Contractual Obligation: The Trilogy Read online

  It all came to a head when Kent asked to see him on getting the news that Michael was cutting ties with not only him, but the company too.

  His father was holed up with an ankle bracelet waiting for his trial, but as a flight risk, he was being monitored. Michael finally confronted him, not even sure he wanted to face him anymore.

  “I was going to hand the company off to you and retire. We were going to travel the world.”

  “We, as in James.”

  His father looked down. He wasn’t ashamed of James, but he’d never had this discussion with his son. “Yes, with James,” he said delicately.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? All those wives, all the lies…” Michael trailed off, hardly able to look at his dad. “I wouldn’t have cared. I just wanted to know you had an actual beating heart in your chest, not just some empty chamber. You used all of those women.”

  “And they used me, just like your Natalie uses you. It’s a job, Michael. Never let it be anything more.”

  “You’re wrong, Dad. It’s become more.”

  “We’ll see. When the money fades away, we’ll see if she’s still standing by your side.”

  “Why didn’t you trust me?”

  “I didn’t want you involved. This way your hands are clean. I was trying to set up our future.”

  “We had enough. Why did you need more?”

  “You always need more, Michael. You set a goal, and then you keep pushing the bar higher. It’s a way of life. It’s what we as Americans do.”

  Michael’s fist was clenched and his jaw tight. His shoulders hunched up, stress seeping from them freely. There was no hiding his anger, his pain, his infuriation at the way his father threw all of their lives away, just like that.

  The words came out quietly, softly, and the pain they caused was immense. Shards of glass shattered from around the man, striking out at the one who had broken him down. “I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for the lies. Good luck with your trial.” And with that Michael walked out the door, not looking back, not wanting to see his father’s face one last time.

  Standing on the other side of the door, Michael’s heart raced and his throat burned. He was crushed, but knew he had to move on, like a phoenix rising out of the ashes. He’d start over. This wasn’t the life he wanted anymore, one filled with lies and people he no longer trusted.

  He didn’t want to go home, yet didn’t have a clue where he wanted to be. Even the comfort of Natalie’s arms wouldn’t make the difference he needed in his life. The scar was etched on his heart permanently – his mother was gone and his father no longer a part of his life. Michael stood alone looking up to the sky, seeking an answer that wouldn’t come.

  He had nowhere else to go. Walking up the stairs, he finally reached Natalie’s floor. He stood before her doorway, just needing a friend. A light knock on the door brought her to him. On seeing him there, she opened her arms and took him in. He looked broken, like a lost child.

  Natalie ran her hand over his back, rubbing it gently, keeping her voice soft. “It’s going to be okay.” She was certain it had to do with his father; he didn’t have to say anything. She stroked his arm, looking at the fallen man. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  He shook his head. He had nothing left to say.

  Natalie pulled him closer, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. “Why don’t we go sit down?” She felt the weight of the moment, seeing it in his face. He looked emotionally drained.

  Michael’s hand rubbed at the back of his neck. His voice was softer, almost mumbling. “I can’t do it anymore. I told him I was finished.”

  The anguish in his voice, his body... she wanted to take away his pain, but knew she couldn’t. Feeling helpless, all she could do was lean against him and be there to listen. She hoped it was enough.

  Michael’s stomach was sick, knotted with nausea, but he knew the cause of it. It wasn’t some stomach virus; it was simply the truth of his life. The lies, the pain, the heartache…at least Natalie was here for him.

  “There is no money,” he finally said, spitting out the words he didn’t want to admit. “I have to start over. I’ll be scraping to get by. I can’t offer you what I once could, but I think we have more than some paper holding us together.” He needed to know she’d stay by his side, and that what his father said was wrong. She wouldn’t slink away when the money was gone. They meant more to each other than that. They’d grown as a couple, fallen for one another, and she’d stand beside him. He was sure of it.

  “I don’t care about the money,” she whispered.

  Looking into her eyes, he saw the truth. His fingers moved tenderly over her cheek. Brushing her hair behind her shoulder, he smiled a sad smile. “I never thought this was how life would turn out, but you ended up being the best gift my father gave me.”

  Her heart was breaking. If she could take away his pain, she would.

  She wanted to say it would all be over soon, but she knew this would scar him for years. There was just too much, and it seemed like every week that passed, a new revelation came out.

  “I’ve never felt this way,” he started, almost embarrassed to say it. Was it too soon? She knew. He’d mentioned he was falling for her, but this – this was different. She was facing a storm with him, willing to stay. She had a right to know he was committed. “I know I said in the past that I wouldn’t be monogamous.” He took a long breath. “I was wrong. There’s nobody else that I want besides you. I’ve fallen in love with you. There’s something special here.”

  “I feel it too,” she started, “but I need to be honest. I’m scared of where this will go. What if you get bored? What if there are more problems? What will we do when it’s all over? Will I just be the girl that got you through the rough spot?”

  “You’ll be so much more. We have a binding contract, but I’d like a different one someday soon.”

  “Are you saying?”

  “I want to follow through? Yes.”

