THE ARRANGEMENT

Rachel arrived at Café del Espejo ten minutes earlier than the agreed time. She stood in front of the door, adjusting the sleeves of her blouse. An hour earlier, Joseph had sent her a message asking if she could meet him at Café del Espejo after work. He hadn't explained why, but she already knew. They still had a lot to discuss regarding the arrangement. After checking on Benjamin and finishing her shift at Sterling Tech, she had gone home to change before heading to the café. She wasn't surprised to find Joseph already there. He occupied the same corner table they had used during their previous meeting. A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of him while a black folder rested neatly beside it. He appeared to be reading something on his phone, but the moment she approached, he looked up and slipped the device into his pocket. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt less nervous than she had the first time they met. Perhaps it was because Benjamin's surgery had finally been scheduled or perhaps it was because Joseph no longer felt like a complete stranger.

"Good evening," she said as she took her seat.

"Good evening."

His gaze briefly studied her face.

"How's your brother?"

Rachel smiled before she could stop herself.

"The surgery has been scheduled."

Something softened in his expression.

"That's good."

"It is. Thank you.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Rachel found herself remembering the conversation she had shared with Benjamin at the hospital. Even now, thinking about it made her chest feel lighter.

"I still can't believe it," she admitted. "For months, everything felt impossible. Then suddenly, it wasn't."

Joseph listened quietly.

"The doctor thinks the surgery will go well."

"I'm glad."

Rachel looked at him.

"You really did save his life."

Joseph sighed.

"We've discussed this."

"I know."

"Then stop thanking me."

A laugh escaped her.

"You make it very difficult."

"Good."

Rachel shook her head. She still hadn't figured him out. One moment he seemed distant and impossible to read. The next, he would do something unexpectedly kind. The waiter arrived and took her order before leaving again. Once they were alone, Joseph reached for the black folder resting beside him. Rachel immediately noticed the movement.

"What is that?"

Joseph placed the folder on the table.

"Our agreement."

Rachel stared at him.

"Our agreement?"

"Yes."

"Please tell me you didn't actually prepare documents."

"I prepared documents."

Rachel dropped her head into her hands.

"Oh, my God."

Joseph looked completely serious.

"What?"

"You made a contract."

"Of course."

"It's a fake relationship."

"Which is exactly why it requires clear expectations."

Rachel laughed despite herself.

"You cannot be serious."

"I am serious."

She looked at the folder again.

The thing looked official enough to belong in a courtroom. Slowly, she opened the several pages neatly organised inside. Rachel looked up.

"You typed all of this?"

"Yes, with the help of my lawyer.,” 

"How long did this take?"

Joseph ignored the question. Rachel continued reading.The first section outlined the purpose of their arrangement. The second listed responsibilities and expectations. The third contained rules. A lot of rules. She looked at him again.

"There are eight pages."

"Nine."

Rachel closed the folder.

"You are unbelievable."

Joseph folded his arms.

"Would you prefer twenty pages?"

"No."

"Then I suggest you appreciate my restraint."

Rachel laughed so hard that a few nearby customers turned to look at her.

When she finally calmed down, Joseph slid a pen across the table. She pushed it back.

"I'm not signing anything until I read it properly."

"Fair."

At least he wasn't offended. Together, they began reviewing the contents. Some of the rules made sense. Others made Rachel wonder whether Joseph had spent his entire life creating lists.

"No discussing the arrangement with anyone," she read aloud.

"Correct."

"No public arguments."

"Correct."

"No embarrassing social media posts."

Joseph nodded.

"Absolutely correct."

Rachel frowned.

"I wasn't planning to embarrass you online."

"You'd be surprised what people do."

She rolled her eyes.

The conversation continued. Most of the conditions focused on appearances, family dinners, business functions, social events and occasional photographs. Nothing particularly unreasonable. At least not until she reached another section.Rachel looked up.

"No touching unless necessary?"

Joseph remained completely calm.

"It seemed appropriate."

Rachel stared at him.

"You actually wrote that down."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because misunderstandings are inconvenient."

Rachel closed the folder again.

"You are the most unusual person I have ever met."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I hear that often."

She doubted that.

People probably told him he was intimidating of difficult.

As the conversation continued, Rachel found herself relaxing. The contract remained ridiculous, but Joseph's seriousness somehow made it entertaining. Every time she challenged one of the rules, he defended it with complete sincerity. By the time they reached the final page, nearly an hour had passed. The waiter returned with fresh coffee.

Rachel leaned back in her chair.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this."

Joseph lifted his cup.

"You agreed."

"I know."

"Regretting it already?"

"No."

The answer came faster than she expected. Joseph seemed to notice. Rachel looked away and stirred her drink.

"Tell me something."

Rachel looked up.

"What?"

"You've spent the last hour criticising my contract."

"I was offering feedback."

"Of course."

The corner of her mouth twitched.

Joseph continued.

"Tell me about yourself."

Rachel blinked.

The request caught her off guard.

"What do you want to know? Is that part of our arrangement?”

"Tell me anything."He paused, “let me get to know you.”

She thought for a moment.

"There isn't much to tell."

"I doubt that."

Rachel looked down at her cup. She wasn't used to talking about herself. Most conversations in her life revolved around Benjamin, work, hospital appointments, or unpaid bills. Her own life rarely seemed important enough to discuss.

"I work too much and I don't sleep enough."

She smiled.

"I noticed that too."

She laughed.

"What exactly do you do all day? Partying?"

“Rarely."

Rachel shook her head. The man was impossible.

“Apart from attending to customers at the bar, what else do you do?” Joseph asked,

Rachel was uncomfortable with the question but she answered anyway.

“I work at Sterling Tech company.”

“Ohh… wow!” He seemed surprised.

“Yes,” Rachel barely had words to say after that.

Eventually, Joseph asked, "How long have you worked at Sterling Tech?"

Rachel looked surprised.

"For a while now."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Most days."

"Most days?"

"Yes, It depends on the workload."

Joseph nodded thoughtfully. His expression changed and it was enough for Rachel to notice. The reaction lasted barely a second before disappearing. Still, she found herself watching him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You looked strange."

"Stop that, Miss” 

Rachel laughed.

"Fair point."

Joseph took another sip of his drink. 

Rachel discovered that Joseph occasionally possessed a sense of humour. It appeared unexpectedly and disappeared just as quickly, but it was there. By the time they finally stood to leave, it was past 11pm. Rachel gathered her bag. She would not want to offend Nate because she was already late.

"So what happens now?"

Joseph picked up the folder.

"Now we prepare."

"For your grandmother's birthday?"

"Yes."

Rachel sighed.

"You're aware she's going to interrogate me."

"Almost certainly."

"Thanks for the warning."

"I believe in honesty."

Rachel rolled her eyes. They walked towards the café entrance together. Outside, people moved through the busy streets while traffic flowed steadily past. Joseph stopped beside his car.

"I'll contact you tomorrow."

Rachel nodded.

"Okay."

Then Joseph opened the car door.

"Rachel."

She looked at him.

"Thank you for taking this seriously."

The words surprised her. Before she could respond, he got into the car. A few seconds later, he was gone. Rachel remained standing on the pavement, watching the traffic disappear into the distance. Then she shook her head and started walking.