9 am, Monday morning
"I know you read the rants in a leather binder," Will said as we sat in his office, fully clothed.
"Yeah, I did," I admitted. It wasn't FBI stuff.
Oh boy. That wasn't what I expected when he said we need to talk. I was rushing off to see Josh, and he caught me by hand, dragging me with him to his office. On the bright side of events, I suspected he knew who had written it and who the hell is that chic in Josh's head. It will make my life easier to know who I am competing with. All I had to do was get the information out of Tyranny Turner. Phew. I sighed.
"There's someone from the office. Isn't it? And Josh- I mean Mr. Harris is involved..." I added.
He stared at me and nodded.
"It has come to my notice that you are interested in Mr.Harris. A lot." He said.
Shit. The crap just hit the fan. Where are we going with this?
"What makes you think so?"I asked, a little too defensive than I hoped to be.
Bring your best acting game Eva, bring your best. I put my hands on my hips for more effect.
"Well, I found you drooling over it, quite literally!" he snorted, and his lips turned into a smirk.
"But if you say you aren't interested, then what's the point in telling you at all!" he added.
Act uninterested. Act uninterested. Count to ten!
One...two...three...He was still staring at me...four...five...He was just playing with you, Eva...six...seven...You are not in high school... eight...You aren't a gossip monger...Nine...Oh, fuck it!
"Okay, I was lying. Tell me about it!" I said, finally giving in.
"I can ease your curiosity. But..." He stopped mid-sentence.
Of course, there's always a but!
"But what?" I asked.
"I need you to help me on one of my ventures." He said.
"And that would be?" I raised a brow.
"You see, I am a man of eclectic tastes. Help me pursue them!" he said with a smile.
"Damn, here I thought you were done being a dog..." I said frustrated.
"You mean a bitch?" He smiles through his cheeks.
"That's sexist!" I scoffed.
"But aren't dogs cute?" he asked, a bit amused.
"Exactly what I am trying to say. If dogs are cute, how come bitches are not!" I was trying to make my point; no shade there.
"You are crazy!" He broke into laughter.
"That's rich coming from you," I remarked.
"You can curse me in the privacy of your room. So what do you say, deal?" He said in between his laughter.
"Okay, deal!" I gulped, not knowing what I was inviting.
"Here, sign this. I can't take you on your word. These are legal stuff!" He handed me a file.
"What is this, Fifty Shades Of Grey? I am not into that sort of thing!" I said.
I don't want to get involved if he's going to tie me up and fuck the senses out of me. Hard pass. Mission Notebook could abort.I was not going to be part of a crazy kink, rich ass man. Hell, no!
"Stop reading those books, for God's sake. That's not my kink. Just have a look through the papers, and you'll know. Take your time to reconsider."
I hadn't heard Will Turner laugh before, but it was infectious. There's that warm edge to his voice, and he was no more the jerk he is all the time!
Page 1
Non Disclosure Agreement.
You uphold the partaking by both sides to be kept as a private matter and maintained with utmost secrecy.
Well, typical Turner bullshit. I couldn't help but get more suspicious.
Page 2
The undersigned individual agrees to abide by the following clauses and agrees to assist Mr. William Turner in the said ventures.
Clause 1: Emotional, recreational activities included in the given bucket list as proposed by Mr. William Emmanuel Turner are aided by the undersigned
BUCKET LIST
#1. Being friends with a coworker
#2. Stealing clothes from a mannequin
#3. Riding a bike to Fordshire Bridge in rain
#4. Watching stars from Fordshire High's planetarium roof
#5. Singing at a local karaoke
#6. Slow dancing in public.
#7. Catching fireflies in Everwood forests.
#8. Selling Gingerbread man to kids.
#9. Get a tattoo.
#10. Set up a prank.
Clause 2: In the practice of the said activities listed in Clause 1, the undersigned will get the knowledge regarding a 'sole' subject by Mr. William Emmanuel Turner.
Wait, what? So he wants me to help him with stuff that high school kids do! Weird, but possible. I looked up to find him staring intently at me.
"This is what it is about?" I asked, and he scrunched his nose.
"You're doing that again..." He said.
"Doing what?" I asked, putting my hands on his desk.
"Judging me!" He scoffed.
No, I wasn't. Okay, maybe a little, but not for the wrong reasons. I read about BDSM contracts and NDAs about serious issues. This one was just unexpected!
"We could have done this without NDA and paperwork!" I added, and he shook his head.
"When you sign, it's a deal. When you don't, it's not!" Will put it firmly.
"I'll sign it, but I have a few questions..." I said adamantly, his eyes boring into mine with the utmost attention.
"Why this bucket list? Why me? What's the point?" I said, turning breathless.
"Oh, I thought you'd never ask!" he said dramatically.
"Yeah?" I rolled my eyes.
"The thing is... I never actually had a chance to do kid stuff. I was busy studying all my life, and when I was an adult, I worked here all the damn time." He said, his eyes a distant shade of grey.
That was personal shit. I don't even want to know the rest. Even though that answers the 'Why?' and 'What's the point?', 'Why me?' was still left, though no more personal talks, I hoped.
As if he had read my mind, he speaks again.
"I couldn't think of a better person than you! You saw me naked..."
"I am sorry. I didn't want to!" I retorted hysterically.
"That's not the only reason." He said biting his lip. Fuck. So sexy. Damn. Concentrate.
"Th-then?" I stuttered.
"You are trying to live past things you have forgotten, and I want to know how it would be to do it all, the very first time." He said, his eyes shunned and his fingers running across the back of his head.
All I saw in him was this ruthless human of a beast who made everyone work to their core. But based on his history of an inexperienced childhood and the things that add flavors to your life, how long could I hate him for what he was? I stared at him in silence. For five whole minutes, none of us said a word.
I placed the file on the table, and his face dropped. He moved away to the corner, staring out of the glass window at the streets. While he was busy with his eyes crusading in the backdrop of busy Fordshire, I signed it. I might regret this, but jerk or not, even Will Turner deserved high school joy. All of it, every bit of it.
"Mr. Turner! Now that I have, you should too..." I said, extending the pen towards him as he turned to face me. He half smiled, holding the pen, and there it was. Signed. Sealed.
"Well, it's nice knowing you and being able to call you my friend!" I said, feeling way out of character. He raised an eyebrow.
"Friends? Us? Sure!" he winked.
"First thing off the bucket list!" I said triumphantly.
"Oh, I see you're in a hurry to get done with this. Aren't you Eva?" His tone was playful, and I bet he was a little happy.
"Maybe. Maybe not." I said.
"We will see..." he added with a smirk.
"And...I won't call you Mr. Turner outside work anymore. If you are my friend, you better level up, Will!" I teased him.
"Ah! Competent, are we? Laters then, Eva!" he winked at me.
For the first time in my life, I could see Will Turner as a human being, not a money-minded jerk. I had done worse things with Will Turner- broke his vase, flashed him my boobs, kissed him in the elevator, kissed him naked, and now I was cosplaying with him back to high-school days.
As I exit his office, a smile plays on my lipstick-red lips, and I know there's a new beginning. A fair negotiation!