  Natalie took a deep breath. “That’s big.”

  “You were going to marry me anyway. Now there will just be real feelings, not empty ones.”

  “I’m scared. What if it’s a mistake? What if you’re rushing in because you’re trying to comfort yourself and not face reality?”

  “You, me… this feels amazing. Don’t you feel it?”

  Natalie looked into Michael’s eyes. Any other time this kind of conversation would be taking place after spending more time together – but this, this felt like rushing. And yet, she was going to marry him anyway when it was a contract with money involved. So why was she holding off now? What was stopping her from following through? It was all like some weird dream, surreal, watching her life go by, and she wasn’t sure what to do next.

  “It’s just, well, it’s fast.”

  “What do you say, will you marry me?”

  Natalie studied Michael’s face. “You’ve already asked me on paper.”

  “This is different and you know it.”

  She looked down. “I need time to think about things. My head is spinning. Don’t get me wrong, I adore you, but it’s so much bigger than that.”

  Michael stood and paced. “It was an immature thing to do, dive in without thinking first.” The rejection stung, but she was right. It was too fast, too soon. Only now he was agitated.

  “I don’t know what the future holds.”

  “Me,” he answered firmly. He was tired of being jerked around. First his father was lying to him, and now this? She’d already signed on, chosen to take the job, but now that he has real feelings, she’s second guessing things? Michael shook his head. “You chose this, chose me, you took the job. Now you have me and you don’t want me?”

  “I didn’t say that.” She tried to soothe him, but could see the storm brewing in his eyes.

  “Just forget the whole damn thing.” Michael pulled his clothes back on and slammed the door.

  Natalie sighed and dropped her head into her hands.
How did it turn into this? What was she doing?

  Chapter 8

  Michael drew up the plans, tossed them around in his mind, and then started over. He had ideas, but to make those ideas work he’d need capital, a business loan, space, and so much more. The idea of working for somebody else had little appeal. He’d been raised by an entrepreneur and was certain he’d be his own boss. He could rebuild, maybe take over where the company failed. Or maybe grow a new company, start from the ground up. He’d make this work. He’d find a way. There was no question in his mind. He had a new future to plan for.

  Natalie didn’t expect the phone call. It was a complete surprise. How could she have known? All the media attention, all the pictures splashed across the papers through the start of the trial, and as each new revelation came out…she couldn’t have known. She grew used to ignoring the cameras as they flashed at the two of them. Michael’s father had it worse, and every other day an image of him or James was plastered with gossipy headlines. It was a slow news time, so the latest scandal kept all the local pages busy.

  Natalie hadn’t spoken to Victoria since – well, since she ran into her at the pharmacy the day she’d bought the pregnancy test. The truth was there wasn’t any work for her in ages, so after a while, she just stopped calling. She had some money left, but barely any from the first payment or two from the contract. Her money was close to drying up, and then there would be nothing. Maybe she could waitress or get a job at a clothing store to tide her over. She scowled at the thought.

  “Natalie, darling, it’s great to hear your voice.”

  “Victoria? What’s going on?”

  “I’m glad I could reach you. I’ve had an interesting client get in contact with me. They went through the trouble of tracking you down, and saw that you’re listed with my agency. They’d like to offer you a job.”

  “What?”

  “A job, darling. You remember, that modeling thing you do.”

  “Did,” she sighed. “It’s not like I’ve been getting work.”

  “Well, I’ve got great news for you. If you’re interested, I’ve got a nice fat contract with your name on it.”

  Natalie cringed at the word contract. A contract is what got her into this mess in the first place. “I don’t know,” she said, feeling defeated before hearing any of the details.

  “Just let me fill you in, and then you can decide. Don’t make any decisions until you hear more.”

  “Right, go ahead.”

  “It’s a German company. They want you to be the face of their watch line.”

  “What?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was overly enthusiastic. “Someone from their company branch over here has been seeing your face plastered in the paper, and thought you had the perfect look. They’re offering big money. This is a great contract.”

  “Watches?”

  “Yes, the Outrageous watch line will be debuting bold new color schemes in flexible rubber type bands, but the watch itself will be high caliber. We’re talking prestige, Natalie. This is no low-end department store watch. It’s being marketed up, up, up, darling, to the well to do.”

  “It’s rubber.”

  “Only the bands, but they’re fun colors. The watch itself is precision engineering, and they are a hugely reputable company. You’ll know them as Fusendyner Retro. This is the casual collections line coming out. They want you.”

  “Fusendyner Retro wants me?” Natalie’s eyes opened up. She knew that name. It was a high end luxury brand. She’d never been offered a job like this, nothing prestigious, and definitely nothing with the kinds of numbers that Victoria was talking about. Squealing was inappropriate, but she couldn’t help herself. She knew it wasn’t professional, but the excitement bubbled out of her like a fountain of crazy spray.

