The Contract

Suzie barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, the same thoughts chased each other through her mind. The eviction notice she knew was coming. The hotel commission that had disappeared with a single email. Adrian sitting alone on the bench after she'd walked away.

By morning, the knot in her stomach had only tightened.

She arrived at the café just before eight, tied on her apron and forced herself to smile.

"Morning, sunshine," Emma said. "You look like you've had about three minutes' sleep."

"It feels like three."

Emma slid a mug of tea across the counter.

"Bad day yesterday?"

"That's one way of putting it."

The breakfast rush left no time for conversation. Coffee orders piled up and the queue barely moved.

For a while, work distracted her.

Then her phone vibrated.

Unknown Number.

She ignored it.

A minute later it rang again.

Emma glanced across.

"You going to answer that?"

Suzie slipped into the storeroom.

"Hello?"

"Suzie?"

She recognised Adrian's voice immediately.

"I know you probably don't want to hear from me."

"No," she admitted.

"I understand."

Silence stretched between them.

"I just wanted five minutes."

"I already gave you five minutes yesterday."

"I know."

His voice was quieter than before.

"But things have changed."

"They've changed for me too."

She almost told him about the studio and the commission.

Instead she swallowed the words.

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters if it's upsetting you."

"You don't get to ask me that after yesterday."

He was silent.

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

"I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did."

Another pause.

"If I explained everything properly, not as an actor and not as a publicity stunt, would you meet me?"

"I've got work."

"What time do you finish?"

"Four."

"I'll be outside."

"You don't even know if I'll come."

"I'll still be there."

The line went dead.

At exactly four o'clock, Suzie stepped out of the café.

Adrian was waiting beside a black Range Rover, two takeaway coffees balanced on the roof.

He looked exhausted.

"You came."

"I nearly didn't."

He handed her a cup.

"I remembered."

She frowned.

"Remembered what?"

"Two sugars."

She smiled despite herself.

"You still remember?"

"You always said coffee was too bitter."

"I still do."

His shoulders relaxed.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

They walked towards the nearby park.

After a few moments Adrian spoke.

"I owe you a proper apology."

"You've already apologised."

"Not properly."

He looked down at his coffee.

"Yesterday I made it sound as though I came looking for you because I needed something."

"You did."

"I know."

"But that's not why I thought of you."

She stayed quiet.

"When Lila suggested a fake relationship, I refused."

"So what changed?"

"I met you."

His answer caught her off guard.

"You reminded me who I used to be."

He smiled sadly.

"For one hour I forgot about the scandal."

There was no performance in his voice.

Just honesty.

"I still shouldn't have asked."

"No."

"But I couldn't think of anyone else I'd trust."

Trust.

The word lingered between them.

They reached the bench overlooking the river.

Adrian took an envelope from his jacket.

"I wasn't going to bring this."

"Lila insisted."

Suzie folded her arms.

"The contract?"

"A draft."

"I already told you no."

"I know."

He placed it on the bench.

"I'm not paying you to pretend. I'm paying you because six months of your life won't belong entirely to you."

She looked at the envelope.

"What exactly would happen?"

Relief flickered across his face.

"We'd announce the relationship within forty-eight hours."

"So soon?"

"The studio doesn't have longer."

"There'd be media training, interviews, public appearances and charity events."

"You're making it sound almost enjoyable."

He smiled.

"I don't think anyone has ever enjoyed media training."

She laughed.

"I'd be hopeless."

"I've seen you panic because someone asked where the sugar was."

"That was one time."

"It was three."

She rolled her eyes.

"Traitor."

"I'm just saying journalists ask harder questions."

Her laughter faded.

"And afterwards?"

"The contract ends."

Simple.

Clinical.

Safe.

She looked back at the envelope.

"How much?"

He told her.

Her eyes widened.

"That's..."

"A lot."

"It would cover six months."

"It would also cover a new studio."

She froze.

"How did you know?"

"I guessed."

"You looked worried yesterday."

She let out a slow breath.

"My landlord's selling the building."

His face fell.

"I'm sorry."

"I've got thirty days."

She stared across the river.

"My biggest commission disappeared yesterday as well."

Neither of them spoke.

Finally Adrian said quietly, "I don't want you agreeing because you're desperate."

"What if I am?"

He had no answer.

Slowly she opened the envelope.

The figure would clear her debts.

Pay for another studio.

Give her time.

She hated that it made sense.

"If I do this..."

She looked up.

"...there are conditions."

Adrian nodded immediately.

"I'm listening."

"I don't become your puppet."

"You won't."

"I get treated like a person, not a prop."

"You have my word."

"If I hate it, we talk before anyone makes decisions."

"We will."

"And if your PR team starts treating me like an accessory..."

A smile tugged at his mouth.

"I suspect you'll tell them exactly what you think."

"I definitely will."

He laughed for the first time that day.

"So will Lila."

Suzie frowned.

"She doesn't even know me."

"No."

"But she was worried about you."

"Really?"

"She actually tried to stop me asking."

That surprised her.

"Why?"

"She said the first person who'd made me smile in weeks probably didn't deserve to be dragged into this."

Suzie looked down at the contract.

Maybe Lila wasn't trying to manipulate her.

Maybe she was trying to protect them both.

Every instinct told her to walk away.

Every number she'd written in her notebook the night before told her she couldn't.

She closed the envelope.

"I'll do it."

The words felt unreal.

Adrian stared at her.

"Are you sure?"

She gave a small, nervous smile.

"No."

Relief crossed his face, quickly followed by guilt.

"I'll make sure this doesn't cost you more than it already has."

Suzie looked out across the river.

She hoped he was right.

Because she already suspected that pretending to fall in love with Adrian Vale would be the easiest part.

Remembering it wasn't real would be much harder.