Love On Contract

What's Happening?

Some days later, I arrived at my childhood home. I felt lost and it was the one place that centred me. That felt safe.

The whirring sound of a drill brought me back to reality. Of course, mom and dad were up to their typical handywork.

“Reggie! How are you, my dear?”

I glanced to my left to see my parents’ next door neighbour taking his dog out for a walk.

“Mr. Jason! I'm fine. How are –”

The whirring got louder. So loud I couldn't hear myself talk. He shook his head. I understood and gave him an apologetic look before he walked off.

My parents had been the same even when I was growing up. When they got to work, it was like no one else existed; the task was the most important thing and it didn't matter who they bothered in the process.

“Mom, Dad,” I called as I pushed open the front door.

“We're up here sweetheart.”

I followed my moms voice up the stairs.

“Be careful. There's a –”

Before I could register what was happening, my leg went through the middle step, causing me to fall and bump my chin hard against the steps.

“– weak step,” mom finished.

Just great.

“There's an ice pack in the fridge. Oh, and bring your father a glass of water on your way up.”

With the throbbing pain in my chin, I trudged to the kitchen and took out the ice pack. The whirring was even worse now that I was inside, as if it was happening right inside my ears. My head started to ache.

Going back up with the glass, I saw my dad drilling away at the attic steps – yet another thing that was falling apart in this house.

“I need to talk to you guys,” I told my mom as I handed her the glass.

She handed it to dad who took a big gulp before speaking. “Not now, sweetie. We're busy.”

Not even so much as hello. I glanced at mom who did all she could to avoid my gaze.

“It's really important.”

“It can wait,” he said as he positioned the drill.

I glanced at mom again and this time she looked at me pleadingly.

“It can't, dad. Please.”

The deafening whirring sound started again.

I was so sick of it. The world seemed to have turned it back on me, handing me a s**t sandwich everywhere I turned and the two people who should be there for me, who should hold me while I cried and help pick me up, couldn't be asked to put down a damn drill.

Imagine coming after attic steps in your parents eyes.

The throbbing in my chin, the pounding in my chest, the deafening noise. It was too much. I had to get out.

I turned and stormed down the stairs, hearing my mom chase after me.

“Honey, wait. Regina plea–”

I stopped as soon as my hand touched the door knob. “Why? Why should I wait, mom?” I turned to face her.

“Look, your father and I are busy right now. You haven't been here in ages.” She drew closer to me and cupped my face. “Don't you even want to see your old room? We haven't changed anything.”

I scoffed. Despite my outburst, she couldn't see how desperately I needed them.

“You were never there. All my life, you were never there.” I felt my eyes getting wet. “When I was getting bullied, when I got my first period, when my teachers would pick on me.”

“Regina, please. We did our best. You can't –”

“Your best? Your best?” Dad had stopped drilling, no doubt straining his ears to listen in. “Your best is not leaving your daughter to fend for herself. How many times did I beg you to show up to my recitals? How many times did you show up? When I got back from school, I'd clean the house and cook the both of you a meal just so you wouldn't have to and we could spend time together as a family.”

“Reggie, being an adult is hard. I'm sorry we couldn't always be there for you but–”

“You were always too tired to eat.” I wiped the tears streaming down my face. “I don't know why I bothered coming here.”

I threw open the door and left.

I walked and walked, trying to hide my tear-streaked face from passers-by, until I reached the neighbourhood park.

Thankfully, I found an empty bench where I could nurse my wounds in peace.

I was in a dire situation. My boss could lose her life's work because of me and then there was my parents, living in their run down house that they constantly had to repair.

Wasn't it on me to give them a better life? They may not have been there emotionally but they did raise me. We didn't have a luxurious life, not even an easy one but they did do their best to provide.

What kind of a daughter would I be if I deprived them of an easy life? And if I took this offer, maybe they won't be so stressed anymore. Maybe they'll finally have the time for me. Maybe.

I plucked the card Jesse Michelson had given me out of my bag.

As I read his personal number that I'd now memorized, the card felt like it weighed a ton, holding promises I couldn't even begin to imagine.

“You'll be my pretend wife and I'll pay you a fortune,” he'd said.

It seemed so simple, yet I knew it would be. Nothing was free. Nothing was that easy.

But seeing as I didn't have much to lose, I dialled his number and put my phone to my ear, each dial up tone feeling like a countdown to something. Something I knew would reveal itself soon enough.

“Hello?” he answered, his baritone voice sending chills down my spine.

“Hi, it's Reggie. I… I don't want to quit my job.”

“You won't quit because of me. Stay where you are and I'll send a car.”

The line went dead and my paranoia skyrocketed. How did he know where I was? My hair whipped around wildly as I snapped my head from side to side, looking for signs that I was being followed. I had a sinking feeling in my gut that I'd done something I would end up regretting.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Come with me, miss,” an elderly man in a black suit said. “From Mr. Michelson.”

He ushered me to a sleek black car and whisked me away to my new life.

****

I picked up the piece of paper he slid over to me and read it. The figure on it was slightly higher than my current salary. I smiled knowing I would have something extra for my parents at least.

“That would be acceptable, I imagine?” I asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Good,” I said, nodding his head. “I'll get my assistant to make the first payment once we're done here. Rest assured, as long as you play your part, those monthly payments will keep coming in.”

If I had a drink, I would have spat it out everywhere. Did he just say…

“What do you mean?” I asked, wide-eyed. I could hear my heart pounding against my chest.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “That's your monthly allowance. There are a few things we'll need to do to keep up appearances but for the most part, go on living your life as usual.”

I was still hung up on the fact of my new monthly wage. “Are you sure there isn't a mistake? This is a lot of money?”

He rolled his eyes at me. “It's not. Take this.” He slid over a white box with gold inscription on the top. “We're a Rolex family so you'll need to wear this from now on.”

I could hardly breathe. What the hell was happening? The rest of the meeting felt like a fever dream. He explained we'll have to appear like a couple in public but privately, I could do what I wanted and that I might have to quit my job because of all the attention I would get.

Still in a daze, I signed the contract and I got up to leave.

“Oh, before I forget,” I turned at the sound of his voice. “you'll need to meet my family. I wish you didn't but I can only wish you good luck.”

Nothing could have prepared me for the meeting. Nothing could have prepared me for my new life ahead.