  “So, when can I tell them you’ll start? If you can drop by the office tomorrow and look over the papers, we’ll sign and fax them back. Now, there is one thing I should mention…” she paused, and then quickly continued. “You’ll need to relocate to Europe for the next year. They’ll want you to go to stores for the launch, make appearances locally, and the sort. They’re paying you well, but they want your face and time.” She laughed at the little pun about the watch company wanting the girl’s time. “Their U.S. launch will start a few months later based on the success of the line. They’re doing a soft launch over there first.”

  “What? Europe? A year? But…”

  “Oh, don’t tell me you’re actually letting that trivial bit be an issue. Darling, right now you’re hot, and your fifteen minutes of fame might very well be over soon. You’ve been splashed across the papers, and suddenly there’s a demand for your face. All models want that, whether the publicity is good or bad. It’s how you get known. Soon you’ll be Natalie, and people won’t even have to say your last name. People will know who they’re talking about. Right now if you say Natalie Cooper, people say ‘who?’ Not after this campaign! It’s a dream come true. I think they want to do a spoof paparazzi thing. The campaign sounds amazing. This could really change your entire career, Natalie. Be sure to be here early tomorrow so we can get this paperwork faxed back to them, say around nine?”

  “Victoria, I need to think. It’s all happening so fast, and I’m tied into…” she trailed off.

  “Oh, that ridiculous contract thing? There’s got to be an easy loophole now that they can’t pay and the company is falling apart. Leave that behind darling, the spotlight is calling.”

  Natalie exhaled dramatically. “I just need time, that’s all.”

  “No later than ten, Natalie. Make sure you’re here. I’d hate for you to embarrass yourself and dawdle. You’ll send a bad impression.”

  “Victoria.”

  “I’ll have none of it. I’ll see you tomorrow. Toodles.” Just like that, she clicked off the phone.It was no longer up for discussion.

  Natalie sat with her dreams of a huge contract, but the fear of moving overseas for a year. And Michael, what would she tell Michael? She was crushed, overwhelmed with possibilities and trampled by fear. Nothing felt scarier than the unknown at this precise moment.

  Fusendyner Retro wanted her! This could easily be the biggest point of her career, and could launch her to super stardom. If her face was attached with such a high end line, others could be right behind it. This was what she wanted, fame, success, to reach the top… and yet something was holding her back.

  Natalie was torn between excitement and uncertainty. Pressing her lips together, she was consumed with conflict. She was struggling to find answers that would satisfy her. Either was a possibility, and yet either could be heartbreaking to walk away from. She quietly shook her head, lost in thought. Life used to be so easy. Simple decisions. What to have for breakfast, to take a cab or the bus, and don’t expect great things. Only now, everything seemed complicated.

  Sliding her finger across her forehead, she furrowed her brow. There was no easy answer. Saying no to either would leave her unsatisfied. She hadn’t felt this way about anybody in a while, but it started under odd… no, flat out weird circumstances. Maybe it wasn’t truly real love. She could be fooling herself. On the other hand, Fusendyner Retro wanted her and they were willing to pay big money to bring her to Europe. This could jumpstart her career, even launch her to new levels of stardom.

  Natalie’s hand slid up and down her thigh, her nervous energy bubbling out. She felt unsettled and got up to pace. Her apartment felt even smaller than usual. She had a sudden urge to get out and take a walk, which was precisely what she needed. Or maybe she should stay in and spend time focused on her choices. Exhaling dramatically, Natalie flung herself onto her bed, realizing she wasn’t going anywhere.

  Crinkling her nose, she felt the sinking feeling in her belly. She knew what she wanted to do, but making that decision wouldn’t be easy. When she told them, they’d be upset, maybe even angry. How would she find the words?

  Natalie raked her hands through her hair, sprawling it out around her p
illow. It was anxiety. She always had her hands in her hair when she was nervous. She didn’t want to think about the collateral damage, but there was bound to be a mess left behind. There was no other way.

  Pulling her arms to her chest, she dreaded the conversation. It couldn’t wait. She’d have to do it tomorrow. Her stomach rolled, and as she tipped up to her side to rest on her hip, she knew what had to be done. It was settled. She knew the answer, and until she dealt with this, it would eat her up inside. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape to. She’d have to put on her big girl panties and face it head on – something she wasn’t very good at, and dreaded to no end.

  Natalie rolled off her bed again and paced. Her mind circled around what she would say, and no matter how she tied it up in ribbons, it wasn’t pretty. She knew this one single decision would change her entire world. And yet…what if it was the wrong decision?

  She wished she had closer friends. She’d let so many go over the years, and the girls she got close to locally from work, she didn’t trust. As sad as it was, they weren’t truly friends, just people to hang out with. Most of the girls were catty, and she avoided them most of the time. Let’s face it, talking to the cat next door was more appealing than any of the girls she knew.

  Her mom… but how would she tell her the truth? She’d be horrified, and wouldn’t be a good judge of the situation. She’d be biased. Natalie hated how isolated she suddenly felt, realizing she’d closed off her world more than she even realized. This wasn’t what she imagined when she saw her future – a lonely girl with nobody to rely on, nobody to trust, nobody to talk to but a neighbor’s cat. With a deep sigh, she fell back onto her bed. It was going to be a long night.