“Sunny...”
"What?" Since he wouldn't let me go, I sat there, calling myself ten types of stupid as I waited for him to tell me all the reasons he didn't feel the same way.
But then, suddenly, he did let me go. "I'll shower first," he said, releasing my arm. He stood up from the bed. "Then, after your shower, you can join me in the outer room. We need to talk."
One shower, a sad repacking of my new suitcase, and an outfit change into my dance leggings and Benton Girls sweatshirt later, I shuffled into the suite's Spanish-style outer room to get my marching orders.
Cole wasn't wearing a full suit, but he looked just as Ice King-ish as usual, dressed in a crisp linen shirt and a pair of ice-blue, flat-front pants that looked like they would pair perfectly with a light blazer.
I lingered behind him at the perimeter of the outer room. Until he said,"Come, sit down, Sunny"without looking up.
I miserably took the command, perching on the farthest edge of the couch.
"Look, I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable with my admission of love, but—"I cut off when I saw the sheath of papers on the coffee table in front of Cole. Blinked. “What…what is this?"
"An offer. I had papers drawn up to extend our relationship into the foreseeable future, provided you agree to a certain set of parameters. I'm eager to get this settled before Monday's board meeting, but before I can let you look at it, you'll have to sign another non-disclosure form."
He pushed a single sheet of paper toward me, filled with legalese. The only thing I truly understood was, "I can't tell Nora about this new contract or testify against you in any upcoming trials? Seriously, Cole, what is this? It's like you're speaking another language and then handing me a bunch of papers, also written in thatlanguage I don't know, and asking me to sign."
"You're confused. That's understandable."Cole's voice took on a reasonable tone I could almost see him using for high-stakes boardroom conversations."The language for this agreement was especially hard to craft because my lawyer didn't really have a precedent. But in layman's terms, I'm offering you a prenup that would extend our relationship and this arrangement into the foreseeable future. However, I cannot let you see the contents of that prenup unless you sign a non-disclosure form."
"A prenup,"I repeated. A little of my confusion faded as I realized,"Wait, are you asking me to marry you? Is this..." I waved my hands at all the paper on the table."…your version of a marriage proposal?"
"Yes,"he answered with one precise nod."This is an offer of a relationship extension, with a signing of additional marriage contracts provided certain terms are agreed to?—"
"So..." I scrunched my forehead, still so confused. "You're in love with me, too?"
He jolted a bit, as if that question was as confusing as his NDAfilled with legalese. "I'm offering you an opportunity to continue our relationship?—"
"So you're not in love with me, then?"
"This isn't about love,"he answered.
"Then what is it about?"
He regarded me for a blank moment in a way that made it obvious he believed I was being willfully obtuse."I'm offering you an opportunity?—"
Oh, my God.I decided to give Cole my own translation."You want me to sign a prenup and marry you without love?"
"Sunny, you said yourself earlier, I'm not about feelings. You're aware I'm transactional. And I'm offering you the opportunity of a lifetime."
"Are you?"I asked, screwing up my face."Because from where I'm sitting, you're saying, ‘Come on, let's keep having sex and never go any deeper into the foreseeable future. This is an opportunity for you because you're poor and I'm rich. C'mon, stop fighting it. Go ahead and fall into the same pattern of emotional unavailability that your mother had with your father. Maybe you can have a kid you never hug or nurture, too.’"
His face hardened. "Sunny. I am not your father. Do not compare me to him."
"You're right,"I agreed."He lied to my mother about loving her. At least you're keeping it real."
Cole shook his head. "Sunny, I can't show you the prenup until you sign the NDA, but I'm offering you incredible terms. Access to any of my properties, a generous weekly allowance with bonuses for progeny. You'll have enough money to buy whatever you want and refill that piddly Glo Johnson charity fund withmillions."
"Allowance? Properties? Bonuses forliving, breathing children? Can you even hear yourself?" I asked him. "I don't want a position. I don't want your money. I just want you to love me back.Especiallyif you want to bring children into this."
Cole stared at me. His expression confused to the point it was almost comical. But not really.
“I’m not trying to insult you.”
"Yes, Cole." I rubbed at my temple. "I'm aware you're trying to have a relationship with me scrubbed free of feelings. You're offering me marriage so I'll be okay with you being emotionally unavailable. And I can't really blame you for this because you never pretended to be anyone but who you are. But I'm sorry..."
I stood up, tears welling in my eyes."What you're offering isn't enough. I need more than that. I deserve more than that."
