CHAPTER 7 - THE WRITTEN CONTRACT
Inside the bathroom, Courtney is silently screaming her lungs out because of the turned out event. Her imagination turns into reality and she doesn’t need to convince her parents about Ben. She’s happy that she gets to marry the guy she’s been dreaming even though it’s for temporary. As soon as she was done with her business, she washed her hand and dried it. She was about to pull the door when she heard Ben calling her name. She acknowledged it and they walked to the direction of Ben’s office.
"Hey bro! Oh – hi to you too!” Eric greeted them after seeing them opening the door.
“Hi.” Courtney bashfully replied.
“Eric, meet Courtney, that’s my brother I’m talking about." Ben introduced them
“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you Eric.” Courtney smiled at him.
“Same here sister-in-law." Eric made sure to stretch the word that he knew perfectly she won’t deny or reject.
“Let’s take a sit, come on.” Ben held Courtney’s elbow that did not pass Eric’s eyes.
"My best guess is you agreed with the plan right?” Eric is certain on that.
“Yes, it's a win-win situation for us, right Ben?" Courtney eyed Ben.
“It is, now do us a favor and get out of the office. We need to discuss the contract.” Ben patted his brother's shoulder.
“I can stay, it’s my idea anyway.” Eric didn’t badge.
“Nope, you can’t be here. This is purely business so if you'll excuse us we need to talk professionally.” Ben disapproved.
"Damn you’re too fast brother.” Eric earns a smacked on the head from Ben.
“Keep that thought to yourself Enrico. You are making Courtney uncomfortable!” Ben shooed his brother who is currently sitting on the chair.
“Alright – alright, relax – no need to be abusive.” Eric grabbed his coat on the chair.
Courtney can’t help but admire how strong their bond is and she is in fact envious of that since she didn’t have any siblings. Sometimes she wished she’s not an only child at least her parents attention will be divided equally.
“Go check the staffs outside or do something resourceful." Ben bossed his brother.
“Don’t forget to the protection!” Eric yelled on the way out.
"Asshole! Out!" Ben pushed him out the door.
"Okay okay, I'm going." Eric put his hands on the air as sign of surrender while smiling.
When Eric was about half a meter away Ben decided to speak up first while Courtney is busy looking around the office with her eyes. There is a long black leather seat leaning against the wall wherein a personal Espresso machine is located. The other wall has a mounted shelf full of the employee’s awards of the Café Vergnano with designated level of expertise. Courtney can also see the achievements and special awards of Venoso’s clan all over the years. “That is the first award that my great grandfather has when he started this business.” Ben stood beside her.
“I am very impressed to be honest; your great grandfather was truly a legend. Because of him, a lot of people are drinking organic coffee.” Courtney read through the description of the award.
“He is, without his idea we might not be here now or still oblivious to that type of coffee or healthy lifestyle for that matter.” Ben stated.
“That is so true, now a days people are becoming health conscious.” Courtney added.
“In deed.” Ben nodded in agreement.
They both looked to each other’s eyes until Ben broke it off first and decided to head over to Espresso machine to make his coffee.
“Anything you want? Tea – water or another coffee?" Ben offered.
"Water is fine. Thanks." Courtney cleared her dry throat.
Ben finished his espresso and hand over the glass of cold water. He sat beside Courtney and watched her for a brief second seeing the woman is a bit flustered.
“By the way, I'm sorry about that my brother, he can be insane most of the times." Ben saw Courtney is still flustered.
"No worries. I actually enjoyed the banter that you too have.” Courtney speaks after composing herself.
“Don’t you have any sibling?” Ben probed.
“I’m an only child.” Courtney answered truthfully.
“Lucky you.” Ben took some blank paper and two pens on his drawer.
“You’ll be surprise to hear that it’s not easy being an only child. Take it from me.” Courtney accepted the paper and pen.
“What can I say you’re expert on that matter?” Ben heads to his own espresso machine.
“So how do we start the contract?" Courtney sat comfortably on the couch.
"We can both write our conditions and discuss it, what you think?” Ben suggested while making a coffee.
"Good idea. Let's get this over with." Courtney started writing without leaving her eyes on the paper.
Ben continuously watched her in silence seeing how focus the woman is while writing. He decided to write his own conditions before he can totally forgot about it, after debating for a moment he finally grabbed a pen. Courtney on the other hand can feel she was being watched but decided not to look up. After half hour passed and they are done, they exchanged papers and read each condition.
"Separate rooms really?” Ben raised his eyebrow.
