Chapter 2. The Contract

Anyone could literally feel the tension between the two men. David was still holding Gwendolyn’s wrist tightly. When Evander saw that, he promptly snatched her other hand and pulled Gwen to his side, but the latter was stubborn enough not to let her go that easily. 

How did she become a rope for tug of war? Seriously what’s this jerk’s deal? Isn’t he with Gwenivere?

Gwen diverted her gaze to her sister, but all her attention was on this other guy. What the heck? 

While the formers were pulling her like she was just a kind of object, Gwendolyn’s patience was wearing thin. One last pull, and then she snapped. She pulled both of her hands rashly and looked furiously at both men, specifically at her great ex.

“I don’t know why you are still doing this when you are the sole reason why we broke up. Now if you will excuse me,” she snorted as she bumped David’s elbow as she passed.

Gwen unconsciously grabbed Evander instead of Amber. She only noticed when they were already outside. She saw that familiar car where they did it last night. Gwen heaved a deep breath and looked back at this sinfully gorgeous man.

“Thanks for saving my butt there but I got it all under control and sorry for dragging you to this mess. You know, pretending to be my boyfriend or something. You remember the ex I told you last night, right? That was him. So much of a jerk now, is he?” she continuously spoke.

The latter, on the other hand, was already clenching his fist and gritting his teeth. Stopping himself from going back in there to give that punk even just a single blow. But all his anger melted when Gwen’s frail and soft hands touched his.

He looked up and saw this woman smiling at him yet again, with sadness hiding behind those azure eyes. 

“Have you had breakfast? Because I haven’t. Want to go eat with me?” she said, already pulling him inside the car.

Gwen was feeling friendly, and she lashed it all out at Evander. Thankfully, he did not complain and just went with the flow. They stopped at a nearby restaurant which was actually her favorite. How did he know? Was it pure coincidence?

When they entered the diner, Gwen was completely lost with the smell of food when she noticed Evander looking stiff back at the door. He looks like he is looking at something. Gwen followed where his eyes were and saw a couple eating. Maybe that woman was his ex?

A great idea popped into Gwendolyn’s mind. Well, since he helped her earlier, Gwen thought she should do the same. She grabbed Evander’s hand and that is when he finally noticed her, but Gwen paid that no mind.

“I’ll help you in exchange for earlier. You know those guys, right? I am a rather good actor myself, want to use me?” 

Evander looked at her in confusion, but when he remembered seeing that person, a plan commenced.

They took a table near them and let Gwen do all the talking. After they ordered, Gwen was occupied by her phone because she did not go home last night. Her parents were bombarding her with questions.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Gwen glanced at him and smiled. “Yeah, it’s just my parents. They were worried about me not going home last night. But that’s okay they’re usually like that.” Gwen glanced at the other table and saw the woman looking at her.

She smiled and slightly bowed her head for courtesy. And then the man with her noticed. He looked at her and then at Evander, who was sitting across from her. 

“Evander! fancy meeting you here brother! By the way, I am Dr. Mauve Ervin Vasquez. Now who is this fine lady? I never knew you had friends like her.” 

Just listening to how he talks made Gwen raise an eyebrow.

This guy is a total nutjob. He clearly does not like his brother; Gwen could sense it. And this woman, she is guessing she is someone important to Evander, but Gwen does not know how she is sitting beside this guy.

Evander closed the menu he was reading and shot a glance at his so-called brother. 

“She’s not my friend,” he plainly said. 

Gwen glanced at Evander when she felt his hand grab hers. 

“This is Zosia. My lover, my life, my baby, and my future wife,” he said, like how princes in fairytales do.

Gwen felt her heart skip a beat. If she did not know this was all just a show, she would probably fall head over heels for this guy. She did not know someone like him could talk like that, so dreamy it almost got her flushing like a horny teenager.

Gwen diverted her eyes to the other table. Their faces had weird expressions like Evander does not usually talk like this. Ervin switched, looking at Evander and then at her. He looks like he is in so much shock right now.

Meanwhile, the woman on her side smiled at her as if she knew better than she did. That is not just a regular smile. Her eyes looked sad and jealous at the same time. But why?

“I- I’m speechless! I have never seen you act like this before and to a beautiful lady of all sorts. I must say that Zosia sure is a rare woman to change my brother like this, hahaha!” Ervin exclaimed in glee.

Gwen heard Evander growl. 

“I’m the only one who’s aloud to call her that. Do not act so close, she is mine,” Evander said before withdrawing his glare and continuing to eat. 

Ervin, on the other hand, just chuckled and raised his hand as a sign of defeat. 

Gwen just faked a smile and went with the flow. After eating, she excused herself and went to retouch her makeup. When she got there, Gwen surprisingly saw the woman earlier.

Did she follow her here?

She went to the sink and pretended to speculate her look; the latter did the same before facing her direction. She gave her a smile, but the latter was looking at her with such curiosity.

“Are you really Evander’s girlfriend?” she asked.

