Page 62 of Seduced By Contract

"Madison . . .”

"I know what you're going to say. The doctors who are treating my sister have said the same thing, but that's because none of you know her. Brooklyn is a fighter. If she hasn't woken up yet, it's because she's not ready, but she will fight because she has a reason to." She points to the babies. "If there's even the slightest chance for her to recover, my sister will grab it with all she's got."

Since she arrived here, she's kept a safe distance, so I walk over and pick her up. "I didn't mean to crush your hopes."

"Not even if you tried. I know my sister."

"About the social worker..." I change the subject because I'm a realist, never an optimist, and I'm not sure if her sister will ever wake up. "You have an appointment with the lawyer on Tuesday. He specializes in family law and can guide you."

"You go to meet your brothers and manage to resolve all this at the same time?"

"Neither of these problems was something we could wait on. It's clear to me that regardless of what the social worker says, you're doing a great job with the babies."

She loops her arms around my neck and presses her forehead against my chin. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"I don't even know where to start, but for getting a specialist for my sister, for the lawyer, but most importantly, for telling me that I'm a good aunt."

I hold her face. "Madison, you're only nineteen and you've taken on the responsibility of supporting your family. Many girls in your position would have let them go to foster care."

"I would never allow that to happen. I'll save up by working at the club at night and studying during the day. Soraya and Silas will have everything we didn't."

"Is something missing?"

She smiles. "They're babies. Something's always missing, but I don't want you to give me anything. You've done enough already."

"Don't be stubborn. It's not for you—it's for the twins."

She rolls her eyes. "I know."

"Decorate their room in the new house. Accept it as a gift for both of them."

"But from what I saw that day, the house is already fully decorated."

"Yes, but there's no children's room. I've been in my nephew's room a few times. I know there are thousands of oddaccessories for little ones. Buy whatever you need. You said you want to give them everything you and your sister didn't have. Let me contribute to that."

"If I say yes, it's just this once. I'll manage on my own, Zeus. I'll support my family my own way."

"By working at the night club?" I can't hide my annoyance.

"And where else can I make that kind of money?" She gets up from my lap, furious. We're both on edge.

"Come here." I pull her into the hallway so our voices don't wake the babies. "You said you started dancing at SIN out of necessity, but you don't have to expose yourself like that. You're my girlfriend, damn it!"

When I finish speaking, we lock eyes, weighed down by the weight of my statement. I didn't plan to say that, but I don't regret it.

Madison recovers first. "Even if I accepted your money—and I won't—that label you gave us is for six months. Don't forget about the contract."

"To hell with the contract, Madison. If it makes you feel better for me to call you a sugar baby, I can do that, but to me, you're my woman. Don't pretend that this lover bullshit comes naturally to you, because I know it doesn't."

"Look me in the eye and tell me that wasn't exactly what you proposed to me on that first day. The only difference is that when I agreed, I made sure we put it all in writing and we signed it. But don't come at me with hypocrisy, Zeus. What you wanted from me was sex."

"I've never lied in my relationships, so yes, that’s what I wanted." I pause, running a hand through my hair. "I want a lot of sex with you, but without a contract. I won't break my part of the deal, but I don't want us to have a time limit anymore."

She's leaning against the opposite wall, her arms crossed over her chest, in a completely defensive posture. "No contract also means we can break up earlier," she says.

"It's not going to happen."

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