Contractual Obligation: The Trilogy (10 page)

Michael drew up the plans, tossed them around in his mind, and then started over. He had ideas, but to make those ideas work he’d need capital, a business loan, space, and so much more. The idea of working for somebody else had little appeal. He’d been raised by an entrepreneur and was certain he’d be his own boss. He could rebuild, maybe take over where the company failed. Or maybe grow a new company, start from the ground up. He’d make this work. He’d find a way. There was no question in his mind. He had a new future to plan for.

Natalie didn’t expect the phone call. It was a complete surprise. How could she have known? All the media attention, all the pictures splashed across the papers through the start of the trial, and as each new revelation came out…she couldn’t have known. She grew used to ignoring the cameras as they flashed at the two of them. Michael’s father had it worse, and every other day an image of him or James was plastered with gossipy headlines. It was a slow news time, so the latest scandal kept all the local pages busy.

Natalie hadn’t spoken to Victoria since – well, since she ran into her at the pharmacy the day she’d bought the pregnancy test. The truth was there wasn’t any work for her in ages, so after a while, she just stopped calling. She had some money left, but barely any from the first payment or two from the contract. Her money was close to drying up, and then there would be nothing. Maybe she could waitress or get a job at a clothing store to tide her over. She scowled at the thought.

“Natalie, darling, it’s great to hear your voice.”

“Victoria? What’s going on?”

“I’m glad I could reach you. I’ve had an interesting client get in contact with me. They went through the trouble of tracking you down, and saw that you’re listed with my agency. They’d like to offer you a job.”

“What?”

“A job, darling. You remember, that modeling thing you do.”

“Did,” she sighed. “It’s not like I’ve been getting work.”

“Well, I’ve got great news for you. If you’re interested, I’ve got a nice fat contract with your name on it.”

Natalie cringed at the word contract. A contract is what got her into this mess in the first place. “I don’t know,” she said, feeling defeated before hearing any of the details.

“Just let me fill you in, and then you can decide. Don’t make any decisions until you hear more.”

“Right, go ahead.”

“It’s a German company. They want you to be the face of their watch line.”

“What?”

“Yes.” Her voice was overly enthusiastic. “Someone from their company branch over here has been seeing your face plastered in the paper, and thought you had the perfect look. They’re offering big money. This is a great contract.”

“Watches?”

“Yes, the Outrageous watch line will be debuting bold new color schemes in flexible rubber type bands, but the watch itself will be high caliber. We’re talking prestige, Natalie. This is no low-end department store watch. It’s being marketed up, up, up, darling, to the well to do.”

“It’s rubber.”

“Only the bands, but they’re fun colors. The watch itself is precision engineering, and they are a hugely reputable company. You’ll know them as Fusendyner Retro. This is the casual collections line coming out. They want you.”

“Fusendyner Retro wants me?” Natalie’s eyes opened up. She knew that name. It was a high end luxury brand. She’d never been offered a job like this, nothing prestigious, and definitely nothing with the kinds of numbers that
Victoria was talking about. Squealing was inappropriate, but she couldn’t help herself. She knew it wasn’t professional, but the excitement bubbled out of her like a fountain of crazy spray.

“So, when can I tell them you’ll start? If you can drop by the office tomorrow and look over the papers, we’ll sign and fax them back. Now, there is one thing I should mention…” she paused, and then quickly continued. “You’ll need to relocate to
Europe for the next year. They’ll want you to go to stores for the launch, make appearances locally, and the sort. They’re paying you well, but they want your face and time.” She laughed at the little pun about the watch company wanting the girl’s time. “Their U.S. launch will start a few months later based on the success of the line. They’re doing a soft launch over there first.”

“What?
Europe? A year? But…”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re actually letting that trivial bit be an issue. Darling, right now you’re hot, and your fifteen minutes of fame might very well be over soon. You’ve been splashed across the papers, and suddenly there’s a demand for your face. All models want that, whether the publicity is good or bad. It’s how you get known. Soon you’ll be Natalie, and people won’t even have to say your last name. People will know who they’re talking about. Right now if you say Natalie Cooper, people say ‘who?’ Not after this campaign! It’s a dream come true. I think they want to do a spoof paparazzi thing. The campaign sounds amazing. This could really change your entire career, Natalie. Be sure to be here early tomorrow so we can get this paperwork faxed back to them, say around nine?”

“Victoria, I need to think. It’s all happening so fast, and I’m tied into…” she trailed off.

“Oh, that ridiculous contract thing? There’s got to be an easy loophole now that they can’t pay and the company is falling apart. Leave that behind darling, the spotlight is calling.”

