Chapter 5

‘’Your marriage contract.’’ Matt urged her to open it. Grabbing the envelope, Alexis slowly opened it. Inside was a stack of paper stapled together, along with a box. When she opened it, she gaped.

‘’A ring?’’ she asked questionably, staring at the two men. Haven’s attention wasn’t on her again. His eyes roaming around as though he found the place suddenly interesting to look at. She dropped the box, reaching for the paper. It had information about different people and her supposed relationship with them. Even the story of how she met Haven was already printed down. She glanced at him again. It was a ridiculous story if she was being honest.

She dropped the paper on the table, brushing her bangs off her face as she smiled hesitantly. ‘’You really don’t plan your things halfway.’’

‘’Of course. "I worked really hard on these last night." Matt laughed as he said this.

‘’And the rings?’’ she couldn’t help but ask. They were really beautiful. What a shame they were going to be used for the wrong purpose.

‘’Got them myself.’’

Was she marrying Matt or Haven? She wondered.

‘’So, what do you say?’’ Haven asked.

‘’I said it's a ridiculous idea,’’ Alexis said and quickly added. ‘’But I’m here anyway.’’

Haven’s brow furrowed as he pushed himself forward in his seat, leaning so close to Alexis, she leaned back in hers. When he stopped, she caught her breath, uncomfortable with their proximity. The scent of his cologne wafted through the air and it smelt good. It reminded her of dew. She looked into his gray eyes and swallowed nervously. His presence was almost overbearing. Clearing her throat, she told him. ‘’You’re too close.’’

He leaned back and chuckled for reasons unknown to her. Alexis turned to Matt, his arms folded as he watched them. ‘’I think your friend is nuts.’’

Matt laughed and agreed with a shrug of his shoulder. ‘’Maybe.’’

‘’I’m not nuts,’’ Haven said. ‘’I just wanted to test out something.’’

‘’Well, next time try not to get too close. You could receive a punch.’’ Alexis raised her fist, letting him know she wouldn’t hesitate to. ‘’Anyway, before I sign anything, I want to know how much I’ll be getting.’’

''Twenty thousand grand,'' Haven stated.

''Sam said you could pay three times that. I want sixty.’’

Haven seemed taken back by her request. ‘’What?’’

‘’Sixty,’’ Alexis repeated. ‘’I’m not going lower than that.’’

‘’Forty.’’

‘’Seventy.’’

‘’Fifty.’’

‘’Eighty.’’

‘’Listen,’’ Haven started seriously, his gaze piercing into hers. ‘’It’s just for two months, alright. Just think of it as helping a friend out.’’

‘’But I don’t know you,’’ Alexis said in a matter of fact tone.

‘’It doesn’t matter.’’ He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. ‘’Fine, I’ll pay you a hundred.’’

She blinked. ‘’Huh?’’

‘’Not bad, huh?’’ Haven smiled slyly.

A hundred thousand grand for just two months. That was more than she could make for years. She could be able to afford a lawyer for her dad and even start a new life. Was he serious? She turned to Matt for some sort of confirmation. Who was she kidding? These men were serious. That much money would probably be chicken change to them.

Silently, she bid farewell to her old life. ‘’Got a pen I can sign with?’’

Haven smiled at her submission.

He had her. Haven thought. The moment he made that offer, he knew he had won her over.

"I think we should lay down some terms before I sign," she said, looking through the paper again. Haven liked that she was a smart one even though she didn’t seem like it.

‘’I’ll let you two go through that,’’ Matt said as he excused himself. He stood up from the table and walked over to the counter to order something. He stared warily at them, mouthing to Haven not to say anything that could push her away.

Haven highly doubted that. She looked too interested to back out. Although he could see she was having an inner struggle with herself as she read through the contract. While he didn’t blame her for being too cautious of the whole thing, he didn’t see anything wrong. They were practically using each other. It was how business deals worked.

‘’What are you thinking about?’’

‘’I’m thinking about my new life. A hundred thousand is a bit much.’’ She looked at him.

‘’Not for me,’’ he said honestly. If he was being honest, if he even gave her two hundred, he wouldn’t feel the impact on his account. Not wanting to sound too smug, he kept that detail to himself.

Alexis nodded and returned her attention to the contract. ‘’What does attire mean?’’

‘’A change of wardrobe.’’

Her head snapped up. ‘’You don’t need to do that. I have my own clothes to wear.’’

Haven raised a brow, studying her outfit. ‘’I could get you more suitable ones.’’

Her expression suddenly turned defensive and he fought back a smile. He figured that would be her exact reaction. ‘’What? My outfit not good enough?’’

‘’It’s not lady-like.’’

"It is not a tomboyish outfit either," she retorted. Before she could speak again, he opened his mouth.

‘’I’m not saying your outfit is bad. It’s just that my mother is one who likes classic things, including clothes. It would be nice to get on her good side with that.’’

Alexis pressed her lips together, her cheeks turning red from either embarrassment or anger. He wasn’t sure.

‘’I’ll buy my own clothes then.’’

He frowned. ‘’Do you have the money to waste on that?’’

Her cheeks turned a deeper red. ‘’Wow, you’re an asshole. It’s not like I’m homeless.’’ She was smart and fiesty. ‘’How old are you anyway? You’re rude.’’

‘’I’m twenty-six.’’ he answered. He was obviously older than her.

She bit back what she was about to say.

‘’I’m guessing you’re twenty two or three.’’

"Twenty-four," she snapped.

Just a two year difference.

She rolled her eyes, looking away from him. ‘’Do we have to kiss?’’

‘’If the situation requires of it, yes.’’

Her eyes grew smaller. ‘’Then I hope such a situation doesn’t arrive.’’

Haven fought back a laugh. What was she worried about in a kiss? It was a common thing for couples. ‘’I won’t kiss you if the condition doesn’t need for it so don’t worry.’’

Nodding slowly, she placed the paper down and then with a small movement of her fingers, signed the papers. He knew she didn’t read through everything but he didn’t say anything. If she was fine with what she wanted to know, he was cool with it too.

‘’Alright. Now to lay my own condition.'' She leaned slightly towards him, just as he had earlier. ‘’When it’s time to call it quits, I’ll be the one to say it.’’

Unconsciously, he found himself leaning forward too. ‘’Why?’’

"Something about a poor girl divorcing her rich husband sounds interesting to me," she remarked with a playful smile.

‘’Alright,’’ he agreed. ‘’If that’s what you want.’’

She extended a hand forward and this time he took it. ‘’Well then, I guess we now have a deal.’’