"What nonsense is that?" I couldn't help but sigh at the man in front of me, causing the few people there to look slightly at us.
    "The terms and conditions are in this envelope. You'll have your signature here, just like what our EIC told us. We will provide the contract–"
    "I won't sign that." The man just shrugged. He even managed to swallow the food in front of him.
    This will be a hard drive. All my patience was exhausted in the nooks and crannies of this man's personality.
    I took a deep breath — over and over, before turning into the man. "What do you want? You clearly told my boss that you are already accepting the offer, but you will not sign this 'contract'? How low can you go, Mr. Carter? This is just unprofessional!"
    He folded his hands and laid them on the table before looking at me. "How low can I go. . . Avery, how low can I go for you?"
    I froze in my place, I didn't even had a chance to blink. What did this man say? Just. . . what was that?
    Before I could even speak, he quickly laid a laptop on the table. He tilted the food just to make room for that thing. "We're going to make a contract. That is what I will sign, then."
    I was so agitated that I just closed my eyes. "Let it go, Av. A little more patience please. . ." I whispered to myself.
    I took some carbonara and put it in my mouth. I quickly opened his laptop, thinking that I would be running out of patience today if this was finished immediately because of this man.
    "Password," I asked him.
    He just looked at me for a long time, so I raised an eyebrow at him. "What's the password?"
    "041192," he replied, then averted his eyes.
    I nodded quickly and slowly typed the numbers. "Is this a date? April. . . eleven–"
    He quickly stopped me from talking, "My birthday. It's my birthday," His voice became tremulous.
    Because of that, my face seemed to light up suddenly. "Really? That's my birthday, too! Is it your birthday?"
    That's surprising. We have the same birthday, but we are very different.
    "Let's start working," he said rudely.
    Nothing will ever change. All I really need is to get used to it.
***
    "Stay in your villa? Are you out of your mind?" I spilled the coffee I was drinking. Unfortunately, I am in front of the laptop, so it went straight there. "That's nonsense!" I added.
When we started making our contract, I had no choice but to complain. I tried all my might to understand but him, telling me to stay in his place when we start shooting? That's absurd!
    "Fine, fine. At least erase that. I don't want that either," he said uneasily.
     I stared at the man flatly while waiting for the next thing it would say.
    "That's enough. Have your sign through that PDF, and I'll have mine too," he said directly.
    I read what was there one last time, making sure there is nothing I have missed. My eye stopped at number one again. 
    "Are you serious with this?" When I looked at it straight, I read what was written, "Avery Taylor won't date someone through the span of the project. . . This is–"
    "That is what?"
    "That is unfair!" I typed quickly on the laptop keyboard. Instead of just putting my name on it, I added his name. That should be both parties. . . I didn't even understand what is, perhaps, the purposes were I couldn't help but calm my ass down.
    Cormac turned the laptop in front of him. He quietly read the revision before I could even see his infectious grin. "This is way better."
    I wanted to smile at that statement, but I covered it with a sigh. "Just sign it."
    I can no longer imagine what more hardships I will endure seeing the man's signature on that contract.
    I quickly sent the copy to Ma'am Cassandra and said I would later explain what had happened.
    When it was all over, including the food, I was ready to get up and leave. In the distance, I even saw Isiaah busy taking care of the guests.
    "Your things are on my car," Cormac said from behind before finally walking ahead of me. As usual, I had no choice but to follow.
    There is something between this guy that I can't avoid. 
    I was just quiet the whole walk until we reached the car. I quickly picked up my things there and walked away.
    Maybe it's because of tiredness as well. Now, I can feel everything even though I knew before that my system wouldn't be able to shout that they needed a break.
    "Avery. . ."
    I was so tired, I didn't even notice that Cormac was following me. I dealt with it quickly. No matter how much I wanted to stab the man, it was as if the road was pulling me to lie down there.
    "I'll take you."
    Those words had become weak in my ears because I was utterly exhausted.
***
I was overwhelmed when I felt the cold room. I pondered what happened after I got my things in Cormac's car, but I have nothing else to remember.
    "Holy–"
    "You're such a baby!"
    I was even stunned by the person who suddenly spoke to the side. "You startled me!"
    I got a nasty headache. I lowkey, trying to remember what really happened. 
    I should remember something.
    "I know it's going to happen, Avery. Listen," my older brother said directly and then dropped his cellphone on my bed.
    The recorded audio that came out there was apparent.
    "I'm sorry. I planned to take her, but she passed out — well, that's what I thought. I would have taken her to the hospital but. . . I heard her snooze. I'm relieved that she just fell asleep. She must be tired from work–"
    "Stop! Stop!"
    I don't know how to feel. I literally felt the sudden warmth of my face. That's fucking embarrassing. "What was that, Kuya?"
    "I know. . . I know, little sister." The man's laughter didn't help. "I know you are doomed."
    What now, Avery? How are you going to get this going tomorrow?