Natalie exhaled dramatically. “I just need time, that’s all.”

“No later than ten, Natalie. Make sure you’re here. I’d hate for you to embarrass yourself and dawdle. You’ll send a bad impression.”

“Victoria.”

“I’ll have none of it.
I’ll see you tomorrow. Toodles.” Just like that, she clicked off the phone.It was no longer up for discussion.

Natalie sat with her dreams of a huge contract, but the fear of moving overseas for a year. And Michael, what would she tell Michael? She was crushed, overwhelmed with possibilities and trampled by fear. Nothing felt scarier than the unknown at this precise moment. 

Fusendyner Retro wanted her! This could easily be the biggest point of her career, and could launch her to super stardom. If her face was attached with such a high end line, others could be right behind it. This was what she wanted, fame, success, to reach the top… and yet something was holding her back.

Natalie was torn between excitement and uncertainty. Pressing her lips together, she was consumed with conflict. She was struggling to find answers that would satisfy her. Either was a possibility, and yet either could be heartbreaking to walk away from. She quietly shook her head, lost in thought. Life used to be so easy. Simple decisions.
What to have for breakfast, to take a cab or the bus, and don’t expect great things. Only now, everything seemed complicated.

Sliding her finger across her forehead, she furrowed her brow. There was no easy answer. Saying no to either would leave her unsatisfied. She hadn’t felt this way about anybody in a while, but it started under odd… no, flat out weird circumstances. Maybe it wasn’t truly real love. She could be fooling herself. On the other hand, Fusendyner Retro wanted her and they were willing to pay big money to bring her to Europe. This could jumpstart her career
, even launch her to new levels of stardom.

Natalie’s hand slid up and down her thigh, her nervous energy bubbling out. She felt unsettled and got up to pace. Her apartment felt even smaller than usual. She had a sudden urge to get out and take a walk, which was precisely what she needed. Or maybe she should stay in and spend time focused on her choices. Exhaling dramatically, Natalie flung herself onto her bed, realizing she wasn’t going anywhere.

Crinkling her nose, she felt the sinking feeling in her belly. She knew what she wanted to do, but making that decision wouldn’t be easy. When she told them, they’d be upset, maybe even angry. How would she find the words?

Natalie raked her hands through her hair, sprawling it out around her pillow. It was anxiety. She always had her hands in her hair when she was nervous. She didn’t want to think about the collateral damage, but there was bound to be a mess left behind. There was no other way.

Pulling her arms to her chest, she dreaded the conversation. It couldn’t wait. She’d have to do it tomorrow. Her stomach rolled, and as she tipped up to her side to rest on her hip, she knew what had to be done. It was settled. She knew the answer, and until she dealt with this, it would eat her up inside. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape to. She’d have to put on her big girl panties and face it head on – something she wasn’t very good at, and dreaded to no end.

Natalie rolled off her bed again and paced. Her mind circled around what she would say, and no matter how she tied it up in ribbons, it wasn’t pretty. She knew this one single decision would change her entire world. And yet…what if it was the wrong decision?

She wished she had closer friends. She’d let so many go over the years, and the girls she got close to locally from work, she didn’t trust. As sad as it was, they weren’t truly friends, just people to hang out with. Most of the girls were catty, and she avoided them most of the time. Let’s face it, talking to the cat next door was more appealing than any of the girls she knew.

Her mom…
but how would she tell her the truth? She’d be horrified, and wouldn’t be a good judge of the situation. She’d be biased. Natalie hated how isolated she suddenly felt, realizing she’d closed off her world more than she even realized. This wasn’t what she imagined when she saw her future – a lonely girl with nobody to rely on, nobody to trust, nobody to talk to but a neighbor’s cat. With a deep sigh, she fell back onto her bed. It was going to be a long night.

Natalie went over the words again and again in her head. Each time she practiced them, she was certain she could pull it off. Was this what she wanted or what she needed? There was a deep ache in her belly, like a pit that was some vacant black hole. There was no way she could put it off any longer, and she needed to make a decision before it was too late. She knew what she was going to do. She hated that it had to be this way, having to choose like this, but this was her future. She had to keep a clear head.

Natalie got in the taxi, giving the driver the address. Her stomach lurched, reminding her she was that much closer to having to say the words out loud. As the cab pulled up, her heart was heavy. There was no stalling, no putting it off until tomorrow. It had to be done – now.

Natalie tipped the cab driver and got out of the car. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her skirt and made her way to the building entrance. They were expecting her. She’d called ahead and said she was on her way.

When Michael opened the door to greet her, he pulled her close. “I’m so glad to see you this morning.”

This was going to be harder than she thought. “Michael, we need to talk.”

