Chapter 3 Dustyn Franco

I signed the damn contract, basically sealing Mara and I's impending marriage.

When we entered that door, I wasn't expecting to see the whole apartment set-up they had inside. It seemed as if Alec has put everything they might ever need inside the room. It was all personalized and I can easily see the few touches of their mom's memories decorated the walls of their living room.

Alec cooked pasta for our dinner while Mara sat beside me as she tells Alec about the day we had. She looked like an excited kid from a field trip and Alec was nothing but attentive to everything she was saying. She was more than happy to tell him about finally learning to bake something from Mark as her guru.

We had dinner in comfortable silence and occasional laughs. It was peaceful and it was like dining with your family you haven't seen in years. It wasn't anything like the dinners with my mom as she is constantly looking for argument and fights.

After dinner, Alec made Mara go to bed like the strict father he is. Mara pouted and pleaded but Alec was adamant about letting her rest for she had a long day. Giving in, Mara kissed Alec good night.

"Good night Dy. Thanks for today." She told me with a smile and retreated back to her bedroom. 

My eyes traveled back to Alec's figure hunched over the sink, letting the dishes dry. "Coffee?" He asked as he pulled two cups from their cabinet. 

"Sure. About the co-" I wasn't able to finish what I was saying because he shushed me. He took quiet steps to Mara's door and opened it all the way to reveal Mara eavesdropping. She fell to the floor since Alec suddenly opened the door and she wasn't expecting that.

She smiled sheepishly up at Alec. "H-hi?" 

I laughed at her attitude. "Oh-oh. Someone got caught." 

Alec stared down at her and shook his head. "Get up and go to bed now, baby girl. No eavesdropping this time, okay?" He helped her up and guided her back inside her room. This time he made sure to watch her get in her bed and personally tucked her in. He dropped a kiss on her forehead and left her bedroom, making sure to close the door behind him. "Now let's talk."

I nodded my head in agreement and picked up our coffee cups and followed him to their living room. Once we were seated, he presented me with a brown envelop and took out the papers. "Is that..?" I asked and trailed over my question as I read the contract.

"Sign it Dustyn. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain." He said, his voice sounding much more persuasive than it did a few minutes ago. He even had a pen prepared. 

Sighing I let my eyes scan over the contract but it only specified the partnership and the marriage between Mara and I. It stated that I had to be married to Mara for a year  straight or everything will be for nothing. "Are you sure about this? This is Mara's future." 

He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "You are the only person I trust with Mara."

Fuck. I didn't need anymore persuading than Alec thinks. I already want to marry Mara without the stupid partnership or contracts. I want to marry her but not in this way. The proper way of courting her and earning her love, trust and finally her hand in marriage. 

"Dustyn, I know you're in love with my sister." Alec said, his eyes staring right into my soul. "Regardless, I trust you to keep her happy, to love her with all your heart and to protect her. Sign the papers."

Releasing the breath I was holding, I held the pen in my shaky hands and reluctantly agreed. I signed my name at the end of the contract. 

"Mara was invited by my Dad to dinner on Friday." I told him as I slid the paper to him and watched him signed it.

"I will tell her." Alec said as he escorted me to the door and back to my car after puttint the documents away.

I let my body fall on to my bed with a deep sigh. My eyes traveled to the picture on my bedside table. It was taken on my eighteenth birthday. My arm was slung around Mara's shoulder, both of us wet from swimming in the pool for the whole day. Both of us grinning widely at the camera.

"I'll tell you everything soon, shortcake. No lies. Even if you end up hating me."

Veronica stands in front of me, hands on her hips and her eyes digging daggers at my slumped form. "Where is your head right now? You have a meeting with the finance department in a few minutes and you haven't even studied about their proposed budget!"

My eyes trailed up to her face and I sighed in defeat. I have been all over the place today. Since Vero is my secretary, she had to deal with me moping around the office since this morning. Her tired and angry voice was scaring the shit out of me but I cannot for the sake of me, care about anything that is happening today. "I signed it." I told her, my voice was quiet and full of regret.

The more time that passes the more I see my stupidity for letting Alec push me to edge of finally signing the contract. I have never regretted anything in my life or any step I have taken for the sake of the company, but this, this might just be my own downfall. I set up myself for hell. To the pit of guilt that has bundled up inside me every time I think of Mara.

