“What?” Aiden and Riley shouts in unison, they take a glance at each other and face Evan who is seated on the large sofa and both of them are at his either side on the single sofa.
Evan adjusts his glasses and lets out a sigh, after a long explanation of the current situation he cannot accept their answer, which is still in a question mark. He pulls out a file from his bag and places it on the coffee table in front of him, Aiden’s and Riley’s eyes move to the table, their gaze follow his actions, they look straight at each other and again at Evan.
Evan calls out “Riley,” he intertwines his fingers and leans forward , his head turned to the right “ I know that you are afraid to read the comments online,” he says, “Articles have been posted overnight and you know that there are people against you already” Evan explains, his eyes never leaves Riley who stares down at the carpeted floor, “They're saying that you are playing over another girl to fulfil your desires,” his voice stiffens as he knows that negative comments effect Riley yet he continues “We have no other choice to go on this plan as there is no other way to fix this problem. Everything will be fixed after few weeks when I ask the media to change the topic. You can’t go back to stage solo now. I know that you are concerned of how people think of you, so doing this is not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” Aiden exclaims, she leans back and crosses her arms over her chest, she looks straight at the two pair of eyes, her eyes squint “Why should I be in a relationship with him when this has nothing to do with me?” she licks her lips, moves her gaze to the paper on the table and back at Evan “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! A contract relationship?” she snarls.
The air around them captures silence for a second and Riley breaks it “Why don’t you help me since it has nothing to do with you?” he requests.
“This is no help,” Aiden snaps dryly not interested in the topic.
“Wasn’t it a mistake done by both of you?” Evan questions.
“What mistake?” Aiden asks.
“The kiss,” his word comes out instantly after her question, “I know that this sounds stupid but may you please do this help, we are ready to do anything in return,” Evan requests.
“Anything?” Riley repeats, he stares at Evan and back at Aiden “She is a type of person who smiles at you and asks permission to twist your arm and……,” he stops when Evan glares at him with a warning expression of please-shut-up.
“I have a boyfriend,” Aiden lies.
“Didn’t you have a break up with him?' Riley snorts, he chuckles at his strong memory power.
“I didn’t,” she grits her teeth.
“I just heard your break up in the restaurant the other day”
Aiden slides forward from her seat and slams her hand on the table, the two men flinch “Did you eavesdrop?” her voice comes out stern, the right corner of her lips twitch up “Seems like you don’t need any help,” she smirks and stands, she takes her phone from the table and walks to the door.
“Isn’t your job to protect me?” Riley stands and follows her outside “No one will think bad of us when you follow me around,” he stops behind her.
“As I told, I don’t care what others think,” she turns around “We can’t operate their minds” she continues “And……,” she keeps a step forward, in half a second she pulls his arm behind his back and pushes him to the wall, his left cheek glued to the wall.
“What are you doing?” Riley utters struggling in her grip “Let me go!” he exclaims as he kicks the wall furiously “Evan help me,” he shouts.
“You didn’t……,”
“Okay, okay... I’m sorry,” he apologizes before she completes her sentence “Will you help me, please,” he asks softly as he stops his movement when her grip loosens.
She leaves him free and walks back in to the sofa, Riley follows her in.
“Do you agree?” Evan questions, surprised.
“Why would I come in again it I’m not,” She replies and checks the time.
“Riley, she is your life saver,” Evan smiles, Riley rubs against his twisted arm massaging the muscles, he looks at Evan and forces a smile.
“You are kind though,” Riley comments, he throws himself on the sofa and points at the file on the table “So what’s that?” he asks Evan.
 “Contract,” Evan replies and he opens the file.
“You are well prepared,” Aiden snorts, sarcasm crystal clear in her tone.
“You never told me about it in the morning. What if she was a stranger still?” Riley questions curiously, he snatches the file from Evan and flips through the blank pages.
“I have my own ways to find her but God is really great,” he blurts rubbing his hands against each other, after a few seconds of silence he stands and claps “Now Party A and Party B can tell me the rules so we can fill in the contract. Let’s make this happen,” Evan announces, he forms his hands into fist in the air encouraging himself for the victory.
