Chapter 28 - Micah
The next day on set, every time I caught a glimpse of Asher, my face burned with the memory of what we’d done and my chest squeezed tight with longing.
I tried to focus, but found myself fumbling things, getting in the way of the camera, and tripping over my own shoelaces. I was a mess, to put it mildly.
Sterling, the show’s host, didn’t hesitate to call me out as he noticed I was off my game. “You okay? Seems like something’s got you distracted. Or someone,” he said lightly as I picked up a box of screws I’d knocked off a countertop.
“I’m great.” I was almost done putting the screws back into the container when I heard Asher’s voice from another room. My heart skipped a beat and the box slipped out of my hands. “Totally great.”
Sterling chuckled and shook his head, dipping down to help me pick up the hardware. “What’s their name?” His voice was quiet, really only loud enough for me to hear.
When I glanced over at him, he was smirking. “It’s not—”
He shrugged and waved it away. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me anything.”
I sighed. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell everyone. But I also didn’t want to out Asher, not if he wasn’t ready. Besides, I knew how much time we had left—maybe two weeks, if we were lucky. A moment later, I was saved from the conversation by Max.
“Hey, can I get your help?”
I picked up the last of the screws and nodded. “Sure thing. What’s going on?”
Max led the way to the office space as he explained what he needed, and the next thing I knew, I was wrapped up in work again, focused, not thinking about the two-week deadline.
Two weeks. That’s when the timer on our agreement ran out. We’d agreed on the expiration—when production wrapped and I got word about whether I'd be sticking around for another episode or more, or whether I was needed across the country, or any possibility in between.
If I was being honest with myself, I kind of hoped to get signed on to the rest of the show.
I wasn’t ready to leave Port Grandlin behind, especially not with Asher in my life again.
Moving around a lot was starting to take its toll on me, and I hadn’t realized how much that hurt until now, having someone I wanted to be around besides my friends on the production team.
When I got home that afternoon, I was surprised to find a large, thick envelope in the mail, addressed to me.
Kieran and I rarely received mail when we were traveling—we both maintained PO boxes near our home base in New York—but this one had a return address of Ron Dixon, Attorney at Law.
My stomach twisted when I read his name and realized what it was.
This was the contract he’d worked up, the counter-proposal to Phillip’s fraudulent offer.
As I sat down in the living room to read the contract, resolve came over me.
I knew I needed to confront Phillip, and since I’d received the proposed contract from Ron, it was time.
I didn’t want to go alone, though—I didn’t trust Phillip not to do something risky.
He wasn’t violent, but he wasn’t the most calm, even-keeled guy either, and I didn’t want to make any mistakes saying what I needed to say.
“Kier?” I shouted.
Kieran called back from his bedroom. “Yeah?”
“I need your help.”
He emerged from his bedroom in sweatpants and a T-shirt. “What’s up?”
“I have to go see Phillip.”
“Ew.”
I nodded. “I was hoping you’d be my backup.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Hell yeah, I will.”
I picked up my phone and shot off a text to Phillip.
Micah: I’m ready to sign. Let’s meet at Bean There.
He responded right away, as eager as ever to get his way.
Phillip: I’ll see you in ten.
Ten minutes later, I was walking into Bean There, the newest coffee shop in Port Grandlin, looking around for Phillip. He and Daniel were seated at a small table with one empty chair available, tucked close to Phillip’s side. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and ordered a coffee instead.
Once Kieran and I had our drinks in hand, I walked over to Phillip’s table and unceremoniously dragged a second chair over. Kieran sat in the chair next to Phillip and I took a seat in the chair I’d relocated. Phillip scowled as we settled in.
“Hi, Phil,” I said, unable to resist needling him.
“Micah. I see you brought a friend.”
“You know Kieran,” I said pointedly. “He’s my roommate while we’re working down here.”
Phillip sniffed and scratched his nose. “You said you were ready to sign?”
I placed the envelope on the table. “It’s all in there. My attorney looked it over. I’m ready to sign.”
“Perfect.” Phillip slid the paperwork out of the envelope and thumbed through the pages, nodding along as he did. When he got to, presumably, where the marriage part should have been, he hesitated. “This isn’t the same contract.”
I smiled innocently and tipped my head to the side. “Isn’t it?”
“It’s missing—”
“The marriage clause?”
His face darkened, brow dipping low. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right. Sure you don’t.”
Phillip put the papers down on the table in front of him and shook his head, putting on a flat, emotionless expression. “Look, I just want to sell the condo and move on with our lives.”
I nodded once. “I’m sure you do. I bet you felt the same way when you and Matt broke up.”
His features froze and his chest rose as he took a slow breath. “Matt?”
Anger surged through me, emboldening me. “Fuck you, Phillip. Don’t play dumb.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “I spoke to Matt. He said it’s not the first time you’ve pulled this shit. This pathetic, secret attempt to trap a boyfriend into marrying you. But I’m here to tell you, it will be the last.”