“Sure, have a seat. Do you want something to drink?”

“No, no, I’m fine.” Why did he have to look so good? His chest was bare, muscled and strong, and he wore faded jeans that clung to his body perfectly. He looked like a chiseled sculpture and as he smiled at her, flashing his white teeth and that adorable dimple, Natalie sighed. There was no easy way to say it.

“The thing is,” she started, “I’ve been offered a great opportunity.”

“That’s great! You should grab it. I’m not sure how long this is going to drag on. What’s it for?”

“It’s for a luxury line, a year long modeling and spokesperson gig. They want me to be the face for their new watch line.”

“Natalie, that’s exciting! I know things aren’t turning out how we planned. Together we can have it all, you modeling, me starting a business. We can be a team,” he laughed. “I feel like we can really do this, start fresh, and make an impact. You’ve already started.”

“Michael,” she stopped him as he rambled on excitedly. “They want me to move to
Europe.”

“What?”

“For a year,” she finished.

“Wait, what?”

“It’s a European line they’re launching, and I’d have to go there for appearances.”

“You can’t go to Europe,” he said
, panic in his voice. “A year? Absolutely not; it’s out of the question. How would I function? What about us? You’ve come to mean so much to me, and we’re a team, right Natalie? A team. Together, we can tackle any of this, but we need to do it here, with you by my side. Can’t you just shoot pictures some weekend and then stay here? Why would you have to be there? There’s no way; you can’t do it.”

“I can’t do it?” She arched an eyebrow, a little taken aback by that.

“We’re supposed to get married, share a life, and move in together. I’m going to start a business. I’ll need you here with me. We had a plan, or were starting to put one together. Europe wasn’t in the plans.”

As she opened her mouth, she stopped, watching him as he continued.

“I love you, Natalie. I’d be lost without you. I truly love you. I want you to be my wife.”

Natalie sat down and stared ahead. This wasn’t what she was expecting. This wasn’t what she planned. She thought she could walk away, go on with her life, her career, and start over. Only something hit her hard when he said those words. She realized that as odd as it was, as strange as it had started, she loved him too. She didn’t even know how or why, but she did – she truly did. Leaving Michael… it sounded good on paper, but actually walking away from the man that had stolen her heart?
She couldn’t do it.

She mouthed the words, her voice barely a whisper,
“I love you too.”

Victoria wasn’t happy when Natalie told her no. In fact, she was down right furious. This was the chance of a lifetime and she was throwing it away. She’d better think long and hard, because it may be the only chance she has left, and if she turns this down,
Victoria refused to represent her anymore. It didn’t help her reputation to turn down large companies with big wallets over a fickle model that fell in love. This was ridiculous, immature, and just insane. She let Natalie know she had exactly one hour to call her back with a revised answer, or their working relationship was a thing of the past.

Natalie was stunned.
Victoria scolded her like a small child. She hated how she questioned herself over and over. There was no going back, and she’d probably never get offered another contract this lucrative. Yet when it came down to it, she saw a life with Michael, a future; and hearing the words, saying the words, cemented what she should have known all along. They were meant to be together. So what if they found each other in some crazy way? So what if it wasn’t a traditional relationship? When they were tangled together in bed, her body and mind wrapped around him and wanted to be with him. It was something she was willing to risk her future on. Maybe she was a fool, but she was a fool in love.

She was in love. Wow. It hit her like a sledge hammer. Finally admitting it, admitting that her feelings were real was freeing. She was in love.

Michael swept her up in his arms. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. Hesitation was in her voice, but certainty was in her head. “I think so.” She clucked her tongue. “Yes, I’m sure.” This time she sounded more solid in her answer.

“I love you, Natalie Cooper. One day you’ll be Mrs. Natalie Davidson, and I’ll be the proudest man that ever was.” His hand swept tenderly over her cheek. “One day you’ll be my wife.”

Natalie smiled – a small, soft smile. She knew this was the path she was supposed to take, but there was the tiniest bit of her that wondered if it was a mistake. She just turned down the biggest offer she’d ever gotten to model for a big, well known company, and the twinge in her belly wouldn’t let her forget.

No. Michael was her future. A husband, children… together they would have it all. They’d connected, bonded, and were committed to seeing this out – a life with each other.

“Come to bed with me,” he grinned, taking her hand and leading her from the living room toward his bedroom. She wouldn’t deny him the request. As good as he looked in his faded denim and without a shirt, she was more than ready to take him up on the offer. It was going to be a good day after all. Following behind him, her hand in his, the couple walked through the bedroom door, ready to consummate their love.