An hour passed
Evan exhales, he turns to his right and takes a look at Riley then turns to his left and looks at Aiden, the movement of his pen is faster than he expected, his messy unclear handwriting inks down the clauses they uttered. He flips the page and writes on the last paper, clause number 198, he waits till Aiden speaks.
“Party B will obey Party A’s orders,” she states.
“Then Party A should obey Party B’s orders as well,” Riley snaps, his eyes throw daggers at her.
 “Why should I follow your orders?” Aiden retorts, she arches a brow perfectly “Are you the one who is helping me out,” she avers.
“Yeah, she has got a point,” Evan takes her side.
“I just told that you are kind, seems like I’m wrong,” Riley murmurs under his breath, he rolls his eyes, annoyed “Alright, the next thing is, Party A shouldn’t interrupt with my personal life unless it’s work purpose.”
The right corner of Aiden’s lips twitch up to a smirk in the thought that she is not even interested to put her nose into other people’s business and it’s completely out of her character.
“Please make this the last,” Evan begs and writes down the last point, his fingers hurt.
“The contract can be cancelled by any party,” Aiden blurts as she swipes up her phone when it vibrates.
“Finally!” Evan exhales, he pulls out his laptop “I’ll type it asap,” he begins to work on the official contract.
“Alright, I’ll be back later,” Aiden leaves.
###
Elbows rested on the front counter, Aiden stares at the empty chair on the other side through the transparent glass, a smile makes its way on her lips when the door on the other side opens and Johnson walks into the room, wrinkles form at the corners of his eyes. He takes his seat and looks at her for a while in silence, his little princess finally visited him after a week.
“It's been a long time to see you,” he chuckles.
“I was caught up on something lately,” Aiden replies, her smile widens at the sight of Johnson, she loves to see her father safe and healthy but she just cannot bare the sight of him with the prisoner attire, every time she visits him the sight of him breaks her heart.
“I know,” he nods and moves forward “You’ve never stopped looking into my case.”
“I lost my job because of it,” Aiden says “And had a break up as well,” she spills out.
“Why did you break up with Mike? You both were doing great together,”
“He seems to like...,” she moves back at her seat and raises her brows “Sexy girls.”
“You’re sexy too,”
“Am I?” she chuckles and moves forward again “Didn’t you nag on who will marry me?” she asks with a playful angry expression.
“I sure did,” Johnson chuckles his eyes glistened with happiness “You can date many till you find the right one,” he laughs at his own statement.
“Is that a likeable advice to be given by a father,” she rubs her chin and laughs.
“It’s been a awhile to laugh aloud,” His dry voice comes out with laughter, it takes some time for the surrounding to get back to silence and after a few seconds it does.
“Dad,” she calls out softly “I met Mr. Mintz,” she informs.
“I know, he is a good lawyer,” Johnson moves forward “Aiden, you can let things slide. I don’t want you to be involved in the mess, it’s dangerous,”
“It sure is,” she exhales “You should have thought about it before you’re involved in it.”
Johnson stays silent for a moment and says “Won’t you do the same if you were in my shoes? Will you just watch them add drugs to the medication, they are focused on the teens as they are easy to be addicted” he smiles “You remember we had a talk about it, the friend I referred to is myself.”
“I figured it out” she rubs the back of her neck “I shouldn’t have encouraged you to step forward,” she sighs “But dad, I promise that you will be out and all the victims will get justice. I will never step out of this till that.” She purses her lips to a flat line and raises her brows “You trust me, right?” she smiles as she knows the answer.
“Of course, I do,” Johnson replies, he doesn’t negotiate because he knows that nothing can convince his daughter if she decides to do something “I just want you and Emma to be safe,” he exhales.
“I’ll bring mom over when she is in a good condition,”
Johnson nods in reply, the back of his eyes pricks with tears which pools up in an instant when the sweet moments of his family flashes in his mind, he rubs his nose and bites his lower lip “You have so much of burden in a young age,” he utters.
“It's not a burden, it’s a duty,” she passes an assuring smile.