Kieran shifted in his seat next to me, but didn’t speak. I cut my gaze over to him and he was stone-faced and nodding.
Daniel cleared his throat and spoke up, for the first time that day. “He’s not trying to trap you into anything. Don’t be stupid.”
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “Either you’re lying or you’re delusional.
Either way, I’m here to tell you I found the marriage clause in the last contract.
It said very clearly that if I wanted my half of the money from selling the condo, I’d have to marry him and we’d have to stay married for at least a year.
And when I spoke to Matt—another ex of Phillip’s—he confirmed almost this exact scenario happened to him, too. ”
Phillip sniffed again. “So, what? You want me to sign this contract without having my attorney read through it?”
I laughed again, a darker sound. “I don’t really care who you need to look it over. If you need me to let you review it further, fine. So be it. But if that’s the case, we’re going to meet downtown at Ron Dixon’s office. He’s the lawyer who drew up this version.
“I guess I’ll see you there, then.” Phillip snatched the contract off the table and stood, nearly knocking his chair over. “Let’s go, Daniel.”
With that, they stormed out of Bean There, leaving Kieran and me to chuckle into our coffees.
“Success,” he said through his laughter.
I nodded before taking a sip of my drink, feeling lighter than I had in ages. “Success.”
***
The next day, around lunchtime, my phone alarm went off, reminding me I had an important meeting in town, one I couldn’t afford to miss.
I’d already let Max know I needed to leave early, but I flagged him down to tell him I was leaving.
Before I got in my car, I looked around and found Asher.
He was bending down and installing trim pieces along one wall.
I closed my eyes and tried not to imagine my hands on him, but the harder I tried, the less successful I was.
Instead, I put the key in the ignition and headed to the lawyer’s office.
I was lucky to find street parking close to the office, and I parked right outside the front door, killing the engine.
I sat for a few long moments, telling myself this was good.
This was the end of the Phillip saga. After today, I’d never have to see him again, ever.
Eventually, I slid out of the driver’s seat and made my way to the office door.
Phillip sat just inside, looking annoyed as usual, Daniel by his side. I gave the two of them a small, polite smile before taking a seat on the other side of the waiting area. The receptionist gave me a bright smile.
“Mr. Pollard, it’s good to see you again.
I’ll let Ron know everyone’s here.” She picked up the phone and dialed, pausing a second before speaking.
“Your meeting is here. Yes. Right. Not a problem.” When she hung up, she gave me another sincere smile before turning to Phillip and Daniel.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen, Mr. Dixon is only able to speak with the parties involved in the contract.
” Phillip opened his mouth to argue, brow furrowed, but she held up a hand and shook her head firmly. “No exceptions.”
Feeling triumphant already, I led the way down the hall to Ron’s office. “After you,” I insisted, stepping back to let Phillip enter before me. This way I could box him in by sitting closer to the door. Maybe he’d feel as trapped as he’d made me feel in the past.
Ron smiled at us and nodded. “Gentlemen.”
Phillip immediately leaned forward and rested his forearms on Ron’s desk. “Look—”
Ron held up a hand. “I’ve received the edits from your representation. I’ve looked them over and I think we’re finally on the same page. I’d advise you to sign this, Mr. Mercer.”
Phillip narrowed his eyes. “I don’t have to sign anything.”
“Correct. But if you don’t, we’re prepared to pursue you civilly for coercion and for the contract you presented, demanding illegal actions be taken by my client unbeknownst to him.
This contract is fair and balanced. It’s all aboveboard.
Legal. All you have to do is sell the shared property and remit fifty percent of the proceeds to Mr. Pollard within thirty days of closing.
Nothing else is required of either of you. ”
For a long, long time, Phillip didn’t speak. He set his jaw and exhaled through his nose slowly. When he did speak, it was very quiet. “Fine. Give me a pen.”
Ron passed Phillip a pen. “There are flags for each place you need to sign.”
Triumph roared through me as I watched Phillip angrily scribble his signature on each page required of him. When he was done, he passed the pen to me and I signed the same pages.
Once we were finished, Ron held up a finger. “Mr. Pollard, mind if I speak to you privately?”
“Of course not.” I stood and turned to Phillip. “Well, I hope this means we never see each other again. Have a good life, Phil.”
His nostrils flared. He shoved past me and stormed out of the office, leaving me behind to laugh as he departed.
My chest was light, lighter than it had been in ages.
Relief washed over me. It was done. Once the bell chimed, signaling Phillip and Daniel had departed, Ron nodded at me.
“Thank you for the privilege of writing this contract. It’s one of the strangest cases I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on.
I’m glad it’s over for you. If he returns, we’ll get a restraining order put on him so he can’t keep harassing you. ”
I nodded once. “Thank you.”
“That’s all I wanted to say. I just wanted to hold you here long enough to let him leave, in case there was a risk of confrontation outside or something.”
I held out my hand and shook Ron’s. “That means a lot. I appreciate it.”
Now what? I wondered. But I knew the answer to that. Now, I go find Asher.