Michael pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her. Letting his hands come to rest on the curve of her bottom, he pressed Natalie to him. In this intimate space, she picked up hints of his cologne and inhaled, taking him in. Parting their lips, they came together, sharing the first of many kisses.

His arms felt strong as they held her close. Her hands caressed the bare skin of his back, and the urge to press her naked skin to his was overwhelming. Pulling back, she tugged at her shirt, wanting to feel him against her. Michael helped, unhooking her bra, and sighed as her warm breasts pressed to his chest. Their kisses grew more heated as their bodies clung together.

She wanted him, needed him, and clawed at his jeans. Tugging at the zipper, the duo shrugged off the remainder of their clothing and climbed under the covers, before sinking back into passionate kisses, their bodies tangling around each other.

Michael’s hands explored Natalie’s body, and moving from her bottom, he tenderly slid his hand between her legs. She was damp with excitement, sighing at his touch. His fingers moved along her folds, and as Natalie sank into the sensations he offered, her fingers dug into him as her peak neared.

Her heart was racing as she cried out in pleasure. Michael buried his mouth on her neck, milking her skin, and pressed his fingers back into her, causing her body to roll and spasm with another wave of pleasure. 

She had to catch her breath, but her muscles were lax and weakened. Sprawled across the mattress, Natalie drifted in the high of her orgasm. Michael let her recover for only a moment before his lips move to her soft breasts. Teasing a nipple, his own body was beckoning him to satiate his needs.

Climbing up over his lover, Michael entered Natalie, penetrating her deeply. Each thrust, each movement brought him closer to where he needed to be. Looking down at the girl below him, everything felt right in the world. As he let his body take over, his mind drifted off. Only his pleasure washed through him now. Pushing, thrusting, faster, harder, and as the orgasm rushed through him, he grunted loudly and dropped onto the bed.

Making love to Natalie was everything he ever wanted, but in these moments after, where love pulsed through him recklessly, he was content to lie beside her, stroking her skin, playing with her hair, caressing her body, and feeling her close.

Michael rolled up on his side and drew lazy circles on Natalie’s shoulder with his finger. He slipped his hand through her silky hair and leaned in close, kissing her lips in a soft, tender moment. “I’m so glad you stayed,” he whispered.

“Me too.”

“We’ll figure things out. It will all be okay.”

“I hope so.” She couldn’t look away from him. He mesmerized her. There was something special between them. She recognized it as love, but it was so much more. The bond, something drew them together almost like a need. Maybe they were both tired of being lonely and had found a friend in the other. Either way, with him beside her, she felt like things would work out.

“They’re sentencing my father next week,” his voice dropped an octave. He went from romantic to business in the blink of an eye. “I’m letting go. When he goes to jail, it’s time for me to move on. I can’t forgive him for all of the lies.”

“I’m sorry.” The pain in his eyes spoke of his inner turmoil. In one moment, he was sweeping her off her feet, making love to her, and in the next he was torn to shreds thinking about how much his life had changed.

“At least I have you. I’m not alone.”

“You’re not.” How could she have almost walked away? Natalie tortured herself realizing she’d considered leaving him. It would have been heartbreaking, knowing he’d be alone, with nobody to trust, nobody to have his back. It was selfish.

“We should get married.”

Natalie looked to Michael. He had enough on his plate, and there was no rush. “In time.”

“Let’s not wait. There’s no reason to. We both want to be here. We were going to anyway. Let’s plan something small.”

“I haven’t even told my parents about you,” she admitted bashfully. “I didn’t know what to say.”

“You’ll figure it out.” He grinned at his future bride. His hands moved along her body, his fingers playing on her soft skin.

The touches turned to caresses, and soon he was pulling her closer, wanting to be inside of her again. Michael pulled Natalie up onto him, and as she let him enter her, she groaned with pleasure. Natalie let her body take over, pushing down and then lifting. With each movement the duo grew more heated in motion.

Natalie’s breasts swayed back and forth. Michael couldn’t resist reaching up and touching her, teasing her pert nipples as he watched her move. Throwing her head back, she leaned into the added pleasure, closing her eyes.

Her body seized, her muscles tensing and locking up, and then sweet relief as the orgasm ricocheted through her. “Oh, Michael,” she groaned, collapsing onto him. He pressed his hips up into her, finishing what they’d started and reached his own peak.

Michael held her close, his arms wrapped tightly around her as his body slacked otherwise. “Don’t ever leave me,” he whispered. “If I have you, it’s all I need.”

Natalie brushed her lips against his neck and nuzzled in. She’d never felt this way before. The thought that she almost let go horrified her. It would have been a huge mistake.
Michael was her future, and together they’d share a life.