16: Signing The Papers

Zade

Dave was fuming at this point, and I liked it very much. He pointed a hand at Carla as he spat out loudly this time. “That’s betrayal! Getting married to my enemy of all people? Tell me, Is this to get back at me? You can get married to anyone else but him!”

Carla let out a laugh this time. “How audacious of you, Dave! You served me divorce papers after betraying me all over again, and yet you have the guts to feel like your opinion of feelings matters to me anymore? How dare you?”

Dave stepped closer. “No, how dare you? I forbid it! You can get married to anyone but him! Do you even know who you’re getting married to? Aren’t you aware of his nickname?? He’s nicknamed ‘Devil’ for a reason. He's the Devil's own incarnate, so for your own sake, don’t do something stupid and ridiculous.” He paused for a moment. “If you still respect me a little, you’ll listen to me.”

Carla picked up her pen again. “Well, it’s a good thing that I feel no respect for you: all I feel for you is hatred.” She hurled at him, and again, I felt impressed by how she kept matching his words, how her voice didn’t waver at all.

“You stupid cunt…” Dave was still speaking when I stepped forward this time.

“That’s enough, watch your mouth around my future wife.” I told him and he bristled, completely enraged.

“Mind your business, Zade! We’re technically still married since she’s yet to sign the papers!” He yelled angrily.

“Let me sign it right now then.” Carla called out just as she began to put her signatures in all the boxes that required her signatures in the documents, while the expression on Dave’s face kept darkening as the seconds went by.

“Are you really in love with each other?” He asked, clearly still unable to believe that all of this was happening, and he looked very perplexed.

“Of course.” I responded and when his eyes settled on me this time, it was like he wished he could punch me in the face right now.

“Wait… does this mean that you’ve been cheating on me with him before I handed you the divorce papers?” His eyes were so wide with shock that I barked out a laugh.

“You were cheating on me with him while we were still together?? With my enemy of all people? Have you always been this shameless, Carla?!” He yelled while Serena tried calming him down.

“Let’s just leave, honey.” She inserted as she grabbed his arm but he shook his head firmly.

“No, I must get to the bottom of this.” He snapped as he wrenched his grip away from her, then he turned to focus on Carla again.

“Answer me, Carla!” He yelled just as Carla rose up her feet, having fully signed the documents.

“I don’t understand why you’re sounding so shocked about me cheating on you, Dave. Can’t you figure out the fact that I clearly learnt from you?”

As Dave spluttered, I forced down a laugh.

Damn, Carla is mouthy as fuck, than I even realized.

And it was honestly hot as hell.

Dave spluttered. “That’s- that’s different! I never cheated, mine was an open marriage thing.” He argued and Carla shrugged.

“Well, mine was like that too.” She shot back at him.

As Dave picked up the divorce papers, he looked very enraged. It was like he came here intending for her to be pleading and crying, and is annoyed to get the complete opposite of that,

“Mark my words, Carla. You’ll regret this,” he gritted out through clenched teeth, eyes filled with so much anger as he stared at Carla.

“I doubt, but go off.” Carla told him in response and I laughed out loud this time.

Dave’s face was red with anger as he gave Carla a few more warnings of how she was gonna regret this, then he was leaving with Serena.

Lena watched the entire drama unfold without saying a word, and when our eyes locked right now, an unreadable expression was in her eyes. In all honesty, I kind of forgot that she was present as well.

Carla flopped into the couch right behind her, then she grabbed her hair as she let out a long, shuddery breath. It felt like all the energy fled right out of her at once, and for a weird moment,something that resembled concern settled in my chest as I kept staring at her.

Before I could do anything, Lena was tapping my side, pulling me back to the present.

“Can I talk to you real quick?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

As I followed her out of the sitting room, against my will, I took one last look at Carla who was yet to move from the same position.

~~~

In my bedroom, Lena had her arms folded as she stood before me, a frown across her face as she spoke.

“I don't like how you acted out there.”

I stared at her in utter confusion.

“What?”

“How you acted around her, like you actually cared about her! Like you were really in love with her.” She cried out and I let out a sigh, feeling irritated and frustrated at the same time.

“Lena, have you forgotten that it’s my initial intention? To make everyone believe that we’re both in love.” I pointed out while still forcing myself to keep my voice down.

Lena shook her head. “No, it felt like it was more than pretending. It felt real. I don’t like this.”

I let out a frustrated sigh.

“Lena, is this you fishing for reassurances??!”

She bit on her bottom lip as she shook her head but I could see right through her. I let out one more sigh as I opened my arms.

“Come here.”

She flew into my arms immediately, gripping me tightly.

“You’re seeing too much into this because you like me, that is all. It’s only an act with her. Everything I do with her, in your presence and in the presence of the public is only gonna be an act, okay?”

She nodded, her arms tightening around me. I was already starting to feel suffocated because I disliked physical contacts like this.

“I guess you’re right. I feel silly. I’m sorry, Zade.”

I sighed, forcing down the words I actually wanted to say, that indeed, she’s being silly as fuck, cause why in the world would I actually be in love with Carla of all people?

“It’s alright, just remember this conversation next time instead of jumping into conclusions.” I told her and she nodded before rising on her tippytoes, asking for a kiss.

I kissed her head instead before stepping out of the hug.

“So, when are you leaving?” I asked and her eyes widened.

“I- I thought I’d stay over today too, especially since we didn’t get to do anything last night.” She mumbled. “Are you sending me away?”

“Lena.” I sighed.

“Ugh, fine. I’ll go, but when can I come over again?” She asked, but my mind was already straying from this conversation, to Carla, while I briefly wondered if she was still in the sitting room.

“I’ll send a car over for you.” I tell her before leaving her to shower and get ready to leave.

When I went back to the sitting room, Carla was still in the same position I left her in, and the first thought that came to mind was that she regretted signing those papers. That thought irritated me so much and I saw red for a second.

“You aren’t stewing in regret, are you?” I barked out before I could stop myself and she stiffened before jumping, clearly startled.

“What?! Of course not!” She cried out as she smoothed her hair.

“Good. Because the contract you signed with me is unbreakable. You can’t back out of it till it’s up.”

She pursed her lips, back to looking unimpressed. “I’m well aware.”

I gave her a single nod. “Good.”

“It would take some getting used to though. I still feel like a stranger here.” She mumbled before adding. “And your girlfriend kept glaring at me throughout the whole exchange I had with Dave, like I did something wrong to her.”

I let out a sigh as I massaged my forehead. “Lena misunderstood the situation but it has been fixed.”

“And as for you still feeling like a stranger… after we get married, you’ll definitely get used to everything around here.”

She stood up this time, stretching her arms and letting out a sigh.

“I hope this one year flies by fast without me noticing, so the contract can be up and I can be on my way.” She muttered, then she was walking past me before I could respond.

As I stared after her, something hollow settled in my chest, and I realized almost immediately that it was displeasure. I was displeased by what she just said.

She turned back at the doorway of the sitting room, but now I was irritated by the sight of her face.

“I have a question before I leave.” She announced and I rolled my eyes.

“What is it?” I demanded harshly.

It seems she was already used to me treating her this way because she didn’t even flinch as she continued.

“Can I have a boyfriend? Or a fuck buddy at least?”