Love Under Contract

Episode Three

I smiled, and it was genuine. I don't even have the time to be shocked about what I just did. That interaction was odd, unexpected and stressful but somehow refreshing and I liked it, which is surprising but I do not like a lot of things.

As I walk straight to my car from the restaurant, I still can't believe that. I exhale loudly. I let myself act in a moment and be free and casual. Maybe its because it's been a while since I last spoke to anyone outside work or home.

I wake up early and stare blankly at the ceiling in my room. I blink multiple times, maybe this anything was a dream.

I lie in my bed playing with my fingers. He's a handsome,remarkable man, but I could never really let myself trust someone like him. His mother's love and concern for her son, I repeat, I do not have a mother I killed mine. He must really love her and his kids to be doing this for them.

At least he has a family he cares for.

I respect that, but I don't respect it enough to join him in holy matrimony, it's tempting, a family, a real one, is all I've ever wanted even when I don't deserve it, even when I know, I'll never be able to handle it, I'll only ruin, taint and leave a scar behind and kids, oh God, I can't even stand the sight of kids, not after I killed mine.

There's a knock on my door, and no one comes to my quarters except Mrs. Hildred. "Come in," I call out.

She comes in immediately, saying, "Good morning Sabrina."

"Good morning, Mrs. Hildred."

"Your father sends for you to join breakfast."

Of course, he did. I move around for my morning routine after she leaves and get dressed.

I walk into the main mansion and head towards the dining room, where my father and stepmother are already seated. I kiss my dad on the cheek and nod at my stepmother in acknowledgment as usual. I take my seat at the table, and my Father bombards me with questions. "How did dinner go?" "Did you like him?"

He could at least ask how I've been first, I tale a bite from my plats first before answering.

"Dinner was okay, Dad," I tell him, Ignoring the second question.

"you didn't tell me, he was once married and that he has kids dad." I throw at him instead.

"I thought you might judge him without giving the poor man a chance," he says, shrugging. I decide to leave it.

"I just hope you don't end up dragging the family name in the mud like your mother did," my stepmother comments casually.

My father goes quiet and looks under the table like he lost his shoes or something. There he is, this is the father I'm used to; I almost forgot.

I just blankly stare at her for awhile trying to figure out what her problem is, "your husband dragged your family name in the mud, not my mother, I'm leaving." I say standing up.

"Yeah, you should. You should have left this world the same day as your mother," she says, her eyes brimming with hatred. I can almost see it rolling off her in waves.

"Elisa, that is enough," my father booms, standing from his seat too. I almost get startled; my father never stands up for me, never defends, he usually just watches on like a bystander and not a father.

"You don't love her, you don't care about her well-being, you are just a deceitful liar. You're only doing this for yourself because that's the only thing you have ever cared about, yourself," she says, breathing hard.

"Stop it, Elisa," my father warns.

"Why don't you tell your precious daughter why you are suddenly concerned about her marital status?" she laughs.

"Your daddy's company is falling to the ground and into nothing. The merge with the Andersons is the only thing that can bring it back even close to what it was before," she finishes, smiling.

"So you're nothing, you mean nothing to him. I hope you never find happiness, and I hope you die never knowing what having a real family that will love you feels like," she snarls at me. She's usually a beautiful woman, regardless of whatever situation, but right now, at this moment, her looking ugly snarling like that; it's all that occupies my thoughts.

"what is she talking about dad?"

I try not to get upset by what I just heard.

"Did I just hear that correctly."

"I wanted to tell you, I was going to tell you, I just never had the time." I scoff, this man is unbelievable.

"Since when?" I ask quietly.

"Three years now hunny, the company is drowning in dept, I didn't know what else to do."

I'm almost in tears at this point, it feels like someone punched my gut.

"Three years? you didn't have the time to tell me, the company was in dept for three years?" I scream at him.

"I have as much right to that company as you do, I've contributed to make it what it is today, you can't just not find the right time to tell me about something like this."

"please sweetie, just listen to me."

"you've had all the time and chances in this world and you didn't use it, why should I listen to you now." I manage to calm down.

"Tell the Anderson's I agree to the proposal." I say looking towards my father before walking out. He finally got what he wanted.

Cool breeze blows onto my face as I walk towards my quarters. I feel betrayed and I'm struggling to express this feeling in my chest, it feels like it might break into a million pieces, how could he, if he had told me earlier, maybe I could have done something, anything at least, I've dedicated my life in that company since I was 18. It was my out of my head and I grew to love, that business became my love, family and friend, the only I've truly ever cared about. And now it was to crumble to the floor without me knowing.

I get into my quarters and kneel in the cold floor, I feel drained and tired but I will

not cry, I'm tired of always resorting to tears when I begin to feel too much.