The Contract Marriage (Completed)

“Fine, one month. After that return home and do not bother me ever in my life.” I immediately cut the call and sigh.

"Are you serious Teresa?! Did you just give him another chance?" I hit my head with the phone in my hand.

Few minutes after I end the call, he is here at my door. “What?” I frown.

He smiles at me and simply enters the house. “Oii, what the hell? Who said you could enter?” I shout at him, following him inside. He turns deaf to my words and sits on the sofa triumphantly. I glare at him, my hands on my hips.

“So...” He gives his 1000 watt smile. I almost smile back at him but no! I shout mentally. You’re angry Teresa, just keep that up! Don’t let his smile get you. Look somewhere else! I mentally scold myself.

“What do you want?” I ask curtly looking everywhere, everything except him but then I peek at his face slowly. God! I don’t even have control over my eyes! I roll my eyes at myself.

“You.” He smiles sheepishly and my heart skips a beat. A small smile forms on my face, I face palm myself to hide my smile. Damn him! I immediately replace the smile on my face with a scowl. He grins. What do I do with him? Did I make a mistake? Yes, Yes you did. My subconscious laughs pointing at me. I shouldn’t have agreed for chance. I shake my head.

“Get out!” I glare at him.

“We need to talk, Teresa. So I have a month, do I? “He smiles again patting the seat beside him.

I roll my eyes. Well you’ve brought this upon yourself! I scold mentally and sit down, not near him but on the other sofa. Okay, I need to get things clear with him.

“Yes, a month, before I leave for Italy.” Yes my Italy project that I need to head. No, not him, only me! On the very day we fought for the last time at his lawyer’s office, later in the evening dad, I mean his dad called us. Yes, to scold us, we were staking a big project because of our personal fights. Of course I wanted to withdraw from this project but astonishingly he backed out letting me deal with this all by myself. Shocking isn’t it? Ryouma Carlton gave up his dream project, his work, his dear dream work, without a fight! I still don’t know what is he planning? I narrow my eyes at him and continue. “But after a month, I want you to promise me to leave me alone, return home and never bother me again!” I glare at him. “Cool.” He smiles. “And do not use any such methods, your ‘methods’ and get me angry because it won’t even take a second for me to take back your so called chance. You showed me your anger trust me, you won’t want to see mine either.” He nods. “Don’t just nod; I want a promise here, after. a . month. you. won’t. bother. me. again!” He nods again. I glare at him. “Fine! Promise.” He raises his hands in surrender.

“Good! Now get out!” I stand up and point at the door.

“Coffee date!” He mutters. “What?” I narrow my eyes at him. “I want you to go on a coffee date with me. Today. Now.” He smiles. I’m suddenly reminded of the time he stalked me, outside my house, “Listen, if you don’t leave then I’m calling the cops, Leave!” and his words and his smirk, “Make me.”

“Make me.” I managed to copy him exactly, even his smirk.

“Huh?”

“Exactly what I said, Mr. ex-husband.” I smirked.

“You’re playing unfair, you agreed to give me a chance.”

“I don’t understand what’s unfair here? I sure agreed but I never said I’ll cooperate, did I? Mr. ex-husband.” I smiled emphasizing the word EX.

He gapes at me and blinks. “I guess our talk is over, now get the hell out of my house.” I hissed. “And if you want to go on a coffee date with me, that’s your problem, not mine. You have a whole month do whatever you want and I’ll do what I want. And if you still want to go on a date with me, make me!” I drag him out of the house and wave him bye before closing the door on his shocked face. “That was good.” I smile to myself victoriously.

***

“Teresa, there’s a delivery for you.” Dad shouts from downstairs.

“Coming!” I shout as I go downstairs.

“Mam, here.” The flower girl hands me the white rose bouquet and a small wrapped box . “Thank you.” I smile at her and sign the paper. I keep the flowers at the table and open the wrapped box. It’s a small but cute mug. I blink twice.

“Teresa!” dad calls out again.

I receive the flowers and look at the note ‘if you don’t like coffee, they’ve got ice-creams and cake too. ;)’ “That jerk!” I mutter crushing the note and throw it on the dustbin.

“Teresa...”

“I’m here dad!” I walk raising my hand and receive another flower.

“That’s quite a number of flower now, isn’t it?” Dad asks raising his brows.

“Just a psychopath dad, a psychopath.” I shake my head and enter my room placing the flower on my bed. Dad hasn’t seen the amount of flowers I’ve received today since he was out the whole day. I don’t even have any space left for anything anymore, Roses (white, yellow, pink, red, orange..etc.) Jasmine, orchids and flowers that I don’t even know the names of, my whole room has become a flower garden. “Argh!” I ruffle my hair with frustration. “I’ve had enough!” I take my phone. “Mr. over obsessive psychopath/ ex-husband, do you even realize you’ve turned my room into a flower garden? Don’t you have any work to do? Is your company going well? I doubt.” I yell at him.

“Hey beautiful, flower garden.... nice. Make more space, more is to come. And don’t worry about my company, it’s flourishing day and night. And I’m at the office right now.” He replies to my every question.

