Chapter 4-Agreeing to sign the contract
Audrey's POV…
I stood there in his office, confused. For the first time in a long time, I didn't know what to do.
I stared at the contract file on the table. I hated to accept it but I didn't have any better ideas than his. What was I thinking when I tried walking out through the door?
I leaned by the door and thought for a minute. I'm not taking this decision alone, I'm telling Lena and I'm going to know what she has to say about it.
I may not know much about Jonathan Ryder, but I know he must have a backup plan… and whatever the backup plan was, I knew it might ruin me more.
“What?” Lena shot up from her seat. “A fake engagement?” She asked, wide-eyed.
I nodded.
“What was your response?” She asked.
“I haven't given him a direct response, although I told him that I'd agree on one condition and that is the fact that I will be the one to break up with him at the end” I explained.
Lena laughed hysterically. “This sounds ridiculous. First, scandalous images of you two online and now, an engagement… to do what?”
“Well, according to him, the engagement is to make the media think we were already in love before now and we wanted to see each other and things happened leading to those pictures online” I explained.
“Eww. Did you two do anything?” Lena asked in disgust.
“I don't know, but I don't think” it suddenly dawned on me. What if we did something? “I hope we didn't” I squeezed my face.
“Someone must have set us up and made us end up together in bed”
“Okay first, we need to be strategic about the whole thing.
Most of your contracts have been annulled.
But here's the thing. You know that the majority of your contracts are from brands with male CEOs, probably because they admire you. Only a few of your contracts are female orientated, probably because they see you as their rival…”
“Of course I'm their rival. I'm the best…”
“Now is not the time for that. We know you're the best” Lena snapped and I shut my mouth
“We need to salvage and make good use of this opportunity. We are going to use Jonathan” she whispered as though someone would hear her.
“Excuse me. What exactly are you implying?”
“You're going to accept that deal and we're going to use it to our advantage”
“I'm never going to spend a second with that rude and self-absorbed man. Never” I shook my head in disapproval.
“Don't see it from the perspective of being with him, see it from the perspective of things you'll gain by being seen with him. Think about this, fashion week is already around the corner and then this scandal happened. He wanted you to model his designs and accessories as a model. That was entirely professional. But now, if you agree to this deal, you become his fiancée. When you walk down that runway, imagine how many eyes will be on you. It will be a mix of your own success and his success and influence as well. His business partners will reach out to you so you can also model for them. You could also win the model of the year award again”
I nodded in understanding.
“There are a lot of benefits that could come out of this,” she continued.
“You know I'm not the type of person to depend on others to succeed. I don't like milking others, so that if I make it, I will be proud to say that no human helped me”
She placed her hands on my shoulders. “You're not milking him.
As a matter of fact, you doing anything.
Just do your thing as a supermodel and see the magic happen and knowing his personality, he wouldn't just sit back if you don't agree. He is definitely going to do something to clear his name and that may not be good for us. We need to be a step ahead of him”
“So, you're saying I should agree to the deal?” I asked.
“Yes, but remember, you're still going to model for them on fashion week”
“Okay. It seems like a good idea anyway, but I'm still going to be the one to dump him”
“Sure. Guys don't get tired of us, we dump them like trash” she said and we both laughed.
“Besides, you get to have a rich and hot Billionaire by your side. That's another good thing too” she snickered.
“You girl” I gritted my teeth and hit her shoulder playfully.
“I agree. Let's sign the contract” I announced as soon as I entered his office.
He didn't say anything. His entire attention was on his computer. He didn't even act like anyone was there.
“Are you always this rude and annoying or is it just something that happens once in a while?” I spoke to him in a demeaning tone.
“And are you always so ill-mannered that you can't knock before you barge into someone's office?” He raised his gaze and focused it on me.
“If you have hearing problems, you can as well visit the hospital before it interferes with your life. I don't enter closed doors without knocking, just so you know”
“Whatever” he rolled his eyes.
Did he just do that?
He reached for his drawer and brought out the contract.
He paused and looked at me coldly.
“I drafted my contract too according to my terms and you'll have to sign it”
“If that's what you came here to say, then get out” he said and put the contract on the table.
“Jonathan Ryder, I can see past this facade you're putting on. You're playing cold and rude. But let me tell you, I know you need this engagement more than I do”
“Don't think too much of yourself”
“Of course I think too much of myself, but I'm not relating to it in this aspect. Obviously, you have a plan B that can ruin me and you think you can wiggle your way out of it”
I approached his table slowly and spoke quietly to let the words sink into his head.
“I'm the national sweetheart. Whatever you do after this would definitely come knocking back at your door in seven folds.
People love me and they're willing to fight for me, even as we speak.
You have much to lose than I have to lose.
You think I'm going to beg you to agree to my terms because I need my contracts, you're wrong”
I saw an emotion in his eyes, but I was gone as soon as it came. My words had an effect on him.
“You can go ahead and do as you please” I said and walked away.
“Ms Willows?” Someone called after me.
I didn't stop, rather I increased my pace. I knew it was Jonathan calling after me. Stopping now would mean that I was interested. I didn't want to show that the contract was important to me.
Someone called me again, closer this time. So I had to turn around and pretend like I hadn't heard him before when he called me.
“Please, Mr Ryder seeks your presence” the man who was with Jonathan the other day said.
I folded my arms over my chest and looked at him knowingly. I needed him to rephrase that sentence and he got the signal.
“Mr Ryder needs you to sign the contract as it is of utmost importance”he said.
I smiled to myself and muttered a ‘sure’ as we walked back inside.
It's time to teach Jonathan Ryder a lesson for his behaviour towards me.