Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty Two - It Is Official
Orson
It is official! Everly and I are now in our agreement, no going back. I have a copy for her to keep in case she needs a reminder of anything. I am going to drop it into her on my way home. I didn’t return to the office this afternoon. It was best for everyone if I stayed away because I was taking my mood out on everyone and anyone. I am surprised no one quit. Everly doesn’t know I am stopping by. I’m not sure if she’s in, but I’ll find out when I arrive. She probably doesn’t want to see me, but shit happens. I won’t take up much of her time. I need to get laid tonight to help with my anger and stress. I am not going to get it from Everly, no matter how much I would love to.
I pull up outside her building and find a parking spot. I don’t know if she will even let me into her building. I look from left to right as I run across the road. It takes me a second to remember which buzzer it is. I press it and wait for an answer. Her car is here, hopefully, she is in. It buzzes a couple of times before she answers.
“Hello.”
“Hey, it is Orson.”
She sighs loudly. “Why are you at my apartment?”
“I have a copy of the contract for you.”
I want to transfer the money to her while she is next to me. She seems hesitant, but lets me in. At least she didn’t turn me away. I head up to her floor. She is already waiting for me.
“Hey.” I smile.
“Hi. Come in,” she says, walking away.
I step in and close the door behind us, following her to the living room.
“Sorry, I disturbed your dinner.”
A pizza box sits in front of her, along with a bottle of wine.
“It is fine, sit. Take a slice if you want.”
I take the spot next to her and pick up a slice. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. There has been too much going on in my head to think about food. I groan with the first bite. I didn’t realise how hungry I was.
“Is everything signed and legal with the contract?” she asks.
“Yes, everything is in place. You are stuck with me now.” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t remind me.”
“You could be stuck with someone worse.”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” She replies, but I swear I see a hint of a smile.
I hand over her copy. “Do you want all the money transferred to your account, or do you want me to pay your debts directly? I can give you some in cash if you would prefer?”
Two million is nothing to me.
“No, I will pay my debts myself. I would rather you not see how much I owe. You can transfer most of it to my account. I will take a couple of thousand in cash to keep in the house.”
“How much can you possibly owe? What medical bills do you have?”
“I am not answering either of those questions. What we are doing isn’t real. You don’t need to know my personal life. It is business, nothing more.” She states firmly.
“Fine, sorry, I won’t ask again.”
“Good.”
“I need the details of the account I am transferring to.”
She nods and gives me the details I need. I transfer it over. “It shouldn’t take too long to go through.”
“Thank you. Where did you disappear to this afternoon?”
“I thought it was best I stayed away from everyone else,” I answer honestly.
She nods in agreement. “You made the right choice, or you would end up with no employees.”
“Yes, I was more pissy than usual today.”
I am not denying it. She knows what I am like. Her cell beeps with a notification. She picks it up, and by the way, her eyes widen, I assume it means the money is in her account.
“Two million dollars! I never dreamt I would have such a large amount of money.”
I have no understanding of what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. Even before I was old enough to work, I didn’t have to worry about money. My family have always been wealthy for multiple generations.
“It is yours to do as you please with. Make sure you treat yourself with it.”
“I will. What I don’t know.”
“I am sure you will find something. Tomorrow, we will search for a ring, and then another day this week, we will get your apartment. There are a couple of homes for sale in my building. I will make appointments for you to see them.”
It would be easier if she moved in with me for a time, but I don’t believe she would be up for that.
“Yes, that is fine.” She nods, still staring at her screen.
“Or you can move into my place? It would make things easier and more believable. I will still get you an apartment, which you can move into after our three months are up.”
The contract states that I will provide her with an apartment, and I won’t break that promise.
My words are enough to focus her attention on me rather than her cell. “What? No chance in hell am I moving in with you.”
Do I need to remind her even with our contract, I still have the upper hand?
“Yes, you will. It will make things easier. If I have any uninvited visitors show up, at least you will be there.”
“You can’t make me. You aren’t in charge now. We have a legal document now. You can’t force me to do anything. You can’t blackmail me any longer because if you take me down, I will take you down, too, and we will both break the contract.”
Fuck! She has a point. I should have made it part of our deal before the contract was made up.
“Everly, please? I need you to do this for me. I don’t like the idea of living with you either, but it would be the best thing. It won’t be for long. We can arrange for you to have your apartment before, so you’ll have somewhere to go if you need time to yourself. Spend a night or two a week there.” I beg.
I hate begging, but it is a last resort.
“Fine! I will think about it, but if I decide not to, it doesn’t mean you can act like a dick towards me because you aren’t getting your way.” She exclaims, tossing her hands in the air.
“Thank you.”
I leave it at that. If I push her, she will retaliate and use her stubbornness to make me wait for my answer or tell me. Three months isn’t a long time. What is the worst that can happen?