“Oh... you are working, of course.” Seriously did I really think he can live a day without his work? I roll my eyes. “Listen, I don’t have any space for your stupidity anymore. Cancel them, the flowers!”

“Coffee it is then?” I hear him smile.

“NO.”

“Then, I’ll turn your house into a garden.” I sense him grin.

“Stop it! Dad will get suspicious. I don’t want to upset him because of you, you’ve done enough damage, I don’t want his health to deteriorate again!” I yell at him.

“Then coffee?”

Damn him! “Fine, I’ll go on a coffee date with you, happy?” I shout.

“You have no idea.” He laughs.

*******

“Finally!” He waves at me as I enter the cafe. ” You look beautiful as always.” He grins.

I smile at him. “Tell me something I don’t know.” I stick my tongue out.

He blinks. He’s shocked by my reply, well this is nothing to what I’m about to do. I smirk.

“So here I am, Coffee!” I mutter.

“Take a seat first.” He signs. I sigh and sit down. “Finally you’re here. I missed you.” He winks.

“Co-ff-ee.” I mouth.

“I--” He tries to speak.

“Coffee!” I smile at him.

“God Teresa, it takes time.” He glares at me.

“Go bring it.” I smile again.

He frowns.

“I want my coffee please.” I grin.

“Fine, I’ll bring it.′ He sighs but smiles back at me and goes to the counter.

After a minute, he’s back with two coffees on his hands.

“Here, happy? Now....”

“Drink.” I say curtly.

He glares at me, his eyes burning with anger. I glare back, you think you can get angry? NO!

“Teresa-”

“I’m done here, bye.” I stand up to leave.

“Okay now, you’re going overboard.”

“Me?” I glare at him.

“You’re just here, and leaving already? and what’s wrong with you, a minute ago you were smiling at me and now... ”

“Oh, you’re shocked? Don’t be. You do that to me every time, smiling a minute ago and angry young man in the next. I was just returning the favor.” I smiled at him sarcastically.

“Oh, so it’s about that.” He mutters.

“Yes, yes it is. I wanted you to know how and what exactly one feels. And I never said I’ll have coffee with you. I agreed to come here, I’m here, now bye. Enjoy your coffee.” I turn around to leave but he grabs my hand. I glare at him, he leaves me immediately and raise his hands in surrender. “Fine, don’t get angry.” He sighs. “Angry? trust me, I’m not even close to it.” I narrow my eyes.

“Okay, let’s not create a scene here.” He glares at me. “Even I don’t want to, let me go, this ends here.” I shrug.

“Teresa, please I know you’re upset but...” His phone rings. He cuts the call. “Sorry... As I was saying....” rings again. He mutters a curse under his breath. “Go ahead, pick it up.” I sigh. “What?” He snaps picking up the call. “....handle it then...damn!....Now?” He glances at me.

“Work... Go.” I look away from him.

“I’m not coming, handle it yourself... then they can just go to hell.” He cuts the call and looks at me. I widen my eyes and blink. “that was important.” It’s not a question, I know it was. I could find out by his voice. “You’re more important.” He mutters blushing a little. Did the sun rise from west? Did the whole north pole melt? He abandoned his work for me? and what’s more? he’s even blushing? Oh my! the cafe’s spinning and I hold the table to prevent my self from falling.

“You okay?” He gets up and holds me worriedly.

“Just fine.” I say softly.

He drops me home after few hours? I don’t even know how much time passed? what we talked? nothing! Still not out of the shock. I slap myself. His phone rings again. “Shit!” I hear him mutter.

“I guess you’re in trouble?” I shook my head feeling guilty.

“Nothing, I can’t handle.” There goes his arrogant mouth reminding me of first few months of our married life. Some things never change. I smile.

“Bye then.” I get off the car.

“Listen, tomorrow a proper date?” He asks with hope.

“Make me.” I wink and stick my tongue out.

“Sure.” He smirks.

******

The next morning

“Ah! I had such a good night sleep.” I hug myself, smiling like an idiot.

“Teresa! There’s another flower.” Dad calls out.

“huh? That idiot and just yesterday I told him to leave me alone for a day.” I sigh and go downstairs.

It’s a flower boy this time who greets me with a smile and hands me the flower. I smile back at him and receive the flower. I look at the note ‘Your secret admirer.’

I place the flower beside my bed and caress it lovingly but I need to scold him, he broke his promise.

“What is it secret admirer? breaking your promise?” I scold him.

“What’s with this secret admirer? I’m your obvious admirer.” I hear him smile. “And my lady, I’m a man of his words. Which promise did I break? Enlighten me, please.”

“The flowers.”

“Oh, you’re missing them? I thought you said not today. Should I send them?” He sense him grin.

“It’s not you?” I blink and look at the flowers.

“What’s wrong?” He asks in a serious tone.

“Oh nothing.” damn I can’t let him know of this, he gets jealous too easily, I don't want another touble adding up. “How’s work, did you get in trouble?” I switch the topic.

“Who do you think I am?” He laughs. Thank god!

“Okay, bye.” I cut the call and glare at the flowers. “Who the hell is this secret admirer?"