed it on the table in front of her. It looked like a very legal document, and she was confused.
“What is this?” She asked picking it up and reading the front page. “Is this a prenuptial agreement?”
“It is,” Lance confirmed.
She didn’t understand. Cassia picked it up and started to read the ten-page document he had presented her with. She skimmed through it reading what she would and wouldn’t get if their marriage failed based on what caused it to fail, the so-called payouts were different depending on if there was infidelity and who the offender was. There were a variety of different scenarios for what may end their marriage and the restrictions on such aspect like her spending an allowance.
Cassia looked up at Lance surprised. “I don’t understand. You think I’m going to cheat on you? You think I’m only with you because of your money?”
“No.” He said quickly reaching across the table to take her hand, but she pulled away. “I know you won’t.”
“Then why are you giving me this? This is like a self-fulfilling prophecy.” She snapped. She was insulted by it.
“It’s just in case. Like insurance, I don’t intend to use it, but it’s nice to have.”
“Insurance? In case I try to rob you blind?” She hissed.
“It’s not like that. It’s not for me it’s for my parents. It will make them feel better about us if you sign it.”
“I thought we didn’t care what they thought.” She said with great annoyance. “You’re planning for us to fail. You think I’m after your money.”
“No, but they do, and in truth, I can understand why, after all, we met because you wanted something I had and since then you’ve profited from me.”
“I’ve profited off you?”
“I did kind I make your career.” Cassia threw the prenup at him.
“Forget it I’m not signing this insult.”
“Cassia,”
“Consider our engagement over. Your parents should be relieved.” She said standing up to leave. “I’ll book my flight back to LA and move my stuff out as soon as I get back and don’t worry, you’ll get your fifteen percent of this contract, but then I’m getting a new manager. I won’t use you for anything else.” She snarled and headed for the door.
Lance got up and picked up the prenup and followed her. “Cassia, don’t walk out on me.” He called after her following her out into the street. “The way I look at it if you loved me, you’d sign the damn document.”
“And if you loved me you wouldn’t insult me by asking me to sign that.”
“So, you’re saying I should take all the risks in this relationship. I should give everything when you give nothing back?” His words wounded her. “You have to admit I bring a lot more to the table than you and I’m the only one that loses if this all goes south. Why shouldn’t I protect myself?”
Cassia slapped Lance across the face. She was doing her best to keep the tears from her eyes. She then took off the ring he had given her and threw it at him. “Go to hell.” She snapped and walked away.
***
Lance watched Cassia storm off in tears, and he felt like a jerk for what he’d said. Leaning over, he picked up the ring and put it in his pocket. He followed Cassia. He couldn’t just let her go. He called after her, but Cassia rushed to a nearby bus stop and got on a bus as it pulled away. He stood on the curb and watched her ride off.
He’d let her calm down and then talk to her. He was sure he could convince her to forgive him when she had the chance to relax. Lance looked at the document in his hand and swore. Damn his parents this was their fault. He didn’t even want this dumb thing, but they had talked him into it.
Lance went right back into the restaurant and sat down at the table. He finished the bottle of wine alone. Then he ate alone, paid the bill, and called a car service to get him home to the penthouse. He walked in expecting to find Cassia, but she wasn’t on the main floor. He hung up his coat and went up to the bedroom. She was likely sleeping. He’d let her sleep, and they would talk in the morning.
He walked into the bedroom and noticed Cassia was not in the room. Maybe she was sleeping in the other room still having a tantrum. He went to the other bedroom but didn’t find her. He checked the bathroom and then searched the apartment. Returning to the bedroom, he noticed her suitcase and her clothes were gone. Where could she have gone?
Then it hit him. She’d left him. Lance sat down on the couch as the truth set in. The woman he’d loved had left him… and it was his parents’ fault. Somehow his mother had done it again. He was in love, and she drove the woman of his dreams away with her meddling.
God, he needed another drink.
- Writer
