Seven- Broken

SARAH PIERCE

After leaving that hellish lunch, Raya and I relaxed in the room, watching animations. And I fell asleep while admiring the emotions in her babyish eyes as the wonderful colours on the screen intrigued her.

Little did I know that I would sleep for a long time.

When I woke up, it was daylight, Raya was standing at the foot of the bed, her small hands struggling with her empty toothbrush.

“Huh…” Spending two nights in a fancy and serene space is definitely the recipe I needed to heal the burdening tiredness that I have been carrying around for months. If only I could stay here forever. “Raya,” I called out to my baby. “There’s no toothpaste on it.”

“You…” Her lips formed a pout. “You sleep long, Mummy.”

“Yes.” I crawled towards her and collected the brush. “I should have woken up earlier.” My eyes began searching for my phone. “So that my baby could brush and bathe.” I found the phone on the floor. I must have kicked it while I was sleeping. I bent to pick it up, checked the time, and my eyes instantly bulged. “Two pm? It’s two pm?!” I unlocked it to see three missed calls from an unknown number. I also received a text from that same number.

When I checked the text, it was from Nathaniel Storm.

I rolled my eyes at the message briskly asking me to be ready to leave by three pm. In that same message, he subtly insulted me for ‘evading’ the contract signing.

What a joke. Dude thinks he’s special.

“Mummy?” Raya’s voice pulled me away from my phone. “I brush, mummy.”

“Oh yes.” The phone was swiftly tossed aside. I got off the bed, lifted her off the floor, and we headed to the bathroom.