"Signed what exactly?" She asked exasperated with me. She took a seat on the chair at the left side of my table and stared at me. "Is this about the marriage thingy?"

"You have no idea." I told her, refusing to meet her eyes. I knew what she would say. She never wanted me to sign that. Despite all her warnings and lectures, I still did. 

"Mara will be sad and angry at what you have done. I saw her trust in you when you visited us. Even Mark agreed with me on this one, the girl was looking up at you like you hung the moon!" She exclaimed, her hands doing all this grand gestures as if to prove her point. 

I shook my head in disagreement. "Mara looks up to Alec in the same way. She sees me as a brother and nothing more."

"You are an idiot. Just stop moping around. Tomorrow is Friday and you, my dear boss, have a dinner with her and your family. You need to move on from this disastrous stage you are in." She explained and dropped the files for the meeting on my table. 

I followed her advice and read the whole document. 

The meeting went smoothly since I already know everything I needed to. I just wanted the finance department to answer some of my questions about the budget they intended to give to the research and development sector of the company. After two hours of debating with some items in their proposed budget, I dismissed the group. 

Still not feeling like myself, I walked back to my office in a rush. I needed to get my mind off of this guilt. Before I could even get seated properly in my office, Vero stopped me, phone in hand and panic written all over her place. 

"You have to see this!" she exclaimed and shoved her phone to my face. 

A picture of me and Mara hugging in their campus' parking lot was all over the internet. Our "intimate" gesture, as the media said, was one of a couple.

"Are we seeing the soon-to-be bride of one of the hottest bachelors of this generation?"

The article read. It started out with pointing out our close friendship when we were younger. then they moved on to explain how we are now engaged and soon to be married as a result of a contract I had with Alec. Even going as far as saying that Alec has sold the spoiled brat heiress to me.

"Shit." I exclaimed. I took out my phone and quickly called Alec. I didn't have to wait long. He answered right on the first ring. "Have you seen it?"

I heard him sigh. "I have and its fucking idiotic. You better not have told the media about this!" His tone was accusing but I can also hear the panic in it.

I blanched at his audicity to point fingers at me. "Fuck you man! I would never!" I told him in an equally angry voice.

"It said it came from a very reliable source. Who the hell is that?" A feminine voice on his side said.

"Let me see that shit." Alec's voice softened a bit at his statement and I quietly listened to whoever he is talking to. "Fucking Amelia!"

Shit that witch really doesn't know when to stop. "I'll get my PR to help take it down. I'll call you with updates." I told him as I motion for Vero to get the PR department on the line.

"Got it. I'll do the same."

Alec Ramirez

I am fuming with anger.

No one was to know about the contract until the actual wedding. Actually, I never wanted anyone to know about it. I wanted people to think Mara married Dustyn all on her own accord.

I just wanted to get Mara out of the house before I do anything drastic. I am all she had and I need to protect her until I can't anymore. I just wanted everything under the wraps until I have everything I needed.

But now, now people are going to be judging her again because of some stupid reliable source.

The media is ruthless. They're going to tear Mara to pieces. Again. As if it wasn't enough when they harassed her for six months straight. Now they're back again with an even more hurtful list of words to use against my sister.

There is only one person who could possibly hear about that. Amelia. Her name left a bitter taste in my mouth. If she keeps targeting Mara with her dirty tricks, I will make sure Dad dumps her stupid ass.

"Calm down Alec. I'll make sure it all goes away." Her sweet feminine and comforting voice drafted to my ears and I sighed in relief. Turning around, I put my hands on her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Oh!"

"Just stay like this for a while." I whispered. I felt her arms wrap around my neck and I sagged in relief. She's the girl I lost. The one that got away, they say. But I lost her and I can never get her back. All I have with her is the tight friendship we shared since college.

"I have to go and work on this. It'll take hours." Sge explained and untangled herself from me. She gave my shoulder a pat and left my office.

"Do it as fast as you can. I can't let Mara see any of the article." I told her as I let her leave. I watched her figure disappear as she closed the door of my office.

As soon as the door closed, I dialed Bart, my private investigator.

"Have you found anything?"

"I did. Some interesting stuff, if I say so myself."

I sighed in relief. "Good. Send me everything as soon as you can."

"Yes sir."

If Amelia wants a fight, she'll get one. And I will make sure she lose.