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Signed

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Chapter 13: Signed (Evie's POV)

I sat restlessly at my desk, tapping my white heels on the floor rapidly, waiting for the phone in front of me to ring. 

Last night, I had no choice but to show up at Rowan's apartment. Only, he never let me in, that jackass. He didn't even let me get a glimpse of Niko. 

I went there to discuss the terms with him that we'd get drafted in the contract today with Mr. Michaels because after the petty discussion we had, we never seriously talked about them. I also had to tell him that my parents invited me over to dinner tonight and I thought it would be a good idea to tell them about what we were about to do so neither one of them would die of a heart attack when they suddenly receive wedding invitations to their own daughter's wedding. 

He felt nice enough, and that's a rarity on its own, to come over for dinner tonight, but for those terms, he just said we'll talk about them tomorrow. 

We would leave for Mr. Michaels's office in ten minutes and he still hadn't called me in to talk about them. I figured then that he never would and I would find out what I'm walking into only when we reach there. The phone rang, making me jump physically. Groaning, I answered, "Hello?" 

"We're leaving now. Come to my office, I'll tell you the terms on the way out." 

"Okay," I breathed out and then put the phone down, grabbed my purse, and stood up, slowly walking towards Rowan's office as per his orders. Knocking on the door, I let myself in once he said so. 

He was still typing on his computer but turned it off and stood up as I entered the room. "One," he recited suddenly, taking me by surprise. "You'll be my wife for the duration of one year." 

I stared at him as he picked up his coat from the back of his chair and pulled it on. 

"During that one year, you are to live with me unless we mutually agree otherwise for unforeseen reasons. Understand?" 

"Yes," I nodded quickly as he walked over. 

"Two." He stopped, looking from the door to me. 

I laughed sarcastically, "I'm not your slave, but sure. Continue." I pulled the door open, trailing behind him down the empty hall while he explained. 

"Two," he repeated, "by the end of the one year that we are to remain married, I will ensure that your debts that total to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars are paid off." 

I listened silently. 

"And the last one. Starting from the date that we sign the contract, you'll be promoted to my assistant and that position shall remain yours until you request otherwise. I will, unfortunately, have no right to fire you or replace you. You, however, can quit whenever you please." Stopping at the elevator, he pressed the button and then turned to me where I stood beside him now. "Do you understand, Ms. Spencer?" 

"Yes I do, Mr. Rowan," I said, nodding my head. 

"Good," he remarked and then we got into the elevator. He was undoubtedly, in a bossier, meaner mood today and I just knew it had to do with the fact that we would sign and seal our fates today. We would bring our dooms upon ourselves, but there was no other option. As Rowan said, it's a commitment we both made. 

I stole a glance at him as the elevator descended, taking a look at his suit. It was a rich black with a matching tie and his button-up underneath was also white with extremely fine black stripes going down. His silver watch stood out against all the dark colors he had on him. 

Completely opposite to that, I wore a white blazer and skirt today. Sure, the camisole I wore underneath was black, but I had on a matching blazer and skirt set with faint gray checks all over it. I had the blazer off until earlier, so in a rush, I just wore it on my shoulders instead of putting my arms through the sleeves. I couldn't decide if we were so different that we didn't match at all or if the black and white clothes we wore complimented each other. "Is Nate coming with us?" I asked as we reached the lobby and headed towards the exit. 

"Yes, he'll leave in another five minutes, he's in a meeting. Documents of the will need to be signed today as well." 

I hummed in understanding as he led the way, walking out through the glass revolving door first. Following suit, I caught up to him and slipped into the passenger seat as he started the car. 

He was extra grumpy today, giving shorter, more blunt answers to everything and bossing me around more than necessary, but if I was being completely honest, I was just as pissed off as him, not just at the situation and at Rowan, but even myself. 

Since I agreed to this, there hadn't been a minute where I didn't regret my decision. I really wish I had thought this through, thought about the fact that I'd be living with Rowan, calling and introducing him as my husband, wearing a ring on my finger that belonged to him. I released a soft sigh, staring out the window as he drove silently. 

"You should start packing your apartment and looking for someone to sell it to," he told me. 

"Already? We haven't even signed the contract yet," I reasoned. 

"We will today. We should get married as soon as possible." 

"Why are you and Nate so eager to get this done faster than necessary?" 

"Because we're trying to get this done before our father flies to New York and starts interfering." 

I paused in thought, then confusion. "Your father? But... I don't remember him being mentioned anywhere in the will." 

"He's not. Directly, anyway. But he is a shareholder. Not an important one, but a shareholder nonetheless." 

"So? The votes don't have to be unanimous, the majority wins." 

"The problem isn't the majority. It's the fact that once he's here, he rules the majority," he replied, glancing at me. 

After debating between two answers, I responded honestly. "I don't think so." 

He glanced at me, keeping one hand on the wheel and resting his other elbow on the window, tracing his bottom lip with his thumb. "Why not?" 

"I think you and Nate together, actually, even on your own, would influence the shareholders more than a man who just flies in out of nowhere when the situation benefits him. Don't you have that much faith in the people involved in Volkov Enterprises?" 