Did she notice? This is the perfect time to play her part in the skit. Gwen brushed her hair up and looked at her confidently.

“Is there any reason for us to lie to you?” she said as she awarded her award-winning smirk.

The woman cleared her throat and faked a smile. 

“I’m just asking just in case, since I’ve never saw Evander act like that specially to a woman like you.” 

Gwendolyn’s eyebrow instantly rose.

What does she mean by a woman like her? How dare she! And here she thought she was this angelic girl wherein she was a bitch all along.

“Well, what could you do? He already fell for a woman like me.” A smirk crept on Gwen’s lips. “Deal with it, sweetheart,” she continued and tapped her shoulder as she stormed her way out like a queen who had just won her battle.

When she got back to the table, Evander eyed her with a look like he was saying, ‘did something happen?’

Gwendolyn smiled innocently, looked at the side of her vision, and saw how annoyed that bitch was. So easy, hahaha!

“You did something.” It was not a question but a statement. Gwen diverted her eyes from him and wiggled her eyebrows. Evander looked at her and then to the other table before giving her an approving nod.

After breakfast, they bid their farewells and acted out as a sweet couple until they were gone. After that, Evander took her to an awfully familiar village.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Riverton’s,” he replied.

Riverton? Isn’t that Eleanor’s last name now? What are they doing here? Gwen gave him a confusing face, but he did not spare her a glance. Evander just continued until they reached the door.

“Do— wait Gwen? Why are you — are you with him? anyway come in! Radleigh’s in his office, and you, woman, stay with me. I have tons of questions.” She looked at Evander. He just nodded and made his way inside the room.

When Gwen glanced at Eleanor, she was already giving her a ‘why are you with him’ look. Gwendolyn sighed and rolled her eyes before explaining everything to her, and when she says everything, she means everything, including what happened that night.

Eleanor smacked her shoulder after hearing it. 

“You, naughty bitch! So, tell me, was he big?” Eleanor asked with a big smile plastered on her face.

Gwendolyn chuckled and was about to answer when Radleigh, along with Evander, came back. 

“Who’s big? Baby, don’t tell me you’re talking about that.” Eleanor only laughed.

“Anyway, they have something to talk about, let’s give them space— Vasquez, all you need is already in this envelope.” That was the last thing he said before exiting with Eleanor.

What was in the envelope? Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. Evander did not say a thing but took out what was inside the envelope. He handed it to her and urged her to read them.

Relationship? Agreement? What is this?

“Why? I mean what is this for?” she asked confusingly.

“I know we want the same thing,” he said and crossed his legs. 

“What? Can you get to the point? Cause this all is making my head split,” she replied.

Evander laid out the papers and locked gazes with her. 

“You want to take revenge on your ex, right? And I want Cataleya back. I know you saw how effective it was earlier,” he said as he sat like a king commanding his subjects.

But considering what Evander said, he sure has a point. When Evander helped her earlier, David was really riled up knowing about Evander, and the same goes with that Cataleya.

This arrangement could actually work. Both of them would benefit, and they would get what they want. She is getting her revenge on David for cheating on her, and he is getting the woman he wants.

She determinedly faced Evander. 

“Where should I sign?” she asked. 

“Let’s set some ground rules first, we don’t want this backing up on us later on,” he replied and took a pen and a piece of paper out of the envelope.

“So, what do you want?” he asked.

Gwendolyn grabbed the pen and wrote down what she thought was best and handed them to Evander afterwards. Evander nodded and jotted that down. They exchanged some rules and came out with these.

This contract is entered into by and between Gwendolyn Zosia Lopez and Mark Evander Vasquez. The term of this agreement shall begin as soon as both sign and shall continue through until both get what they desire. 

In their relationship, they agree to the following:

— We agree to engage with each other sexually.

— We agree to have one day together per week (Saturdays).

— We agree to tell the full truth to each other, even when it is the most difficult to do so.

— We agree to consciously take time for ourselves as individuals.

— We agree to take responsibility for our own individual emotional responses, our fears and anxieties, and for ourselves in general.

— We agree to take drastic measures when truly needed.

— And if one confessed/found out to have fallen in love with the other, the contract would immediately be terminated without full explanation. And both parties would agree to never see each other again.

Gwendolyn rolled her eyes when she read the last rule he added. “Seriously? The last one is not even necessary; I would never fall in love with you.” 

Evander looked at her and smirked.

“Don’t take my charms for granted Zosia,” he said and walked out to enter Radleigh’s office once again after they both signed the contract. 

After Evander came in, Eleanor instantly rushed out and asked her tons of questions.

“What happened? What was that? My husband mentioned something about a contract.” 

Gwen sighed and told her about the agreement. As usual, her friend threatened the poor doctor when they got back.

But Evander only said this. 

“Little Eleanor, men aren’t necessities, their luxuries. Bachelors like us never makes the same mistake.”

What the hell is he saying? What does being a bachelor have to do with all this? Seriously now, Gwen’s starting to regret signing that agreement when she would have to deal with a man like Evander every Saturday.