All Chapters of The Christmas Contract : Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

New YorkThe corridor outside Room 314 smelled faintly of antiseptic and overboiled vegetables. Her job was becoming depressing, Tara stood just outside the door, fingers tightening around the thin file pressed against her chest. Inside, Mrs. Pickles was humming again. The same off-key hymn she’d been looping for the last twenty minutes.Tara inhaled slowly. “Okay,” she whispered to herself. “You can do this.”She knocked gently before pushing the door open. Mrs. Pickles sat upright in bed, white hair wild around her head like static electricity. Her eyes were sharp today. Too sharp. That meant it was going to be one of those days.“Good evening, Mrs. Pickles,” Tara said softly, stepping inside. “It’s Tara. Remember me?”Mrs. Pickles stopped humming. Her eyes narrowed. “No.”“That’s okay,” Tara replied, forcing warmth into her tone. “I’m your nurse. I came to check on you.”“I don’t need checking,” Mrs. Pickles snapped. “You people keep stealing from me, my expensive gold necklaces ar

Malibu – New Year’s DayThe whole house was busy like in the movies, everyone was moving something or carrying and arranging. Melody carried the giant salad bowl, adjusting her grip as she walked beside Camilla through the wide dining hall of the Russo mansion, careful not to let the glass tilt. The table had already been dressed in white and gold, long tapered candles, polished silverware, and crystal bowls.Outside, the ocean rolled in a steady rhythm.As she set the bowl down gently among the others, she felt her chest tighten again. If everything had gone according to plan, she would have been on a flight by now, and she already had the day planned out with James. He had promised to make arrangements, he had sounded excited.Like always, Diana just managed to ruin everything. Melody already had her bags packed when she overheard her talking to her son.“You’ll be staying one more night,” she’d said, spreading butter across warm bread. “Too many guests arriving. It wouldn’t be ap

The flight back to New York was awfully quiet and it felt longer than the flight from New York to Malibu.Logan and Melody sat three seats apart in the private jet, Melody was neck deep in a novel, one she got two days back, while Logan was on his phone the whole time. They've been avoiding each other like a plague. She didn’t look at him, she was just very happy to be flying back home. Melody stared out the window as clouds shifted beneath the wing, sunlight scattering across endless white. Malibu felt far away already. The mansion, beach view, parties, the performance and even Hanni’s excruciatingly painful presence was all in the past now.When the pilot announced descent into New York, she was ready to start a fresh. She smiled, home sweet home.She didn’t wait for Logan when the plane landed. She didn’t even look back. She grabbed her luggage herself, ignoring the staff who offered assistance, and walked straight toward the exit.Logan walked behind her, offering her a ride hom

Logan stepped into the penthouse and loosened his tie as Miss Penelope closed the door behind him as the servants carried his luggages upstairs to his bedroom.Logan didn’t speak during the ride from the airport. He stared out the tinted window of the car. The city looked exactly the same as it had when he left, and surprisingly he missed his home. His mind kept going back to his holiday, Hanni made it the best holiday he's ever had. He didn't know how much he missed her until he saw her. This time, he was going to do everything he could not to lose her again. He'll ask her to marry him, even though it was too early. It didn't matter, they've known each other since forever.Melody on the other hand was upset at him, she didn't speak to him the whole flight, even when he told her he was back with Hanni. He liked her a lot, but Hanni meant the world to him.He reached for his phone and called her, she answered after the third ring.“Hey baby,” he said, smiling.“Hello Papi, you in New

The plane touched down at Heathrow Airport just after six in the morning. It was still early and the air was cold.Logan had not slept, seven hours in the air, eyes closed but mind racing. The word ‘baby’ is still echoing in his head. The way the call had ended abruptly a few days back still haunted him. Even when he spoke to Hanni yesterday, she didn't sound like she normally did.He told himself he was overthinking, he always did, but right now he was here so he could talk things out with her, maybe she had a better explanation for what happened that day.The jet taxied to a private terminal. Within minutes he was stepping onto the tarmac, coat buttoned, jaw tight, phone already in his hand.He dialed Daniel, he knew his friend would not be happy to hear that he was here, but he had to tell him anyway.It took forever before he heard a soft rustling. A woman’s sleepy voice in the background.“Daniel… your phone…”Logan’s eyebrow lifted.Daniel picked up, voice thick with sleep. “Why