“Of course we should have our own privacy, just because I agree on this deal doesn’t mean we get to sleep together.” Courtney clarified.
“We need to pretend that we're couple and my mother usually comes in my house without permission, so how are we going to justify that if we’re sleeping separately?" Ben countered.
"Fine erased it; same with your condition that you’re allowed to date.” She retorted.
“We are not even married yet, but you’re starting to be possessive.” Ben joked.
“Let me remind you we are going to married and I don't want my pretend husband to be on tabloid for cheating on me. How do you think our parents will react if they saw you with other woman, can you justify that?” She contradicted.
“If I’m not allowed to do it, then so do you. It’s a two-way street baby.” Ben held the pen ready to take the clause out.
“Deal.” Courtney instantly agrees.
“We need to tell each other where we’re going and who’s with who?” Ben read the next on his list.
"That is totally insane! You're taking my privacy away!" Her tone came out loud.
"Will you please lower your voice? I need to know everything so when our parents asked I won't sound stupid besides I'll be doing the same thing." Ben tried his best to stay calm.
"Fine, include that on the list!” Courtney hissed.
“Next, I'm working ten hours a day and I can provide us a living so being a good wife you will prepare our food at home." He read on.
“I'm a contract wife not your personal maid." Courtney snorted.
“Well considering you’re a woman I assume you know how to cook, unless you don’t even know how make a sunny side up.” Ben prayed she does otherwise he will be doomed.
“You’re such a bully! Of course I know how to cook; don’t worry I will not starve us to death.” Courtney lied.
“Thank God! Otherwise my mother will have my head for marrying a woman who doesn’t know her way inside the kitchen.” He took a breather.
Courtney felt guilty on that, being an only child she doesn’t have to do anything unless of course in tidying her bed. She reminded herself that she needs to enroll in cooking class since she doesn’t want her dear husband to starve. She will plan on her daily schedule to make it a point to attend a full month of cooking lesson. So by the time that they tied the knot she knows how to cook and then she will go to baking class as well for a two-week online class.
"If I’m going to cook and shop, then you better do the cleaning and laundry. No objections." Courtney made her negotiation.
"No, that’s not a man’s job." Ben refused.
"Mr. Venoso I will be responsible for the cooking and groceries so might as well be a good husband and do your part.” Courtney made her point.
“We can just hire some cleaner to do that.” He tried to swayed her.
“Nope, that’s too risky. What if they find out about our charade huh?” Courtney will not let the conversation go.
“This is harder than I thought it will be.” Ben murmured.
“Enough sulking and lets focus on this matter. It’s only fair that you wash the clothes since I’ll do other chores. All you have to do is put the clothes inside the tub, then add the detergent and fabric softener that's it.” Courtney said without a pause.
If there is one thing that she is proud to do it is doing the laundry since she doesn’t allow the maid to go over it because either they destroy it or stole it.
“Fine you win, but can you uhhm... teach me how to do it?” Ben lowered his gaze.
"Ha ha ha!! The famous business tycoon admitted his ignorance on operating a washing machine. This is one hell of news for you!" She laughed wholeheartedly.
"Keep laughing and I will tell my mother you're pregnant that way you have no choice but to have sex with me." Ben bluntly stated while smirking.
“Oh you pervert!” Courtney threw the pen to Ben.
"Admit it you want to have sex with me." Ben wiggled his eyebrows.
"Wh---at! Of course not!" She tried not to blush furiously.
“You too arrogant! Gosh! What did I get myself into?” Courtney said in low voice that Ben heard loud and clear.
“Relax I'm just messing with you.” Ben winked in return.
“Enough with your prank; lets finish this so I can go.” She swings the paper in the air.
“Where was I? Oh right the pregnancy – as you know my mother is keen on that detail, how do you plan on dodging that?” Ben asked in serious tone this time.
“Let’s just stick to the idea that we are not ready to have one, shall we?” Courtney reminded him.
“But let me speak hypothetically, if we are going to have a child I would like I would like for you to the custody, then I’ll give the child support every month.” He made sure to enclose it on their condition.
“I’m the mother after all I guess that makes sense, but let’s not go down that path since I opt not to have a kid soon.” Courtney drank the water on the table.
“Okay, it's a deal." Ben drank his coffee.
“Is there anything else that you would like to add on this list?” Courtney questioned.
“Nope, I’m good, what about you?” He took the papers and pen on the desk.
“All good too, now I can go.” Courtney placed the glass on the table.
