LOVE IN CONTRACT

a's

I told myself that I

d, pretending to review yesterday's notes. The newsroom was read

head was

n H

lightly and click

d to myself, "let'

olled

ublic,always smiling. But the more I read it,the more I shook my

mured,drawing a lin

onating money,always giving speeches about ethic

I said to myself

oftly beside my lap

to my last post on m

s like power unti

allo

to write without filters and with

one and slid i

, heels clicking sharply against the floo

gress?"

t harsh. That

ng through options

d. Take your time but

as an afterthou

oring, Maya. Dig whe

ay before I c

people d

nd with one click, Ryan Hart

articles I'd alrea

dinners and interviews that said eve

out. That wa

left work, my

y, the kind that sits in your

awled on the floor with her s

not back?

r head witho

taur

kly, changed into something loose, and tied my hair ba

went straight to the

n was how often Emma La

secr

dressed neatly, smiling lightly. They liked good together i

ina words, about

eeded to see him in real life, ou

aptop slightl

eded

name hold beneath it, like he was watching me make up my mind. I grabbe

breeze hit my face,cool and calming. I walked witho

e store and went inside,heading

drink,another hand reached for

ngers

id quickly,pull

d softly "My f

ook

and jeans,holding a paper bag like h

was eas

done",

aid, adjusting th

here,right? I'v

hen nodded "Y

ou properly", he said,l

at me made me shift on my feet. No

rk stress,the neighborhood,bad coffee places nearby. He listened when I

", he said suddenly. "Would it b

second,then shook my

es. His name popp

"Now we're offic

oftly. "Loo

hed my build

s me",

miling again. "Maybe

h,Ma

rly not ready for the walk

ight,E

ing his eyes on my

the door and leaned again

s...nice

alked back to the table,my ey

ll

l wa

stared back at me

room for error and one wrong mov

self. "If I'm doing this.

, my thumb restin

g," I told myself

ed sl

to go ahead with t

en added another one before

l. I don't want to jump into

on the table. "Now we wait," i s

it up a few

's exactly what

up str

tching him. Where he goes

tching him how?" I whis

kground research o

ame almost

don't rush. Be

aled

I'll move

aya. Just observe. Pattern

my eyes drifting to my laptop scr

ing this," I murmured