Many minutes later, we were ready, our little luggage rolling behind us as we headed to the car park where a driver was waiting to take us to the house where our lives would resume a new journey.

~~~~

“Big house!” Raya joyously ran into the new house, her slippers filling the quiet space with noise.

The new place was magnificent and simple at the same time. As I walked past the gigantic front door, I was instantly awed by the warmth that emanated from the design of the building. The peculiar use of dark-brown, well-polished wood in many parts of the structure especially pulled my attention, reminding me of the days I used to desire making enough money to build a grand house made mostly of fine wood.

I believe I often told Nathaniel about that desire.

Wait a minute…

Could it be… No way…

With tilted head, I wondered if he was trying to tease me by bringing me to a house that reminded me of my failed dream. If that’s the case, he is a bigger buffoon than I thought. Because he is the reason I did not get to realise that dream.

“Oh great. You made it,” Nathaniel’s snobbish tone commented from behind, and he walked past me.

My hands pulled into fists as I looked around again. No matter what I do, I must make sure that Nathaniel suffers.

“Before you take a step further into this house,” he continued, “you need to sign the contract.”

“Meh meh meh meh,” I mocked him.

“I heard that.”

“I wanted you to.” I headed to the living room, where fine couches were waiting. “You talk about the contract as if you will die if it is not signed.”

“Miss Pierce.” He fixed his gaze on me, and I saw subtle anger in his eyes. He displays that emotion whenever he doesn’t want to confront someone that he is angry with. “This contract benefits you and your daughter. Not me,” he coldly said. “If you refuse, then our deal is over. I will not hesitate to-”

“Threatening me doesn’t change the fact that I already agreed to sign your stupid contract. So, get on with it.” He hated how I cut him short. His eyes twitched with a little struggle, and I enjoyed watching that. “What are the rules?”

The envelope in his hand rustled as he took out its contents. “One, there will be no physical touches.”

“But you held my hand yesterday,” I retorted.

“It was necessary.”

I focused on Raya, who was playing in the wide corridor. “Does that mean I can hold your hand when it is very necessary?”

“Sarah, no physical touch. Do not expect romance in our marriage. Do not expect emotions,” he commanded, like a programmed robot.

I really… really do not understand this fool. When we were dating, we did more than holding hands. Raya is enough evidence that we explored each other’s bodies. So, once again, I am tempted to ask what his game is? What does he gain from pretending that we are strangers?

“Are you even listening to me?”

“I am not deaf. No physical touches.” I gave a quick nod. “Straightforward rule. I wouldn’t want to touch you either.”

“Two,” his voice boomed as a tired exhale escaped him, “you have absolutely no reason to enter my bedroom or my study room. I hope you teach your daughter to stay away as well.”

“Even if you are mining gold in those rooms, we will not go in.”

“Good. The third rule…”

I wonder if he’s going to warn against touching the amusement park in his backyard or something? Ugh. Can this just be over already?

“... the moment either of us catches feelings, this arrangement is over.”

My crossed arms loosened, and my head shifted in his direction. With a frown, I said, “I will never have feelings for you. Even if I am threatened to like you, I will make sure the only thing I feel is pure hatred.”

His eyes narrowed with subtle surprise.

Yeah, right? He is so surprised that I hate him for disappearing without a word.

“Mother was right,” Nathaniel cleared his throat seconds later, “you are unbelievably rude.” He scoffed and looked to the side. “Is this how you are going to be? Is this the side you want your daughter to see?”

“Nathaniel.” I jumped to my feet. “I told you to never mention her again.”

He stood up as well, his head turning to face me, his legs shifting to close the gap between us. Then, with a heavy whisper, he said, “As long as you spit out terrible words, I will continue to remind you of your place.” His eyes fluttered with dangerous intent, and I felt his fingers annoyingly wrap around my arm. “I am doing you a favour here, Miss Pierce. It costs me nothing to find another woman. So, do not be foolish.”

I will not let him speak to me like that. He has no right to insult me like that.

So, my hands fisted again, my chin tilted upwards, and my eyes dared him. “Since you are doing me a favour, let me ask you to do one more.”

He let go of my arm, and his hands rested on his waist. Our closeness allowed me to see the slightest quiver on his face while his light breaths threatened to turn into fiery words that would put me in my place. “I am done doing you favours, Miss Pierce. Naughty ladies like you only take good things for granted.”

My anger rose like an eagle aiming for the skies. “I am-”

A loud crash interrupted my coming words. I looked towards Raya and saw that something had broken.

Instantly, fear filled my heart. I rushed to her and carried her away from the shatter.

“Raya.” I checked her hands, her feet, every part for injuries. “Are you fine?” I glanced at the broken fragments of what I think used to be a vase. “Why did you go there? You could have gotten hurt.” The unease in my heart was yet to die down, so I checked for cuts again.

She then replied, “Pretty bowl, Mummy.”

“Did you touch it?” She nodded. “It’s broken, Raya. You should not touch something that is not yours.” The joy in her eyes became a bit timid, and I took that as a hint to reduce the growing harshness in my voice. “You need to say sorry for-”

“Sorry, won’t cut it,” Nathaniel said from the living room.

“Seriously?” I sighed in disbelief. Just how terrible did he become after he left? The Nathaniel I knew would check on a person’s well-being first. “Shouldn’t you ask if she’s okay?”

“She looks okay. However,” his face hardened, “my favourite piece is not.”

“I will pay for it.” My hands adjusted to carry Raya properly, and with determined fury, I asked, “Is that what you want to hear?”

“That piece is currently worth five million dollars.” His lips widened in amusement, and I felt like slapping that look out of the window. “Do you have that money?”

His smugness must not win; I need to shut him up for good. “I will work. Day and night, if I must. Five million dollars?” I eyed him with the fury inside me. “I can do it. I will repay it.”

“You don’t-”

“I said I will repay it! Is that so hard to comprehend?!”

“Do not scream at me, Miss Pierce,” he warned with a calmness that agitated me.

“It is my mouth. I can scream as loud as I want.”

“And this is my house.”

“Oh great. Good for you and your fancy house.”

“Miss Pierce, you need to-”

With a grunt, I walked away and headed into the inner part of the house. Staying in the same space as Nathaniel has proven to be a sure recipe for driving me crazy.