No Strings Attached

Four summer mornings had passed, with the smell of brewing coffee and scorched eggs, yoghurts and grapes, but never the sight of Mia. She had been avoiding physical contact with Rey since the day Andrews came. Rey had noticed this movement disapprovingly. He began hating the fact that his coffee was beside his bed when he woke up but not her.

Then, one morning, he decided to break the ice burg she was building. He had kept awake through the wee hours of the morning, pacing back and forth, staring out at the night view of the distant city lights, glowing through the window.

As footsteps came thudding through the hallway, he slipped under his sheets and feigned sleep. The door knob turned and Mia stepped in. He peeped at her through the shade of his lashes.

She dropped the coffee and turned to leave when a set of firm fingers held her wrist and for a moment she forgot how to breathe. "Mia." His voice rumbled. It was as though her feet had frozen.

"Don't leave so soon." His voice came in low tones, his hands still holding onto her wrist.

"Join me for breakfast today." He declared. She was beyond shocked at the calm in his voice. She was so shocked that she couldn't hold his gaze, and she tried pulling away but he didn't let go.

"Will you?" His grip around her wrist tightened.

"Okay, I will, sir—"

"Reynaldo." He corrected and her heart race shot up with a pleasant adrenaline rush.

"Okay, Reynaldo." She said, as her lips trembled slightly.

"I should be leaving now." She pointed towards the door beside her and flashed a nervous smile.

"Okay." Rey smiled, letting go of her wrist. He had smiled for the second time, a full smile that lingered for a few seconds before fading away. He really wants her to see that part of him.

"Alright." She said, before hurrying out.

At breakfast that morning, they sat on opposite sides of the table, at the far end of its horizontal sides while she picked on the food slowly, peering at him at intervals.

"Have you reconsidered my proposal, Miss. Mia?" He asked.

"Proposal?" She asked, pretending to be ignorant of what he meant.

"The dating and marriage proposal."

"I didn't want to. But I did, Sir. I mean, Mr. Davies."

"And what's your final decision?"

"Maybe we should eat first before anything else."

"No. I don't mind knowing your decision now."

"I would do it." She said and Rey paused.

"What did you say?" His eyes bloomed in excitement.

"I would sign the contract. But there must be terms and conditions applied." She finalized.

"Of course, there would be terms and conditions. My terms and your conditions. Give me a sec—" He got up this laptop and typed in a few characters. Then turned the laptop to face her.

"I already sorted out some. Take a look, Miss." He passed the laptop to her.

"Here you go." Her eyes scanned the screen and it read; A MARRIAGE CONTRACT/ BUSINESS PROPOSAL

1. "Terms and Conditions" – fix your conditions.

2. "Scope of Work" – The business shall procure a marriage contract.

3. "Payment Terms" – Twice your named amount.

4. "Delivery Schedule" – In public and around my people.

5. "Confidentiality Clause" – No one except the business partners involved must be aware of this agreement.

6. "Liability and Indemnification" – I, Reynaldo Davies shall handle this aspect of the Contract.

7. "Termination Clause" – The contract will be terminated for good if any rules or laws stated here are being violated.

8. "Dispute Resolution" – If dispute of any kind arises—which shouldn't—I, Reynaldo Davies, would be responsible for settling it.

9. "Governing Law" – Two at least from each partner.

• On no account shall any partner interfere with the private life of the other, no matter the situation.

• No partner has the right to speak of this contract to anyone FIX IN YOURS!

10. "Signatures"- Signed :Rey

She stared back at him and chuckled mentally, before squarely facing the laptop, inputting some data.

"Well...I have just one condition." She told him.

"Which is?"

"There shall be no feelings or emotional portrayal in private. No strings attached." She said.

"Deal! I mean you could simply switch back to calling me your boss when we are alone." He nodded his head.

"Yep. I think that's all from me."

"And your price?"

"I don't really know what to fix, so I'd leave that to you, Sir. Just fix your desired price." She said, passing the laptop to him.

"It was your role to play. You know."

"My role to play?"

"But if you don't mind, then I'd fix the price myself."

"Cool!" She said, with a feigned smile.

"How about twice of $5 million dollars?" He said casually.

"What??" Mia screamed.

"Why did you raise your voice like that?" He seemed unsurprised.

"Sir, this is a million times my monthly pay!" Her blue eyes widened.

"This is a better job, so, a better income I guess. Besides, that's just a little money. It's nothing." He shrugged.

Her jaws were still on the floor. Did he just call 10 million dollars a "no big deal"?

"And why would you pay me so much?" She asked.

"Because I want to. You'd have to face public humiliation afterwards. I mean after the breakup. But it would be easier for you since you aren't a celebrity." She winced as though his words had hit her like physical pain.

Oh! Oh! So this was why. This was why he didn't pick any of the girls at Fluxx. They were all well-known figures. Some were Instagram celebrities and some were models. There she was, thinking there was something special about the fact that she was his first choice.

"Yep. I know, right?" She frantically laughed it off.

"Fine. So we're on this right?"

"We Surely are!"

"Right! So, why don't we begin with a makeover?"

"And why would I need a makeover, Sir?"

"Because you'd be mine in a bit. Dress up. We'd be out by six this evening."