"Frankly, no. I don't have any expectations from anybody. I flew in out of nowhere just like that three years ago." He wasn't wrong, so I couldn't argue with that. 

"This whole act, is it mainly for your father then? Because you think his decision will influence everyone else's?" 

He didn't answer me. 

I didn't understand what Rowan was so worried about. In all the time that I've known him, their father has been out of the picture, so I couldn't understand how much harm he could even really do once he was here. He knew nothing about Rowan or Nate and had nothing to hold against them either. 

The car slowed down and stopped in a parking spot before Rowan turned the car off. "Let's go," he ordered. 

I climbed out of the car with him, hearing it lock behind us as we walked towards the building. Once inside, we were still waiting to be told that we could head upstairs when I spotted Nate coming in, Leo bouncing beside him while looking around the huge building. He reached us and both Rowan and I looked from Leo to Nate. 

"You brought him here?" I asked, surprised. 

"He wouldn't stay at the daycare," he sighed and then sat on the couch beside me, pulling Leo between us. Leo scooted closer to Nate and leaned his head on Nate's arm, hugging it while looking around quietly. He was calmer than usual today and he would fall into a nap soon enough. "How are you feeling?" Nate asked, smirking at me.

"Don't even," I breathed out, shaking my head, making him chuckle.

Another five minutes later, we were told to head upstairs because Mr. Michaels was available now. I let the brothers lead the way because I had no idea where we were headed, I hadn't been here before. 

Mr. Michaels greeted all of us as we walked through his office door and welcomed us to take our seats. He seemed a little confused to see me here but didn't question me as I took a seat in the middle. "I assume you're here so we can begin the execution of the will, yes?" 

"That and one more thing," Nate said. 

"Of course, what can I do for you?" 

"I need you to make a contract," Rowan said, leaning back in the chair. 

"What kind of contract?" 

"A marriage contract." 

Mr. Michaels paused, his eyes traveling from Rowan to me, then back to Rowan. "Between?" 

"Evie and myself." 

Mr. Michaels sighed, blinking in surprise and shifting in his seat. "Rowan..." 

See, even he knows it's a dreadful idea.

"I'd like you to treat this as a separate matter. It has nothing to do with our grandfather's will." 

"Do you expect me to believe that?" 

"I expect you to do as a client requests, Mr. Michaels," Rowan countered. "As far as this matter is concerned, Evie and I are about to get married and we want a contract before we do so. On paper, this should have no connection to the execution of the will. Can you do it for us?" 

After dwelling on it, the man agreed. "All right. Before we get to that, let me just quickly have you and Nate sign the paperwork in regards to the will." So, that's what they did first, signing a few papers, getting copies of some documents, then being told the conditions once again. Once that was done, Mr. Michaels turned to his computer. "I'll draft the contract, please recite the terms." 

So, Rowan did just that. I couldn't help but note that he memorized them. Not that it was hard, I mean, it wasn't a long mathematical formula, but I found it weird. 

I hated the look Mr. Michaels cast my way upon every term that Rowan told him about. 

Finishing that, Rowan asked a final question, "How long will it take for us to get the contract?" 

"Well, a few minutes. Thirty, maybe forty-five. At most an hour. I have the template of a marriage contract, let me add in all your details and terms. You can wait here, I don't have any other appointments today." 

"I'm free to leave, right?" Nate asked, standing up. "I have..." He glanced pointedly at a peacefully sleeping Leo in his arms. 

I sent him one last pleading look before he left, begging not to be left alone with Rowan. But he did anyway. Traitor.

Forty-five minutes, the three of us spent in this room, the only sound audible was Mr. Michaels clacking keys as he typed up my death. Once that was done, he left, saying he'd be back with copies of the contract. 

After the longest fifteen minutes of my life, he did just that, dropping a file in front of us. "Sign with your initials at the bottom of each page and your signature on the last one, please. After you've signed this, all terms mentioned will be applicable and put into motion immediately." He placed a pen on top of the closed file. 

I refused to touch it first, not lifting a single finger. Naturally, Rowan did. I watched him, my thumbs twiddling in my lap. 

He huffed and opened the file, skimming through it twice before he began putting his initials down on each page. 

Gnawing at my bottom lip, the pit in my stomach got bigger, I got just a little nauseous with each tick of the clock, each turn of the page, and the plea left my mouth instinctively when he reached the last page. "Rowan." 

He paused, the tip of the pen hovering. He didn't look at me, perhaps he couldn't. Without another second going to waste, he signed over the dotted line and then slid the file and pen to me. "Sign. You can read it if you want but it's nothing I didn't tell you." 

"I'm supposed to believe there's no loophole in this? Or something that only benefits you?" I mumbled quietly. 

"No," he responded, "you're supposed to trust me when I say this helps us both. Sign, Evie." 

So, I did. I trusted him and I signed.

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Chapter 13

Y'all my exams start tomorrow, so I might not update that much this week, especially since I've got my exams all crammed together but once those are over istg 

next chapter: flowers